How to Bowl – Simple Step by Step

Your go-to guide before hitting the lanes at Tiger Zone!

1. What to Know Before Bowling
   Alright! First things first—grab a bowling ball that feels comfortable. You want your fingers to fit snugly in the holes, and it shouldn’t feel too heavy. Try a lighter one if you struggle to hold it with one hand. You also want to ensure your fingers won’t get stuck in the ball’s holes.
2. Approach Steps
   Now, stand behind the foul line—the black line at the start of the lane. Most people take about 3 or 4 steps before they release the ball, so leave yourself a little space. If you are right-handed, you will end your throw standing on your left foot. To get a feel for your starting point, walk up to the edge of the foul line and then take 3 to 4 big steps back. Now you have a place to start your approach.
3. How to Hold Your Ball
   When you’re ready, put your thumb in the bottom hole, and your middle and ring fingers in the top two. Hold the ball with both hands, having your dominant hand, palm up, fingers in the bowling ball, cradling the ball. Your other hand can hold the ball in the front and top part of the ball for stability. Have the ball cradled in front of you or to the side of you. Your pinky and pointer finger should be resting on the ball and not curled under.
4. Ready and Release
   Now take a few steps forward, and as you walk, swing the ball backward with one hand like a pendulum, keeping your arm straight and following through with your throw. Swing your arm back once and release the ball when you throw forward. When you release the ball, try and roll it gently on the lane, and don’t drop ot out of your hand. As you roll the ball, make sure your feet are shoulder-width apart. Make sure to stay behind the foul line, and bring your hand up, pointing to the direction where you want the call to go. This will help your aim be more straight and accurate.
5. Where to Hit the Pins
   When you are aiming for the pins, the best way to get a strike is by hitting the ‘pocket’. The pocket is the space to the right or left of the first pin, also called the head pin. This is the 1 and 2 pins on the left side and the 1 and 3 pins on the right side. Hitting the front head pin straight on commonly results in getting a split in the pins, and a split is harder to pick up as a spare. Each time you bowl your first ball, make sure you try and go straight each time.
6. Keep Trying Your Best
   Don’t worry if it doesn’t go perfectly—you’ll get the hang of it! Just keep your eyes on the pins and try to aim for the middle ones towards the pocket. It can be difficult at first, but it will get easier the more you practice your swing. For more advanced bowlers, they will look at the arrows on the lanes and not the pins; the arrows line up with where the pins are, and most bowlers who throw a hook will use the arrows to have accurate aim.