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Questions and answers about sports

What foot do you start with when bowling?

4 min read

Asked by: John Dailey

Right-handed bowlers should begin their approach with their right foot slightly behind their left foot since the first step will be taken with the right foot. Left-handed bowlers should begin their approach with their left foot slightly behind their right foot since their first step will be taken with the left foot.

Which foot goes first in bowling?

right foot

Bowling Step 1: Position 1:1



During the first step, the right foot steps forward as the right arm pushes the ball out and down toward the right foot simultaneously. At the end of the first step, the ball should be poised above the right foot. The left hand should continue to help support the ball throughout this step.

Which foot do you line up for bowling?

A basic rule of thumb is you want your alignment foot/slide foot to be facing straight ahead. The trail foot can be either straight ahead or flared a little away from the other foot’s direction. Most pro bowlers stagger their feet, with a slight flare of the trail foot.

Which foot is your slide foot in bowling?

Right-handed bowlers will start with their left foot pointing toward the lane, and left-handed bowlers will start with their right pointing forward. This forward foot is known as the slide foot, or the foot that bowler’s end up on at the end of their approach.

Where do you start in bowling?

Start your stance with the ball at a comfortable height in front of the ball-side shoulder and not in front of your body. A person standing directly behind your shoulder should see just a bit of the ball. Your forearm should point like an arrow to your target.

What is the proper bowling stance?

Your stance should be relaxed, upright and balanced. Your knees should be bent slightly, as overly stiff joints don’t move as easily. Keep your head raised and stare ahead towards your target. You should hold the ball roughly at waist height, although the exact location depends a bit on the bowler.

What’s the proper way to bowl?

Throwing the Ball



First: Straighten your hand and wrist. Second: Hold your bowling arm out at a distance while you’re bowling. Third: Keeping your arm straight, swing it towards your ankle. Fourth: Rotate the wrist, hand, and arm away from your body as you bring the ball near your ankle.

What is the beginning stance in bowling called?

Action: Spin on the ball and the movement of the pins caused by that spin. Address: The bowler’s stance before beginning the approach.

Where do you stand when bowling a curve ball?

To curve a bowling ball, stand a few inches from the foul line and at least 4 feet back from your release. Start your approach the same as a straight shot, but focus on the arrow that you’d like to hit. Release the ball at the bottom of your swing, pulling your thumb out before your fingers.

Where do you stand when bowling a straight ball?

For good bowlers, the straight ball only comes into play when they’re trying to clean up a few pins for a spare.

  1. Stand with your feet 4 inches apart and your right foot about five boards to the left of the center line.
  2. Point your toes forward and keep your torso parallel to the foul line.

How do I keep my wrist straight while bowling?

Keep your bowling hand directly underneath the ball and your wrist straight. The main difference between a straight shot and a hook shot is that you keep your hand straight all the way through the backswing and the release of the ball. Swing your bowling arm out and back.

How do I keep my arms straight while bowling?


You can generally keep your arm. Open into the inside a little bit longer whereas if you start shutting. Down as my shoulder shuts down my hand has nowhere to go except to the outside.

Is it better to bowl straight or curved?

Straight bowling is often preferred by stronger bowlers who want to hit the pins with power, as this style allows you to throw as hard as you can without affecting the trajectory of the shot. As long as the ball is on a straight line, the extra power only helps matters.

Is it better to spin a bowling ball?

The spin or hook ball is ideal because it gives you the best angle into the area of the pins known as the pocket. (The pocket is the space between the 1 and 3 pins for right-handed bowlers. It’s between the 1 and the 2 for lefties).

Why is a hook better in bowling?

A hook in ten-pin bowling is a ball that rolls in a curving pattern (as opposed to straight). The purpose of the hook is to give the ball a better angle at the 1-3 pocket (right-handers) or 1-2 pocket (left-handers.) to achieve a strike.