How to Improve Your Candlepin Bowling Game

With smaller balls and narrower pins, candlepin bowling is different than playing ten pins. It is harder, because of the narrower shape of the candlepins, to get a strike. Even though, just like the ten pin game, the top score bowlers get in this game is 300, it is nearly impossible to get a perfect game. In fact the highest undisputed score in sanctioned play is 245. This does not mean that candlepins is harder to play than tenpins. You are just rolling a ball that is smaller that is smaller. It is difficult to knock all the balls over because these pins do not create the chain reaction as in ten pins when you have a well placed ball. As with tenpins, you have to work on improving your performance. The following tips will help you bowling at your top performance.

The best tip to improving your game is to buy your own equipment. While the lanes have shoes and balls, you will improve your score drastically when you have equipment that fits your body. Check out different types of athletic and bowling shoes. Make sure they have a snug fit and are not too loose or tight. Not all bowling balls are the same. Find one that is designed for you hand. Check out different types of balls before you buy one.

Warm up before you start bowling. By stretching and flexing your muscles, you are not only protecting yourself from getting injured, you are giving yourself a chance to get a higher score.

While in tenpin your focus on the aiming line, in candlepins focus on the pins. It is much easier to roll a ball in a straight line over the even surface. The ball will follow where your eyes are focusing. Use imagery to see a good roll. When you put a positive image in your mind, this increases the chance of it happening.

Find your starting position by standing in the approach lane with your back to the pins. Your heels should be two to three inches from the foul line. Take three regular steps away from the foul line and turn around. This is your starting spot, where you begin your approach.

Do not finish your approach on the foul line. You should release your ball two to four inches from it. This is to allow for error in case you put too much exaggeration in your slide.

When you are ready to throw that ball, stand with your feet together. A little more weight should be on the leg that is the same side as the throwing arm. This gives you better balance as you walk down the approach lane and roll your ball.

Hold the ball in your hand with your fingers spread evenly around the ball. Have the thumb up. This gives the best control over the ball as you roll it.
Use the three step approach when you deliver the ball. If you are a right-handed bowler, you step with you left foot. Push the ball forward and a little to the left. Then you step with the right foot, allowing the ball to swing on the right into the back swing. Then you step again with the left foot, rolling the ball down the lane.

Follow through with you arm as you release the ball. Do not stop your movement when you release the ball. Allow the arm to continue to swing upwards, past the point of release. This helps improve your accuracy.
Keep your eyes on the pins during your delivery. If you let your eyes wander when you do the approach, you throw will be off.

Concentrate on your game. Do not let things outside of the approach lane distract you. Do not take too much time on the approach lane. If you wait too long, your concentration may dwindle.

Use discipline when you bowl. When a technique is working, stick with it, do not change it. When you make changes, you can throw your game off. Only make changes under the advice of a more experienced bowler.

These are a few tips that will help you improve your candlepin bowling performance. Be prepared when you roll that first ball. By knowing the correct position of your approach, how you distribute the weight on your legs, the correct position of your feet during the approach, holding the ball properly in your hands and concentrating on your roll, you will be bowling an excellent candlepin in no time at all.