Critique my release again

[NewToBowling]

NEW VIDEO, SEE POST #22

Finally video taped myself again and looks like I am still not behind the ball or at least maintaining it. I keep "breaking" my wrist when I turn and it looks like I turn my wrist too early. I'm getting more spin than revolutions.

Yes I know my approach and swing are still a bit off and I loft the ball. But concerned about staying behind the ball. So the palm of your hand should be pointed towards the sky when it reaches your sliding foot? And at that point you quickly rotate the wrist ala underhanded football toss?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnkJF0MR-_A&feature=youtu.be

Just for reference this is vdubtx's video (hope you don't mine me linking it) and he has a beautiful release.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvqqblYyzSc

[NewToBowling]

I'm bowling some more tonight. Will try not to hook the ball and just release without hand motion. See if hand stays behind ball.

And I think most of these releases and am trying to hook the ball. Just go with natural release

[RobLV1]

Try this: think about rolling the ball, not throwing it. Try a couple of one step drills where your hand is at the bottom of the ball and you simply roll it forward. Your hand is in a real good position behind the ball until your loft it down the lane.

[NewToBowling]

Yeah, I get it pretty good behind the ball but when I release it cocks to the right and the wrist breaks. Bad habit.

I do have a wrist guard but don't like how it feels on my wrist.

[NewToBowling]

Videos of night practice. Look any better?

Looks like more revolutions vs spins?

Was really focused on keeping wrist firm

Scores range from 200 to around 130 or so


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpTyQuf4oLM&feature=youtu.be

[NewToBowling]

Try this: think about rolling the ball, not throwing it. Try a couple of one step drills where your hand is at the bottom of the ball and you simply roll it forward. Your hand is in a real good position behind the ball until your loft it down the lane.

Yeah, but when I think of rolling I loosen my wrist. Now I just think FIRM wrist and it makes the release kind of awkward, kind of what you said, just tossing the ball

[Mike White]

Videos of night practice. Look any better?

Looks like more revolutions vs spins?

Was really focused on keeping wrist firm

Scores range from 200 to around 130 or so


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpTyQuf4oLM&feature=youtu.be

Looks to me like you're starting the ball too late into your approach.

The ball should reach the bottom of the back swing while your weight is on your right foot, you're getting there with the weight on your left foot.

That only allows two more steps in the time it takes to complete the arm swing.

During the back swing, you have a hop in your step.

The hand is in a good position, but the path of the ball during the back swing brings the ball behind your body, rather than maintain a pendulum swing towards your target.

[RobLV1]

Yeah, but when I think of rolling I loosen my wrist. Now I just think FIRM wrist and it makes the release kind of awkward, kind of what you said, just tossing the ball

The idea of keeping your wrist firm throughout the approach is very old school and was effective with pre-reactive resin bowling balls, but with modern balls is actually dedrimental. If you watch slow motion videos of any of the modern players, you'll see that the wrist actually breaks, and then reloads through the release. Good examples to watch are Chris Barnes and Michael Fagan. Watch how each of them roll the ball down the lane rather than throwing it.

[jab5325]

I'm far from an expert, and RobLV1/others would be able to tell you better.....but it seems like you're high at release and really lofting the ball quite far down the lane.

[NewToBowling]

Looks to me like you're starting the ball too late into your approach.

The ball should reach the bottom of the back swing while your weight is on your right foot, you're getting there with the weight on your left foot.

That only allows two more steps in the time it takes to complete the arm swing.

During the back swing, you have a hop in your step.

The hand is in a good position, but the path of the ball during the back swing brings the ball behind your body, rather than maintain a pendulum swing towards your target.

Thanks Mike. I just noticed this. I was probably thinking too much about the hand release and forgot about my footwork. I am usually pretty good with footwork timing. I move my right foot with right swing arm. My first video towards the 20 second mark shows this I believe. Just got kind of messed up last night from over thinking about firm wrist.

And I agree with you on my hand position. I don't really want my hands that far inside of the ball when I swing back. Would prefer hands be directly behind it. I'm going to practice the swing drill with and without my wrist support and record it to see any improvements. Will also try using index finger as guide, making sure it is pointed at the lanes and pointed down on my downswing. This will cock my wrist a bit also.


The idea of keeping your wrist firm throughout the approach is very old school and was effective with pre-reactive resin bowling balls, but with modern balls is actually dedrimental. If you watch slow motion videos of any of the modern players, you'll see that the wrist actually breaks, and then reloads through the release. Good examples to watch are Chris Barnes and Michael Fagan. Watch how each of them roll the ball down the lane rather than throwing it.

Yeah I've watched all the pros but they have a modern release. They don't seem to do the "handshake" rotation but more of a slight cock and uncocking of wrist. Not sure I'm comfortable with that release. I've been training myself these last few months on the handshake or under-handed football toss.

I just put in new yellow colored fingertip grips so I can easily see where they are down lane (used to be blue). Generally the finger holes should be traveling at around 20-40 degrees around the axis of the ball right?

http://www.blueprintbowling.com/Blog/Posts/axis-rotation-and-axis-tilt-explained.aspx

http://www.blueprintbowling.com/Blog/Images/axis-rotation-and-axis-tilt-explained/axis-rotation-angle-top-view-1.jpg

http://www.blueprintbowling.com/Blog/Images/axis-rotation-and-axis-tilt-explained/axis-tilt-angle-back-view-1.jpg


I'm far from an expert, and RobLV1/others would be able to tell you better.....but it seems like you're high at release and really lofting the ball quite far down the lane.

