During your high school and college years, you might have visited the local bowling alley a few times with your friends, but never took the game seriously. With age, though, you may have come to appreciate it more and have been eager to improve your technique. The art of giving a bowling ball some spin is something bowling enthusiasts struggled with for a long time until they practiced and refined their technique. Bowlers with the most success spin the ball consistently in order to make the ball hook into the pins. Learning it isn’t easy, but the results make it worth it.
A ball’s spin refers to its rotation along its axis as it travels down the lane, which is largely determined by how the ball is released. It is caused by the rotating axis of the ball tilting upwards as it travels along the boards toward the pins and this increases your chances of a strike by entering the pin deck at an angle.
Perfecting that bowling ball spin and leveling up the bowling skills is all about precision. The release of your ball needs to be so precise, and your technique needs to be perfect to consistently create some spin. It takes some time to get used to and acquire that muscle memory, but once you do it for the first time it will come naturally to you.
What Makes Spin Better Than a Straight Release
Most novice bowlers release the ball straight along the lane toward the pins. It can sometimes result in an acceptable score when you are competing with other novices, but if you want to bowl better you have to drop the straight ball delivery release.
By releasing the ball so that it spins, you maximize your chances of knocking down as many pins as possible. As the ball moves down the lane, it rotates on an axis. The hook motion (which looks like a spin) is what helps you knock ’em down and get the strike.
You should learn the proper hook technique when you bowl if you want to become a pro or even just beat your friends.
Techniques To Put Spin On A Bowling Ball
When it comes to mastering the art of spinning the bowling ball, there are a few different techniques bowlers swear by. Focus on mastering one of the techniques below if you are looking for that perfect hook or spin. Look forward to seeing you on top!
Getting Ready to Bowl
Choose a ball that fits your grip. You must be able to hold the ball and let go while the holes fit your fingers in such a way that your fingers will not get stuck. The grip has a crucial role to play in the final split seconds your hand is in contact with the ball.
When it comes to performance, the properties of the core and the interior weight block of a bowling ball are extremely important. Spinning balls have various core alignments. Decide which type you will be using before you start.
Select a ball of the appropriate weight in order to impart the necessary amount of spin. Determine where the pocket is. It is where you would want to target with the ball.
The Constant Grip
The secret of winning even after consecutive games is to keep pressure on the ball from the starting stance until the release point through a constant grip.
At the onset, you would need to get into the starting position and apply your grip pressure. Next, make sure you do your swing before releasing the ball at that crucial moment. This is something you need to pay attention to.
When you feel the ball approaching the back of your sliding shoe at the bottom of your forward swing, release it. The importance of not releasing the ball until your foot is at the back of that shoe cannot be overstated. When you release the ball too soon, like when your hand is closer to the front, or the middle of the sliding shoe, then you will just see the ball roll right over the foul line.
The Ball Placement
By simply picking up the ball and sending it down the lane, you are missing one of the most important components of a proper technique – the position and placement of the ball.
Would you like to see the ball go spinning (hooking) immediately after it is released? Then just concentrate on rotating your fingers more after it has been released. The finger rotation at the release point must be reduced if you want a smaller hooking action.
In contrast, however, a small spinning action is a lot easier to execute than a large one. Ideally, experts prefer a smooth and easy to control spin/hook that yields consistent results.
During a bowling game, use a modified handshake position with your hand so that the ball is not flat in your hand or to the side of the ball during the grip. Rather, it falls somewhere in between those two extremes. Keeping your hand in this position throughout the swing cycle will result in a modest spin – noticeable at the front of the lane, which gradually reduces once you reach the back and allows for a smooth hook at the end.
Furthermore, you can now adjust how you hold the ball. There are some people who choose the full handshake position where the hand rests on the side of the ball. Often, you get a similar result in the lane. When you release your hand from this side hand position, your palm actually ends up facing the floor. Trying to force a spin like this usually results in poor ball roll and direction.
It is important to adjust your technique based on results. First, you should strive for consistency. In order to be successful, you have to combine all the elements and repeat them. Consider things like your stance position or your grip as you go. You should also work on timing and would want to make sure both your foot and the ball arrive at the foul line at the same time. For a better sense of your timing, record yourself bowling.
You will need some time, but once you learn that the thumb leaves the bowling ball first, you can then determine which “pocket” you should target. With a bit of practice, you will be spinning bowling balls in no time!
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