Tuning Up Your Bowling Technique - Picking Up Spares

Why bother to pick up your spares?

All too often, beginning bowlers overlook clearing their frames. They're just delighted to have knocked down any pins at all, and laugh as they shoot yet another obvious gutter ball down the alley.

Picking up spares is the one thing that even a beginner bowler can learn to dramatically improve their game. It can easily make the difference between a 110 and 180 average!

While strikes are an important thing to learn, for a beginning to intermediate level bowler, I advise this: Clear your spares and the strikes will come. You will beat most of the competition by simply clearing your frames.

Tools of the trade

Professional bowlers use a "spare ball". That being a regular, plastic ball they use solely for the purpose of picking up their spares.

Even if you have your own ball, try using one of the regular, plain-colored, plastic "house" balls to pick up your spares. They are drilled to roll perfectly straight, enabling you to better hit your target.

Ready... Aim... Bowl!

Take the time to learn how to effectively pick up your spares. Start by looking at your body posture and stance. The way you hold yourself makes a difference. When your wrist is straight yet relaxed and your arm flows smoothly and in a straight arc forward (not curving around your body and back) your aim will be more accurate.

The easiest bowling technique to knock down your spare pins is to aim the ball directly at them in a straight line. It's not the time to use your $300 hook ball; you want to minimize any spin.

Be sure to relax your wrist as you release the ball and it will roll smooth and straight. Take the time to practice picking up your spares every chance you get. Many experienced league and professional players practice by aiming for the 7 or 10 pin. This method allows them to see how the ball reacts to the effort of crossing the lane.

Practice, relax, concentrate and take your time when going after your spare. A moment taken to line up your shot and take a deep, relaxing breath will make all the difference.

A good rule of thumb is to aim your ball at the pin closest to you, striking it on the side opposite any other pins. Always start from the arrow to the left or right of whichever pins remain standing. Roll across the strike target at the pins you're aiming for and before you know it you will be picking up your spares!

What can stop your efforts to pick up spares?

There are a few instances in which your efforts may prove futile. If you know that you're doing the right bowling techniques but are missing your targets, one of the following culprits is usually to blame:

If your ball is too dull or dirty, it can roll early and use up all its energy instead of storing it up until it reaches the back-end. Pop it in the ball-polishing machine.

If your ball is consistently hooking early and slowing down on the back end, it could be the ball's surface. Again, use the polisher or have it buffed with very high-grade sandpaper.

If your ball seems to slip, or obviously moves funny at the same spot on a lane, it could be a divot, oil, or other flaw in the lane. Try a different lane and see if that helps.

If you've tried a new ball surface and a new lane and your ball is still hooking too early, move your feet a little to the left if you're right handed or right if you're left handed to compensate.

With just a little extra effort you can learn to improve your average and clear your frames. You will have a newfound appreciation for the sport, admiration of your teammates and the envy of your competitors once you've mastered the bowling tips and techniques to effectively pick up your spares.

ImproveBowling offers a bowling guide ebook that is great for bowlers interested in improving their bowling game especially for beginner and recreational bowlers. Visit http://www.ImproveBowling.com to learn more about what the ebook has to offer and you can download it instantly.

Want to Be a Better Bowler? Try These Ten Pin Techniques!

Everyone, no matter how old or young can enjoy bowling nowadays. There are bumpers for the kids to prevent those pesky gutter balls and ramps for those who find the bending and swinging a little difficult.

Because bowling is fun, right? Of course, but it can be irritating when you find yourself barely reaching the 100 mark time after time and want to be a better bowler.

The good news is, there is something you can do. There is a lot of technique involved in learning to improve your bowling game . Professional bowlers will have practiced these bowling techniques over and over again. So the two main bowling techniques you can work on; are your approach and the way you roll the bowling ball.

When you are approaching the line and are about to release the ball, timing is everything if you want to be a better bowler. Not timing your swing correctly means you not only run the risk of stepping over the foul line but it can have a detrimental effect on your game and could be the reason you are not achieving your potential.

Most bowlers take a three to six step approach, this means they take between three and six steps during their run-up. To be a better bowler you should try out how many steps you feel most comfortable with. Many bowlers favor a four step approach.

You should start with the foot which is on the same side as your swinging arm. This is your pushing foot. The ball should be slightly in front of you. Then, as you take your next step forward, pull back your swinging arm. As you step forward with your other foot, lean forward slightly.

At this point, your arm should be raised behind your head. Then slide your left foot out and swing your bowling arm forwards. Release the bowling ball but when you do so follow-through with the swinging motion of your arm.

