The bowling fundamentals of bowling – arm swing, footwork, and release, among others – are interconnected in ways that many bowlers haven’t realized yet. Here are a few aspects of such interconnectedness that beginner bowlers will do well to apply in their game.
Arm Swing and Footwork
You have to adjust your footwork in accordance with your arm swing and, thus, keep your balance throughout your game. For example, if the ball moves too far to your left during the pushway, you have to move to the left (i.e., footwork) to keep your balance – and if it’s too far to your right, then move to the right obviously. Otherwise, you will be pulled to the ground with the ball’s weight.
If the ball pulls you over, your approach drifts to the left – or right – and you’re walking into your arm swing. You will then get an unpredictable arm swing, even wobble like a duck on your approach.
Footwork, in turn, also affects arm swing. Keep in mind that when your foot moves either to the right or left while the swing’s already in motion, you’re also changing the path of the swing. In turn, the path of the swing has a significant effect on the ball’s direction when it leaves your hand.
You may take a few key steps out of line in deliberately changing the path of the ball’s swing. But be careful since when it isn’t done correctly, you may end up with undesirable results.
Release, Arm Swing, and Ball Fit
The timing of the ball release will affect your arm swing. For example, release the ball too late will cause a more inward arm swing and, thus, a higher chance of missing the target line to the inside. While a split-second off in timing may not sound like a significant thing, it isn’t because a late release can pull you off the line, a result of the ball hanging on your thumb and letting it jerk to the left (i.e., if you’re right-handed).
Check that the ball also fits your fingers properly because ball fit affects arm swing, even increases the risk of injuries like a bent elbow. With a poorly-fitting ball, you will squeeze the ball too tight to prevent dropping it, a position that can also premature cut-off of a backswing.
Be mindful of the details of your release, too, especially as your release will be affected by your ball fit. While drilling pitches and tricks have their merits, these shouldn’t be the go-to movements since you have to change your pitches as your release skills also change.
In time, you can show off your bowling skills at the Main Event but for now, you should be more mindful of these fundamentals and their interconnectedness.