If you’re left handed, it may seem like the world was simply not designed with you in mind.
It sometimes takes a considerable effort to find left-handed versions of all sorts of items in our everyday lives.
In the world of bowling, it’s fortunate that left-handed bowlers do not require much in the way of specially-designed equipment, but there are some things they need to do to help maximize their chances.
This article will go over the most important things to keep in mind, and with it we hope to add “bowling tips” to the list of things that lefties don’t have to spend lots of time looking for!
Is bowling easier for left handers?
Some say that in many sports, including bowling, left-handers actually have an advantage.
Does this play out in bowling? In many cases, the type of advantage being described in other sports doesn’t really apply.
For example, in baseball, left-handed pitchers often benefit simply from being less common; that is, other players aren’t as used to seeing them so they have more success.
In a more individual sports like bowling where each player only comes into direct contact with the ball, lane and pins, this type of advantage is not prevalent.
But it is true that lefties use the other side of the lane as compared to righties. And although we wouldn’t exactly say this makes things “easier” per se, it is something they need to take into account. (This is a point we will explore in more detail below in the additional tips.)
Do left-handers need a special lefty ball?
You may come across some sources that claim most balls are right-handed due to the way the counter weight is places and that you need a special left-handed ball, but this is not something we have found to be important in our research and personal bowling experience.
Thus, you don’t need to find a special lefty ball, but what is important is to make sure it’s drilled for your left hand.
If you inherit or otherwise acquire a ball that was originally used by a right-handed bowler, you can take it to a pro shop and get it plugged and re-drilled.
It’s not recommended for lefties to rely on the house balls that you find at the alley, as the vast majority of those will be drilled for right-handers.
Overall, looking at our guide on how to choose your first bowling ball is a good idea so you can ensure that you’ll benefit from that customization.
Next we’ll look at a few more tips that left-handed bowlers can use to their advantage.
More left-handed bowling tips
As a lefty, you want to perfect your angle of attack to the pocket as this is an area that is significantly different from right-handers. As a most basic level, you want your ball to hit the 1-2 pocket (the space in between the 1 and 2 pins on the left side) rather than the 1-3 pocket for righties. (See our article on how to aim in bowling for a visual of this)
It is also crucial for left handed bowlers to read oil patterns and understand the differences on their side of the lane as compared to right handers.
This is because in many situations, lefties can expect more consistent oil patterns. There is less traffic on that side of the lane since most righties are using the other side of the lane.
But depending on the style of the bowlers, they may have overlapping ball paths, so it becomes important, especially after lots of bowling has occurred, to read lane and oil patterns and decide if you need to make any adjustments.
We often hear that we “need to make adjustments” due to lane conditions, but what exactly does this mean? What type of adjustments are we talking about?
Left-handed bowlers should get experience with adjusting their ball speeds when needed. It also may include switching up their equipment if they happen to carry more than one bowling ball. It also may mean adjusting their starting position or their target a few boards over in order to hit the right spot.
This can mean the difference between getting a strike and missing the pocket and leaving multiple pins standing. And like most things in the world of bowling, practice truly makes perfect so be sure to get out there and bowl, with a careful eye for observing the situation and making tweaks when needed.
My dad got me into bowling at the age of 5 years old. He is a righty bowler but wanted me to pick up the ball with my left hand. People always say the left side has the advantage due to less traffic of bowlers on their side. I believe a house pattern is advantageous to lefties but bowling in college for 4 years made it very hard to succeed on the left side because of the volume of oil and not as many bowlers to break it down.