Perfect Strike Series: The Approach

Who doesn’t love the feeling after getting a strike? And who wouldn’t love getting the perfect strike every time? That’s why we’re starting a perfect strike series that will cover all the ins and outs of capturing that bowling holy grail. We’ll be going over the approach, aiming, oil patterns, and curving.

To get us started, let’s cover the approach:

Foot stance

The approach is the key to obtaining that perfect strike. Your approach includes your foot stance and the walk up to the foul line. The basic approach is similar with some differences depending if you’re left or right handed. You initially begin by how you place your feet. If you are right handed, aim your left toes at the 1-pin; if you’re left handed, do the same with your right foot.

Stepping up to the swing

Begin by holding your ball and bending your arm upward. If you’re right handed, step with your right foot first; lefties should step with their left foot first. As you take your second step, your arm should begin to extend the ball. On your third step, your arm should lift the ball up and back. For the last step, the ball swings forward, and your initial foot slides behind you as you release. The ball is released as it passes the ankle of the sliding foot. Make sure your wrist is straight and relaxed. (Want to make sure you have a straight and firm wrist? We can help with that!)

Releasing the ball at the correct time is crucial. Releasing it too soon will not give it enough power to knock the pins down, and releasing it too late will cause a thud. Or a gutter ball; neither of which is good.

Follow through

The last part to perfect your approach is remembering to follow through. Keep your eyes on the prize, as they say! While you’re focused on the pins, your arm should continue to swing in an upward arc after the ball has been released. This is to keep the movement flowing smoothly so the ball does not roll off course.

Learning your footwork for the approach is an excellent start on your way to achieving the perfect strike every time! Contact us for any questions concerning how to get that perfect release.