| We've heard it many times before... practice | | | | Bowling Tip #5: What you think is what you do |
| makes perfect. And for good reason-it's the | | | | |
| truth! The best way to get better at | | | | Spend time visualizing and analyzing your |
| anything is to practice; bowling is no | | | | shots. Visualize your movements and your |
| exception. However, how you practice will | | | | shots before you do them. If your ball goes |
| mean the difference between slowly improving | | | | consistently too far right, begin a little |
| and supercharging your game! | | | | further left. You will learn to "feel" when |
| | | | you've bowled a good ball. When you do, |
| Bowling Tip #1: Use the right tools | | | | write it down before you forget. What did you |
| | | | do? How did the ball feel? Where did the ball |
| In any sport, using the correct equipment for | | | | hit? Keep it for future reference so you can |
| the job you have to do improves your | | | | do it again. |
| performance. In bowling, the ball is the most | | | | |
| important piece of equipment you will use, so | | | | Bowling Tip #6: What if I can't be at the |
| choose the right one for the job! Be sure to | | | | alley enough to practice? |
| try out many, and select one that's the right | | | | |
| weight, material and finger-grip fit. | | | | Any smooth surface with a long, clear |
| | | | distance is suitable for practicing your |
| Bowling Tip #2: Are you bowling enough? | | | | approach. It's not safe to practice the |
| | | | release, however, as a bowling ball will |
| To progress at bowling, you need to bowl at | | | | easily roll straight through walls if you |
| least once or twice a week. The most | | | | miss your target! Not to mention you'll ruin |
| economical way to get this amount of practice | | | | the surface of your ball. When practicing at |
| in is by joining a league. Usually, the more | | | | home, mark your foul line and arrows in |
| experienced players show up before the game | | | | masking tape or other material that will not |
| to practice. This is when you can learn the | | | | damage your floor. Also mark where your toes |
| most, from people committed to the sport. | | | | need to be for each step. Practice your |
| | | | approach until it's second nature. |
| Bowling Tip #3: Learn to walk the walk | | | | |
| | | | You can practice your arm swing outdoors with |
| While professional bowlers tend to use a | | | | a bucket of water with a small hole at the |
| 5-step approach, that's just not suitable for | | | | bottom. The water drops on the ground will |
| someone just learning the sport. Beginners | | | | mark the path of your arm and the direction |
| are usually more comfortable with a 4-step | | | | the ball would go. It's a good way to see if |
| approach. You can practice your approach | | | | you arc around your body when you bowl and |
| without throwing a single ball. Keep your | | | | which direction your arm is going. This can |
| shoulders square to the front, your head up, | | | | be a very enlightening experience. |
| arm swing smooth, and your pace consistent | | | | |
| and even. | | | | Bowling Tip #7: Don't spare yourself the |
| | | | trouble |
| Bowling Tip #4: Let 'em roll | | | | |
| | | | It's a very good idea to practice picking up |
| Spend time rolling the ball. A bowling ball | | | | your spares. A bowler who can consistently |
| should never be thrown. How do you tell the | | | | pick up his spares can easily hold a 180 |
| difference? A thrown ball will land with a | | | | average without getting any strikes. It's |
| loud "clunk" and then slide a few feet before | | | | especially useful to practice bowling at the |
| beginning to roll. A rolled ball lands | | | | 7-or 10-pins by aiming at them and bowling |
| quietly and quickly rolls down the lane. If | | | | across the strike zone (the "x" on the lane) |
| you find that you're in the habit of throwing | | | | from the opposite side of the lane. |
| the ball, simply slow down. Try taking a | | | | |
| slow, deep breath or two before bowling to | | | | By practicing these bowling techniques on a |
| settle any anxiety. You will hit more pins | | | | regular basis, you'll be honing the skills |
| with a rolled ball than with a thrown one. | | | | that will help you improve your bowling game! |
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