How to Throw a Bowling Ball: Complete Guide

The problem of how to throw a bowling ball is what has discouraged many novices and potential bowlers from the wonderful sport of bowling.

In this guide, allow us to provide you with a quick and substantial rundown of the things you need to know to equip yourself with the best possible chance to get it right when you throw the bowling ball down the lane.

How to Choose the Right Ball

There are several factors to consider when it comes to getting the right bowling ball. However, you shouldn't only limit yourself to one bowling ball as the sport actually welcomes the use of different kinds of bowling balls (as opposed to basketball and football).

Going back to the topic at hand, below are three of arguably the most important things to consider as a beginner when buying a bowling ball for yourself.

Grip

Gripping a bowling ball does not only rely on the bowling arm, hand, and wrist. It also has something very particular to do with finger positioning and how the thumb, middle, and ring fingers are inserted.

You might be wondering what this has to do with the bowling ball you plan to get, and the answer is everything!

Certain bowling balls are sold with pre-drilled finger holes. These bowling balls are not helpful when it comes to consistency and building the proper skills and technique, and would definitely make it awkward when you throw or release the ball down the lane.

What we recommend (at all times) is to go with a bowling ball purchase that would allow you to drill holes that would keep your hand measurements in check.

This would also help avoid unnecessary wrist strain or wrist injury and would make certain shot types (such as a straight throw) more manageable and more consistent throughout your bowling game.

Fir your fingers correctly and make sure to allow for adequate wrist flexibility and mobility in having a custom-drilled bowling ball.

You wouldn't want bowling shoes that do not fit your feet, right? The same applies to finger position and fingerholes.

Weight

An average the traditional bowling ball, whether plastic, reactive resin, or urethane, can come in varying weights ranging from 6 pounds to 16 pounds.

You absolutely have to choose the right weight for your fitness level, strength, endurance, release, swing or throwing technique, and coordination to be able to perform well ehen bowling.

Generally, we would recommend that you engage in practice sessions with the house bowling balls of your bowling alley to get a feel of the weight of the bowling ball and how you perform in terms of the point total or strikes and spare shots.

If you feel like a natural bowler with decent enough coordination, speed, swing, throwing, and release potential, then you may opt for the upper end of the weight range, roughly around 14 pounds.

If, however, you would like to start things off with a lighter ball for an easier swing and release, as well as less strain on your bowling arm, and fingers, then a bowling ball in the range of 10 to 12 pounds may be better, to begin with.

Material (Coverstock)

The material or coverstock of the bowling ball dictates how it interacts with both the surface of the lane and the oil applied to the lane.

For straight throwing shots, you would want a bowling ball that offers less resistance or friction, and that would either be a plastic ball or a urethane ball. We have a dedicated guide to the best bowling balls for straight shots, so check that out.

If you would like a more intermediate or advanced shot with the hooking shot, you should bowl with any of the three types of reactive resin balls. These balls offer a variety of speed configurations at different phases of angular movement.

When it comes to how to throw a bowling ball hook, we have a dedicated guide for the right bowling ball to choose. Check out our 8 best bowling balls for hook shots to help with how to throw a bowling ball hook the best way possible.

Tips for Preparing for the Shot

tips for preparing a shot

Bowling is not just about the "throw the ball" or the "release the ball" right down the middle of the lane, nor is it solely about body weight, keeping your arm straight, and moving forward as quickly as possible in line with your target pin or pins.

There is a nuance to the skill and art involved in each swing, and position is key, not just for your wrist, arm, hand, and thumb, but also for your target, ball, and throw.

Every experienced bowler knows this to be true, and based on our research and own experience, here are a few helpful bits of information that would help bring up your game correctly.

  • The coordination of your body is key. From the starting position to the gather to the release, you have to have every muscle of your body (from toe to thumb) working together to line the perfect forward motion, whether it be a hook or a straight shot, to increase your chances of securing a strike.
  • When you bowl, have a cool and level mindset. It does not help to feel anxious or overly excited. Try to level down your emotions and focus on executing the right hook or straight shot. The hand must be in tune with the swing of the ball, and bowlers can only do this correctly if they are locked in.

How the Bowling Ball Should be Thrown for a Straight Shot

  • Grip the bowling ball and raise it up to your chest while keeping your wrist and forearm rigid and aligned
  • Take a couple of steps and at the same time, initiate the backswing motion of the ball
  • Let go of the ball during the front swing around the area of your calf or ankle

How the Bowling Ball Should be Thrown for a Hook Shot

  • Grab the bowling ball and raise it up to your chest while keeping your wrist and forearm rigid and aligned
  • Take a couple of steps and at the same time, initiate the swing back motion of the ball
  • As you are about to release the ball, twist and rotate to generate the required angular momentum. The goal is to eventually have your swinging arm positioned near the side of the ball relative to the surface
  • Throw the ball during the front swing around the area of your calf or ankle

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you bowl a strike every time?

To throw a strike almost every time, the only way to achieve this is constant practice and training.

How to hold the bowling ball?

The bowling ball should be held with your dominant hand with your middle finger, ring finger, and thumb fully inside the fingerholes (traditional) or only a third of the way inside (fingertip).

How to hook a bowling ball?

To hook a ball, make sure to twist and rotate right before letting go to generate the needed angular momentum.

Conclusion

When you talk about how to throw a bowling ball, you think of the technique involved in getting the perfect shot, perhaps a straight shot down the lane or a wicked hook shot that just narrowly misses the foul line on its way to aim for the pocket to secure amazing strikes.

There is more to it than that, however, as evidenced by this guide. In the game of bowling, every time you think you have a good grasp of the sport, you will almost always realize that there is more to learn than meets the eye.

Once you have internalized the information we have provided here, as well as committed to a few practice and training sessions in your nearby bowling alley, you will definitely get the hang of how to throw a bowling ball in no time!

Recommended Reading:

Gear

Best Knee Brace for Bowling: The Top 7 Reviewed

Relative to other sports such as football or

Learn

Bowling vs Golf: Which is More Difficult?

Bowling vs golf is a debate that is

Learn

Are Bowling Lanes Flat? [The Full Answer]

“Are bowling lanes flat?” is a question that

Scroll to Top