08/29/2026
Sometimes, we as bowlers can make practice more complicated than it needs to be.
With that in mind, I wanted to share a basic approach for focusing on the areas of our game that we sometimes neglect in favor of what we think are more important elements, such as the release and rev rate.
These are foundational elements that can easily become the source of bad habits, but they aren’t often the first ones you’ll think to practice or adjust.
I also suggest a simple, bowler-friendly drill or activity you can do to work on each one.
First, let’s discuss alignment in the stance.
There are two parts to this:
Physical alignment:
Is how your body is positioned in the stance.
Feet Position: Point your toes and heels toward your target or line up your shoes along the intended path. Your stance foot (bowling-side foot) is often slightly staggered back depending on your style.
Hips and Shoulders:
Keep your hips and shoulders parallel and facing the target line. Your bowling-side shoulder should drop just slightly lower than the non-bowling side to comfortably accommodate the weight of the ball.
Arm Placement:
Hold the ball close to your core—typically between your chin and the outside of your bowling shoulder—so it stays hidden from a rear view and aligns with your swing path.Spine and Knees: Maintain a slight, athletic forward tilt (about 10 to 15 degrees) from the hips with a soft flex in the knees for stability.
Next let’s talk about the Tactical Alignment.
It connects your physical posture to your intended ball path rather than just facing straight ahead.
Body Lineup:
Your feet, hips, and shoulders work together to point along the specific line your ball will travel.
Square vs. Open Stance:
For straight shots, keep your stance square and parallel to your target line.
For hook shots or playing deeper angles across the lane, open your stance by stepping your sliding-side foot back slightly.
Swing Path Integration:
Proper tactical alignment ensures your arm swing moves naturally in a straight plane toward your target, preventing pulled or pushed shots.
Good Luck,
High Scores
~One Ball~
