Understanding Today’s Game as a Senior Bowler

By Jason McEwen

Whether you’re a senior just getting back into the sport of bowling, or a senior who has bowled through all the changes the game has offered, we’ll get you set up with what you need to know to remain competitive.

What’s Changed

Short answer: everything. The lane surface, bowling ball surface, lane transition and how bowling balls are fitted.

With all of these changes, it’s easy to see how a lifelong bowler, or one that is returning to the game, can get frustrated.

Don’t worry though, will get you back to competing the way you once did.

What to Work On

With aging comes aches and pains. Sometimes this limits seniors from achieving a fundamentally sound finish position. It causes seniors to fall off the shot and miss their target.

Balance, accuracy and leverage are the key components to a great finish position.

Pat Costello will walk you through how to achieve this, beginning without the ball and without the lane. She’ll set you up against a wall and you’ll see how to achieve a proper finish position.

Next, she’ll walk you through the approach without a ball, slowing the game down for better understanding of the finish position.

And finally, she’ll teach you how to achieve leverage, once again, without a ball. She demonstrates this with a simple folding chair.

Why are these drills conducted without a ball? Because a bowling ball is heavy and it takes a lot of energy to use. By utilizing lighter workouts, you’ll have more energy to throw the ball when it counts.

Equipment Choices

Has this scenario happened to you? You’re out there for league night and you see younger bowlers rev it up and you flash back to a time when that was you. It still can be!

Going out and buying the most aggressive ball on the market, however, is not going to get it done. The key is to match up.

Matching up has everything to do with the bowling ball, ball speed and ball surface. If these are out of line, your chances of stinking diminish.

Let’s go back to ball choice. The way seniors perceive bowling balls now can be slightly skewed because of your history in the game.

A weaker bowling ball can hook just as much as a stronger bowling ball. Think of it like this, a stronger bowling ball will begin to hook earlier and a weaker bowling ball will begin to hook later.

Keep in mind the three phases a ball must go through for proper ball motion:

  • skid through the front part of the lane
  • hook through the mid lane and
  • roll down lane

Seniors often combine hook and roll into one phase because that is the way the game was once taught.

In order to achieve proper roll, many seniors are moving down in ball weight. You’re probably thinking, a lighter ball will affect your carry. Occasionally you might get robbed, but it is something to consider to improve your game.

Use these tips to enjoy the game while upping your average at the same time.

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41 Responses to “Understanding Today’s Game as a Senior Bowler”

  1. Herbert Lorenz

    Age 85 and finding 13 lb ball hard to handle. Ball speed around 9-10 mph

    Reply
  2. Mark Richmond

    67 year old back to bowling after 2 1/2 year layoff for hip replacement. Used to carry over 200 and started very slowly. Now up to 195 average and I feel very good. Go to the gym etc. Feel as good as I did in early 50’s. But understanding bowling layouts and coverstocks and how to adjust to “carry down” seems such a challenge. What do I purchase to get through the back ends without skidding. Sorry, but as long as I have bowled on and off since 1968 I never really grasped well the different types of balls for an arsenal. I am pretty much a tweener. Hope my qiestion makes sense! LOL

    Reply
  3. Byron Hagler

    71 years old bowling in a league. Average 180. Having issues with speed and carry. Using 14lb. ball . Went to a 13 lb house ball in a practice and averaged 181 and felt like I was more consistent hitting my marks and spares. Wonder if that is a wake up call about what I SHOULD be doing all the time.

    Reply
    • Customer Service

      Great question! The ‘Ask an Expert’ section is currently for members of our online community. By becoming a member, you will have access to our expert knowledge. With your membership you will also receive discounts on products and hundreds of hours of Premium content.

      If you are interested in becoming a member, please click on the offer below:
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      Reply
  5. Clint Vogel

    I am down to 14 lb ball . I had heart surgery . Went to a 12lb 12 miles an hour. Still got to much hook.

    Reply
  6. Robert

    The lanes where I bowl are to dry on the outside mostly between the six or seventh board. there needs to be more oil at this area.

    Reply
  9. Michael Chesson

    I have always rolled the ball in the 14 mph area. I don’t have enough speed to get the ball to skid so it uses its energy way too early and has no power when it hits.

    Reply
  10. Shelia Mahoney

    I left a comment about the straight bowler, but I forgot to mention that I’m 60 and have arthritis in my hands and my fingers will swell. I can also bowl left or right handed, but prefer to bowl right handed in my league. I’ve tried to hook, but it really didn’t turn out good at all and I practiced with 4 games, LOL
    Anyway I’ve always bowled straight and do really good, my scores are good for a 60 yr old woman. I would like to see some video’s of bowler’s that bowl straight if you have any that is.

    Reply
    • Customer Service

      Hello Shelia,

      Thank you for your feedback. I have forwarded your comment to the proper department. We value your opinion and it will help with the development of our online streaming community. We will continue to listen and work hard for your complete satisfaction.

