How Do I Get Out Of Jail When I Am Bowling Poorly?

bowlingball.com, Originally Posted: 8/18/2015; Updated: 4/28/2022

If you are bowling poorly, well below your capabilities, and feel you are locked up, then there are a few simple techniques to try and restore your good physical game feel and your confidence.

Here are a few tips to get you going again:

1. Count cadence when walking to the foul line to make sure your steps are not too fast nor too slow compared to when you are at the top of your game.

2. Free your arm swing both on the backswing and on the forward swing using as little muscle tension in your arm, shoulders, and neck as possible.

3. Make a full follow-through motion without cutting the swing short and forcing your delivery. Stay behind the ball as long as possible to avoid rotating the fingers of your bowling hand sooner than needed.

4. Focus on your sighting target on the lane.



5. Avoid putting the “death grip” on the bowling ball. Squeezing your ball excessively only adds muscle tension and makes your swing struggle maintaining a useful pace. Instead, use a light gripping pressure throughout your entire swing cycle.

6. Avoid overlooking routine spare shots. Pay attention to converting spares and resist the temptation to fire your ball much harder than normal so you can retain good tempo and accuracy when shooting spares.

7. Keep your head as motionless as you can during your approach and release to stabilize your body and retain good balance.

Give these simple tips a try when you feel “in jail” and when you are bowling poorly.

It is the small things which can turn your game around quickly if you learn to identify which keys trigger your game back into form.

You always have the option of consulting an experienced bowling instructor if improvement is not coming as quickly as you would like.