How to Bowl with a Ramp - Bowling with a Handicap

For the most part, handicapped people face insurmountable obstacles in the field of athletics. Quadriplegics can't play contact sports. Those who are simply paralyzed from the waist down can certainly shoot a basketball or swing a bat, but you won't see Stephen Hawking fielding for the Boston Red Sox anytime soon. There aren't many sports that grant disabled individuals fair treatment and the opportunity to compete against able-bodied athletes on a level playing field. Except for bowling!

Bowling is a rarity amongst leisure pursuits. Families can engage in the exact same activities as the professionals, and they can do it in the exact same environment. You can't say that about many other sporting events. That's not to disparage professional bowlers. My point is that bowling does not discriminate against body type. Handicapped people have been bowling since the 1940's when injured World War II veterans would bowl as a form of rehabilitation. Over the decades, it has become incredibly easy for someone as handicapped as myself (click HERE to read about my disability) to bowl. Furthermore, it has become quite possible for a severely handicapped person to hold down an average of over 200.

There are several ways for quadriplegics, amputees, and invalids to bowl. A snap-handle bowling ball features a spring-loaded handle that snaps back into the ball after it is released. A stick similar to a shuffleboard stick can also be used to propel the bowl down the lane. My method of choice involves a ramp. Bowling ramps vary in shape and size, but their basic function remains the same with each model. Most people assume that bowling with a ramp is as simple as pushing the ball down the center of the lane. Oh, how I wish it was that simple. There is a right way and a wrong way to bowl with a ramp if you are not physically able to hold a ball.

I am not a professional bowler, but I love to bowl. I'm also pretty good. My high score is 214, and my average falls at around 160. Handicapped bowlers have scored a perfect 300. Again, it's not a matter of aiming down the center of the lane. I'll usually have someone with me (herein referred to as an assistant) to position the ramp and to place my hand on the ball. As for the ball itself, it's best to have one in between 14-16 pounds when using a ramp. The grip holes have an affect on which way the ball will curve. And it will curve. It's nearly impossible to launch a straight shot with a ramp. The ball will never go fast enough for the grooves of the lane to become irrelevant. Any and all chinks in the lane will disrupt the course of the ball.

After you have observed how your ball is responding to the lane, make the appropriate adjustments. You may find that leaving the grip holes facing left or right will help you put the ball where you want. It's never a wise idea to let the ball roll over the holes. Be sure to be as specific as possible when giving instructions to your assistant. Bowling is a game of centimeters. Have your assistant hold the ramp steady as you push the ball down the ramp. If you're using one of the ramps that the bowling alley has provided, chances are, it will be jarred by the ball's momentum.

Pay close attention to where the end of the ramp is sitting. You will have to use dots and arrows as reference points, just as you would if you weren't handicapped. Mind the distance between the lane and the ramp. If this distance fluctuates, it will be difficult to bowl with any kind of consistency. Mark the lane if you have to. If the ramp is stationary, it will be easier to hit a succession of strikes. Pushing the ball with greater force will keep the ball from curving as much as it would normally. At times, this is barely noticeable. The way you push the ball down the ramp does factor into the ball's movement, though. You can even put a delicate spin on the ball if you've got the skills.

Most handicapped bowlers find that using rubber bumpers is an unavoidable necessity. Since ramps don't allow for high velocity, tripping pins on either side of the lane to pick up a spare can be trying. For the most part, I have to use bumpers, but with practice, I hope to rid of my training wheels. Other accommodations are crucial in order for me to light up a lane. If you're bowling with a group, ask if you can bowl five frames at a time. Getting your wheelchair and the ramp into position will slow down the game. This will also ensure consistency, as you will be able to keep your ramp in one place. If you bowl in a league, they may not allow such an accommodation, but it's worth inquiring.

Hopefully, these tips will help you better your bowling if you live with a disability. There are more wheelchair bowlers out there than one might think. In fact, there is a non-profit organization devoted to these determined athletes. The American Wheelchair Bowling Association (AWBA) helps "regulate bowling and wheelchair bowling leagues." To find out more about the AWBA, check my resources. For even more information about wheelchair bowling, read this article again.