How To Bowl (Sport)

It really distressed me to find that there were no instructables on how to bowl, especially since I just joined my high school team, and needed to learn fast. And now, after months of practice, I have found many different ways to bowl, help help anyone get at least 80-100 in a game with little practice. It may seem like a long, it kind of is, instructable, but I just stretched out and separated the steps to better explain them. If you don't need the whole thing, just read the pages you do, they stand independent of each other.

I am not responsible if you die following these steps, you won't, but in case you hit yourself in the head with a bowling ball, don't come to me.

I would also so like to thank mafteechr for input from a profesional, you will see quotes from him at the bottom of most pages.

Step 1 The Lanes

I'm still waiting to gather more info on the construction of the lanes, but for now what you need to know is that they are made of small boards that you can use for feet placement, and are covered in oil to reduce friction. This oil ends 10ft from the pins which is what allows for hooks in curved throws.

mafteechr says:
Lanes are generally made of synthetic materials and some older bowling alleys have wood lanes. The lane is 60 feet long from foul line to head pin, generally with oil from 35 to 45 feet, leaving 15 to 25 feet of dry portion for the ball to pick up friction and hook. The lane is also 41.5 inches wide with half inch boards across and arrows every 5 boards.

Comments

[rotoreuter48]

haha, bowling an 80-100 its supposed to be good with little practice. i got a 183 best, and an avg of 130 with no practice. scince then ive gotten my own equipmet and avg a 30. im only 15

[lobo_pal]

That 's pretty good, I wish I had started earlier in bowling like you did. Some people have a natural talent, which is the best reason keep at it and get better.

[mafteechr]

This is the most difficult concept of bowling to master. Each bowling alley will have different patterns of oil, so you have to adjust to different bowling alleys. Additionally, as you bowl more during one session, your bowling ball will either push the oil farther down the lane (by picking up oil on the surface and then leaving it behind on the former dry portion) or simply absorb some oil off the lane. This will affect when and how much the ball will hook. If this isn't difficult enough for you, some bowling alleys offer PBA Experience leagues, giving you the opportunity to bowl on the very difficult oil patterns the pros bowl on.

[mafteechr]

To properly throw a hook while using your thumb, you must have a custom drilled bowling ball with fingertip grips. The key is your thumb is released first on the downswing and the lift from the fingertips and the rotation of your hand will generate the hook you're looking for. Through the armswing, try to keep your hand behind the ball at all time. At the downswing, just before releasing, you'll want to rotate your hand 90 degrees, with the finishing position of your hand like you are shaking someone's hand.

[mafteechr]

The sweet spot is the "pocket", which for right-handers is the 1-3 (1-2 for lefties). A solid strike would follow through the middle and exit around the 8 pin. If you begin to throw a curve, it's best not to forget your roots and use a polyester/plastic ball and throw straight at your spares.

[mafteechr]

The best and most consistent swing is the pendulum swing. Allow gravity to swing your arm down and around. Also, an easy way to remember following through is to pretend you're slicking back your hair after releasing. Cheesy, but effective.

[mafteechr]

Top of the line bowling shoes ($90-$120) also allow you to use different soles and heels to vary the amount of your slide.

[mafteechr]

More on bowling balls: The coverstock (surface) is generally made of different materials such as polyester/plastic (such as house balls, these do not hook generally), urethane (small amount of hook), reactive resin (varying amounts of hook), and particle (most amount of hook). The difference is the ability for the coverstock to absorb oil, therefore allowing it to generate more friction through the oil. Inside of the ball is the core and physics control this. Properties of a bowling ball and it's core are generally measured by the radius of gyration.

[mafteechr]

Lanes are generally made of synthetic materials and some older bowling alleys have wood lanes. The lane is 60 feet long from foul line to head pin, generally with oil from 35 to 45 feet, leaving 15 to 25 feet of dry portion for the ball to pick up friction and hook. The lane is also 41.5 inches wide with half inch boards across and arrows every 5 boards.

[duke harding]

That's not a 4th finger hole. It's called a weight hole. It's drilled to keep the ball within legal USBC (United States Bowling Congress) specs., or also to change the point on the lane where the ball hooks.

[lobo_pal]

I didn't know that, thank you for the update.

[duke harding]

lobo_pal, Any time...I bowled professionally for a few years (1980s). There's a lot to the game.

[lobo_pal]

If you have anything else to add, I would appreciate it.

[duke harding]

lobo_pal,
One of the best websites fro gaining bowling knowledge is:

http://www.ballreviews.com/

I can be found on the site most days.

Bowling is a great sport. One that you can enjoy into your 80s or 90s, believe it or not.

[canida]

Nice instructions, but would be even better with your own pictures. ;)

[lobo_pal]

I am working on that, but I have to other insructables to publish for contests and school work to do before graduation, but rest assured they will come.

[NachoMahma]

. Nice job. The scoring is a little confusing. . heehee Someone should send a link to this to Pres. Obama.

[lobo_pal]

I know right, that was so messed up but funny. The only way it could be better is if he said he bowled a 346.