Bowling Tips for Beginners

We show you the beginners bowling tips that you need.

When you are just starting out as a beginner in bowling, there are certain steps and things to learn before you can truly advance not only in your game, but your bowling scores also. There are several steps that beginners should take and practice to become a great bowler. If you try hard and practice these tips you will advance faster and understand better how to read your ball. Becoming a good bowler also depends on some mental bowling preparation and physical practice. Both are very important to mastering your own personal bowling goals. We have put together the very basic and first steps to help you get started. It is always handy to know the bowling terminology before you get started.

Bowling fundamentals are the very strength of your whole game. You must master these so you can move on to higher bowling like playing in competitive leagues and alleys. As a bowler, you cannot move on to these levels until you have mastered the fundamentals of bowling. These basic tips can make or break you as a bowler if you don’t master them. No matter the reason you are learning to bowl, maybe just for fun or to impress your bowling date, you must learn the fundamentals.

First you must perfect your straight ball and become consistent. Learning the straight ball can be very easy for the beginner or very difficult. If you have a natural hook or curve to your throw, even the better. Perfect both with practice and you will have an advantage. You may be able to pick up spares and throw more difficult shots sooner than other beginners because your natural throw is to curve.

Next comes your delivery and how many steps you take. You will need to figure out which works best for you. Three-step, four-step and a five-step delivery’s all have a slight difference in the way one bowls and how the shot speed is adjusted. Finding the delivery that feels the most comfortable is the best for beginners. Make adjustments for your stride length and overall height.

Next comes your release, this is very important to the overall shot and depicts where your ball lands and how it rolls. Always remember to release the ball only after it has passed over your left foot (for righties). By only releasing the ball when it passes over your left foot, you have better aim at your target. This should feel awkward at first but will soon become part of your natural bowling stance and release procedures. Practice and determination is the only way to master your release.

Next come the delivery and how far past the foul line a ball should be released. This is harder to standardize because we are all different sizes and heights. Speed and length of stride also have effect on one’s personal delivery. A bowler with longer arms and legs would probably release their ball about 2 feet past the foul line. A person with shorter arms and legs would release their ball just a few inches passed the foul line. There is not an incorrect amount of distance and this varies by player and technique.

Our bowling tips for beginners will help you bowl better.

You must work towards your own perfect, natural and easy delivery. The only way to teach consistency of form and stance is to bowl natural with an easy style that lets you become more consistent and to hold your consistency. If this part of your game is slightly off wait until you have mastered your straight ball to adjust. It will be more likely you are more comfortable with your throw and it won’t feel strange to adjust slightly. Be natural and don't try too hard on a delivery just because a pro may be doing it. Make up your own style and technique. Always remember too that it is not the size of your ball in weight that gets strikes - it’s the bowler. Using a ball too heavy can cause injury, a 12lb. ball works for most beginners unless they are children. You will soon be bowling multiple strikes in a row!

If you are serious about learning to bowl, and becoming a great bowler, we recommend Bowling For Dummies. This guide works very well for beginners, but also has plenty of information for the advanced bowler once you reach that level. With this guide, you will be bowling in the 200s in no time at all!