Know Your Bowling Adjustment Variables

By: bowlingball.com, 5/6/16

If you know your bowling adjustment variables, your chances in succeeding in playing ever changing lane conditions during competition increase.

There are variables you encounter when bowling which are out of your control and some where you will have the ability use effectively.

Variables you will have some control with are, as examples, overall ball motion, your ball speed, loft distance, axis tilt and rotation, rev rate, delivery path angle, choice of equipment, drilling layouts, and ball surface texture.

These variables can become simple adjustments you master if you develop the right technique in each case.

As the oil patterns change in various competitions, you must be able to compensate by making one or more of these above mentioned variables.

However, not all variables are under your control.

Examples of variable where you have no control include the specific oil pattern used by each bowling center for leagues and tournaments, the type of lane oil used, the volume of oil applied to the lane surfaces, the type of lane surface you bowl on (synthetic or wood), the topography of the lane surface, and the humidity/temperature in the bowling center.

It becomes most important, therefore, to pay strict attention only to those variables you have some control in using.

Develop good technique with your swing cycle so you become adept regulating your chosen bowling ball speed range and loft distance range.

Attaining predictable bowling ball skid distances is key in controlling overall ball reaction. The goal obviously is to get a consistent ball reaction.

Another swing related technique key to playing the lanes properly and leading to hitting the pocket as often as possible is delivering your ball at a predetermined path angle from release point toward the break point and doing so repeatedly.

The swing cycle includes the moment you release your ball. If you choose a given release action with your wrist or bowling fingers on a given lane condition, strive to stabilize the technique during your session on the lanes.

If you need to make a release adjustment, avoid major adjustments but rather make a modest adjustment and one which you are confident you can repeat and is proven to be effective when you bowl competitively.

Of course, one easy adjustment, yet one where many advanced bowlers resist or prolong implementing, is changing bowling balls.

If you wish to alter your ball reaction when other adjustments you try cease to work, it is likely time for a ball change.

One factor seldom discussed is the anticipation that some lanes in each center will not provide you an identical ball reaction.

Don’t expect each lane on each pair of lanes, each lane, to reaction the same just because you felt you made a good shot.

Be ready to make adjustments as you cross pairs in tournaments or as your pair gets more and more linage in league play.

Trust your lane reads.

Timely decisions and adjustments makes the difference between good results and poor ones.



Develop your own adjustment strategies and sequence in using these adjustments when needed.

Be spontaneous. React as you see your ball reaction requires you to adjust using one of your variables.

Build your own menu of adjustments by developing your personal “bag of tricks” ready for use during competition.

All top tier players use adjustment variables they trust when playing the lanes.

No adjustment works every time. Be ready to use alternative adjustments, trust your decisions and make one good shot at a time.