Bowling
I joined a bowling league recently. I have no experience and was by far the worst bowler when we started, but I have been steadily improving. My local alley has a killer deal on a summer pass, so I'm able to go every day now if I want to, and I hope to improve my top score (currently 158) and consistency a lot in the next few months.
Anyway, I felt that NA needed a bowling thread Anyone else into the sport? Any tips for a new bowler like me?
Anyway, I felt that NA needed a bowling thread Anyone else into the sport? Any tips for a new bowler like me?
Comments
I have long lanky arms so I always go with a lighter ball. Usually 6.5-7.5. On the day I hit the 216 the lanes were sparkling. Had to have been a league day.
Work on your technique. Like shooting a free throw in basketball. Same routine and same steps on approach every time.
Work on your curve throw. Usually knocks down more pins. If I don't hit the strike I go straight ball. I also use a goofy technique where I only use 2 fingers in with my thumb to guide as opposed to the traditional release.
Good thread. Nothing like a good dinner date and some bowling with drinks after
I've been league bowling for a few years, and usually have around a 160 average. If you don't have your own ball yet, have the Pro Shop guy watch how you throw and see what he recommends. The new balls do the majority of the work for you, so if you have a similar release point for your strike throws he can tell you which ball would work best.
Duckpin is my favorite.
I used to be a part of a bowling league as well. I throw the ball similarly to Jason Belmonte. I can't touch his power or rev rate, though. My average was around 140, although I did bowl a 206 once.
Nice! I'm hoping to see my friend hit 200 in the next few weeks.
Love bowling. I wrote an article on Championship Bowling for Wittenhagen because it's one of those sports my family has always loved sharing. My grandfather Birdseye has a 300 game under his belt, as does my uncle Jimmy. Nobody in my generation (yet), but I do have a couple games over 200, so I guess I need to keep practicing.
I love that you have a grandfather called Birdseye.
Used to bowl 3-4 leagues weekly and carried a 210-220 average. Won 7 tournaments and have highs of 300 and 299 games.
Love the game but my previously broken wrist has decreased my ability to bowl well. still carry around a 190 but no longer in the top dawg category at the local alley.
If your just starting ask the alley if they offer training and ball advice and take what you can get. I got good by practicing a ton and throwing a ball well suited to me and my style.
good luck!
Not great at it at all. Usually getting over 100.
I used to have a ton of USBC magnets they'd send when you hit certain scores (225, 250, and 275 were the ones I had, so I'm assuming they went up in increments of 25 only? I don't recall get any in my last year bowling, so idk if they stopped or not).
Nice! I'm hoping to see my friend hit 200 in the next few weeks.
I'll hope he does. It's one of those sports moments you'll always remember.
Nice! I'm hoping to see my friend hit 200 in the next few weeks.
I'll hope he does. It's one of those sports moments you'll always remember.
Yep. I remember my first 200 (it was a 210 where I had the front 5), and then my first 600 series which didn't happen until this past season where I managed to get 3, including the final week of both leagues.
The Big Lebowski or Kingpin, who ya got?
Ha, I hadn't heard of the Kingpin movie...thanks for the name drop. I'll check it out
The Big Lebowski or Kingpin, who ya got?
Lebowski.
I used to bowl pretty frequently, tons of fun. Was never super good at it, best I ever scored was 196. Could probably still hit triple digits, but haven't played in ages.
I bowl a couple times a year. Was in a league 20 years ago and bowled a 215. I bowl about a 115 these days.
Practice/consistency is huge, along with adjusting your release point based on how the oil is reacting.
Was not very good when I started, but left with a reliable 180ish average and cracked mid 200's a few times.
OP - keep at it and you'll be addicted. Helps to get your own ball with holes custom to your hand if you haven't already. I started as a wacky 2 finger crazy curve thrower but transitioned into a calmer 3 finger dropper lol.
I miss bowling quite a bit and now that I'm finishing up school later this year I'm tempted to rejoin a league.
Practice/consistency is huge, along with adjusting your release point based on how the oil is reacting.
Was not very good when I started, but left with a reliable 180ish average and cracked mid 200's a few times.
OP - keep at it and you'll be addicted. Helps to get your own ball with holes custom to your hand if you haven't already. I started as a wacky 2 finger crazy curve thrower but transitioned into a calmer 3 finger dropper lol.
Thanks for the tips! I hit my new high of 176 tonight, so the practice is paying off. I'm not quite ready to get a ball, but I imagine I'll be thinking about it over summer break.
Biggest advice is not to muscle the ball down the lane. Let the weight of the ball and gravity do the work. Then you can focus exactly where to place it. Use the arrows and boards to find the best way to make adjustments to the varying lane conditions.
Biggest advice is not to muscle the ball down the lane. Let the weight of the ball and gravity do the work. Then you can focus exactly where to place it.
