Simple tips for your bowling game:

How do I get my ball to hook less?
How do I get my ball to get more length?
Why is my ball coming up light in the pocket every shot?

These are many questions bowlers ask themselves while they’re bowling. These questions can get people in trouble if they don’t know the solution to each of them. A lot of people jump to an early conclusion to make a ball change. Although having an arsenal of bowling balls to combat different lane conditions is a good idea, changing balls right after a shot jumps off the dry or sits still in the carry-down is not’t always the answer.  Making a ball change can lead to that first shot being a lucky guess on where to throw it consequently costing you a frame.  There are many small adjustments you can make prior to switching bowling balls.

How do I get my ball to hook less? How do I get my ball to get more length?   Well, there are many different small adjustments you can make.  First off, where is your target on the lane? If you’re looking at the arrows and your ball is hooking too much, try moving your eyes to the range finders (the long dark boards near the end of the lane). Try imagining where you want the ball to cross at the arrows then draw a lane to the range finders. This will push the ball through the oil longer creating more of a skid until it reaches the range finders (dark boards).  

Another small adjustment you can try before switching balls is moving your feet along with your eyes. An example is if your ball is hitting a little high every shot try moving your feet left 1 board at a time, but make sure you move your eyes left one board at a time also (this is for a right hander). If you do not move your eyes it will create a bigger angle to the pocket and you will run into the problem of leaving a lot of 9 pins. For a left-hander it’s the opposite.  So there’s two small adjustments that you can try that may help with the first two questions. 

The last question, why is my ball coming up light in the pocket every shot? This is similar to the other questions. If your ball just doesn't want to turn the corner you have a few small adjustments you can try before switching balls. Instead of looking further down lane you can try pulling your eyes closer to the arrows. The closer you pull your eyes the faster it will push the ball to the dry thus getting the ball to react earlier.  You can also try moving your feet and eyes right instead of left. This will let you play a more “up the lane” line instead of a deep line. These small adjustment tips should help anyone from the high rev-rate player to low rev-rate player and anywhere in-between.

Try considering these tips before making the big jump to a ball change. It can save your game and much frustration!  One last tip on that ball arsenal too – be sure to practice with all of your arsenal so that when you do decide it is time to switch balls, you have an idea as to how that ball you are switching to may react on your current lane condition.

Written by: Smyrna Pro Shop Assistant Chris Gillis

Follow these tips to improve your spare shooting. This provides some physical and mental game advice on how to shoot spares more consistently.

Follow these steps and tips to increase your margin of error and improving your spare system.

(1) Use a Plastic Ball

Using a plastic ball increases the margin of error since the ball will skid more and have less backend reaction when a release mistake is made (e.g., rotating around the ball)

(2) Hold the Ball Higher in the Stance

When you hold the ball higher in the stance it increases your ball speed leading to more skid and a straighter ball path.

(3) Break the Wrist

When you break your wrist, you reduce the amount of revolutions reducing the backend reaction and increasing the margin of error.

 (4) Spread the Pinky Wide and Keep the Index Tight

You will promote more end-over-end roll, increasing your ability to throw straight and reduce the backend reaction.

(5) Visualize a Dark Black Target Line and Roll The Ball Over the Line

When you visualize a dark thick line, from the pin to the target, you are setting your mind to throw straight on that line. Paint this line in your mind, from the arrows to the contact pin or pins. Be sure to look up and down the line multiple times before going. Be sure to "draw the line" by bringing your eyes back and forth to create the line in your mind. Now, throw to the line and roll the ball on this mental path.

(6) Set Your Body Perpendicular to the Target Line

Be sure that your body is perpendicular and your arm and shoes are parallel to the target line. When you visualize the thick, dark line it is easier to line-up your body. Walk parallel to the line and push toward the target.

(7) Target Longer to Promote More Skid and Increase Accuracy

In addition, target longer down the lane on the target line. The longer you look down the lane, the straighter the ball will go to the target.

(8) Lead with your Pinky or Elbow to the Target

I teach bowlers to lead with the tip of the pinky to the target in order to promote a straight end-over-end roll. This works for most. In the event bowlers still turn their hand, I ask them to lead with the elbow to the target. This will reduce rotation of the wrist and lead to the desired end-over-end throw. The idea is that the pinky or elbow will be project over the target. Literally, you want this to be what leads everything else through the target. Imagine the tip of the pinky throwing over the target or the elbow leading the follow-through. These tips will make you a better spare shooter by setting the stage mentally and physically allowing you to throw straighter.