 Fundamental Skills
Find your starting position and target
It takes time to learn how your starting position on the approach and the location of your target on the lane affects how your ball will hit the pins. You may feel like you and your ball are all over the place, but once you determine the proper combination of foot placement and ball targets, your game will greatly improve.
First, determine where you should stand on the approach to begin your delivery (see Fig. 1). Place your heels on the foul line, facing away from the pins. If you have a four-step approach, take four-and-one-half brisk walking steps and turn around. This is your starting position. If you use a five-step approach, add one step to find your staring position.
Use the dots on the approach to help you position your feet in the correct place from right to left and the arrows on the lanes as targets at which to aim (see Fig. 2).
For most beginning bowlers, USBC Coaching recommends standing on board No. 20 in the middle of the approach. Right-handers should line up on that board using the inside of the left shoe and left-handers the inside edge of the right shoe.
Use the second arrow from the channel as your target. This arrow gives your ball a good angle into the pocket at the pins and provides some margin of error to the right and left of the channel.
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Walk backward from the foul line four-and-one-half steps (the half-step allows for your slide) to establish your starting position on the approach. Five-step approach bowlers should add one step. |
Click image for larger view |
Boards always are numbered starting from the side where the bowler holds the ball. The seven target arrows are located 15 to 17 feet from the foul line and are spaced every five boards. The locator dots on the approach and at the foul line are lined up with the arrows. |
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