Want to Be a Better Bowler? Try These Ten Pin Techniques!

By Joseph Park 

Everyone, no matter how old or young can enjoy bowling nowadays. There are bumpers for the kids to prevent those pesky gutter balls and ramps for those who find the bending and swinging a little difficult. 

Because bowling is fun, right? Of course, but it can be irritating when you find yourself barely reaching the 100 mark time after time and want to be a better bowler. 

The good news is, there is something you can do. There is a lot of technique involved in learning to improve your bowling game . Professional bowlers will have practiced these bowling techniques over and over again. So the two main bowling techniques you can work on; are your approach and the way you roll the bowling ball. 

When you are approaching the line and are about to release the ball, timing is everything if you want to be a better bowler.  Not timing your swing correctly means you not only run the risk of stepping over the foul line but it can have a detrimental effect on your game and could be the reason you are not achieving your potential. 

Most bowlers take a three to six step approach, this means they take between three and six steps during their run-up. To be a better bowler you should try out how many steps you feel most comfortable with. Many bowlers favor a four step approach.

You should start with the foot which is on the same side as your swinging arm. This is your pushing foot. The ball should be slightly in front of you. Then, as you take your next step forward, pull back your swinging arm. As you step forward with your other foot, lean forward slightly. 

At this point, your arm should be raised behind your head. Then slide your  left foot out and swing your bowling arm forwards. Release the bowling ball but when you do so follow-through with the swinging motion of your arm. 

There are two methods of rolling the ball. Put very simply, you can either roll it in a straight line which is great for getting those spares where accuracy is paramount. Alternatively, you can spin the bowling ball. Learning to spin the bowling ball makes it roll straight and curves into the pins as it approaches them. 

This spin (or hook) causes the pins to knock each other over and increases your chances of scoring highly and helps you to be a better bowler. To spin the bowling ball you need to begin with your hand under the ball, thumb facing up. As you release the ball, twist your wrist so your hand is nearly at the top of the bowling ball.

Remember to stay positive and stay focused if you want to be a better bowler. When you are about to take your shot forget about everything you have to do, the chatter from your team mates and the surrounding lanes. 

Concentrate on nothing but your next shot and practice the above bowling techniques to send you on your way to that 200 or even 300 game!

For even more advice on how to improve your bowling game and a wealth of information on everything you need to know about tenpin bowling visit the a fantastic web site by clicking on this link: --> Bowling Techniques 

Article Source:  Want to Be a Better Bowler? Try These Ten Pin Techniques!

How Well Do You Know River Lanes?

by Jake Schweich

I recently had an opportunity to sit down with Corrine from River Lanes and got her to tell me a little about the story of this family owned business.

While the story she gave me was the short and sweet version I would like to share it with you.

The story starts when Corrine's father, who had been involved with bowling since his teenage years, moved his family away from the cold Wisconsin winters to the beautiful Sunshine State.

In 1978 Corrine's family purchased Shore Lanes in Merritt Island and Corrine got her first taste of what it is like to run a bowling center.

As an aside, I will warn you not to make a mistake I made early on. I errantly called River Lanes a "bowling alley" and was quickly informed that I should not use that term. While everyone at River Lanes has been more than gracious with me as I unlearn the phrase "bowling alley" and re-learn the phrase "bowling center" I completely agree with the reasoning behind the distinction they make.

I will say that Corrine and her family certainly have a passion for bowling, and that could not have been any more evident than when they opened a second bowling center in late 1986... River Lanes.

Shore Lanes was sold in 1991 (which was coincidentally not long after Corrine had her first child and took a break from the bowling center... sure there was no connection?) and focused in on River Lanes.

Over the next several years, River Lanes grew slowly until they found that they had up and outgrown their space. So, in 2006 (just in time for the 20th anniversary) River Lanes finished construction on 8 additional lanes and a brand new restaurant, River City Bar & Grill.

Corrine told me that when they first started the process she thought the expansion would include something more resembling a snack bar than the full scale restaurant that the designer gave them.

I will say that I think the River City Bar & Grill is the "hidden gem" of River Lanes Family Entertainment Center.

When I stopped in with my family to try out the food I expected a typical "concession stand" quality food but was pleasantly surprised to find the food on or better than par with other area restaurants. (And if you have kids you have to check out the mac'n'cheese nuggets!)

I will say that the River City Bar & Grill is a welcome addition to the valuable offerings that River Lanes Family Entertainment Center has for the local Titusville community.

