There is nothing like a consistent and smooth armswing. It is parallel to your strikeline, close to your body, and seemingly effortless when you set the ball on the lane. You just know that it's a strike as soon as you let it go. If you continue with that swing throughout your session, you not only score well, but you also don't feel tired.

While it is not the only thing, a smooth armswing is certainly one of the critical factors that will make you bowl more consistently. How do you feel when you bowl a 230 game, come back with a 150 game, and finish off with a 210? That's certainly a decent average; but, then again, it is not very consistent. Developing and fine-tuning your armswing is important to raising your average.

Regardless of your style of bowling, you can develop your armswing into a smooth and effortless one. Don't forget that there are as many different swings as there are bowlers. By working at it, your armswing will get the job done just as well (or better) than anyone else. Very simply, keep your swing under your shoulder and not swinging away from your body.

Next time out, take a look around at other bowlers. If possible (and better yet), watch a PBA event on TV (or in person) and keep a keen eye on everyone's armswing. You'll find that regardless of the different gyrations each person goes through, the better bowlers will have some traits in common - the higher averages tend to keep their armswing close to their body, their elbows in, and are releasing their bowling ball straight toward their strikeline; on the other hand, the lower average bowler has a backswing that tends to vary a lot because they have lateral movement in their backswing.

The "Choc-list" for your pendulum armswing/backswing is:

1) It is parallel to your target.

2) It is in time with your footwork.

3) It is not forced; but, natural with gravity producing the necessary speed.

4) It is under the shoulder and close to the ankle at the point of release.

Here's an old but neat trick - place a towel under your arm and deliver the ball; do not allow the towel to drop until you have completed the follow through. Repeatedly doing this will assist you in developing your "perfect" armswing.

A Hui Hou! (See You Again!)