Is Bowling Body English Really Necessary?

bowlingball.com, Originally Posted: 6/15/15; Updated: 3/19/21

As a newcomer to the game or one who bowls socially with family or friends, you may be asking is bowling "body english" really necessary?

To address this matter, there are a couple of things to consider about “body english.”

Everyone can easily get excited when having fun. Anything in excess can be detrimental to yourself or others around you on the lanes.

When social bowlers roll a strike, anyone watching might think they just won a national tournament by the way they may react on the approach.

When bowlers get excited, it is common to express emotion by using “body english.”

“Body english” is best described as a gyration or series of body gyrations bowlers make after delivering their bowling ball and when hoping to get a strike or when they get a strike.

You might see bowlers jump up and down, yell or scream at the pins, or run around the approach or settee area out of excitement.

“Body english” is really not a necessary emotion or body reaction but most bowlers will display some level of “body english”, even players at the highest skills levels.

There are, however, extremes that must be avoiding to demonstrate courtesy to others bowling near your lanes.

Jumping excessively around the settee area or on the approach when excited can be a distraction to other bowlers on your lanes or to bowlers next to your lanes if overdone and prolonged.

Excessive body gyrations after getting a strike, as example, before leaving the foul line area on your lane is another way bowlers on adjacent lanes can be bothered or annoyed.

Another way a bowler can be discourteous to other bowlers is by remaining on the approach too long after delivering the ball.

In doing so, other bowlers on adjacent lanes are prevented from stepping onto their approach due to visual distractions when preparing to bowl.

The remedy for excessive “body english” is simply to avoid excessive jumping, screeching, or moving around on the approach out of your immediate lane area and onto adjacent lane approaches.

Clowning around and getting in the way of others trying to bowl is poor bowling etiquette.



Showing enthusiasm for the game is fine. Showing some emotions is also fun and can be done in good taste.

Bowling proprietors want all customers to have fun and enjoy the game of bowling.

Following proper lane courtesy makes the game enjoyable for everyone and keeps the pace of play flowing nicely.

It is OK to express pleasure and show emotions by displaying “body english,” but it is also important to respect the common courtesies asked of all bowlers.