5 Bowling Tips to Improve Your Average and Bowl Higher Scores
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Want to improve your bowling average and become a more consistent bowler? You don't necessarily need a new bowling ball, expensive equipment, or a complete overhaul of your technique.
Sometimes, the smallest adjustments make the biggest difference.
Whether you're trying to break 150 for the first time or push your average above 200, these five bowling tips can help you develop better habits, improve your accuracy, and put more pins on the scoreboard.
1. Improve Your Spare Shooting
If there's one area that deserves more attention than almost anything else, it's spare shooting.
Everyone loves throwing strikes, but consistently converting spares is what separates occasional high games from maintaining a strong bowling average.
Think about it. If you're leaving two or three open frames every game, that's a significant number of pins you're giving away.
Converting just one additional single-pin spare can add roughly 10 pins to your score, depending on your following deliveries.
Practice Your 7-Pins and 10-Pins
Corner pins are among the most frustrating spares in bowling, especially when they show up during an important frame.
During your next practice session, dedicate an entire game to corner-pin accuracy.
Use your first shot to target the 7-pin and your second to target the 10-pin.
You don't necessarily need to pick the pin cleanly off a full rack. Focus on throwing a consistent shot that would hit the corner pin if it were standing alone.
Some bowling centers even offer spare-practice settings that allow you to repeatedly shoot individual pins.
Try the Low Ball Bowling Drill
Low Ball is one of our favorite ways to make spare practice competitive.
Instead of knocking down as many pins as possible, your goal is to knock down as few as possible without throwing the ball in the gutter.
Under common Low Ball rules, a gutter ball counts as a strike on the first delivery or a spare on the second. A perfect Low Ball game is 20.
This drill forces you to develop accuracy while practicing unusual angles and pin combinations.
Challenge your friends and see who can shoot the lowest score!
Practice Multi-Pin Spare Combinations
Don't forget about combinations like the 3-6-10, 2-4-7, 6-10, and 4-7.
These combinations require accuracy and a slightly different approach than traditional strike shooting.
Practice one combination before moving to the next, focusing on developing consistent angles and targeting.
Bowler's Review Tip: Dedicate at least 15 minutes or one full game to spare shooting during each practice session. Eliminating open frames is one of the easiest ways to improve your bowling average.
2. Pay Attention to Lane Conditions and Ball Reaction
One of the biggest differences between experienced competitive bowlers and developing players is awareness.
Good bowlers aren't just watching their own shots. They're paying attention to how the lane changes, how other players' bowling balls react, and which adjustments are working.
Developing this awareness can help you make better decisions before missed shots become costly.
Keep a Bowling Notebook
Taking notes might sound unnecessary, but it's something many competitive bowlers do regularly.
Recording your starting position, target, bowling ball selection, and lane adjustments can help you recognize patterns over time.
This becomes especially useful when bowling in leagues or tournaments at the same center.
Certain lane pairs may consistently play differently from others. Having a record of how you've approached those lanes in the past can give you a better starting point.
We recommend keeping a bowling notebook in your bag to record lane conditions, equipment choices, and adjustments throughout your sessions.
Watch Other Bowlers
Your own shots aren't the only source of information.
If another bowler is playing a similar line, watch how their ball reacts throughout the game.
For example, if someone has been consistently hitting the pocket and suddenly starts going high, it could indicate that the lane is transitioning.
That doesn't mean you should immediately make the same adjustment. Their ball, rev rate, speed, and release may be different.
However, it's valuable information that can help you anticipate changes rather than waiting until you've already left a few splits.
Bowler's Review Tip: Watch what the bowling ball does as it travels down the lane, not just where it hits the pins.
3. Improve Your Physical Fitness and Mental Game
Bowling might not seem as physically demanding as other sports, but balance, flexibility, endurance, and mental strength all contribute to consistent performance.
During a long tournament, maintaining your physical and mental focus becomes especially important.
Work on Balance and Flexibility
You don't need an intense workout routine to improve your physical bowling game.
Simple exercises targeting your legs, core, hips, and shoulders can help support a stable approach and controlled finish position.
Consider incorporating stretching, balance exercises, and general strength training into your weekly routine.
Even a short warm-up before league can help prepare your body for the repetitive movements involved in bowling.
If you're experiencing recurring pain or discomfort, consult a qualified healthcare professional rather than trying to bowl through it.
Develop a Consistent Pre-Shot Routine
Your mental game is just as important as your physical mechanics.
One of the easiest ways to improve focus is to develop a repeatable routine before every shot.
This might include checking your target, visualizing your ball path, setting your feet, and taking a comfortable breath before beginning your approach.