Yeah, the loft is bad but my knees aren't the greatest so trying to preserve them :)

[NewToBowling]

Also, should I bend my elbow throughout the release?

[jab5325]

IMO, no. Bending the elbow (i.e. chicken winging it) is a big no-no.

[Amyers]

IMO, no. Bending the elbow (i.e. chicken winging it) is a big no-no.

Chicken Wining where the elbow comes around the side of the ball is a big no-no but you can bend the elbow in an up and down fashion not suggested but a lot of power players do this.

[NewToBowling]

Chicken Wining where the elbow comes around the side of the ball is a big no-no but you can bend the elbow in an up and down fashion not suggested but a lot of power players do this.

Yes, this is what I was referring to

On another topic, look at Dom Barretts release. Very smooth. But he doesn't use the "handshake" release. His palm is facing him after release. Many new bowlers have this type of modern release

He just flicks his wrist or something because I know he gets pretty good revs


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GKv77kCDpk

[RobLV1]

Unfortunately a "handshake release" is no longer appropriate with modern bowling balls. It encourages coming around the ball, lofting the ball, and prevents you from projecting the ball down the lane. In the old days of the handshake release, bowlers were encouraged to finish toward the ceiling. Unfortunately, there are no pins on the ceiling, so it's a good idea to finish toward the pins.

[NewToBowling]

So I was reading Ron Cliftons site and on this page http://www.bowl4fun.com/ron/tip35.htm he mentions the 45 degree hand position. I think I'll go and try this out next time I'm at the alley. Just stand there and keep hand at 45 degrees and release. No turning of wrists and see what happens

[RobLV1]

So I was reading Ron Cliftons site and on this page http://www.bowl4fun.com/ron/tip35.htm he mentions the 45 degree hand position. I think I'll go and try this out next time I'm at the alley. Just stand there and keep hand at 45 degrees and release. No turning of wrists and see what happens

I don't believe that is what he is saying. Start with your hand at 3:00, on the back swing, rotate your hand counter-clockwise to the 6:00 position. As you release the ball, rotate your hand back to the 3:00 position. Honestly, you seem confused enough about the whole release issue, that a lesson with a Certified Coach is definitely in order. As much as we would like to believe that looking things up and asking questions on the internet is a viable alternative, it's not.

[bowl1820]

Just stand there and keep hand at 45 degrees and release. No turning of wrists and see what happens


I don't believe that is what he is saying.

That's exactly what he was saying. You hold the 45 degree hand position throughout the swing from start to finish.

Quote:
" Make note that you will not be turning your hand or fingers from 6:00 to 3:00 to perform this first release. In fact we will not be turning the hand at all. The exercise of “feeling” 6 and 3 is just so you can “feel” the middle in between the two. That middle is what we are after and that will be your 45 degree position."

Ron call's it "a simple hook release" and is just a simple beginners release.

http://s5.postimg.org/lszsg07wn/45deghand.jpg



Start with your hand at 3:00, on the back swing, rotate your hand counter-clockwise to the 6:00 position. As you release the ball, rotate your hand back to the 3:00 position. .

This does not make sense, I believe what you were trying to say was:

"Start with your hand at 3:00, on the back swing, rotate your hand clockwise to the 6:00 position. As you release the ball, rotate your hand back to the 3:00 position. " But that was not what Ron was saying anyway.

[NewToBowling]

You're right. May get lessons in the future

[RobLV1]

Bowl1820: Oops, you're right. I meant clockwise - just woke up from a nap. LOL

NewToBowling: Make it sooner rather than later. It's much easier to develop good habits, than it is to wait to try to get rid of bad ones.

[NewToBowling]

Yeah, I already have bad habits from years of fun recreational bowling. I've been bowling for years but usually only 3-4 times each year. Never learned proper technique. Just used house balls and tossed it down thumbless to get hook. Heck, I never even used my right leg to cross over the left. That was probably why I was chicken winging it so much from tossing off to the side vs under the head.

Trying to correct that now but still have to constantly remind myself to cross over that right leg otherwise the ball will hit my upper right leg a few times.

[NewToBowling]

Ok, a new video last night. I've linked to the side view angle. As you can see my wrist is firm and behind ball on backswing and coming down but it breaks right before it gets to bottom of swing probably due to me turning the ball early. Guess I have to concentrate more on keeping the wrist firm throughout and not turning the ball too early

You can forward to 0.42 seconds into the video for side view


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1joJBm0mto&feature=youtu.be#t=42s

[NewToBowling]

Here is another video practice at home. I think the hand release is better here. I know not the same ad the lanes but holding my wrist firm


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EVczVa1028&feature=youtu.be

[fortheloveofbowling]

If you want to work on release at home get a softball or nerf football and try to rotate it without coming around it so much. I would also bowl many games using the 1 step drill and work on keeping your torso over your knee a little more at release. You don't have a lot of knee bend and i know you said you have knee problems but the straightening of your back prematurely hurts your lower body use as well.