This guest  post offered by Jake Schweich, daddy to two wonderfully energetic boys and natural parenting blogger at DaddyByNature.com. 

Did You Know? - River City Bar and Grill

Mushroom Burger & Fries

Did you know that a full service restaurant was added as part of the renovations made to River Lanes Family Entertainment center in 2006?

River City Bar & Grill is a great place to grab a bite to eat before or after a game of bowling or as a lunch or diner destination all its own.

Far from the typical "snack bar" food you may have come to expect from a bowling center, the menu at River City Bar & Grill is full of some really great culinary choices.

Start off with with an order of wings, Fried Pickle Spears, or Jalapeno  Bottle Caps.

If you mouth isn't already watering then maybe something from the full range of burgers and sandwiches include a tasty Mushroom Swiss Burger, the Southern Fried Pork Sandwich, and the River City Philly will get you going. And don't forget the fresh salads!

Fried Macaroni & Cheese Wedges

And don't forget the little ones. Be sure to check out the Fried Macaroni & Cheese Wedges! You simply haven't had macaroni until you've had it fried up to gooey goodness.

Stop in today and check out all the wonderful options  and get a free game of bowling with your meal purchase receipt.

To Rent or Not To Rent, That is the Question.

Or maybe To Buy or Not To Buy.

Recently we asked on Facebook if you preferred to rent or buy your bowling gear, specifically balls and shoes.

The answers we got were a combo of both.

So what are the benefits of renting? Are there drawbacks to buying your own gear?

Renting

Pros

• Someone else keeps up with and stores everything!
• It's less expensive for the casual bowler; someone who bowls less than once a week or so.
• It's less expensive for parents of children with rapidly growing feet than buying a brand new pair of shoes every few months.
• You get a chance to try out different weight bowling balls
• If you don't get that strike, you can blame not using equipment personalized to your body and style

Cons

• Your equipment isn't personalized to your bowling style
• The constant cost of renting can add up over time
• Equipment does not have newer technology to enhance performance

Purchasing

Pros

• You can customize your equipment to your unique bowling style
• It pays for itself pretty quickly for frequent or serious bowlers
• You can modify your shoes to improve your game
• You can choose styles and colors that appeal to you
• The holes in the ball can be custom drilled for your hand

Cons

• There can be a rather significant upfront cost
• You have to drag all the equipment with you and take care of all cleaning and storage

So what do you think? Is it better to rent or buy? Are there any pros or cons that you would add to either list? And don't forget to "like" us on Facebook so you can get in on our conversations!

Bowling, Is It Really A Family Thing?

Bowling, Is It Really A Family Thing?

Seniors groups.

Empty Nesters.

Eight year-olds.

2 year olds?

Everyone has a preconceived notion about bowling. Maybe it’s the shirts and competitive cheering and jeering of a League team. Maybe it’s late night, black lit crazies. Or two lanes worth of elementary schoolers celebrating a birthday and racing back and forth from lane to arcade causing untold delays of game as someone has to go retrieve them.

But families with little kids? It’s that a recipe for trouble? Or at least an opportunity to get some nice rear-end shots of mom & dad as they help the little one roll the ball from between their legs and pray that it doesn’t stop rolling about halfway down lane (commonly known as “granny bowling”, but trust me, none of the seniors I saw last visit bowled like that!).

Actually, it was a lot of fun. My oldest is a 3 and a half year-old boy, my youngest was a mere 22 months. Plus, there’s this great invention called a “ramp”; strike up the Hallelujah Chorus, no more bowling balls taking eons to roll down the lane!

The boys had a blast until about the 7th frame, when my oldest just got tired of waiting his turn and decided he was done. So next time I think we’ll bring a few cars or a coloring book or something to help them make it through a full game. Or maybe we’ll be that group down on the end with a whole bunch of 2-3 year olds yelling “Kung-Fu Panda bowl” and punching the ball down the ramp. Or head-butting it…since some kids apparently have to learn the hard way that that’s not the best idea.

But I can tell you that we will be taking them again. It was fun, it was indoors (and in Florida, that’s big!) and it’s teaching the kids good sportsmanship – like cheering equally for strikes and gutterballs – and about a sport that most kids their age are told is not something for them. Maybe we’ll have a 2nd birthday party at a bowling center in a couple months for that reason alone.

Bowling…who knew it really is a WHOLE family thing?


~ Heather Schweich, Melbourne, FL