What are the most important things in bowling-part 1

                                         
 Early in my Blog, I discussed what should be happening on each step of a “Five Step Approach”, but these are only the motions. There are lots of other things that are involved besides these body movements. Take your time learning my BASIC PRINCIPALS and only do a few at a time in your practice sessions so you don’t get too overwhelmed. 

1. WALK as STRAIGHT on the approach as possible. This is important so you release it at the same spot each time. If you wander one time and not the same amount the next, you will be coming in at slightly different angles and may miss the pocket area for the strike. To achieve this, check your sliding foot at the foul line and make sure you are on, or as close, the board you started on as possible. Being consistent is extremely important in bowling as I have previously mentioned, to be able to achieve strike after strike which is the object of the game. 

  
2.  BEND YOUR KNEES slightly at the stance and walk with them slightly bent up the approach to the foul line. When I   first started to bowl, I bent them at the stance, straightened them back up to walk, and then bent them again at the foul line. I think the less you do, the less mistakes you will make.  


3. Be STEADY at the foul line. What I mean by this is to have a solid foundation on the sliding left foot (Right foot for the left-handed bowlers) so you don’t get thrown off balance. This is also important for accuracy. If you are off balance, you may miss your target.  

4. Keep your SPEED CONSISTENT. In the past if I had a crucial shot coming up and the adrenaline was flowing, I would tend to rush the line and go too fast. Be aware of this and take a few deep breaths to help relax any tension in the muscles and go a bit slow. 

5. Keep the TRAILING FOOT more in back of you rather than to the side. It will keep your body more square to the lane and target. I’ve seen many a bowler put their leg out excessively to the side and it looks like their body has been contorted to the point where they may be hurting their back over time.   

6. If you are missing your spares by only a little bit but know you got the ball out over the correct arrow or board, you may be DROPPING YOUR SHOULDER slightly. To help prevent this, I actually lift my right shoulder slightly at the stance (left shoulder for lefty’s). Doing this keeps it from dropping it at the time of the ball release.   


7.  HOLD YOUR POSITION and balance at the foul line. Stay low and have your body in an upright position after you release the ball until the ball hits the pins. Standing up immediately looks sloppy and unprofessional. Holding the position makes you more attentive to your target.  
         Join me next week for Part 2 of my Basic Principals.
 
                Good luck and high scoring!!