The goal is to eliminate unnecessary distractions and commit to your shot.
Don't Let One Bad Frame Ruin Your Game
Every bowler throws bad shots.
Even professional bowlers miss spares, leave splits, and make poor adjustments.
The important thing is how you respond.
Instead of dwelling on a missed spare, identify what went wrong and focus on the next frame.
Did you miss your target? Did the lane transition? Was your timing off?
Learn from the mistake and move forward.
For more strategies, check out our guide to improving your bowling mental game.
4. Make Sure Your Bowling Ball Fits Properly
Your bowling ball's fit is one of the most overlooked aspects of consistency.
A ball that felt comfortable when it was originally drilled might not feel the same several months later.
Changes in hand size, swelling, flexibility, and grip preferences can all affect how comfortably you hold and release the ball.
That's why it's worth having your fit evaluated periodically.
Signs Your Bowling Ball Might Not Fit Correctly
Excessive squeezing: If you constantly feel like you need to grip the ball tightly to prevent it from falling off your hand, your fit may need adjustment.
Blisters or discomfort: Frequent blisters, torn skin, or pain can indicate problems with your grip or release.
Inconsistent thumb release: If your thumb frequently sticks or exits too early, your thumb-hole fit may need attention.
Worn finger inserts: Over time, inserts can wear down or become loose, affecting how the ball feels in your hand.
Use Bowling Tape for Small Fit Adjustments
For bowlers using a thumb-in grip, bowling tape can be useful when your thumb size changes throughout a session.
Temperature, humidity, and natural swelling can affect how the thumb hole feels.
Using bowling thumb tape can help you make small adjustments and maintain a more consistent feel without permanently changing your equipment.
However, tape isn't a replacement for a properly fitted bowling ball.
If you're regularly experiencing discomfort, visit a qualified pro shop operator to evaluate your grip.
Bowler's Review Tip: Consider checking your bowling ball fit every 6 to 12 months, or sooner if your release begins feeling uncomfortable or inconsistent.
5. Record Your Bowling Form and Practice With Purpose
One of the easiest ways to identify problems in your bowling game is to see what your delivery actually looks like.
Most bowlers have an idea of what they're doing during their approach, but what you feel and what you're actually doing aren't always the same.
Record Yourself Bowling
Your smartphone is one of the best tools available for evaluating your physical game.
Ask a friend to record a few shots from behind and from the side.
Pay attention to your:
Footwork and approach direction
Swing path and timing
Balance at the foul line
Release consistency
Follow-through
You might notice something you've been doing for years without realizing it.
Instead of trying to fix everything at once, identify one area that needs improvement and focus on that during practice.
Practice at Home
You don't always need to visit the bowling center to work on your fundamentals.
Certain bowling training aids can help you practice release movements, wrist positioning, and physical-game mechanics at home.
If you're looking for ways to work on your technique between league nights, explore these at-home bowling training aids.
Just remember that training aids are supplementary tools. They can't completely replicate throwing a bowling ball on an actual lane.
Ask for Feedback
Don't be afraid to ask experienced bowlers or your local pro shop operator for advice.
Many knowledgeable bowlers are happy to help, especially when you're looking for feedback on a specific part of your game.
Online communities such as Reddit's r/Bowling can also be useful for sharing videos and discussing technique.
Keep in mind that everyone's bowling style is different, so not every piece of advice will work for you.
A qualified bowling coach can provide more personalized instruction when needed.
How to Get Better at Bowling With a Simple Practice Routine
Improving your bowling average isn't just about practicing more. It's about practicing with a purpose.
Instead of spending an entire session trying to throw strikes, divide your time between the skills that need attention.
Here's an example of a simple one-hour practice session:
Time | Practice Focus |
10 minutes | One Step / Approach Drills |
15 minutes | Spare shooting |
15 minutes | Arrow Challenge, Strike from Each Arrow |
10 minutes | Ball Reaction and Comparisons |
10 minutes | Video analysis or focused practice |
You don't need to follow this schedule exactly.
If you're struggling with corner pins, spend more time practicing spares. If your biggest challenge is lane transition, work on making adjustments and reading ball motion.
The goal is to build better habits that translate directly into league and tournament scores.
Final Thoughts: Small Improvements Lead to Higher Bowling Scores
Becoming a better bowler doesn't require changing everything about your game.
Sometimes, converting one additional spare, recognizing lane transition a frame earlier, or improving your balance can make a noticeable difference.
Focus on the fundamentals, practice consistently, and pay attention to the areas where you're losing pins. Most importantly, remember that improvement takes time.
