| Here are some of the most common faults in | | | | |
| bowling. If any of these styles look like | | | | 7) Wrist Break |
| yours then my advice is to change. Your | | | | |
| scores and your average are sure to benefit. | | | | Keep your wrist straight and firm; don't let |
| | | | it bend to the side. If you don't keep a |
| 1) Too High a Backswing | | | | straight wrist, you're certain to lose |
| | | | control of the ball and thereby all accuracy. |
| I'm always surprised at how often I see this | | | | Keeping a firm wrist is a matter of |
| occur, especially among women bowlers. Don't | | | | concentration, nothing more. |
| let the backswing ever get beyond shoulder | | | | |
| height. Don't force it high - it's sure to | | | | 8) Topping the Ball |
| result in faulty timing. | | | | |
| | | | Here's another common fault among women |
| 2) Dropping the Ball | | | | bowlers - overturning the ball, causing a |
| | | | reverse hook or back-up ball. This can be |
| Get the ball over the foul line; reach out | | | | prevented by releasing the ball in the |
| with it. There are two reasons for this | | | | shake-hands position. Keep your hand and |
| problem: either your timing is off, or it is | | | | wrist in the nine o'clock position and you'll |
| simply a case of your ball not fitting you | | | | find yourself rolling a perfect, |
| properly. | | | | sharp-breaking hook ball. |
| | | | |
| 3) Poor Follow-Through | | | | 9) Steps Too Long |
| | | | |
| Many bowlers I've seen seem to do everything | | | | Even some of the most experienced bowlers are |
| well, until they release the ball. Then they | | | | guilty of this error - taking steps in the |
| go into a poorly executed follow-through. One | | | | approach that are much too long. Remember |
| example is not keeping down; pulling up at | | | | your steps are to be the length of your |
| the finish. You can overcome this by keeping | | | | normal walking steps - never any longer than |
| your head down and your eyes on the target. | | | | that. |
| | | | |
| 4) Bad Finish | | | | 10) Wrong Pushaway |
| | | | |
| This is a problem on the follow-through; in | | | | On the pushaway remember to get the ball out, |
| fact, it's no follow-through at all. Be sure | | | | down, and to the right. Some bowlers go up |
| to continue the arm on its natural upward | | | | with the ball. This is a wasted motion and |
| motion after the ball has left your hand. | | | | accomplishes nothing. It affects your timing, |
| Many pro stars continue the motion until | | | | and can hurt your delivery. |
| their hand reaches the height of their head. | | | | |
| Try it. It could be a great help to you. | | | | 11) Bad Follow-Through |
| | | | |
| 5) Incorrect Pickup | | | | Here's another common follow-through problem. |
| | | | Many bowlers cross their arm in front of them |
| Be careful about how you pick up the ball. | | | | after they release the ball. When they do |
| Don't reach out for it with your right hand. | | | | this, the ball may cross-over, miss the 1-3 |
| If you do this continually, you'll find your | | | | pocket, and either hit the head pin full or |
| hand tiring and eventually your control will | | | | cross into the 1-2 pocket. Bring your arm |
| be affected. Instead, pick up the ball with | | | | straight up; reach out for the pins. |
| both hands as you lift it. That way, your | | | | |
| hands won't be struck and injured by balls | | | | 12) Lofting the Ball |
| coming into the rack. | | | | |
| | | | Try to release the ball over the foul line, |
| 6) Wrong Stance | | | | but at a point only three or four inches |
| | | | beyond the line. Never loft the ball or |
| A common fault in the stance position is | | | | release it far out on the lane. Lofting will |
| failure to place the feet parallel to the | | | | spoil your accuracy. |
| boards (perpendicular to the foul line) | | | | |
| before the delivery begins. It is simple to | | | | Correct these faults if you have them, and |
| do, requiring only a moment to check. | | | | you will have a much better game! |