Richmond 40 Bowl | Richmond, IN

The Best Warm-ups to Help You Own Your Next Bowling Game

Woman in track suit stretching on grass field

Warm-ups are an important part of any athlete’s routine, from soccer and basketball to running and yes, even bowling. Doing warm-up exercises is important to prevent injuries and help you play your best. Rather than going from 0 to 60, warming up gently allows your muscles and joints to acclimate to the activity you’ll be doing, reducing the risk of straining a muscle or tendon. Warming up can also get your blood flowing and raise your heart rate, so you’re ready for the heat of competition. Read on to learn about the best warm-up exercises for bowling, and get ready to own your next bowling game! 

Bowling Warm-up Exercises

Bowling is a relatively gentle sport when it comes to toll on your body, with low-impact on your joints. However, it’s still important to warm up in order to avoid stress on your hands, wrists, arms, and shoulders. Try these bowling warm-ups to make sure you’re in top competition mode when the game begins. 

  • Jumping jacks, squats, lunges, arm and leg swings – These are some great warm-ups to start off with in order to get your heart pumping. Do jumping jacks, run in place, lunge back and forth from your seat to the wall. Swing your arms to warm up that movement before you do it in game with a bowling ball. 
  • It’s extremely important to stretch your arms, so try these variations that will loosen up your arms and shoulders.  
    • Overhead arm stretch – Lift arm over head, bent down at elbow so that your fingertips are past the nape of your neck. Use your other hand to grasp your elbow and gently pull. You can also lean to the opposite direction of the arm you’re stretching to activate the muscle down the side of your abdomen. 
    • Cross body arm stretch – Hold your arm straight across your torso and use the other hand to gently pull you into the stretch. 
  • Haven’t you heard that bowling is all in the wrist? That’s why it’s so vital that you properly warm up your wrists before bowling. You can do this by: 
    • Holding your arm straight out in front of you, palm up. Take your other hand and gently pull the fingers of the outstretched hand towards your body, being careful not to pull too hard. 
    • Starting with your arm straight out in front of you as if gesturing for someone to stop, use your other hand to gently pull your fingers back. 

If you’re interested in learning how to bowl, check out our bowling lessons! We love helping bowlers gain more confidence in their skills and improve their bowling games. You can join us any time for open bowling at Richmond 40 Bowl in Richmond, Indiana.