Power Stroker Bowling: What Exactly Is It?

If you’re like most bowlers, you probably already have a pretty good idea of what power stroking is.

But for those of you who are new to the game or just want to brush up on your knowledge, I’m here to help.

In this blog post, I’ll give you a basic overview of what power stroking is and how it can help improve your bowling game.

So without further ado, let’s get started.

What is Power Stroker Bowling?

Power stroker bowling is a form of bowling in which the bowler uses his wrist/arm (and sometimes fingers) to hold onto the ball for as long as possible before releasing it, thus giving him more time to aim and shoot.

This gives the person’s shots the appearance that they are shot with “machine-like” accuracy.

Power strokers primarily keep their wrist stiff and use their forearm to swing the ball.

There is a concept of rev rate in bowling, which is the ball’s speed upon release.

And power strokers often manage RPMs of around 350+ because of their ability to hold onto the ball longer than normal before releasing it in a straight line into the pocket.

What Types of Bowling Balls Are Good For Power Stroker?

Power strokers typically use low-flaring bowling balls because it helps them achieve better angles and more accuracy.

Flaring is the way in which a ball “opens up” after it leaves the bowler’s hand and travels down the lane, causing it to hook/curve right or left.

Low-flaring balls will make sure that the ball doesn’t make a big turn upon release and will go straight ahead.

I typically recommend people pick up a plastic bowling ball, but you can definitely use anything from reactive resin to urethane if it’s the right weight for you.

There are also several drillings that offer good results such as pin-up layouts and pin-under layouts.

When Should I Start Power Stroking?

Since it takes an incredible amount of effort to learn how to power stroke, you should probably work on perfecting your form before trying to speed up your release.

The faster you are able to release the ball, the more likely something minor will go wrong with your shot.

You can take advantage of this time to perfect your stance, your approach, and everything else.

Once you feel like you’ve got the basics down, try to speed up your release a little bit at a time by lowering how far out in front of your body you hold the ball.

I typically encourage people to start power stroking when they can shoot consistent strikes (except for a pesky 7-10 split) and they’ve got their basic form down.

When Should I Not Power Stroke?

In my opinion, power stroking isn’t exactly the best idea when you’re just starting to learn how to bowl.

It is really difficult to perfect your technique in this way because it’s very easy to release the ball too early and mess up the entire shot.

That being said, I think power stroking can be a helpful tool for children or adults who may have difficulty getting the speed they want on their shots.

It’s typically easier to throw gutter balls when you’re learning how to bowl (and it is very frustrating), so this might help you get up to speed more quickly.

Is Power Stroker Bowling the Only Way of Delivering the Balls?

There are many different types of bowling styles, some of which include: traditional, one-handed, two-handed, power stroking, etc.

Some bowlers may be best known for using a certain type of style, while others may be known for using a combination of two or more.

For example, one of my friends is known for having a traditional style but also using his wrist/forearm to generate the speed and power behind his shots.

How Does Power Stroker Bowling Differ From Other Forms of Bowling?

The biggest difference between power stroker bowling and other forms of bowling is that power strokers tend to use wrist/forearm strength as well as finger manipulation to generate ball speed.

Some bowlers may make full use of their fingers, but many choose not to as it can cause injury if done incorrectly (for example, rear-ending) or if the bowler is not experienced enough.

What Is the Main Advantage of Power Stroker Bowling?

The main advantage of power stroking is that it gives a bowler significantly more time to aim and shoot the ball, thus increasing their chance of a strike.

Power strokes also have a greater tendency to generate higher RPMs and give them better control over where their shots go by allowing them to aim more accurately.

What are Some Advantages of Power Stroker Bowling?

Since power stroking relies heavily on the use of the wrist/forearm, it allows the bowler to generate more speed in their shots.

This is great for delivering powerful strikes with each ball thrown.

Since power strokers keep their wrists stiff, they are also able to throw the ball straighter with less deviation in the path of the shot.

With that being said, there are some disadvantages of power stroking.

The bowlers who use this style of bowling may experience some soreness in the wrist/forearm after a full game because it does put stress on those joints.

Is Power Stroker Bowling for Everyone?

Power stroking is never “better” or “worse” than traditional bowling, despite what some bowlers may say.

It’s about what works for you, which is why there are so many different types of bowling styles in the world.

Some bowlers can excel with both styles while some just do better with one over the other.

What Can I Do to Improve My Power Stroking?

As is with anything in life, practice makes perfect.

So you’ll want to always be practicing your power stroking in order to get better at it.

Try using both of your hands and switch between them frequently to help strengthen the weaker hand.

The more often you practice, the better you will become.

Who Can Play Power Stroker Bowling?

Power stroking is for anyone who has the desire to do so.

There are no rules preventing you from trying this, but I would recommend practicing first to see if power stroking is right for you.

Conclusion

Power stroking is a great option for children or adults who may have difficulty getting the speed they want on their shots.

It’s typically easier to throw gutter balls when you’re learning how to bowl (and it is very frustrating), so this might help you get up to speed more quickly.

The biggest difference between power stroking and other forms of bowling is that power strokers tend to use wrist/forearm strength as well as finger manipulation to generate ball speed, while some bowlers prefer not to because it can cause injury if done incorrectly (for example, rear-ending) or if the bowler isn’t experienced enough.

So what are your thoughts?

Further reading:

Bowling Styles

Common Bowling Techniques and Styles