There’s no better feeling than bowling a strike, but they can be few and far between when you first begin bowling.
If you’re wondering how to get a strike in bowling every time, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, we will cover some important information on bowling, including how to get a strike in bowling every time.
Let’s get into it.
How To Get A Strike In Bowling Every Time
As with any sport, there are a few tips and tricks that you can master to improve your chances when it comes to bowling a strike.
So, how do you get a strike every time? Below are some tips that you’ll need to consider when you’re aiming for a strike.
Finding The Right The Ball
Before getting started, you need to ensure that you’re using the right ball.
While you might be tempted to opt for the heaviest ball that you can chuck down the bowling lane, this doesn’t mean you’re going to get the best results.
If the ball is too heavy, you probably won’t be able to bowl accurately, and you’ll more likely end up slamming it awkwardly down the lane and watching it veer off to the side.
Instead, you need to choose a ball that is both light and comfortable enough for you to bowl it with ease and sufficient control.
To choose the right ball, be sure to pick a few up and find one that feels like a comfortable weight. You want the heaviest ball that you can reasonably control.
You will also need to consider the span of the ball, as well as the finger holes.
You need the span to be comfortable in your hand. If the finger holes are too far away and the edge of the hole falls between your first and second joint, your fingers won’t be able to sit in the holes all the way. Bearing this in mind, the span is too great for your hand.
You will want to choose a ball that has holes that are snug around your fingers, but loose enough that you can release your fingers easily.
Decide On Your Grip
How you decide to grip your ball depends on you and your preferences. Generally speaking, there are two basic choices when it comes to grip.
If you’re just starting out, the conventional grip is what you’ll be using in bowling alleys as this is the grip used for “house balls.”
Conventional Grip
The conventional grip is when the middle and ring fingers go into the ball up to the second joint of each finger. This is the only grip option if you are using a “house ball,” in other words, a ball that is provided by the bowling alley itself.
That being said, if you’ve been bowling a while, and want your own ball made specifically, you can also consider the fingertip grip.
Fingertip Grip
If the conventional grip doesn’t work for you, there is also the fingertip grip. This is when the middle and ring fingers go into the ball only up to the first joint.
The Approach
The way in which you approach the lane is crucial if you’re to bowl a strike.
Take four steps, making sure that you start with the foot opposite from your throwing hand.
Focus on your target, and walk in a straight line. Don’t turn your body to either side, as you need to be facing the lane straight-on.
Focus Where You Intend To Aim The Ball
As a beginner, you might think that you need to focus all of your attention on the pin that you want to hit.
However, this isn’t the case. While the pins are your target, you don’t want to focus on them.
Instead, you want to focus on the target arrow. For people who are right-handed, the target arrow that you need to aim for is the second arrow from the right. On the other hand, left-handed people will need to aim for the opposite of this, which is the second arrow from the left.
Get In The Right Position
Another important factor to consider when you’re aiming for a strike is your stance and arm positioning.
You need to be stood upright, with a slight bend in your knees and your feet slightly apart.
It’s important to keep your hand and arm relaxed, as this will allow for a smooth, natural swing.
Ensure that the ball is on the side of your body that your bowling hand is. You will need to keep your arm straight as you bring it behind you, keeping it close to your body as you throw the ball.
If your arm is too tense, you likely won’t get the results you want.
Timing Of The Release Of The Bowling Ball
Timing when you release the bowling ball is absolutely essential when it comes to bowling a strike.
For the best results, you will need to release the bowling ball when your swing is at its lowest point.
When you release the ball too early, you end up dropping the ball onto the lane, meaning there is more opportunity for it to veer off to the side.
Timing your release in this way will mean that you’ll avoid dropping the ball onto the lane.
Hit The Pocket
To bowl a strike, you need the ball in the pocket, which is the space between the first ball and the three-pin if you’re right-handed or the two-pin if you’re left-handed.
To do this, you will need to add a curve to the ball as you throw it. This requires adding a spin to the ball by rotating your thumb. When you’re right-handed, you will want to rotate your thumb to a 10 o’clock position as you release the ball.
Alternatively, if you’re left-handed, you will need to rotate your thumb to a 2 o’clock position.
Other Tips To Consider When Mastering Your Bowling Technique
Invest In Your Own Bowling Shoes
If you want to become so good at bowling that you’re striking every time you go, then you’ll likely be committed enough to have your own bowling shoes.
Investing in a good pair of bowling shoes is a great way to up your bowling game. You will want to opt for a good quality pair, and make sure that you have done your research on certain brands to ensure that your shoes are going to last the test of time.
There’s no point investing in bowling shoes if they’re not going to fit you properly. If you’ve got ill-fitting shoes, this could actually hinder your game, and you might be better off with house shoes after all.
Bearing this in mind, when you’re considering buying bowling shoes, be sure to go into the store to try a few pairs on. Generally speaking, you will want to size up by half a size bigger than your regular shoes.
However, you won’t know what feels the most comfortable and natural to you until you try a few pairs on.
Have Patience
Rome wasn’t built in a day. When you’re mastering anything you need to have patience, and bowling is no exception. You will need to be prepared to remain patient when you’re learning how to strike in bowling, as it doesn’t come naturally to everyone.
How long it will take to consistently be bowling strikes will depend on you and your skill level. However, if you’re not good in the beginning, have patience, and you’ll get there.
Get Your Friends Involved
This might sound like a simple one, but you’d be surprised how getting a few friends involved can help in your progress.
Having people that are as invested in the hobby can make the process a whole lot more fun, and can also help you to pick yourself up when you’re not progressing as fast as you’d like.
Plus, there’s nothing like a little competition to help recenter your focus!
A Note For Beginners
It’s important to remember that even with these tips, you’re not going to become a bowling professional overnight when you’re a beginner.
Even if you have some bowling experience, and are interested in improving your technique, getting your skill to the point where you are consistently bowling strikes isn’t just nothing.
While keeping these tips in mind will help you improve your game sufficiently, don’t feel disheartened if you’re not consistently bowling strikes in the beginning.
Nothing worth having comes easy. If you’re keen to get a strike in bowling every time, you will need to make sure that you’re putting in the necessary practice to do so.
Anyone can bowl a strike on a fluke. However, developing the skill to bowl a strike every single time is not going to come to you without you putting in the effort.
That being said, you will need to remember that you should remain realistic and consistent.
If you take these tips into consideration when you’re bowling, you’re sure to see your technique improving each time that you go to the bowling alley.
However, they aren’t a miracle worker, and you’re still going to need to be consistent to develop your technique.
In Summary
So, there you have it.
Hopefully, this article has been useful, and you have a better idea of how to bowl a strike now you have the tips listed.
Remember, practice makes perfect. Even the pros in bowling had to start somewhere, so don’t feel disheartened or discouraged if you can’t bowl a strike straight away.
Good luck and have fun next time you hit the bowling alley!
I wanted to create my website to inspire others to pick up their bowling balls and get to their local lanes. There’s nothing quite like enjoying a friendly game of bowling with your friends and family, so what are you waiting for?
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