There are two methods of rolling the ball. Put very simply, you can either roll it in a straight line which is great for getting those spares where accuracy is paramount. Alternatively, you can spin the bowling ball. Learning to spin the bowling ball makes it roll straight and curves into the pins as it approaches them.

This spin (or hook) causes the pins to knock each other over and increases your chances of scoring highly and helps you to be a better bowler. To spin the bowling ball you need to begin with your hand under the ball, thumb facing up. As you release the ball, twist your wrist so your hand is nearly at the top of the bowling ball.

Remember to stay positive and stay focused if you want to be a better bowler. When you are about to take your shot forget about everything you have to do, the chatter from your team mates and the surrounding lanes.

Concentrate on nothing but your next shot and practice the above bowling techniques to send you on your way to that 200 or even 300 game!

For even more advice on how to improve your bowling game and a wealth of information on everything you need to know about tenpin bowling visit the a fantastic web site by clicking on this link: --> Bowling Techniques

Tips On the Hook Technique For Bowling

It seems like people are always looking for tips on making their game better than it was before. The hook technique for bowling is no exception to the things that can be added. Before we discuss any hook technique, we will define 'hook' for clarification: A hook is measured by boards and certain angles to show how much the ball is curving away from the point it started at. The hook angle is the exact place where the ball changed its direction. The hook potential is the most intense path the ball will go to.

The hook technique for bowling involves, and is, basically defined by these three definitions. To use the hook technique, keep your hand in a handshake position from the approach, through the swing, and to the release.

Your swing, when using the hook technique for bowling, is what makes or breaks your hook ball. In stance, keep your bowling hand, palm up under the ball. As you move through your swing, turn the ball so that upon release, your hand will be on the outside of the ball, similar to shaking hands Using the hook technique may seem complicated to the novice bowler, but the hook technique for bowling is an excellent way for picking up spares, which ultimately increases your points which then raises your overall average. What better way to improve your game?

There are three types of hook balls to learn when researching the hook technique for bowling. The first hook technique for bowling is the Stroker. This technique involves the slider foot coming to a stop right before the ball reaches the low point in the swing, which increases the control of the ball. This requires you to keep your shoulders square.

The second hook technique for bowling is the Cranker. This hook technique for bowling produces more power and involves you being at the foul line before your ball arrives. The bowler needs to be aware that this requires a slightly difficult level of movement which, when not controlled, could result in severe muscle injury.

The third hook technique for bowling is referred to as the Helicopter. This hook technique for bowling is mostly used in the bowling world in Asia, due to their low quality lanes, is best delivered when opting for a 10 - 12 pound ball. This requires a different grip. The fingers remain all the way around the top of the ball. Once delivered, the ball travels straight, but spinning similarly to, yes you guessed it, a helicopter.

As with any other techniques, the hook technique for bowling allows for adjustability to suit your style, while the basic method remains the same. This leaves plenty of room for you to make one of these techniques your favorite or signature delivery. Try it out and improve your game at the same time.

Jordan Matthews is an internet entrepreneur with a 239 average, who enjoys bowling at local ABT tournaments every weekend. Visit Jordan's Bowling Website for more information about bowling in tournaments and improving your technique and your scores.

7 Bowling Tips To Improve Bowling Game

We've heard it many times before... practice makes perfect. And for good reason-it's the truth! The best way to get better at anything is to practice; bowling is no exception. However, how you practice will mean the difference between slowly improving and supercharging your game!

Bowling Tip #1: Use the right tools

In any sport, using the correct equipment for the job you have to do improves your performance. In bowling, the ball is the most important piece of equipment you will use, so choose the right one for the job! Be sure to try out many, and select one that's the right weight, material and finger-grip fit.

Bowling Tip #2: Are you bowling enough?

To progress at bowling, you need to bowl at least once or twice a week. The most economical way to get this amount of practice in is by joining a league. Usually, the more experienced players show up before the game to practice. This is when you can learn the most, from people committed to the sport.

Bowling Tip #3: Learn to walk the walk

While professional bowlers tend to use a 5-step approach, that's just not suitable for someone just learning the sport. Beginners are usually more comfortable with a 4-step approach. You can practice your approach without throwing a single ball. Keep your shoulders square to the front, your head up, arm swing smooth, and your pace consistent and even.

Bowling Tip #4: Let 'em roll

Spend time rolling the ball. A bowling ball should never be thrown. How do you tell the difference? A thrown ball will land with a loud "clunk" and then slide a few feet before beginning to roll. A rolled ball lands quietly and quickly rolls down the lane. If you find that you're in the habit of throwing the ball, simply slow down. Try taking a slow, deep breath or two before bowling to settle any anxiety. You will hit more pins with a rolled ball than with a thrown one.

