1. Q: What equipment do you recommend for a beginner?
A: Recommended equipment for a beginner depends on the several factors. The persons’ age, weight and physical abilities all have to be evaluated. That being said, a basic ball such as a Columbia “White Dot” or a Storm “Mix” are good beginner balls. Both have no “weight block” to assist them in hooking and have an extremely hard cover. You want these attributes in a beginners’ ball to teach them to consistently roll a ball straight to their target before introducing them to more advanced bowling methods like getting the ball to hook. The ball should be drilled at a Pro Shop (located at just about every bowling alley) to ensure proper fit. At a minimum, they also need bowling shoes and a desire to have fun.
2. Q: What is the proper hook ball release?
A: In order to get the ball to hook, it needs to have proper rotation while rolling down the lane toward the pins. In order to get rotation, your hand should be positioned like you’re going to shake someone’s hand. Releasing the ball from the three o’clock hand position will cause the ball to rotate and hook across the lane. If you go too far with your hand position (come over the top of the ball), it will spin all the way down the lane, but never hook in.
3. Q: How does a player adjust to oil breaking down?
A: Adjust for oil break down by starting your approach 1 or 2 boards left or right (depending on if you are right or left handed) of your normal starting position, but use the same arrow as your target. It will take a lot of practice and missed shots before you will be able to “read” the breakdown and adjust to it quickly.
4. Q; What do you do for your spare shots?
A: Spare shots are adjusted for the same as oil breakdown. Use your normal arrow as your target, but move left or right depending on the pins you are shooting at. General rule of thumb for single pin spares:
| Spare Pin | Move | Spare Pin | Move | |
| 2 or 8 | 3 boards right | 3 or 9 | 3 boards left | |
| 4 | 6 boards right | 5 | Use your strike shot | |
| 6 | 6 boards left | 7 | 9 to 12 boards right | |
| 10 | 9 to 12 boards left |
For a 7 or 10 you will need to experiment to find your personal comfort zone.
5. Q: How can a player pick up splits?
A: With lots of luck or extreme skill, usually a combination of both. In all actuality, it depends on the split where you need to position yourself to attempt to convert it. For example, if a right handed bowler leaves a 6-7 split, I recommend moving 9 boards left (like you were going for a 10 pin) of your normal “strike” position, roll your ball over your normal arrow and hope to slide the 6 over into the 7. Your positioning becomes more and more natural to your as your experience level progresses.
6. Q: What is your highest score and how did you manage to score that high?
A: My personal highest score is a 289 (I’ve done it twice) with a 9, spare in the first, 10 strikes in a row and a 9 count on the third shot in the 10th frame. The only way I can think of to describe how I did it was being consistent throughout the entire game. I only wish I could be that consistent, consistently!
7. Q: What are the different kinds of bowling balls used?
A: There are too many different ball and manufacturers out there to mention them all, so I will direct you to a separate article about the “coverstocks” available to bowlers today. This article excerpt is from the “Bowling This Month” website. Please do not forget to quote the source.
Combine these coverstocks with the different weight blocks available to create today’s dynamic hook shots that you see being rolled.
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