# Bowling! What do you do with your left arm? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 29, 2005, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bowling-what-do-you-do-with-your-left-arm/301799 "2005-04-29T22:30:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![empty\_filing\_cabinet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@empty\_filing\_cabinet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/empty_filing_cabinet)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2005, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bowling-what-do-you-do-with-your-left-arm/301799/1 "2005-04-29T22:30:39Z")
I recently started bowling and would like to settle on an “ideal” bowling form, so I can practice good form, over and over, to develop consistency. Just wondering, what do people think is the best thing to do with your left arm? (Or right arm, for lefties.) [Feel free to discuss or make recommendations regarding good bowling form.] My library has some “Sybervision” training tapes about bowling. Are they worth looking at? ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2005, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bowling-what-do-you-do-with-your-left-arm/301799/2 "2005-04-29T23:53:04Z")
It’s been years since I have bowled, but back in the day when I was taught the proper form was to start with both arms outstretched in front of you with the right hand holding the ball and the left arm underneath the ball. As you start your approach the left arm goes back in parallel with the right and then remains at your side while you release the ball with your right hand. ---
**Author:** ![beergeek279](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ea924/32.png) [@beergeek279](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beergeek279)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2005, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bowling-what-do-you-do-with-your-left-arm/301799/3 "2005-04-30T00:40:17Z")
Ohh, I throw the ball with it 😃 ---
**Author:** ![BytopianDream](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9de0a6/32.png) [@BytopianDream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BytopianDream)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2005, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bowling-what-do-you-do-with-your-left-arm/301799/4 "2005-04-30T00:52:04Z")
> [@beergeek279](#): > > Ohh, I throw the ball with it 😃 Curse you! I’m never fast enough. Sigh, what he said. ---
**Author:** ![yellowval](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/919ad9/32.png) [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2005, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bowling-what-do-you-do-with-your-left-arm/301799/5 "2005-04-30T00:56:24Z")
> [@beergeek279](#): > > Ohh, I throw the ball with it 😃 Me three. Not very well, mind you, but I try. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Zamboni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@The\_Great\_Zamboni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Zamboni)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2005, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bowling-what-do-you-do-with-your-left-arm/301799/6 "2005-04-30T01:27:33Z")
You hold your beer with it. Really though, I think a certain swing of the left, or right arm if that is the non-dominant one, helps you keeps your balance. I’m not offering much help here, though. ---
**Author:** ![Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/soul_brother_number_two/32/3515_2.png) [@Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soul_Brother_Number_Two)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2005, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bowling-what-do-you-do-with-your-left-arm/301799/7 "2005-04-30T04:03:29Z")
You wipe your ass with it the next day because it hurts to do it with your other arm. ---
**Author:** ![RFBluesValentine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@RFBluesValentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RFBluesValentine)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2005, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bowling-what-do-you-do-with-your-left-arm/301799/8 "2005-04-30T04:35:07Z")
I bowled for a while, stopped a couple years ago because of work and school. My left arm always stuck out sideways for better balance, and from what I can remember of my family and other people we bowled with, pretty much everyone else’s did some form of sticking out sidways. If you’re interested in bowling as a serious hobby, and can spare the cash, you might consider investing in a coach. That’ll cut down on any bad, painful, or possibly dangerous habits. Otherwise, stick your left arm out sideways and make sure your left knee bends and your right foot slides behind you toward your left side (if that made sense). 🙂 Now I really miss bowling! ---
**Author:** ![I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_can_t_believe_that_s_butter)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2005, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bowling-what-do-you-do-with-your-left-arm/301799/9 "2005-04-30T04:45:06Z")
I’ve found that it will naturally swing outward and slightly to the back in an effort to balance oneself against the additional weight that is the bowling ball on one side of the body. ---
**Author:** ![AngelicGemma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@AngelicGemma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelicGemma)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2005, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bowling-what-do-you-do-with-your-left-arm/301799/10 "2005-04-30T11:34:03Z")
> [@yellowval](#): > > Me three. Not very well, mind you, but I try. Me four. My right arm goes backslightly.