The armswing is an aspect of the physical game that goes hand-in-hand with legwork (discussed last issue) which, when combined, provides ball speed, power, and control. If your legwork is the area that gains you power and ball speed, the armswing is the mechanism that gets the ball to the intended target (control).
The armswing should be in alignment with your target, regardless of where you stand on the lane (since that is where you want the ball to go). Thus, the initial pushing away (movement of the ball) and finishing of the shot (follow through) in that direction will allow for greater accuracy in hitting your target.
Other aspects of the physical game are important to this as well. They include footwork, timing, and the release, which also must be consistent to make the system work together.
Bowlers may not always realize what is taking place with their armswing. Footwork can be judged in ways such as how much you drift or how far you finish from the foul line each time. These two areas can be seen just by looking down at the foul line as to what has taken place.
However, the armswing cannot be as easily noticed—once completed, you will not likely see any aspect of the motion which took place. This is most prevalent in the backswing, as it is not wise to look behind you to see where the ball is while attempting to move forward to the foul line.
Another area where the armswing is difficult to judge is whether it is in alignment (pushaway to follow-through) with your intended target. This is an area that a second set of eyes, preferably those of a certified instructor, can assist you with (especially the backswing).
Align your body towards the target
you are attempting to hit.
To align your swing with your target, one key element must take place, and that is to align your body towards the target you are attempting to hit. This can be accomplished in two ways.
One way is to turn your feet until they point in the direction of your target (this also applies when you are playing the lanes straight). The other is to either pull back your left or right foot half the distance of the other foot.
An example of this is if you are standing on the center dot and your target is the second arrow from the right side channel, then you would bring your right foot back (right-handers). The opposite foot is moved back when the target is the second arrow from the left channel (left-handers).
Now that alignment has taken place, the next thing to do is execute the shot. When executing the shot, the next important element comes into play, and that is a relaxed armswing. A relaxed armswing can help in ways such as allowing you to fully extend through the shot, thus lessening your chances of pulling the ball inside of your target or not allowing you to extend through the shot for a complete follow-through.
If you want an example of what a loose armswing looks like, think of either the arm on a grandfather clock or a pendulum. These objects depict an easy, effortless motion. A loose armswing also can take the pressure off of your arm, thus allowing the leverage you get from staying low at the line with your legs to provide the majority of the power.
Of note, when executing the armswing, the general rule of thumb (but not absolute, as there are no rules in bowling) that I teach is to try not to allow the backswing to go above your shoulders. By allowing this to happen, it automatically forces the head and shoulders towards the ground, which can cause an imbalance in the bowler’s approach and the likelihood of raising up at the line when the armswing comes through at the foul line. This can cause the shot to be cut short.
When the follow-through occurs, the armswing should allow you to reach out towards your target as if trying to grab it. As the armswing continues upward after the release of the ball, the forearm should be in alignment with your shoulder, thus drawing a straight line to your target.
The way I best depict this is if your forearm is blocking your vision, then the shot did not likely meet its intended target.
In closing, the armswing is the control mechanism that gets the ball to the target. Forces, motions, or tight, rigid armswings can lead to forced, tight shots, which more times than not lead to problems.
The two things that can really help in getting this and other key aspects of your game in shape are quality practice sessions and, should difficulties arise, assistance from a certified instructor. Remember, practice makes perfect—or very close to it.
Until next time, when I cover areas of the pushaway, the release, and the position of the hand, take bowling one shot at a time (as every one of them has a value), make the best shot you can each time, and keep thinking.