How good is your balance? Can you stand on one foot and count to ten? How about on the bowling lane – can you post your shot at the line consistently? Can you recover if you slip or stick on the approach? Good balance is a key factor in every day life, helping us maintain confidence and agility throughout daily tasks. When it comes to bowling, good balance can help us walk to the foul line without drifting, swing the ball freely without tugging or dropping it, and follow through fully to hit our target accurately.

Good balance comes from working on it. Just like practicing your corner pin spares, balance needs to be practiced. Off the lanes, it doesn’t take much. Stand on one foot for as long as you can. If your balance is poor, start by holding onto a wall, counter or anything sturdy to help. Make 1 minute per leg the goal. Two minutes of your time. Quite literally. Of course, there are many ways to take improving your balance further, like practicing yoga, dancing or calisthenics.

While you are bowling, practice balance by posting your shot at the foul line. Release the ball and stay put until it goes through the pins. Notice if you have a tendency to step off to the side or lift the body. Just bringing your attention to this part of your game and focusing on a steady head or squaring up to your mark gives you better balance at the foul line. Good balance means no drift, consistent releases and more strikes!

Good balance can also keep you on the lanes longer by reducing your risk of injury. Being able to catch yourself when you slip or stick on the approach can save you from a nasty fall. This alone makes that two minutes a day worth it!

Bottom line, good balance improves your bowling game in many subtle ways. You gain so much in return for practicing your balance –  even off the lanes – that the short time it takes to practice it is well worth the effort.