How Do I Stop Forcing My Bowling Ball?

bowlingball.com, Originally Published: 6/17/2015; Updated: 5/14/2022

If you ask how do I stop forcing my bowling ball, you are likely too quick with your steps and perhaps shortening your backswing, grabbing your ball and forcing your forward swing and release.

Although this sounds like a lot of trouble, it can be fixed if you use some swing and steps patience.

When you get too quick, your timing suffers.

Take your time getting to the foul line and stay in tempo from shot to shot. This means to not hurry your steps beyond your normal walking pace.

When bowling in pressure situations which is where most bowlers hurry the steps and force their swing and release, focus on fully completing your backswing.
Avoid grabbing the bowling ball at the top of your backswing and forcing the downswing. Instead, allow the forces of gravity to start your ball into the downswing which helps make a smooth transition into the forward swing.

Bowlers will invariably hurry the final two steps of their approach in an effort to get rid of the ball.

Regardless if you have slow footwork or very lively and quicker steps, it is important to not increase the pace of your steps beyond your routine, particularly your final two steps.

A hurried and forced shot can lead to rotating your bowling fingers much too soon and pulling your ball inside your intended delivery path.



When your steps remain constant in tempo from shot to shot, your tempo improves, your swing gets the same amount of time each cycle to complete itself, your hand has the time needed to make effective releases, and you can complete your forward swing and follow through motion smoothly and consistently.

Avoid allowing the temptations pressure brings of wanting to force your release in an effort to put more on the ball than you normally execute.

When you try and add power by forcing your release, your accuracy suffers.

Exercise good patience when you bowl and eliminate forcing your ball down the lane.