How we picked
We chose these six by who wrote them and what they set out to teach: a Hall of Fame bowler, coaches behind PBA champions, a sport psychologist, and the authors of a science-based deep dive. Each summary below is based on the book’s published description and the author’s record, not a claim that we’ve tested every drill. Prices change constantly, so we link to Amazon rather than quote them.
The books
Bowling Fundamentals, by Michelle Mullen
Human Kinetics
Mullen is a USBC Gold coach and, per her publisher, a former Team USA coach. The book covers choosing equipment and the essentials of execution: footwork, arm swing, timing, finish position and release, with specific instruction for left-handed bowlers. Her plastic-ball spare method is the one our spare calculator uses.
Best for: New and developing bowlers building sound fundamentals
The Game Changer, by Mark Baker
Wheatmark · subtitle: A Simple System for Improving Your Bowling Scores
Baker’s publisher lists the PBA stars he has coached, including Players of the Year Chris Barnes, Tommy Jones and Mika Koivuniemi. The book’s pitch is improvement without starting over: using traits common to Hall-of-Fame-caliber bowlers, it shows small, easy changes you can make within your own natural game.
Best for: League bowlers whose average has stalled but who don’t want to rebuild their style
Bare Bones Bowling, by Brian Voss
2013
Voss is in both the PBA Hall of Fame (1994) and the USBC Hall of Fame (2008), with 25 PBA Tour titles. According to the book’s description, it breaks down the movements that past and current superstars share, with its own illustrations, and shares how Voss thought when he was competing against the best in the world.
Best for: Seeing the game through a Hall of Famer’s eyes
Bowling Beyond the Basics, by James Freeman and Ron Hatfield
BowlSmart, 2018 · about 400 pages · subtitle: What’s Really Happening on the Lanes, and What You Can Do about It
The science-minded pick. The book sets out to explain what is actually happening with ball motion and lane conditions, using evidence rather than bowling folklore, and to help you diagnose your own game. It also takes on common bowling myths and includes its own spare system.
Best for: Bowlers who want to understand why, not just what
Bowling Psychology, by Dean Hinitz
Human Kinetics, 2016 · foreword by Jason Belmonte
Hinitz, a PhD sport psychologist with more than 30 years in practice, focuses on the mental game: relaxation techniques, positive self-talk and focus cues, applied to shooting spares more consistently, improving accuracy and handling nerves.
Best for: Bowlers whose scores drop when it counts: tournaments, league finals, the 10th frame
Bowling eXecution, by John Jowdy
Human Kinetics, 2009 · 224 pages
Jowdy’s publisher credits him with coaching more than 100 professionals, among them David Ozio, Del Warren, Randy Pedersen, Steve Hoskins and Kent Wagner. The book covers the game from developing skills to refining technique.
Best for: Detailed technique work for committed bowlers
Which one should you read first?
- Just starting out, or relearning the basics: Bowling Fundamentals.
- Average stuck, happy with your style: The Game Changer.
- You want to know why the ball does what it does: Bowling Beyond the Basics.
- You bowl well in practice and worse under pressure: Bowling Psychology.
- You want a champion’s perspective: Bare Bones Bowling.
- You want deep technique detail: Bowling eXecution.
Books work best alongside practice. Pair your reading with our guides to technique, spare systems and ball motion, and track whether it’s working with the score tracker.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best bowling book for beginners?
Start with Michelle Mullen’s Bowling Fundamentals. It is written for building the basics (equipment, footwork, arm swing, timing and release) and includes instruction for left-handers. Then move to The Game Changer or Bowling eXecution as your game develops.
Is there a good book on the mental side of bowling?
Yes: Dean Hinitz’s Bowling Psychology, with a foreword by Jason Belmonte. It covers relaxation, self-talk and focus routines for spares, accuracy and nerves.
Do bowling books make good gifts?
They do, especially for league bowlers who already own their gear. Match the book to the bowler: Bare Bones Bowling for a fan of the pro game, Bowling Psychology for someone who gets nervous in tournaments. See our bowling gift guide for more ideas.
Sources: publisher, retailer and review descriptions for each book (Human Kinetics, Wheatmark, Amazon, Goodreads, Google Books); USBC spare-shooting clinic by Michelle Mullen.