Swinging arm or holding it in position

[MisterSinister]

So my buddy and I have similar deliveries, with the only major difference being our arm after we throw the ball. He finishes with his arm solid, straight up never moving, like a statue. Me, after I throw I swing my arm back and forth until the ball hits the pins. So I looked around at the good bowlers in out center to see what they do. It's about 50/50. So I'm just curious about the people on this site. What do you do?

[AZBowla]

Depends... if it looks like it's going to hit the pocket and score a strike, I make a punching motion at the pins when the ball hits them, lol.

I've been told that it's best to hold your position at the foul line after release until the ball rolls over the arrow you're targeting. I am going to try this when I go bowling next time and see if it helps me. Right now, I just let my arm swing like you do, so I don't know yet whether it's best to hold still or let your arm swing.

[billf]

Holding the finish position is not the same as holding your arm. The swing is considered a good sign of a free arm swing. It varies by person and either way is acceptable.
MY arm stays at the end of my release until the punching motion lol

[Davec13]

I throw my ball watch it roll over my mark and turn around. There is one arm swinger on Wednesdays and it's kind of annoying, especially if you are bowling them. I know everyone has there own routine, but to stand there swinging your arm just seems a little silly to me. I may be biased though as our arm swinger has the habit of turning around and clapping or yelling something right as you are about to release your shot.

[J Anderson]

It seems like when I've executed a good swing and release my arm just continues on its own. Its not something that I consciously do or try not to do. Sometimes swing just happens.

[Doghouse Reilly]

Sometimes my arm swings, sometiime not. Just seems to depend on how loose Im feeling at the time.

[75lockwood]

I throw my ball watch it roll over my mark and turn around. There is one arm swinger on Wednesdays and it's kind of annoying, especially if you are bowling them. I know everyone has there own routine, but to stand there swinging your arm just seems a little silly to me. I may be biased though as our arm swinger has the habit of turning around and clapping or yelling something right as you are about to release your shot.

Tisk tisk Davec lol your supposed to wait till he's done for this very reason :p


as for me, i prefer to keep my arm still at the end of the follow though, i can swing it but i find it distracting lol

[Davec13]

Tisk tisk Davec lol your supposed to wait till he's done for this very reason :p


as for me, i prefer to keep my arm still at the end of the follow though, i can swing it but i find it distracting lol
I'm impatient :rolleyes: Their swing seems to take a long time and I hate waiting.

It is what it is though if that's what they do so be it, I just get up throw my ball and get off the approach.

[bowl1820]

I'm impatient :rolleyes: Their swing seems to take a long time and I hate waiting.

It is what it is though if that's what they do so be it, I just get up throw my ball and get off the approach.

Learn to be patient, being impatient can cost you. Just look at Del Ballard and his famous gutter ball on TV, cost him a big match on TV. He said later it was because rushed.

[billf]

Yeah Del rushed that shot and his career never recovered. Good guy and a good bowler that never reached his potential as a player because he rushed that one shot. Now as a coach on Storm's staff, his record speaks for itself.

[Davec13]

Learn to be patient, being impatient can cost you. Just look at Del Ballard and his famous gutter ball on TV, cost him a big match on TV. He said later it was because rushed.

I can be patient, but it's just that team. They are "that" team on the league if you know what I mean. The one guy actually was yelling at me the other day because I had 2 balls on the return. For some reason that was messing his game up. The other 3 players on his team had a second ball on the return, but mine was just throwing him off. He also last season yelled whammy as the one guy was releasing his 12th ball for a 300.

I am anchor and a few games this season (so far) I have had to either strike out or at least get 2 strikes and a 9. Those shots I stop take a second and focus then throw.

[billf]

Wow. I have had 300s rolled against me and I was rooting for my opponent. I can respect the accomplishment. Besides, if I lose, I want them to have to be perfect to do it.

[75lockwood]

He also last season yelled whammy as the one guy was releasing his 12th ball for a 300.

Wow, this guy seems like a real class act, if you can't be a good enough sport to be happy for a guy on that kind of streak at least have the decency to shut your mouth.

Did the guy end up getting the 300?

[AngeloPD]

Back on topic, my arm swings sometimes also stays at the finish position. i dont know why.

[Brownswick]

If you're going to mimic better players, I would watch professional bowlers, not the geese at your local bowling center.

[GeoLes]

Yes, on the arm swing for me, But I don't think it really does not matter as long as you have a complete follow through to and through your visual target. Many believe it helps promote a more natural, unforced swing. When I begin forcing the ball down lane, I use it to get back to relaxed delivery.

Bowling is a ritualistic sport. Different bowliers do different things. Just the nature of the sport.

[panbanger]

I do the arm swing thingie about 20% of the time. I usually knock that off early though and start backing up so other people can bowl.

[75lockwood]

If you're going to mimic better players, I would watch professional bowlers, not the geese at your local bowling center.

I Disagree with this, a big problem today is that everyone wants to bowl like a pro and make the ball take a left turn into the pocket, as a young bowler your should be focused on accuracy and consistency, don't mimic anyone!

back on topic though, there is no "perfect" bowling form, you should be doing what works best for you, whatever you can do 10,000 times without variation, do that!