How Do I Control My Bowling Ball Loft?

By: bowlingball.com, Originally Posted: 9/25/16; Updated: 1/22/2022

If you ask how do I control my bowling ball loft distance, there are two primary techniques you can work on to develop loft distance control.

The first technique is to develop a feel for when you release your bowling ball relative to your sliding bowling shoe.

The next technique is to set your bowling shoulder elevation from the floor at a height which allows your normal release to get the ball over the foul line a predetermined distance.

Of course there are other factors which help you control loft distance but these two keys will make it simple to attain a consistent loft distance.

Your loft distance should vary between 6 inches upwards to 24 inches beyond the foul line for most lane conditions. There are times when you need a bit more loft distance to help your ball reaction but the majority of time, the range of 6-24 inches works quite well.

The moment you release your ball off of your hand relative to your slide shoe determines when your ball first contacts the lane surface.

The sooner your hand releases the ball (somewhere near the heel of your sliding shoe), the sooner the ball enters the surface close to the foul line.

The later your hand exits the ball (somewhere near the toe of your sliding shoe), the later the ball contacts the lane surface and the greater loft distance you will incur.

You will find you have a given moment of release when you make consistently good shots and it usually occurs at the bottom of your forward swing arc near the laces of your bowling shoe.

If you wish to get the ball down into the lanes surface close to the foul line and enter the lane smoothly with minimal bounce, then you will need to lower your bowling shoulder closer to the approach floor.

This can be done by creating increased knee flex and a deeper knee bend with your sliding step and by lowering your bowling shoulder by tilting your shoulder about two to four inches lower than your non-bowling shoulder. It is easiest to pre-set your bowling shoulder at an elevation you want from the floor and relative to your other shoulder and maintain that relationship throughout your approach and delivery.

If you wish to increase your loft distance, set your bowling shoulder only one inch or level with your opposite shoulder so your release occurs higher from the floor than when you lower your shoulder and release your ball nearer the heel of your sliding shoe.

These two techniques are the chief factors to develop if you wish to control your loft distance.

There are other factors controlling loft distance which also can be useful. You can bend forward from the waist by increasing your spine angle tilt forward so the trunk of your body is nearer the floor to get the ball to enter the lane surface near the foul line. Comparatively, if you were to slide with your upper body in a relatively upright position, you will increase your loft distance. Also, you can accelerate your forward swing slightly more than normal to create greater thrust and ball loft distance when delivering your bowling ball. Your loft distance is an important key in controlling your ball skid distance which, in turn, affects your ball reaction.

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