Where to start
Find your starting spot by working backward from the foul line. Stand with your heels a few inches from the foul line, facing away from the pins. Walk four and a half normal steps toward the back of the approach, then turn around. That is roughly where your four-step approach should begin. The dots on the approach help you remember the board you started on, so you can stand in the same place each time.
Stand tall with your feet together, or with the foot on your bowling side slightly back. Hold the ball at about waist height, with your other hand supporting it, and your bowling elbow close to your side.
The four steps
These steps are written for a right-handed bowler. Left-handers swap the feet.
- Right foot steps forward as you push the ball out in front of you. This is the pushaway, and it starts the swing.
- Left foot steps as the ball drops down past your leg.
- Right foot steps as the ball reaches the top of the backswing. Your steps get a little longer and faster here.
- Left foot slides toward the foul line as the ball swings down and forward. You release the ball beside the sliding foot.
Walk normally. The approach is a smooth walk that speeds up slightly, without running. Slow steps give you more time to get it right.
Timing the swing and the steps
Good timing means the ball and your feet arrive at the foul line together. If the ball is early, you end up throwing it with your arm. If it is late, you stop at the line and wait for the ball, which usually pulls the shot. The pushaway on the first step is what sets the timing, so make it the same every time: out and slightly down, letting gravity start the swing.
Practice the steps without a ball first. Walk them slowly, say the count aloud ("push, down, back, slide"), and only add the ball once the steps feel natural.
The slide and finish
Rental shoes have a sliding sole on one shoe and a braking sole on the other, so the slide happens on your final step. Bend the sliding knee, lower your body and keep your shoulders square to your target. Finish with your weight balanced over the sliding foot, your arm following through toward the target, and your other arm out to the side for balance. Hold that pose for a moment. If you can, your balance was good.
Stop before the foul line. Crossing it is a foul, and the lane beyond is oiled and slippery.
Where to look
Look at the arrows on the lane, not at the pins. The arrows sit roughly 15 feet past the foul line, which is a much closer and easier target than the pins about 60 feet away. A standard lane is 39 boards wide, and the arrows are spaced every five boards.
| Arrow (counted from your bowling side) | Board | Common use |
|---|---|---|
| First | 5 | Rarely used by beginners |
| Second | 10 | A common target for straight balls aimed at the pocket |
| Third | 15 | Some spares, and for some bowlers the pocket |
| Fourth (center) | 20 | Straight at the head pin |
Pick an arrow, roll the ball over it, and see where it goes. If the ball misses the pocket to the right, move your feet a board or two right and keep the same target. If it misses left, move your feet left. Small moves make a big difference at the pins.
Practicing the approach
- Bowl a few frames focusing only on your steps, ignoring your score.
- Check where your sliding foot finishes. If it is on a different board each time, your walk is drifting.
- Ask a friend to film one or two throws on a phone, so you can see your timing.
- Many centers have coaches or beginner clinics. A few minutes with a coach can fix a habit early.
Once your approach is steady, the spares guide shows how to use it to move around the lane.