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Bowling Technique: How to Throw a Straight Ball?
Lately, I have been receiving questions about, the bowling technique to throw a straight ball. This is a very important bowling technique, especially for corner pin spares. But, it isn’t as easy as many bowlers would think. Notice Professional Bowler Sean Rash’s release, I believe he is going for a 10 pin. But, how can I tell? Can you tell by this picture?
Lets start off with the bowling ball, and what you want to do with it? If you are using a plastic bowling ball, the bowling ball has low lane resistance and easy to control. Your release isn’t as critical, because of the low lane resistance.
Now the bowling technique if you are using your strike ball, which is usually a reactive resin type bowling ball, the control will be more complicated. Mainly because your strike ball usually curves or hooks, with your release lift. But even without lift, depending on how aggressively your bowling ball is drilled, will still have a curve or flipping motion. This is because of the bowling ball’s weight block. For example, your right handed and you want to pick up the 10 pin, how many times has the bowling ball curved to the left, just before hitting the 10 pin?
The bowling technique is keeping your thumb up at 12 o’clock or straight up. Don’t lift the bowling ball, just let your hand stop at the bottom of your arm swing. The third bowling technique point to remember, especially with a aggressive strike ball, is to break your wrist. No not physically, but relax your wrist, so you will not add any lift to the bowling ball. Of course, practice will give you your own comfortable style of release, and mark locations to use. The main trick is to control the lift or curve of your bowling ball. This is why many bowlers use a plastic bowling ball, which I found out, can be over powered and keeps sliding into the gutter.
Another way to pick up 10 pins, or 7 pins for lefties, is the backup ball. Instead of keeping your thumb up, flip your hand to the right, and rotate your thumb to the 1 or 2 o’clock location. For left handed bowlers, it would be 11 or 10 o’clock. This will cause the bowling ball to rotate to the right into the 10 pin. Then again practice, practice, practice will be needed to master the backup ball speed and mark location.
For right handed bowlers that use a straight ball for your strike ball, move more to your right for added angle to the pocket. Of course left handed bowlers just flip it, and go more to your left.
No matter what type of bowling style you have, practice will give you the confidence and natural release you need to be consistent. Remember to be yourself and develop your own bowling style. It’s not a one style fits all, as many experts want you to believe. It’s your Game, play it your way!