Getting to the Next Level

Many bowlers have a goal of establishing a particular average. They will put in the time and effort to post that number, whether it’s 175, 200 or 225. But what do you do once you reach that number?

The guys and gals averaging 225 and higher always are trying to improve and find that edge that keeps them at the top of the league average sheet and tournament standings. How do they do it?

Bowling is a sport that has many aspects and layers. If your physical game is solid, how much do you know about bowling ball layouts that might give you an extra strike or two each game? Can you play off the gutter if the shot is out there, or can you loft the ball over the gutter on the burn?

There’s always more to learn, so we’ll examine a few of those areas.

BOWLING BALL LAYOUTS
The dynamic of laying out a bowling ball is much more than drilling three holes into a round object. Understanding how different layouts work for your game could be the difference between an extra strike each game and making the cut at a tournament.

A great source to start with is your local pro shop operator, who can explain how different pin, mass bias and weight-hole placements affect ball motion and what can work best for building your arsenal.

PLAYING THE EXTREME INSIDE AND OUTSIDE SHOTS
You’ve seen Jason Belmonte loft the gutter and Norm Duke play the twig on PBA telecasts throughout time, and working on getting comfortable playing both of those shots will benefit any player.

Both shots can be intimidating at first, but feeling confident in either part of the lane will give you the advantage when a tournament forces you to one extreme or the other and your opponent isn’t ready.

Here are a few tips from PBA superstar Chris Barnes on lofting the gutter:

OIL PATTERN BREAKDOWN
Let’s face facts. In league, you generally know what ball you’re going to start with and where you’re going to play on the lane. But do you know the moves when you’re ball hooks early or leaves a flat 10 pin?

As the oil transitions on the lane, it’s key to understand what your reaction is telling you about your invisible opponent. Here’s a few more helpful tips from Barnes:

ALTERING YOUR RELEASE
What do you do when it seems like nothing is working? You’ve moved on the lanes, tried different bowling balls and still can’t put all 10 back? Maybe it’s time to make a change in your release to create a different look on the lanes as well as on the scoreboard.

There are several tricks to get the ball to act differently, and it’s best to practice and have several different releases ready in case your “A” game isn’t working.

Here’s a few tips from USBC Hall of Famer Carolyn Dorin-Ballard:

Here’s a great demonstration of creating different rotations with Team USA’s coaches Kim Terrell-Kearney and Bryan O’Keefe:

Be sure to practice with all of these tips to get more comfortable and to have a better understanding of what’s happening on the lanes.