We’ve covered four fixes in this series: slowing your approach, finding your starting position, relaxing your grip, and targeting your arrow. Each one adds pins on its own. But most bowlers who learn these fixes apply them consistently in practice and lose them completely in league play.
The reason isn’t weakness or lack of effort. It’s the absence of a system that resets you to your best mechanics on every single delivery. That system is your pre-shot routine.
“A great routine turns a physical skill into a repeatable habit.”
The 4-Step Pre-Shot Routine Framework
Step 1 — Pick Up Your Ball: Same Hand Position Every Time
Establish a consistent grip placement — fingers first, then thumb — and use the same routine every time. This is also the moment for your grip tension check: rate yourself on the 1–10 scale before your thumb even goes in the ball.
Step 2 — Find Your Starting Position: Feet on the Same Boards Every Time
Step to the approach and place your feet on your established starting position. Not approximately — exactly. Left slide foot on board X. Right foot on board Y. Know your boards. Stand on them.
Step 3 — Identify Your Target Arrow: Eyes Locked on Your Arrow, Not the Pins
Find your arrow. Look at it. Not the pins — your arrow. Your brain will naturally want to look at the pins because they’re the outcome. Train it to focus on the process target instead.
Step 4 — One Deep Breath: Exhale Tension. Step Into Your Approach.
A single diaphragmatic breath — in through the nose, out through the mouth — physically reduces your stress response. The exhale is the key part. Breathe out the tension you’ve been carrying from the last frame. Then step.
Practice Drill: The Routine Lock-In Challenge
The Routine Lock-In Challenge
Session 1 — Learn it: Before each delivery, go through your written routine steps. After each shot, rate whether you completed all steps: yes or no. Don’t worry about results — only completion.
Session 2 — Test it: Same thing, but now introduce pressure: before any spare attempt, force yourself to go through the routine at normal pace even if you feel rushed.
Session 3 — Own it: Use the routine on every shot without the written card. Goal is 100% routine completion for the entire session.
All 5 Fixes — The Complete Picture
| Fix | Gain | What It Addresses |
|---|---|---|
| Fix #1 — Stop Rushing | +4–6 pins | Timing & release consistency |
| Fix #2 — Starting Position | +3–5 pins | Entry angle & spare percentage |
| Fix #3 — Stop Death-Gripping | +4–7 pins | Rotation & pin carry |
| Fix #4 — Pick a Target | +5–8 pins | Accuracy & self-correction |
| Fix #5 — Pre-Shot Routine | +3–5 pins | Consistency under pressure |
Ready to take your game further?
You’ve read all five fixes. Now let’s apply them to your specific game. Book a coaching session — in-person, group, or online video review.
→ Learn About Coaching | YouTube: @wkillette
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