Featured Story: Getting Prepared to Kick Off Your League Season

Getting Prepared to Kick Off Your League Season

As summer begins to wind down, that can only mean one thing. It’s time for the 2014-2015 league season to begin! So for those of you who spent the summer months working on your tan or golf swing, here are a few tips to get prepared for your weekly return to the lanes.

CHECK THAT GRIP

One of the biggest things that gets overlooked when returning to the lanes is your span. The span that has worked for years might have changed over time, and it’s always best to at least get re-fit prior to the start of the season.

It only takes a few minutes at your local pro shop, and can save a lot of hassle down the road, especially if you plan to start your new year with some new equipment.

FRESHEN UP 

If you’re not planning to update your bowling ball arsenal, it’s definitely a good idea to freshen up the surfaces of your current lineup.

Whether you have your own ball spinner and new Abralon pads, or need to swing by the pro shop, starting the season with clean equipment can give you an edge as you figure out what you’ll need to succeed.

CHANGE YOUR TAPE

You should change out the tape in your thumb hole on a regular basis, and if you haven’t done it all summer, you may be in for a surprise if you need to take a few pieces out.

The glue used to hold black and white tape in place becomes quite the hassle to remove if it you don’t change it out. Sometimes, it will take a little more time than expected to remove the residue, and perhaps even requiring a cleaning solvent to completely clear everything out.

Be sure to start with fresh tape so you don’t have to hold up everyone during the first week of the season!

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE

The best way to get prepared for the new season, however, is to put all of these tips into practice … on the lanes.

It’s worth the time and effort to take to the lanes a week or two before your league starts up and not only get back into the rhythm of things, but to check on all of the ideas listed above.

If your old equipment doesn’t feel right, maybe it’s time to re-evaluate your span and pitches. If your equipment seems a little lazy at the breakpoint, maybe you just need to freshen up the covers.

Or maybe you’ve been practicing all season, kept your tape fresh and are ready for another exciting season of USBC-certified competition!

Either way, welcome to the 2014-15 season! Best of luck on the lanes this year!