      You are not the only one with this request, stay tuned and lets see if they are able to get this on the site.

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      Reply
  11. Shelia Mahoney

    I’m a straight bowler, never could hook and I’m pretty good, but all I see are video’s on hooking! I’m on a league in my hometown after not bowling for over 20 something yrs and trying to get my average down. Seems I do even better when I practice than when I bowl with my league even though we’re in I believe 2nd place in the standings and that’s within the 28 teams that we have. But what I want to know is why is it that you all don’t show any bowlers that bowl straight, they all hook? Thank you very much and keep on bowling :)

    Reply
    • Customer Service

      Dear Steve,

      Thank you for your patience, here is what the experts had to say:

      Hello and thanks for the question.

      In order to judge where you should start on the approach, walk up to the foul line, take 4 or 5 (depending on which you use) steps back towards the settee at a normal pace.

      This will be your starting position.

      Check out this video for more information. 3 minutes in you’ll find an example of what I wrote earlier.

      https://www.nationalbowlingacademy.com/video/ball-release-and-speed-control-005604/

      Thanks for watching!
      Jason

      National Bowling Academy

      Reply
  17. dcn.eugene.wohlfarth

    <strong.‬ I am seeing a lot of great information. I have been away from the game for about 11 years. As I said great information, but is mostly geared for the right handed player. As a lefty, I could use some help. Also with the technology changes, information on selecting a ball arsenal (for lefties) would be greatly appreciated.

    Thank you !

    Reply
  18. JOHN

    Ticket#21528 Any vids that may help with lining up my delivery to dot/arrow/tracer? Old way was to walk straight up to release board, but makes more sense to angle one’s self with target line/path. Super senior with better foot gear and shorter steps after Achilles tears on both sides during sport league and tournament a while back. Hoping to do more than once a week now.

    Reply
  20. Andrew

    I am a Senior Bowler and I hit the pocket often but seem to have a problem leaving the ten pen standing
    what adjustment or adjustments can I make I throw a 14 pound ball I am a tweener style player.

    Reply
  21. Carole

    I had to go to a 12 lb ball from a 14. I just can’t seem to get my thumb out first. I have a finger tip hammer blue vibe ball.

    Reply
    • Curtis

      Thumb timing becomes more important as you get older. If your fit isn’t correct you tend to hang onto the ball instead of it hanging onto you. Look up Ron Hoppe’s videos and you will see some good tips on ball fit and release.

      Reply
  22. Steven

    “Matching up has everything to do with the bowling ball, ball speed and ball surface. If these are out of line, your chances of stinking diminish.”
    “Stinking?”
    I thought your chances of “stinking” would actually go up if you are not matched.

    Reply
  23. Leo Fernandez

    I’m 78 years old . just need to know how to release the ball in timely manner. I reduced my ball from 15 lbs. to 14 lbs. Do I still need to go down to 13 lbs ? I’ll be happy if you can give an advice .

    Reply
  24. gejaeger300

    I have been revamping my game. I still throw a 15 Lb strike ball but I use a 14 Lb spare ball. What I do different, as a senior as opposed to my younger years, I spend less time practicing on the lanes and more time walking through my shot without the ball, as I have balance problems. With age, my arches have fallen, so I now bowl with arch supports so that I don’t fall off the shot at the foul line. I have also slowed down my cadence to give myself more time to get the ball into the swing. I do low impact weight lifting in the gym as well to help keep tone on both sides of my body. I also had my span shortened to alleviate palm and finger pain as I can’t stretch as I once could. Before I made these changes, I had hip and knee pain. It takes time to get used to the changes but it is what I had to do to stay in the game. I love the game and I’m glad I stuck with it. I hope this helps someone else!

    Reply
  25. Georgia E Jaeger

    I have been revamping my game. I still throw a 15 Lb strike ball but I use a 14 Lb spare ball. What I do different, as a senior as opposed to my younger years, I spend less time practicing on the lanes and more time walking through my shot without the ball, as I have balance problems. With age, my arches have fallen, so I now bowl with arch supports so that I don’t fall off the shot at the foul line. I have also slowed down my cadence to give myself more time to get the ball into the swing. I do low impact weight lifting in the gym as well to help keep tone on both sides of my body. I also had my span shortened to alleviate palm and finger pain as I can’t stretch as I once could. Before I made these changes, I had hip and knee pain. It takes time to get used to the changes but it is what I had to do to stay in the game. I love the game and I’m glad I stuck with it. I hope this helps someone else!

    Reply
  26. William L. Boshans

    This is what I need at this point in my life, being nearly 84 years old….

    Reply
  28. Jack Krupicka

    I’m down to a 13 pound ball. About heavy enough. Slow to medium rotation. 12 to 12.5 mph average. Ball goes straight. Want a hook.

    Reply
    • Curtis

      Hook is not a function of ball weight or delivery speed. Hook is produced by how and when your thumb comes out of the ball, and what position your fingers are in to rotate the ball. Try looking at some of the videos on ball release.

      Reply