Are you a part-time bowler willing to play this intricate sport competitively for the first time. If you accept bowling is your situation, you’re approaching a crucial beginning in your development as a serious bowling competitor. My “Next Steps” handbook to bowling perfection can help get you there. The guys in a local bowling pro shop want bowlers tap bowling potential. A wise bowling wizard once said: aim the balls at the pins and let them roll. Just kidding. Okay, if only it were that simple. It’s all good, we can have you throwing the best way we know how.

First, buy your own tailored bowling balls, bowling ball bags, and shoes needed to do this right. You’ll notice a difference with your own stuff. I promise, have your own ball drilled, and you’ll never go back. A precision fitted bowling ball can make a substantial improvement in your game. Of course another critical matter is benefiting from quality bowling shoes that actually fit

Since you went ahead and purchased comfortable bowling ball and shoes, here’s the second best bowling tip: aiming the ball. While you wait to roll, don’t necessarily roll the ball at the actual pins. Use the notches on the lane like a sling shot. Some greenhorn bowlers don’t even know they’re there. It is easier to aim for a target that is closer. To get the most out of your aim, make sure you stand in the a consistent place 4 steps from the foul line on every attempt. Only then you can adjust your aim using the arrows in the lane.

As for hooks, to achieve their desired pin action? It is our next best piece of bowling advice. They get traction with the their expensive reactive resin balls. Many even semi-pro bowlers carry at least two bowling balls to roll ridiculous pin action, according to many factors. Just a bit of caution: begginers should not try to be fancy, and steer clear of a ball that weighs a ton. Many serious bowlers invest heavily in bowling balls with advanced composite materials. However you should know these balls might make even decent players look silly. And that does it for our first three bowling tips. I’ll be back with another 3 next month.

Thanks, Frank Hundley

My friends and I roll strikes for a company team (US Systems) a group from the guys and gals at our marketing business near St. Louis. I offer advice to aspiring bowlers on the web and in my local newsletter. Lastly, I gotta give a shout out to all my heavy rollers back home. Knock ‘em dead.