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Over the years I had occasionally visited the local ten-pin bowling centre, and rolled a ball down the lanes.  Nobody had ever given me any instruction, and I never saw any invitation or advertisements for coaching.  Was I just unlucky?

In March 2000, I was invited to join a league team that was short of players.  I enjoyed playing, did no worse than some of the other players, but witnessed some very good players.  I found a book about bowling, but for more than a year, I had very little guidance on the techniques of the game.

Let me make two things quite clear - firstly a game with friends of a similar inexperienced standard comparing scores against each other is good fun - secondly I only know the basics of the game and strongly recommend anyone who wants to play well to find a coach.  All bowling centres will know of coaching facilities but you will probably have to ask!

Some very basic points to start you off (right handed players) -

• find a ball which fits your hand, thumb as 1 and fingers 3 and 4 fit deeply into holes, palm flat on ball
• use as heavy a ball as you can comfortably handle
• measure 4.5 steps back from the foul line
• measure 13 of your feet back from the foul line
• either of these measures is probably a good starting distance for you
• there are 39 boards across the lane, there are round markers identifying 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30.
• select a board (say 20) and put the inside of you left foot adjacent to that board
• aim to bowl over an arrow (say the third from right)
• hold the ball with your thumb at the top for a straight ball
• stand with your weight on your left foot
• move your right foot and the ball forward together
• as you take four steps (right left right left), let the ball swing back and forward
• release the ball on the forward swing with your thumb at the top for a straight ball
• (novice players sometimes release a straight ball with their fingers at the top, this causes the ball to spin backwards and lose momentum)
• repeat this and watch where the ball goes several
• you want to hit the 1-3 "pocket", not directly at the head pin
• adjust your starting board and / or the arrow so that the ball goes into the 1-3 pocket
• to pick up a number 2 spare, move your starting position 3 boards to the right
• to pick up a number 4 spare, move your starting position 6 boards to the right
• to pick up a number 7 spare, move your starting position 9 boards to the right
• to pick up a number 3 spare, move your starting position 2 boards to the left
• to pick up a number 6 spare, move your starting position 5 boards to the left
• to pick up a number 10 spare, move your starting position 8 boards to the left

A consistent delivery is better than a fast delivery, but obviously a faster ball will move more pins than a slower one on the same line.  Adjust the combination of starting board / target arrow to suit your style, and always watch where the ball goes.  You may need to modify the board count above to pick up spares, but it is a good starting point.

If you play frequently, you will probably want to buy your own ball.  The big advantage is that it will be drilled to the size of your hand, thumb and fingers.

You will see that some players turn the ball from right to left in an arc.  Statistically, a ball travelling in an arc into the 1-3 pocket will get more strikes.  Any ball will curve.  Hold your thumb at 9 o'clock instead of at the top of the ball throughout the delivery.  You will need to adjust your board / arrow combination.  Board 20 arrow 2 may be a good starting point for the 1-3 pocket.  Spare number 10 may require board 35 arrow 3 in order to avoid going down the gulley.  If you have your own ball, it can be drilled to assist the turn.

The lanes are oiled.  The amount of oil on the lane will not have much effect on a straight ball.  It will effect the turn on a curving ball.  You will have to compensate for the amount of movement your ball is achieving.

However you choose to play - enjoy your game and have fun.

This page was last modified 8 March 2003.