Bowling Tip #5: What you think is what you do

Spend time visualizing and analyzing your shots. Visualize your movements and your shots before you do them. If your ball goes consistently too far right, begin a little further left. You will learn to "feel" when you've bowled a good ball. When you do, write it down before you forget. What did you do? How did the ball feel? Where did the ball hit? Keep it for future reference so you can do it again.

Bowling Tip #6: What if I can't be at the alley enough to practice?

Any smooth surface with a long, clear distance is suitable for practicing your approach. It's not safe to practice the release, however, as a bowling ball will easily roll straight through walls if you miss your target! Not to mention you'll ruin the surface of your ball. When practicing at home, mark your foul line and arrows in masking tape or other material that will not damage your floor. Also mark where your toes need to be for each step. Practice your approach until it's second nature.

You can practice your arm swing outdoors with a bucket of water with a small hole at the bottom. The water drops on the ground will mark the path of your arm and the direction the ball would go. It's a good way to see if you arc around your body when you bowl and which direction your arm is going. This can be a very enlightening experience.

Bowling Tip #7: Don't spare yourself the trouble

It's a very good idea to practice picking up your spares. A bowler who can consistently pick up his spares can easily hold a 180 average without getting any strikes. It's especially useful to practice bowling at the 7-or 10-pins by aiming at them and bowling across the strike zone (the "x" on the lane) from the opposite side of the lane.

By practicing these bowling techniques on a regular basis, you'll be honing the skills that will help you improve your bowling game!

ImproveBowling offers bowling tips for bowlers who want to take their game to the next level. Visit http://www.ImproveBowling.com for more information on improving bowling score and techniques.

3 Bowling Tips and Techniques You Can Use Today

I am going to share some bowling tips and techniques with you that you can use immediately to improve your game. There are so many ways that you can improve your bowling game, and I am going to share a few of those with you. These are three tips that should help you bowl better if you take them seriously.

The first thing that I want to share with you is that when bowling, you need to use your lower body leverage during delivery. On your last step, bend your knee to get closer to the lane and slide your foot making sure that it stays straight. You can think of it like sliding into a deep knee bend. Then, with the leg that is not sliding, move it over across from the arm you are throwing with. This will counter balance your body. You want to make sure that you keep your upper body straight when doing this. It may take a while to get down, but if practiced, you can drastically improve your game.

The next tip that I want to share with you is all about the release. Make sure that you are not squeezing the ball with your grip. Relax your thumb and come through cleanly during the release. If you don't, you can cause your swing to veer off and you will not be able to get consistent delivery. For the best release you need to use your lower body leverage and make sure that you are close to the foul line when your release the ball. If you find that you are too far behind the foul line when you release, adjust your starting point to make up the difference. Getting close to the foul line will allow the ball to strike the lane later and conserve some energy for the pins.

The third tip and technique that I want to share is that you need to develop your own bowling style. There is no set way to do things when it comes to bowling. The important thing is to be able to develop a style that you can do over and over and get good results. If you can do that, you will be a successful bowler. Don't let anyone tell you that you are doing something wrong when you are comfortable with your style. Let them whine when you beat them.

I hope that these bowling tips and techniques have helped you with your bowling game. Remember to always have good lower body leverage, a relaxed grip on the ball, and to develop your own style. Sure you can watch other good bowlers and see how they bowl, but every bowler will have a style that fits them best.

Did you know that all bowlers face 4 troublesome problems? Find out what they are and how easy it is to solve them right here.

Bowling Tips and Techniques ? The 4 Troublesome Problems Resolved Here

Advanced Tips For Bowling That Will Improve Your Game

Bowling enthusiasts are always on the look out on tips for bowling so that they can play the game better and ultimately become a better bowler. There are many bowling techniques you can learn but the hook technique is one of the bowling techniques you can learn to be good at and add to your bowling arsenal.

If you've never heard of "hook" as it is used in bowling, the term simply refers to the curve taken by the bowling ball away from where it started and through the board. The exact point where the bowling ball changed its direction is called the hook angle. The most curved path that the bowling ball will go to is referred to as the hook potential. In bowling, these three concepts are what define the hook technique.

Basically, the hook technique involves keeping your hand in a handshake position beginning from the approach, swing and up to when you release the ball. Your swing will make or break your hook ball. When you are getting ready to swing, make sure the hand holding the bowling ball is positioned palm up under the ball. As you swing, turn the bowling ball in such a way that when you release it, your bowling hand is on the outside of the bowling ball (as if you are shaking hands).

