Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been bowling for a while, you may find yourself wondering why your shot keeps going off path. Here are some ways you can improve it and get back on track!
Weight Transfer
When your bowling shot keeps going off path, one of the first things to look at is how you stand and distribute your weight. It is recommended to get your feet shoulder width apart and move your weight forward from the start of your swing. This will ensure that your stride is front to back and not side to side, which will prevent the duck walk and allow you to get more power into your shot. To test whether you are transferring your weight correctly, there is an easy drill that will tell you all you need to know. Just tap your back toe on the ground after you finish a shot, and if you can do this quickly, that means you have transferred all of your weight forward properly. If not, then you need to work on distributing your weight further from your stance and into the ball.
Early Timing
One of the most critical aspects of a bowler’s shot is their timing. It helps coordinate the arm swing to their feet as they approach the foul line and is key to getting the ball down the lane in the correct direction. A common problem with bowlers is that they take too long with their first step and this gives them early timing. This can be the cause of pulling shots or not allowing enough time for the arm swing to complete. To get your timing back on track you need to train yourself to slow down and wait on your arm swing before you make the final step of walking. This is a remarkably simple technique that takes a lot of practice and can make an incredible difference in your game. By practicing it, you will be able to get your swing to be in synchronous with your feet as you make your steps toward the foul line.
Aiming Too Far
Aiming too far is one of the biggest reasons why your bowling shot keeps going off path. In order to get your shot to go in its intended direction, you need to be able to focus on an easy-to-focus point that’s closer to the foul line than the pins. The easiest way to do this is by using arrows as your visual target, which can be positioned about 15 feet from where you’re standing. By focusing on this visual point, you’ll be able to see where your ball is aiming. This will help you spot any issues with your swing or footwork pattern that’s keeping your ball off the line. It also helps you identify when your swing is too late and when it’s too early.
Too Much Force
One way that your shot can keep going off path is when you’re aiming too hard. This is especially true for bowlers with eye dominance issues, which can cause them to look at the ball more than they should. This leads to the infamous “pulled” or “tugging” shot, which will always go inside of your intended target line and produce some nasty splits.
Categorised in: Bowling, Bowling Tips