Contrary to popular belief, there is more to bowling than meets the eye. It is as complex a sport as any other.
Even an amateur can land a strike every now and then, but consistently scoring a high average requires serious practice and in-depth knowledge of the sport.
Now, a player looking to improve his game can benefit tenfold from a bowling book guide. However, he needs to first identify his skill level to properly recognize the guidelines that best suit him.
For instance, a novice will not draw advantage from picking a book written for professionals. Instead, what he needs is a book focused on the fundamentals of the sport.
A good bowling book must be an easy read and offer value and substance.
Lucky for you, I have done the research and compiled a list of books that could prove useful in your quest of becoming a reliable bowler. Without further ado, here are some of the best bowling books money can buy.
Contents
At A Glance: Our Top Picks for Best Bowling Books
If you’re in a hurry, you can jump straight into our top picks (these are the bowling books that most people buy).
- Bowling Beyond the Basics Top Pick
- Bowling Fundamentals Runner-up
- The Game Changer Runner-up
Top 5 Best Bowling Books – Our Reviews:
1. Bowling Beyond the Basics
As its title suggests, this bowling book by James Freeman and Ron Hatfield is for those who’ve already gotten the basics down to a tee.
If you are looking for a book focused on bowling fundamentals, this book won’t do you any good. The book assumes that you are already capable of releasing the bowling ball properly.
So, what content does it carry then?
Well, it lists some useful techniques that you can integrate into your skill set to bowl more efficiently. In short, it is a book that can help you refine your game and nail some expert bowling shots.
Bowling Beyond the Basics presents plenty of scientific facts to give you a better idea of how the sport works. You can consider it a proper analysis of the game.
Pros
- Techniques and information backed by scientific facts
- Helps you understand the sport better
- Helps you refine your skills
Cons
- A bit pricey for my liking
- Not for novice bowlers
2. Bowling Fundamentals
Written by a renowned bowling coach, Michelle Mullen, Bowling Fundamentals contains a wealth of information on bowling. It would be foolish to turn down the knowledge offered by one of the most sought-after coaches in the game, wouldn’t it?
This book is for those who want to nail down the basics of bowling. However, veterans of the sport can also learn a thing or two from this book.
Bowling Fundamentals is an easy read, has useful tips for days, and is written by a renowned coach who would otherwise not have time to mentor you. What’s not to like?
Pros
- The instructions are easy to follow
- Plenty of useful tips
Cons
- Could have been priced cheaper
3. The Game Changer
Mark Baker, a respected figure in the realm of bowling, must be applauded for writing The Game Changer. It is a book that primarily concentrates on the basics of the game, plus a twist.
In a nutshell, this book presents an effective and uniform way any bowler can follow to refine his skill set, regardless of his style.
Whether you are a cranker or stroker, the changes and tweaks mentioned in this book are all easy to execute and adopt.
With The Game Changer, you won’t have to completely learn new techniques or bowling styles. Barring a few necessary tweaks, your bowling style will still have your fine imprints at the end of the day.
Pros
- Helps you improve without asking you to compromise your style
- Written by a renowned specialist of the sport
- Easy read
Cons
- You might need another set of eyes to examine your implementation of the tips
4. Bowling Psychology
Experiencing a slump? Going through a dip in form?
Bowling Psychology helps you overcome mental hurdles that could be affecting your game. The book offers a psychological view of the bowling and gives a lowdown on how you can improve your performances from a mental standpoint.
I also like the fact that the author, Dr. Dean Hinitz, has roped in many world-class athletes including expert bowlers to offer their two cents and provide valuable tips in this bowling book.
Remember, you may have all the talent in the world, but you won’t be able to dazzle spectators and showcase your skills on the big stage if you’re not mentally prepared to do so.
Pros
- Offers a psychological approach to improving your game
- Provides tips and pieces of advice given by some of the finest athletes
Cons
- More suited towards skilled bowlers looking for an edge over their contemporaries
5. Bowling For Dummies
If the previous book seemed intimidating, this one should settle your nerves. Bowling For Dummies is a book that truly lives up to its name.
A.J. Forrest and Lisa Iannucci explain the basics of the sport in this book in a simple manner. Of course, the book covers various technical areas of the game, but it does so in a less intimidating way than the rest of the bowling books on this list.
Bowling For Dummies doesn’t promise to make you a world-class bowling athlete. Instead, it focuses on helping casual bowlers gain the upper hand over their friends during the bowling weekend.
This is not to say that the book isn’t useful for the more experienced; there are advanced concepts in Bowling For Dummies that can surprise even the most skillful of bowlers. Don’t let its title fool you.
Pros
- The illustrations in the book help make following instructions easy
- Easy read
- Can be used by experts as well
Cons
- Could do with more diagrams
- Too much generic information
- Doesn’t focus much on the “How-to” improve part
Conclusion
People bowling for the first time can find Bowling For Dummies really helpful. Meanwhile, expert bowlers looking for a psychological advantage over their competitors can benefit from purchasing Bowling Psychology.
Those who aren’t looking for a major transformation of their bowling style but are instead interested in making minor tweaks to improve their game can go for The Game Changer.
In the end, the book you choose must be directly related to how new or advanced you are in bowling.