If you're a novice bowler, you may find the hook technique a bit difficult to master at first. However, once you do master the hook technique, you will find it pretty useful for picking up spares. Needless to say, learning the hook technique will help increase your score, thereby raising your overall bowling average.

Now that you know the basic of hook technique, the next thing you need to know is the three types of hook balls you can learn and use on the bowling alley: stroker, cranker and helicopter.

The stroker is a hook technique wherein your slider foot comes to a complete stop prior to the bowling ball reaching your swing's low point. This hook technique helps you increase your control of the bowling ball. You will need to keep your shoulders square when using the stroker.

The cranker is a hook technique you can use if you want to produce a lot more power in your swing. In this hook technique, you arrive at the foul line even before you release the ball. Of all the three types of hook balls, the cranker involves movement that if not controlled can severely injure muscles.

The helicopter is the third hook technique that is more commonly used by Asian bowlers. This is because bowling lanes in this part of the world tend to be low quality, and so for balls that are between 10 and 12 pounds, the helicopter hook is best used. The helicopter requires a grip much different from the other hook balls: the fingers remain around the top of the bowling ball. Once the ball is released, the ball travels a straight path but is spinning like a helicopter.

Are you a beginner bowler looking for more Tips For Bowling [http://www.tipsforbowling.net]? Or are you a seasoned bowler looking to take your game to the next level? You CAN dramatically improve your bowling if you have the right information. For more tips on bowling, go to: [http://EzineArticles.com/?id=947394]

Sean Bailey is a fitness and sports enthusiast. He has written for a number of fitness websites and publications. He currently runs a website giving bowling tips at [http://www.tipsforbowling.net]

Marshall Kent named BWAA Bowler of the Month

8/17/10

ARLINGTON, Texas - Marshall Kent of Yakima, Washington, has been named the July 2010 Kegel Bowler of the Month by the Bowling Writers Association of America.

In a span of two weeks, Kent won the prestigious USBC Junior Gold Boys Division Championship presented by Brunswick, as well as the Boys Division in the fifth annual North Pointe Insurance Group $100,000 High School Open Singles Classic.

An upcoming senior this fall at West Valley High School, Kent earned an impressive $25,000 in scholarship winnings from the two tournaments: $10,000 from the Junior Gold win and $15,000 from the North Pointe Insurance victory.

The more dramatic of the two wins was in the USBC Junior Gold as the 17 year-old Kent struck out in the tenth frame of the tournament's final game, shutting out Matthew Gasn, Laurel, Maryland, 269-265.

Others capturing votes were Brittni Hamilton, the USBC Junior Gold Girls Division Championship winner, Czech Open winner Brian Voss and  Chris Loschetter, winner of the European Bowling Tour 6th Storm San Marino Open.

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Marshall Kent storms onto bowling scene in 2010

8/13/10

By Gianmarc Manzione
USBC Communications

Marshall Kent packed his bowling balls and hit the road last month with the same destination in mind as many other youth bowlers around the country: Indianapolis, where he would bowl the 2010 USBC Junior Gold Championships as well as the North Pointe Insurance High School Open Singles tournament later that week.

By the time he packed up once again to head back home, the 17-year-old native of Yakima, Wash. had won both tournaments, signed on with an emerging college bowling program, and racked up about $75,000 in scholarships. Oh, and he had also clinched a spot on Junior Team USA for the first time.

“It’s a dream come true,” Kent says of joining Junior Team USA. “I could not even imagine that I would make the team this soon.”

If this all sounds like a pretty good deal for one week’s work to you, you’re not the only one.

“It was an incredible week,” says Jim Kent, Marshall’s Father. “Junior Gold was $10,000, then the North Pointe was $15,000, and then the next day he signed a letter of intent with Robert Morris [of Illinois], so ultimately it ended up being about a $75,000 week for him.”

But this is no evening news story of the lucky local who strikes the jackpot with a scratch-off ticket or the pull of a slot handle. This is a story of tireless work and its just reward.

It is a story in which 4 A.M. is as good a time as any to get in a few extra games of practice.

“I had to come into my center at 4 A.M. one morning — we’re open 24 hours — and there’s Marshall throwing some practice with a friend,” says Bob Hanson, one of Marshall’s long-time coaches. “I said ‘Marshall! What are you doing?’ He said they weren’t tired so they came down for some practice games. That was about four days before Junior Gold.”

It is a story of the 160-mile drives Kent takes through the Cascades from Yakima to Tacoma just to bowl six games a month in a travel league there.

