Thumb hole, Loose or Tight?

[RoccoRock]

What do you feel is the problem with the thumb in?

Me, I suck at it. From what I see on the videos I take, it's a long list of problems. I thought about posting the video, but quite frankley I'm embarresed. Basicly I bowled without my thumb for so long that I developed bad habits that are sooooo hard to break. My arm bends on the backswing, straighetns out at the top, then bends again on the way down. It looks like I'm shoving the ball down the lane, yet I have no power. At the top of my backswing, the ball is supposed to be in line with my head, correct? Well it's not, it's pretty much behind my back, or above my left shoulder. i worked really hard to correct everything, but even when I think I am doing something correct, I watch the video and it looks exacly the same. Plus I tend to stand up out of my shot at the release point, and my footwork sucks. There's probably more that I am not catching, but I think that's enough problems to just want to throw in the towel. I have a lesson with the pro shop guy this Wed, and I can't decide if it's going to be a good thing, and he can get me straightened out, or it's a further waste of money. It may be like asking a mechanic to change the spark plugs on car with a blown engine. I am thinking of just stopping the experament now, before I waste more money I don't have, and have him help me get my two handed delivery even better. I threw a few shots two handed Thursday, and it felt great, looked good (well, as good as an amature two hander can look) and was just soooooo much more accurate. I know the guy can, and is willing to help me no matter what I do, he is supportive of any style that makes a bowler better. I do this all the time, just as I commit to something, and spend a lot of money on it, I find something else works better.

[eugene02]

Well Rocco, Just post the video! nothing to be afraid of.. Me myself, I don't bowl as good.. So I'm also learning.. From videos and this forum.. Best if your able to get a coach to teach you.. That'll be good

[billf]

There are drills you can do for everything you listed. It's your money and time so get all you can out of your lesson with the pro shop guy. I would bet part of the elbow bending has something to do with the 2-handed bowling as it's a necessity for that style. My only issue with 2-handed is, how can anybody bowl that way later in life?

[GeorgiaStroker]

Agree. Getting hands on coaching is the ideal. There really aren't any coaches around here I would trust but I did pick up some good drills and instruction from the Dick Ritger DVDs. You can find them at www.bowlingbookstore.com

[billf]

Agree. Getting hands on coaching is the ideal. There really aren't any coaches around here I would trust but I did pick up some good drills and instruction from the Dick Ritger DVDs. You can find them at www.bowlingbookstore.com

There are no certified coaches listed within 45 miles. No wonder you don't trust any of them. It's actually scary though when you realize anyone can say they are a coach and unless you ask for their certifiaction card or search yourself, you would never know.

[GeorgiaStroker]

Yeah after I got burned by the yahoo that calls himself a ball driller I learned my lesson and found a certified driller who knows what he's doing. I don't mind the 50 mile drive to see him when I need a ball drilled but I'm not sure about driving that far for ongoing coaching. Being a widowed father of young kids doesn't make it any easier.

[RoccoRock]

I watched the video again. It looks like the reason I pull up at the foul line is because I crouch too much in the first place. So my body position at the release point is good, so I need to adjust my body position on my approach. That's probably also the reason the ball doesnt stay in line with my head, cause my head is leaning over. I want to go bowl a few games before my coaching session to see it I can fix a few things myself. Don't know if I'm going to be able to though. I also noticed a while back that when I used a 4 step approach, it worked better than the 5, so I'm gonna go back to that.

[billf]

When you hit your finish position remember to line every thing up; toe, knee, chin. To keep the head still I start in almost the same position as I finish in as far as my knee and waist bend with my chest up and out, head up.

[RoccoRock]

Looks like I have to put the whole thing on hold for a little while. I shredded my thumb today playing around.

[RoccoRock]

Ok, so I am passed the identity crisis, and my thumb has heeled, and I'm back to project "one hand." I went for a lesson with the shop pro, and a few issues came up. The one that I had the hardest time getting correct was, in fact the thumb. I kept grabbing with the thumb at the bottom of my swing. He said it was getting better, but I was still doing it. I still need to figure out how much tape I need, and what size the thumb needs to be. If I can get that fixed, I'm in good shape.