​15.  DON’T BREAK THE WRIST. Keep the wrist even with your arm, not in a bent down position unless you are going for a 10 pin. Many bowlers use a wrist support that helps keep their wrist straight since the ball is a bit heavy. I use one because I have a 16 pound ball. If you feel you can’t hold your wrist straight, then invest in a wrist support. They are available at the pro shop as well as online where there are several to choose from.
 
16.  KEEP ARM OUT SLIGHTLY TO THE SIDE which will allow for body clearance when your arm comes down with the bowling ball to go into the pendulum swing, otherwise you have to force your arm out to the side, and it could go out a little farther one time but not the same the next time. Once again, you need to be consistent.
 
17. FINISH IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION with a good knee bend if you are able, rather than bending from the waist which puts more stress on the back.
 
18. Remember my 5 “F’S”- FACE the pins squarely, FOCUS on all of these basics, don’t go too FAST, keep the trailing FOOT more in back of you rather than out excessively to the side, and have FUN!!!

19. Think on your FOREARM going up towards the ceiling and touch your back lightly, so you know you are getting a good LIFT on the ball after the release.
 
    I certainly hope that your game has been improving. We have gone over many things since the beginning of my Blog. Remember to keep practicing and incorporating these basics every few games. There’s a lot to remember so be patient with yourself. Repetition is the key in bowling!
 
  Join me here next week to find out more about "What Should I Practice While Bowling"! 
 
Good Luck and High scoring!!

    As previously discussed, there is special equipment we need to use in Bowling as with any sport. 
With the exception of having a ball, using bowling shoes is an absolute must!! Never bowl in your street shoes or is socks!! Street shoes may have rubber soles and instead of sliding on your last step, you will be sticking and possibly fall over the foul line.Socks have no traction and you would definable go over the foul line and possibly slip on the oil that's on the lane. Either way you could end up with an injury or injure someone who is bowling next to you.

     If you're renting shoes, some bowling centers will use disinfectant after they are brought back, which kills some of the germs and deodorizes them, but I'm not too keen on the idea of wearing shoes that thousands of other people have used. Make sure you wear socks or you could end up with a case of Athletes Foot! Alley shoes are very well worn and you may end up with a shoe that doesn't fit well even though they are your size.These rental shoes are quite plain and somewhat ugly in my opinion. Renting also gives the impression to other bowlers that you don't bowl very often and are probably inexperienced. Shoes cost about $4, give or take a buck to rent, depending where you live. If you bowl every week in a 36 week league, you'll be spending $144 each year renting a pair of shoes.    
    
   With all of the above said, if you haven't gotten your own shoes yet, please do so as soon as you are able! They help you to slide on your last step for a smooth ball delivery, their soft leather soles protect the lane better than ordinary shoes, and they are a bit thicker than regular shoes so if a ball accidentally dropped off the ball rack, your foot would be a bit more protected. You can buy them online or in the local pro shop at the bowling center. Buying a good pair of shoes may only cost you $30-$50 and you'll have them for several years, plus you'll be using the same shoes consistently. They come in several designs and colors, and some even look like sneakers. You can also buy certain bowling shoes that only need the soles replaced when they wear down.

    NEVER wear bowling shoes outside or into the restroom. The soles can pick up dirt and other debris and can get wet causing you to stick on the lane. Other bowlers can step in anything you may have tracked up onto the lane and cause them to stick, possibly affecting their performance. I recommend buying SHOE COVERS that are made of vinyl and are waterproof. They have elastic around them so are easy to put on and take off, and cost about $15-20. I think they are well worth it, and please wear them on both shoes, not just your bowling shoe.

    If your sliding shoe is sticking on the lane, you're sliding too much, or there is some debris on the bottom of the sole, you can buy a WIRE BRUSH. To get more slide, hold the sliding shoe in your palm to support it and simply brush the sole gently in the direction from the toe to the heel repeating a few times. if you want a bit less slide, brush in the opposite direction.   

    Join me back here next week when I'll be discussing "What do I need to know about Bowling"-Part 3

​    Good Luck and High Scoring!!

    A “Washout” is a spare leave with a space in between the pins, but the Headpin is still there (1 pin). It’s basically a split with the 1 pin present. They don’t consider it a split because theoretically you shouldn’t miss hitting the headpin. 
 
    Washouts, like splits, can still be difficult to convert. The first one we will discuss is the 1-3-7, or 1-3-6-7. You need to hit the 1 pin slightly on its' right side in hopes that it will slide over into the 7 pin. Try moving about ½ board or 1 full board to the left of where you normally stand for your strike shot. Use this as a starting point and adjust a little at a time until you can convert it. 

​    
​    Another washout you may encounter is the opposite, the 1-2-10, or 1-2-4-10. This time you will need to move slightly right of where you stand for the strike shot to hit the 1 pin slightly on it's left side, so the 1 or 2 pin can slide over into the 10 pin. Remember, bowling is a game of angles and pins hitting into other pins for results! 

​    There are several other “washouts” you may come across that I haven’t mentioned here, but you get the idea. It’s just a split with the headpin still remaining.
 
    Another way I see bowlers going for some of these washouts, is to stand to the left at the stance to change the angle. Also try converting these on the left side and take notes on how you made them so you can refer to them on league nights if you need to. The object is to get high scores, have fun, and help your team win the games!! There is so much satisfaction in bowling really well. I promise that you will get there, just be patient with yourself and keep practicing when you get a chance.!
 
  Next week I’ll be discussing “How Do I Find My Bowling Ball Track”? I look forward to seeing you then.
 
Good Luck and High Scoring!!