Five simple solutions that should improve your scoring average

Now that you are in mid-bowling season, problems and errors become clearer as your scores decline. You are not bowling up to your expectations.

Bowlers typically want to improve just as much as any other athlete. It doesn’t really matter how good you are; everyone wants to develop their game to produce better scores. The 140-average bowler wants to grow to a 150-plus average. The 175-average bowler wants to build their game to where they are a true scratch bowler. The scratch bowler wants to become the leading average bowler in their bowling center…and once they achieve this they may even want to go pro.

Yet there are several things even the scratch bowler may not recognize. These considerations potentially have an impact on your game’s growth. I would like to present five tips that all pros know about, while the average or even above average bowler may be hazy or even oblivious about. If you want to create an opportunity to augment your game I would ask you to investigate and contemplate the following tips.

First, bowlers really need to consider the complete bowling environment. You are probably saying “what does this mean?”

Essentially I am suggesting that as bowlers we need to be aware of what is going on around us during bowling. I know this seems a bit nebulous, but let me explain: As you bowl in league or even tournaments you should pay attention to other bowlers who are bowling well.

Watching bowlers who are having success should provide you with particularly important information. There certainly are reasons why they are bowling so well. Likely they are confident and their skill level is consistent and refined. Another reason for their success is they are probably throwing the right bowling ball for that oil pattern and their style. And a third observation can be the way the successful bowler plays the lane oil pattern (shot) on that given day, at that given time.

The majority of bowlers prefer playing in a repetitive position which is most comfortable for them. Some of you like playing the gutter while others embrace playing way inside. But what happens when your com- fort position doesn’t work on a given league night? I suggest watching other bowlers who are scoring well. Their ball, their line, their tempo will all give you vital information on how to turn a crummy start into a strong finish. Again, being aware of your surroundings.

My second tip is to know your equipment. It doesn’t matter if you own only two bowling balls or eight. You really need to assess the strengths and weaknesses of your equipment. This is particularly true for those bowlers who rely on only one or two bowling balls. Certainly you do limit your capacity to compete against an opponent who has four times as much equipment. But most importantly, if that opponent knows their equipment (how and where it performs well) they will potentially bury you with higher scores.

If the bowler with equipment restrictions at least knows their equipment, the competitive nature of their game is exponentially improved; even against the bowler with greater equipment resources. Just knowing your equipment, and its limitations, gives you the opportunity to execute the best possible shot; given the lane condition on any given day and time.

Hand position will always have a huge influence on your resultsd. Most bowlers rely on one, maybe two hand positions. Pros have demonstrated their capacity to use up to seven or eight different hand positions. Even if you don’t own numerous bowling balls, you can compensate for this lack with varying hand positions; it sure is cheaper than buying seven or eight bowing balls. Even switching among many bowling balls doesn’t always offer you that little something you need to dial in the perfect release. Hand position can be the way to promote the best shot and it doesn’t require you to constantly change bowling balls.

Changing the speed of your bowling ball can turn a deteriorating bowling performance into a dazzling outcome. Speed has plenty to do with success and - unfortunately - failure in bowling. I would say that the most important bowling tip is to know how and when to vary your ball speed.

Speed can compensate for lane variations, friction problems (under and overhooking), and general pin explosiveness. As a gauge for proper ball speed, the industry standard for perfection has been established at 14.2 miles per hour for a 14-16 pound ball. Lurking in everyone’s bag of tricks is ball speed; try it once in a while to convince yourself.

The final tip is knowing how and when to increase and decrease your hook. Angle of entry into the pocket is so critical for proper pin deflection. Sometimes the lane condition is such a mess that we should consider changing our angle of entry.

Ball speed and especially degree of hook can accomplish this. Sometimes you need to tighten up your shot and produce less hook. Other times, you may be forced, or encouraged, to throw a bigger or wider hook. If you can recognize the bogeyman, you can deal with him. In this case, you need to recognize when to reduce or increase your hook.

If you are willing to consider and then incorporate a couple of these neglected tips you may see advancement in your game. And please consider that it isn’t necessarily one thing that helps you improve, it is usually a combination of measures. Always remember to have fun bowling.