Why Do I Leave The 5 Pin? The Bowling Tip

This is an interesting bowling tip, that has many sides. First of all, you roll a perfect strike ball and get a 5 pin remaining? What is up with that? I can’t throw it any better! Yes, I hear this every year during Fall Leagues. So, what is going on here?

Remember this bowling tip saying, “No Drive, No Five!”. I hope this sticks in your bowling brain! What this means is, if your bowling ball isn’t driving into the pocket, like crashing it, you will leave the 5 pins.

A “weak ball” or weak pocket entry, will cause even the best bowling ball to glance off of the head pin or 1 pin, and not hit the 5 pins. There are two causes of this tragedy. One is you, and the other is your bowling gear.

If this bowling tip problem is you, then the first culprit is your lift. At release, an upward motion with your hand gives your bowling ball lift or rotation. This will give the bowling ball more drive into the pocket.

Second, are you throwing the bowling ball too fast for lane conditions? Remember if the lanes are oily, especially the first game, slow down your speed, so the bowling ball can grip the lanes better.

Third, check your pocket angle, as compared to the reaction of your bowling ball. If your angle is too tight, or your bowling ball hasn’t flipped or hooked yet into the pocket, the bowling ball doesn’t have enough room to power up.

Either move more to the right of your mark to give more room or move your approach to the right for a more outside angle, again if you are righthanded.

Now if the bowling tip problem is your bowling gear, check and see what you have available. If your bowling ball can’t grip on oily lanes, use a bowling ball that is for oily, or medium to oily lanes.

If you don’t have one, then use a sanded bowling ball (like a reactive resin or urethane and do not sand a plastic), which works like new treads on a tire. Secondly, if you can’t lift the bowling ball, it is either too heavy for you, or you need to use a wrist support to strengthen your wrist action.

Watch your bowling ball’s reaction, to see if the drive and the power is there! If not, this bowling tip will give you a check list of what to do. Know your self and your bowling gear, then adjust to the Game. It’s fun, when you know what you are doing?