Bowl Like Walter Ray Williams Jr

Hanging out with friends and family for bowling night can be a lot of fun, but also secretly disappointing. When looking up at the scoreboard and seeing high scores, but neither one of them are yours, you can feel quite low spirited. Yes, bowling night for you guys is just for fun, but deep down inside, you want to be one of the best bowlers in the group. They're receiving higher praise, more attention and they look so much cooler. Don't allow these guys to continue to be the best bowlers in the group. Improve your bowling game with these tips, and move up in the ranks.

Bowling Strikes like a Professional

Tip #1 - Drive the ball through the 3 most important pins

Right handed: aim to drive the ball through pin # 1, 3 and 5. 

Left handed: #1, 2 and 5.

It is important for these three pins to hit each other. To do so, it is best to use a lighter ball. Heavier balls are more prone to causing pins to fly up in the air. Many pros will use a 13-15 pound ball to get the job done.

Tip #2 - Guide your ball to its destination by using the arrows on the lane (7 arrows in total)

Right handed: second arrow from the right

Left handed: second arrow from the left

Tip #3 - For finger placement, use your thumb, middle and index fingers to grip the bowling ball firmly

Using a three hole ball, place your thumb (polex) in the bottom larger hole and your middle (digitus medius) and ring finger (digitus medicinalis) in the top two holes. If your grip on the bowling ball is too weak you can lose grip on the ball, and it can cause your bowling speed to slow.

Tip #4 - Hold the bowling ball in your hands to hook the ball

Place the dominant hand underneath the ball, while your three bowling fingers are inserted. The free hand should be used as support for the dominant hand to take away much of the ball strain on your hand.

Tip #5 - Position your feet more favorable to one side of the foot markers

Position your feet just behind the broken line of dots (foot markers) that are 12 and 15 feet from the foul line. There are two rows of foot markers. Choose the one that best fits your comfort.

Right handed: left foot should be just to the right of the middle dot (start with one dot over) 

Left Handed: right foot should be just to the left of the middle dot (one dot for starters).

If you're not hitting your marks (the 3 target pins) from this position move another dot over.

Miss left: move one dot over to the left

Miss right: move one dot over to the right. 

The reason for moving a dot over towards the side which your ball missed is so that you can give your ball more time to roll within the lane prior to hooking towards your target pins. If you're right handed and the ball hooks too soon then you're missing left. Sticking to the same power in your throw and to the same type of hook shot, the angle in which your ball hooks will turn right when you move over a dot (or two) towards the left, allowing for your ball to hook further right from where you missed left.

Tip #6 - Take 5 steps in a straight line, in a slow and controlled manner, towards the foul line when approaching

From the foot markers (12 and 15 feet away) take 5 steps towards the foul line. There is another set of foot markers right before the foul line; your final step should stay just behind these markers. Walk in a straight line with your eyes focused on the target arrow in the lane.

The first step of your five-step walk should be the foot opposite of your bowling hand. Right handed: step first with the left foot. Left handed: step first with the right foot.

The step before your last is the power step that will forcefully propel your movement forward and give you a stronger release of the ball. The power step should have a bend to it which will allow your final step as you're throwing the ball forward.

Tip #7 - Swing your arm back and forth like the pendulum on a clock

When swinging your arm to toss the ball, keep your arm close to your body, bring it behind you and up to your shoulder level, swing it forward and release the ball when your arm is perpendicular to the floor.

Maintain a slow, smooth and controlled manner when bringing your arm forward; don't rush.

When releasing the ball, rotate your hand and release right as your hand is positioned as if you're giving someone a handshake. Right handed: rotate thumb to 10 o'clock. Left handed: 2 o'clock. This will allow the ball to have a curving action.

Make sure to follow through. Keep the arm straight as you swing it all the way up until your hand finishes above your head.  Slow, smooth and controlled mannerism.

With plenty of practice and determination, you can improve your bowling score drastically. The more strikes you can bowl, the higher the praise you'll receive. Never stop trying to perfect your craft. Work hard, work smart until you've managed to bowl 300 points every game (a perfect game). The methods presented in this article are applied by professionals, day in and day out.