Think Your Way Around The Bowling Lanes

bowlingball.com, Originally Posted: 8/5/2013; Updated: 3/22/2023

If you are a 170 average bowler or less and making the same mistakes with decisions on playing the lanes, you merely need to adopt a strategy of thinking your way around the lanes.
Everyone makes mistakes with lane conditions or which bowling ball to use, but if you are open minded to trying the adjustments you have practiced there should be no reason you cannot expect positive results.
If you are making a few physical mistakes during your approach, these short tips might help:
1. Think making a smooth and slow start to your approach.
2. Focus on making one good bowling shot at a time.
3. Relax your arm swing by using a consistent tempo back and through.
4. Hold your form at the foul line to ensure good balance.
5. Minimize muscle tension in your legs and arms while you bowl.
6. Make your alignment decision before stepping onto the approach and trust your decision.
If you think an alignment adjustment is needed because your bowling ball is missing the pocket, make a decision where to adjust your feet on the approach and where to sight on the lane as a target.
Once you have made a calculated decision, trust your thinking and make the adjustment.
The point is to think and move.

It is a proven fact that lower average players resist adjustments more so than highly skilled players.
Maybe you decide to alter your ball speed slightly or reduce your finger rotation when delivering the ball because of a bad ball reaction. If so, make the decision which adjustment is likely easiest and the best one for you and make the adjustment.
Waiting an additional frame on a given lane to make an adjustment after getting a poor ball reaction only delays getting your ball back into the pocket to improve your chances at getting strikes.
The best players make any adjustment, or adjustments, necessary to get the ball to strike. They attack the pocket by making crisp decisions and trust implementing their decisions.
Once any good player understands his or her bowling conditions, then the range of adjustments will narrow and it becomes an easier decision as to which adjustment will work best in competition.
Do not make adjustments off poor deliveries. When you make a good delivery, trust your feedback even if you get a poor ball reaction.
Your job as a bowler is to know what it takes to make a good shot and then focus only on making a good shot one delivery at a time.
Think and act. Trust your own eyes and what you see.