Women Bowlers Can Add Power By Increasing Swing Torque

By: bowlingball.com, 2/13/16

Women bowlers can add power by increasing swing torque.

If you are a top level woman bowler who bowls competitively reasonably often and wish to add a bit of power to your game, add some swing torque.

Here is the key; turn your shoulders for power.

That is correct, turn your shoulders open on your backswing and then close them on your forward swing as you enter your slide step and deliver your bowling ball.

This tip is for athletic women players with sufficient agility and balance.

Let’s examine this a bit more deeply. Rotate your shoulders open slightly more than your hips on your backswing as you walk to the line.

Close your hips and shoulders to a square position on your forward swing and as you release the ball.

If you can rotate your bowling shoulder up to 90 degrees open (45 degrees or so work fine as well) at the top of your backswing, you will apply torque to your upper body.

The unwinding of your shoulders against your hips and lower body coupled with your swing gaining momentum build-up on your forward swing will add power to your delivery.

For years and years, bowlers have been taught to keep their shoulders aligned to their target. This technique still works for “stroker” type players who hook the ball only a slight amount because it does promote accuracy and swing directional control.

If you wish to add power, however, then add torque by rotating opening and closing your shoulders.

The power players we see today both in local leagues, in tournaments, and with the professionals on TV who can hook the ball considerably will rotate open their bowling shoulder from 75 degrees open to perhaps 90 degrees open on the backswing and then rotate the shoulders closed swiftly on the forward swing completely uncoiling at the moment they release the bowling ball.

This rotation creates body torque.

If the shoulders rotate 90 degrees, as an example, then the hips will rotate open less, perhaps about half as much.

Because your steps do not rotate, you effectively will rotate your shoulders more than your hips and your hips more than your steps.

This coiling and uncoiling motion creates body torque and will apply power to your delivery.

If you try this in practice, you will feel a pulling sensation on the opposite side of the torso from the non-bowling shoulder down to the hip as the swing opens on the backswing.

This pulling sensation is caused by the torque created turning the shoulders more than the hips and feet.



Since your steps are essentially moving straight toward the pins during your approach, the upper body torque will assist the forward swing in generating increased speed and acceleration thereby also increasing power.

If you want to try this in practice, rotate your shoulders open a slight bit, perhaps 30 degrees open to 50 degrees open, before making a decision to create a maximum full 90 degrees of rotation in an attempt to generate maximum torque.

It is best to work on adding torque and power to your game when working with an experienced instructor.

Your coach can easily monitor your new swing motion to make sure you are accomplishing what you want without losing too much accuracy or balance.