Every time a bowler throws his first ball into a frame, there is ONE hope in the front of his mind: “Please make it a STRIKE!”

Knocking down all ten pins with a single pin is the best possible result and the goal all bowlers aspire to. We all experience “beginners luck” at first, but then we seem to lose sight of what we did to make it happen.

We all admire the bowler who can get multiple strikes in a game. Luckily, there are bowling tips and techniques you can learn to replicate that magical moment…and throw a strike over and over again!

Where do you start?

Right where you are standing. Literally. The placement of your feet is absolutely critical to your success. Even if you do everything else right, if your feet aren’t where they need to be, the ball won’t go where it needs to go either!

Are you right or left handed? If you’re left-handed, point the second toe of your right foot toward pin 1. If you’re right-handed, point the second toe of your left foot toward pin 1. It may seem strange at first, but make no mistake…it works! Watch the foot placement of professional bowlers and you’ll see they do it too.

Keeping your right foot pointed at the headed passer allows your shoulders to relax and line up with the free throw line, making it more likely that the ball will go where you want it.

get on the swing

Now you know where you stand. Let’s talk about where we’re going… to your first intentional attack. Cradle your ball and retract your arm. You’re just four steps away from throwing your first strike ball! If you’re right-handed, step on your right foot, then your left foot. As you step forward with your left foot, the ball arcs downward. Take your third step with your right foot as the force of the ball lifts your arm up. Release the ball and use your left leg as a counterweight for balance.

drop the ball

It is important to release the ball at the right time. If you release too soon, your ball will start rolling too soon and you won’t have enough energy to knock down the pins. If you get loose on the way up, you’re likely to drift out of the lane at worst, and slide down the ditch at best. The best time to release the ball is just when the centrifugal force begins to guide the ball upwards. You’ll feel it in your hand as gravity begins to pull on the weight of the ball. Make sure your wrist is straight and relaxed and you’re aiming for the strike zone (the little “x” in the lane between the arrows).

follow it through

When releasing the ball, remember NOT to look at it. Your eyes should remain fixed on your target and your arm should continue to arc up until the ball has been released. It happens all too often when a beginner pulls their arm back quickly and looks at the ball, only to have it drift off course. Don’t let that happen to you! Where your eyes look is where your shoulders and feet tend to point. And we know that to throw a strike, everyone has to be facing forward!

By following these easy-to-learn techniques, you’ll be playing shot after shot. Your friends will be amazed and the competition disappointed. You can take pride in knowing you’ve mastered the skills necessary to throw a strike over and over again!