Most of all, it is a story of needing all three strikes to win Junior Gold and putting 30 in the pit as if it’s just another few shots of practice back home, of leading the North Pointe the next morning on no sleep and a stomach so ill it might have kept anyone else off the lanes.

“We didn’t get back to the hotel until about midnight because we went out with a bunch of friends from Washington after he won Junior Gold,” Jim Kent recalls. “And I think at that time it finally hit Marshall what he’d done and he started vomiting and had to be at the bowling center at 8 A.M. the next morning for the North Pointe. I don’t know how he did it, but he got up and led qualifying the next day.”

One person who has some idea how he does it, though, is Junior Team USA member Chris Bardol, who also is a standout on the Robert Morris University bowling team that Marshall Kent will join in 2011.

“Chris was sitting behind the lanes when Marshall threw those three strikes in the tenth to win Junior Gold, and he turned to me and said ‘Those three shots were strikes right off his hand,’” recalls Dale Lehman, Head Coach with the Robert Morris University bowling program. “He said ‘That kid’s got ice water in his veins.’ He had amazing composure all week; whatever he needed to have, he was able to come up with it every time.”

And now, in the biggest three shots of his life and at a tournament where he did not even make the cut last year, he had come up with it again to clinch the title by a score of 269-265 over Matthew Gasn. And he had done it on the pair where he previously shot his lowest score of the day, a 150 in game 42.

“Neither of them should have been able to bowl that well on that pair,” says Marshall’s father. “Nobody had shot over a 211 on that pair all day long. There is no way these two kids should have shot a couple of 260s, especially with all those people watching in the center and on the live stream. That was the most incredible match I had ever seen in my life.”

“I had been in that situation before,” Marshall explains. “Just the confidence in knowing that I had done it before gave me all I needed to do it again.”

In fact, Marshall Kent had bowled that match many times before he stepped inside Woodland Bowl in Indianapolis that day. He bowled it while playing buddies for sodas back home. He bowled it in each of the six Junior Bowlers Tour events he has won this year alone. He bowls it every time he shoes up for practice while the rest of Tacoma sleeps.

“He practices like he’s bowling a tournament,” says Harry Mickelson, a Two-Time Team USA member and coach of Marshall’s. “He knows you can’t just flip a switch when it comes time to compete; it doesn’t work that way and he knows that. He wants to make good shots, whether he’s practicing by himself or bowling Junior Gold. I've coached high school basketball for years too, and I've coached plenty of kids that wanted to win, but only a couple that needed to win, and Marshall falls in that category. He's got a lot of fire in his belly.”

“Every time I practice I ask myself ‘What can I do to get better?’” says the boy with the fire in his belly. “‘How can I get to that elite level?’”

“He’s been bowling from the time when he had to push the ball from between his legs, from the time he was two years old,” Marshall’s father says. “We almost had to kick him off the lanes when he was growing up. He would bowl for six hours and we’d have to drag him out of the center, and sometimes it was kicking and screaming.”

But the only ones who needed to be dragged out of the center kicking and screaming at Junior Gold were the college coaches that swarmed Kent like kids at a candy stand with a frenzy of scholarship offers.

“In one way it was fairly entertaining, because I’ve never had this kind of attention before,” Marshall says. “But on the other side there is sorrow because you have to turn most of them down.”

“We went down there with a package that we gave out to all the collegiate coaches with the intent to get this decision done this summer so he didn’t have to worry about it in his senior year,” Jim Kent explains. “We had to work a little at it, but after Junior Gold all the coaches were interested in it.”

Funny how quickly the same coaches that make you “work a little at it” come around when your son shoots 715 in the final three games of Junior Gold to win it at age 17. But when Marshall Kent shows up at Robert Morris to join the bowling team in the fall of 2011, the coach that will greet him at the door will be the one who beat out most of them by several years.

“I’ve watched him for three years,” says that coach, Dale Lehman. “I’ve been talking to him and his dad for several years. I expect him to step right into our starting lineup. The day he came and worked with us, we made suggestions to him right then and he could not wait to try them and get a little better. It doesn’t matter what level you’re at, you can always get better, and he is extremely eager to do that.”

“I am so excited for college,” Kent says. “I am just really looking forward to it.”

For now, though, there is still a full year of high school ahead for Marshall Kent, who enters his senior year this fall. There are those three-hour trips through the mountains and the six games of league to bowl on the other side, the predawn practice sessions in Tacoma, and that dream he’s been working on since the day he pushed a ball down the lane at two years old.

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