The Geordies' philosophy is that you can't take the science of skittling too seriously. Unless, that is, you get anal about poor performance and want to understand where you're going wrong and how to correct it. In which case you can't take the science of skittling too seriously.

The prime objectives of our intensive training regime are to avoid dehydration and to exercise the bowling arm regularly. A good bitter taken in moderation ............

Want to know more? For those who envy the Geordies' performance and are seriously interested in emulating us, we have decided to share some of our most jealously guarded secrets:

• Physics - our guide to swing, delivery, sliding, rolling and (occasional) bounce.
• Fitness - our hints to ensure that you are at your peak for the skittling season.
• Warm-up - always warm-up before playing!
• Nutrition - keep it simple!
• Psychology. Some skittlers get it into their heads that they are crap. If you are one of those, this advice will help you overcome negative attitudes and improve your performance. Unless you really are crap at skittling.

Enjoy and don't forget to tell us what you found useful!