I believe three key factors go into being a top player, no matter what level, and each can be dealt with in a methodical manner. These factors are: a proper grip, a sound physical game, and an understanding of bowling ball dynamics as to how they relate to lane conditions.

There is a reason for everything that happens in bowling, yet the hardest part can be determining what, why, and how. The sport of bowling has never been easy, much less fair, and it will continue to be a thinker’s game as long as one strives for improvement.

In the sport of bowling, people have a certain degree of control in terms of what goes on around them. Each person picks his/her area to stand on the lane, decides how to throw the ball with a certain amount of speed and rotation, what mark to look at, and what ball to use.

Given all of that, I find it difficult to understand why some bowlers choose to find fault in everything but themselves for errant shots, scores not up their expectations, and bad breaks. As far as I know, a bowling ball has never rolled itself down the lane on its own, a pin has never intentionally remained standing, and a lane has never targeted a given individual for failure. Human beings created the lane, the pins, and the ball, thus each can be conquered when difficulties surrounding them arise.

Human beings will make mistakes from time to time and have good and bad days on the lanes. It is possible to bowl well yet not score well and score well but not bowl well.

If there is any aspect that could be considered a secret in the sport of bowling, it is those bowlers who try to figure out what went wrong by breaking down their game. By doing so, they can then understand what happened on the shot by knowing enough about their capabilities and limitations. This can be done by seeking external assistance (instruction, videos, books, magazines) which will result in educating one’s self about the sport. Upon gaining that education, those individuals will continue to be the ones who achieve success.

The sport of bowling has never been easy,
much less fair, and it will continue
to be a thinker’s game
as long as one strives for improvement.

I have witnessed bowlers get angry, kick the ball return, hit the scoring unit, make obscene gestures in the direction of the pins, and so forth. These actions will not change what took place or ensure that it will not happen again.

What can prevent it from happening less often is by trying to figure out why the shot was errant. Could it have been the wrong ball for the lane condition, playing the wrong part of the lane, pins off spot, hanging in the ball, bad timing, etc.?

The list goes on and on, but the key factor in all of those is that they are situations which can be overcome and controlled to a certain degree by the bowler. By addressing each of these, you can methodically lessen your chances of poor performance. Once understood, you can then have the satisfaction that you have educated yourself about the sport.

Learning how to play the sport through the absorption of educational information can allow you to devise better solutions for problematic situations. By controlling anger and frustration, which can cloud the thinking process, the bowler has then allowed himself or herself to make rational, intelligent decisions based on knowledge gained through education.

There are a lot of physically talented bowlers around the world. However, the ones who rise to the top and remain there are those who have sound mental games and an understanding of cause and effect when it comes to their game.

Until next time, take bowling one shot at time, make the best shot you can each time, and keep thinking.

Lewis Twine Jr., NCABA’s 1992 scratch all events champion, is a USA Bowling Silver Level certified coach. He conducts instructional sessions at AMF Waldorf and can be reached via E-mail at twle1965@erols.com.