This. To add to this, letting the gravity do the work helps you be more consistent when bowling, which will help improve your scores as ultimately it reduces room for error. On top of that, having a consistent approach speed also helps. One way I describe bowling as is "the drinking sport about doing the least amount of work as possible".
I miss bowling quite a bit and now that I'm finishing up school later this year I'm tempted to rejoin a league.
Practice/consistency is huge, along with adjusting your release point based on how the oil is reacting.
Was not very good when I started, but left with a reliable 180ish average and cracked mid 200's a few times.
OP - keep at it and you'll be addicted. Helps to get your own ball with holes custom to your hand if you haven't already. I started as a wacky 2 finger crazy curve thrower but transitioned into a calmer 3 finger dropper lol.
Thanks for the tips! I hit my new high of 176 tonight, so the practice is paying off. I'm not quite ready to get a ball, but I imagine I'll be thinking about it over summer break.
Yes you are. If you don't want to drop over a hundo on a new one, there should be plenty of used ones to choose from (just ask your pro shop, they can help).
Originally posted by: coffeewithmrsaturn
Originally posted by: The Count
The Big Lebowski or Kingpin, who ya got?
Ha, I hadn't heard of the Kingpin movie...thanks for the name drop. I'll check it out
Ah man, Kingpin is a classic. Definitely check that one out.
That's seriously a tough choice for me... I think I'll go with Lebowski as I still quote that among friends fairly regularly.
I miss bowling quite a bit and now that I'm finishing up school later this year I'm tempted to rejoin a league.
Practice/consistency is huge, along with adjusting your release point based on how the oil is reacting.
Was not very good when I started, but left with a reliable 180ish average and cracked mid 200's a few times.
OP - keep at it and you'll be addicted. Helps to get your own ball with holes custom to your hand if you haven't already. I started as a wacky 2 finger crazy curve thrower but transitioned into a calmer 3 finger dropper lol.
Thanks for the tips! I hit my new high of 176 tonight, so the practice is paying off. I'm not quite ready to get a ball, but I imagine I'll be thinking about it over summer break.
Yes you are. If you don't want to drop over a hundo on a new one, there should be plenty of used ones to choose from (just ask your pro shop, they can help).
Plus there are some wicked cool balls out there! Next thing you know you'll be lugging around a bag with both a custom driver and 10-pin ball
I miss bowling quite a bit and now that I'm finishing up school later this year I'm tempted to rejoin a league.
Practice/consistency is huge, along with adjusting your release point based on how the oil is reacting.
Was not very good when I started, but left with a reliable 180ish average and cracked mid 200's a few times.
OP - keep at it and you'll be addicted. Helps to get your own ball with holes custom to your hand if you haven't already. I started as a wacky 2 finger crazy curve thrower but transitioned into a calmer 3 finger dropper lol.
Thanks for the tips! I hit my new high of 176 tonight, so the practice is paying off. I'm not quite ready to get a ball, but I imagine I'll be thinking about it over summer break.
Yes you are. If you don't want to drop over a hundo on a new one, there should be plenty of used ones to choose from (just ask your pro shop, they can help).
Plus there are some wicked cool balls out there! Next thing you know you'll be lugging around a bag with both a custom driver and 10-pin ball
Actually, he could probably just snag an alley ball for his 10 pins since he does that well controlling one already.
I need to take the grips out of mine. I never had a 10 pin dedicated ball until this past season; one of my leagues was in a house that was well maintained and I absolutely could not get my strike ball flat enough, so I bought a Storm Ice.
For some reason he only fingertip drilled it and it feels weird. While I only use my fingertips, I still like the full depth drill.
I miss bowling quite a bit and now that I'm finishing up school later this year I'm tempted to rejoin a league.
Practice/consistency is huge, along with adjusting your release point based on how the oil is reacting.
Was not very good when I started, but left with a reliable 180ish average and cracked mid 200's a few times.
OP - keep at it and you'll be addicted. Helps to get your own ball with holes custom to your hand if you haven't already. I started as a wacky 2 finger crazy curve thrower but transitioned into a calmer 3 finger dropper lol.
Thanks for the tips! I hit my new high of 176 tonight, so the practice is paying off. I'm not quite ready to get a ball, but I imagine I'll be thinking about it over summer break.
Yes you are. If you don't want to drop over a hundo on a new one, there should be plenty of used ones to choose from (just ask your pro shop, they can help).
Plus there are some wicked cool balls out there! Next thing you know you'll be lugging around a bag with both a custom driver and 10-pin ball
Actually, he could probably just snag an alley ball for his 10 pins since he does that well controlling one already.
I need to take the grips out of mine. I never had a 10 pin dedicated ball until this past season; one of my leagues was in a house that was well maintained and I absolutely could not get my strike ball flat enough, so I bought a Storm Ice.
For some reason he only fingertip drilled it and it feels weird. While I only use my fingertips, I still like the full depth drill.
I have always had full depth drilled holes in my balls. Hated the awkwardness of the fingertip holes.