Quick Tip: Developing a Pre-Shot Routine
Erik VermilyeaDescription
A pre-shot routine, simply put, is everything that happens before you are ready to take a shot. Keep in mind that there is no right or wrong way to do this routine. However, try to keep it short enough to not take away from the pace of play.
In this Quick Tip, Coach Erik Vermilyea with Track demonstrates his own routine, while explaining its importance.
The Routine’s Importance
A pre-shot routine is home base. It will be the one constant in your game that you can always rely on. Why is this important? If you are practicing by yourself it’s easy to get up and throw shots quicker than you normally would in competition. A routine will help you keep a good pace throughout your practice session.
In pressure situations, like needing a spare to win or that last strike for a 300, require a calm body and mind to be successful. Having a routine allows you to calm down and go through the motions you do for every shot, taking pressure off of your shoulders in these situations.
Erik’s Pre-Shot Routine
All of his thoughts happen in the settee. Ball choice, on lane adjustments, targeting, etc. For Erik, his towel is where it starts. Once he picks up his towel, it’s go time:
1. Pick up towel
2. Pick up ball
3. Wipe ball off
4. Wipe off shoe
5. Step up on the approach and locate target
6. Get set up and take a deep breath
7. Begin approach
This simple procedure is what Erik does before he steps up to each and every shot.
Do you want to learn more about developing your own routine? Check out “The Importance of a Pre-Shot Routine” and “Bowl Your Best: Develop a Pre-Shot Routine” from our expert coaches to help develop or improve your pre-shot routine.
Hi there. Welcome to National Bowling Academy. I'm Erik Vermilyea, and for today's quick tip, I wanna touch on why a pre shot routine is important. A pre-shot routine is simply the method, the entire process of delivering the bowling ball. Whether it's you know, third frame or the first game of practice session for you, whether it's 10th frame of game three of league, or whether it's needing that first rack in the 10th to win a PBA title on TV. Your pre-shot routine is going to be the same for all these shots. Having that pre-shot routine, lets you have the same routine and the same process for every shot regardless of the situation and will help you perform your best. Again, regardless of the situation. For me it all starts with my towel. I do all of my pre-planning, all of my thought process. Before I even get up near the lanes I figure out what I'm gonna do with the ball, where I'm gonna throw it home when throw it. But then once I pick up this towel, then it's go mode. Then it's pre-shot routine and delivering the ball. I pick up my towel, I pick up the bowling ball. I use the towel to wipe the ball off, get the oil off the ball. I reach down, I wipe off the bottom of my shoe to make sure there's no sand no gravel that collected on there and I'll have a good slide. I step up on the approach. I find my spot, get set up, take one big one deep breath let the breath out and then go. And that's my pre-shot routine as simple as possible for me but it lets me have something I can repeat and do the same again, whether it's just practice whether it's an important shot. Again regardless of the situation, having a just a basic pre-shot routine that you can fall back on and rely on, will help you deliver the best outcome again regardless of the situation.
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