Top 5 Tips to Improve Your Bowling in 2023

Our team has gathered the top 5 tips to help you improve and bowl higher scores. It is time to take a closer look at what you can do to improve your bowling game. When it comes to bowling, oftentimes the smallest changes can have the biggest impact on your performance.

Spare Shooting

Yes, spare shooting is and should always be the number one focus when trying to improve your game. We know practicing spares isn’t the most fun or the most appealing to look at on the scoreboard, but when it comes to league and tournaments it can make all the difference. Most people practice bowling and purely focus on strikes, forgetting that one spare per game adds about 10 pins. Most bowlers who average above 150 are able to throw about 4-6 strikes a game. But what about the other frames when you don’t strike?

When you are practicing, don’t forget to work on the spares. The Bowler’s Review team recommends at least 15 minutes or 1 game dedicated to only spares during each practice session. Here are a couple of our favorite drills to help you improve:

7 and 10 Pins:

This is an obvious one but is still overlooked. Each frame you have 2 shots, use one to practice the 7 and one to practice the 10. You don’t need to pick it clean off the rack everytime, but rather focus on hitting the pin right in the middle. It is fine to hit the 4 or 6 pin first as long as you would still hit the 7 or 10. Some bowling alleys will even set the rack toautomatically spot 7’s and 10’s only so feel free to ask!

Low Ball:

Low Ball is a common game that bowler’s will play when working on spare shooting. The goal is to get as low of a score possible without throwing it in the gutter. A perfect low ball game would be 20, 2 in each frame. If you do happen to throw it in the gutter, the first shot would be considered a strike and if on the 2nd shot then a spare. Sometimes this game can force you to be creative and shoot at leaves that you wouldn’t normally have to aim for. This helps by forcing you to practice shots you wouldn’t normally practice. My personal best is 41, do you think you can beat that?

3-6-10s and 2-4-7s:

These are the main clusters of multi pin spares. A good way to practice multi pin spares is to start with the 6-10 or 4-7, and then move your way around the front of the rack. I like to shoot at the 6-10, then 3-6-10. Once you make both of those, switch to the 2-4-7, and then the 4-7. Repeat as many times as you’d like.

Focus on Bowling

Another big area where bowlers can easily improve is actually focusing on the game or practice session and trying to avoid distractions. I see many bowlers constantly on their phone or not paying attention when they are not bowling. This can be detrimental in many ways. At the end of the day, bowling should always remain fun for you, but there are some things you can do to keep your focus sharp.

Take notes:

Many pro and high level bowlers actually take notes during their league, tournament or practice session. Taking notes can be helpful in a couple ways. If you are forgetful about where you are standing or how the left lane is playing compared to the right lane, grab a notebook or piece of paper and jot down a quick reminder. Even the best bowlers can forget something as easy as where they stood and aimed on the last shot.

Taking notes also can help avid tournament and league bowlers remember how certain lanes play at the house you normally bowl at. Pair to pair is always a challenge, but often times each pair will remain consistent. Have you ever bowled on the end pair of lanes and received a different reaction than compared to the middle of the house? Next time you run into a funky pair of lanes, make a quick note of how you played them so you can remember for next time.

Pay attention to other bowlers on your pair:

This one is so important and so many bowlers do not understand the value in this. If you are bowling with or against someone who is playing a similar line as you are, keep a close eye on their ball reaction and how it changes over the course of league or tournament. Paying attention to others can help you make better judgment calls and get ahead of potential moves.

If a bowler is lined up and all of sudden goes high or splits on what seemed like a good shot, that is a clear indicator that you should probably move your target line as well. Little things like this can help you gain a slight advantage over the competition and it takes little to no effort.

Work on Physical Shape and Mental Strength

While bowling may not seem like the most athletic sport out there, there are still important factors to consider regarding physical shape and flexibility. Bowlers are commonly facing the same health and pain issues, a lot of which start with your physical shape.

Knee, ankle, hip, and back pain are all relatively common amongst bowlers. This is not a health claim and you should always do your own research on what works well for your body. Things such as stretching, losing weight, and gaining muscle can all help alleviate common pain that hinders bowlers.

Mental strength is another area that is commonly ignored. Many bowlers struggle with their mental game, whether it is due to bowling poorly, slow league night, or whatever factor. It is key to always have the most confidence in your ability as that will produce the best result. It is important to stay both physically and mentally sharp as both of these areas will help your game.

Check Equipment to Make Sure You Have a Good Fit:

This is something that should be considered every 6-12 months by bowlers of any skill level. Oftentimes this is overlooked but you should always be making sure that your hand fits in the ball properly since your body is constantly changing. You can do this yourself without the need of a proshop, but be conscious of body changes.

Here are some common signs that your fit might be incorrect or outdated:

Squeezing:

If you are having to squeeze to hold on to the ball, regardless of weight, you should reevaluate your grip. Squeezing causes several issues for bowlers such as blisters and inconsistent releases.

Blisters or pain:

As mentioned above, one cause for blisters can be squeezing the ball. But there are several other ways that blisters can show signs of incorrect fit. Any ripping, tearing, or blistering of the skin on your bowling hand can often mean that the fit is incorrect. Many bowlers will start to develop calluses over time which is fine, but if you are experiencing new blisters all the time we suggest having your Pro Shop help you out.

Coach Yourself or Ask Your Pro Shop for Advice:

It is important to not only be comfortable with your game but you should know what you look like bowling and also be aware of any key focus areas to work on. I often recommend that bowlers film themselves for a couple of shots just to see what their form looks like. This really can help you get an understanding of things you might need to work on or focus on practicing.

There are some great places to get bowling help without access to a direct coach. I would suggest checking out the Bowling subreddit on Reddit. Bowlers are constantly uploading videos of their form and people across the community are always willing to help. Give it a try!

Asking your fellow league mates or Pro Shop operator to give you tips can also be helpful. While it might seem intimidating, I promise you that most good bowlers are always willing to provide a useful tip or some insight into how you can improve.

Hopefully you can use these 5 tips to improve your game and get higher scores!