Richmond 40 Bowl | Richmond, IN

Get Back to Bowling After a Long Hiatus with These Warmup Tips

Photo of bowling ball return in front of bowling alley lanes and pins

Richmond 40 Bowl is open again and we are so glad to be back at the bowling alley! We know our local bowlers are just as happy to be back after such a long, pandemic-induced hiatus, and with our new safety measures in place, we’re all set to get back to bowling. For those who bowled regularly up until recently, coming back from a bowling hiatus may be a bit of a challenge. Fortunately, there are ways to get yourself back in peak bowling form after a lapse from the lanes. Check out these tips to warm up for bowling and get your head back in the game.

How to Get Back to Bowling After Taking a Break from the Lanes

Take it slow.

First and foremost, don’t expect to crank your game up to eleven on day one after weeks or months away from the bowling alley. That’s not realistic for a runner, a swimmer, or a gymnast, and it’s not realistic for bowlers, either!

If you’re excited to resume competitive league bowling, give yourself time to readjust by playing a few warm up games just for fun. You need some time to get back into the swing of things. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you feel like things aren’t clicking. It likely took you a long time to get your bowling technique down. While it won’t necessarily come back overnight, you will be able to tap into that muscle memory again if you focus on the elements of your game, from your grip and approach to your slide and release. 

Warm up your body.

Just like any other sport, it’s important to warm up before bowling. While bowling is not as active or overtly athletic as say, running a 10k or powerlifting, it is a whole body sport that requires upper, lower, and core body strength, as well as balance and flexibility. 

A good bowling warmup involves a few steps: 

  • Light cardio warmup (jumping jacks, jogging in place, etc.)
  • Stretching (Lunges, overhead arm stretch, cross body arm stretch, toe touches)
  • Wrist warmup (flexion and extension stretches)

You never want to skip these warm up exercises—that’s just asking for a sprained wrist or shoulder—especially after taking several weeks off.   

Reset your mental game.

Last, but not least, you’ll need to get your mental game back on track. Great bowlers have excellent focus and visualization skills. Check out our blog post 3 Tips for Understanding (and Tackling) the Mental Game of Bowling for some pointers on getting your mental game on par with your physical bowling skills. Remember that half the game is in your head and your routine, so really focus on setting up your shots and getting your form back.

Ready to hit the lanes and get back to bowling? We can’t wait to see you here at Richmond 40 Bowl, whether you’re on a bowling date, hanging out with friends, playing in a league, or even signing up for bowling lessons.