Thumb hole, Loose or Tight?

[billf]

It took me a long time to learn this. If you can bend your thumb to grab the ball, it's too loose. It needs to be snug enough that you don't have the urge to squeeze it.

[RoccoRock]

Been doing some release drills at home, I may have it down now. Hope to take it to the lanes tonight and find out for sure. Any time I missed during my lesson, it was either my feet got too fast, or I grabbed with my thumb.

[RoccoRock]

Ok, I'm officially in trouble. Bowled 25 games, to a whopping 148 average, with a high game of 172. That's 30 pins below my league average, hck the high game was still 6 pins below my average. I bowled most of the season one hand, no thumb. I tried more tape to snug up the thumb hole, I toom take out, I cut down my backswing. I did everything i could think of to straighten myself out tonight, and I got no where near close at any point. I have successfully gone from a decent bowler to a terrible bowler, all because I wanted a style that looked better, and was more well respected. I ready to quit, and go back to my old hobby, racing remote controlled cars.

[RoccoRock]

I think theres 2a problems going on. No matter how hard I try not to, I still muscle the ball, and I just cant get my thumb clear. Now, one could do with the other. Because I am muscling the ball too much, I'm holding on too tight with my thumb. Gonna give it another try tomorrow, we will see what happens.

[RoccoRock]

Ok, as usual I have top go back on something I said. I said I would commit to one hand using my thumb until November, but just can't. It's not so much that I don't think I can do it, and be good at it. It's more of the fact I am good at something else, and I should work on getting even better at that. Now I'm not two handing either, I have give back to the style I've used for over two years. One hand ,no thumb. I posted on another thread about an upcoming tourney, and I think I can do well if I revert back to not using my thumb. I worked on it the last two days, and today, it was money. I taped both sessions. I had trouble yesterday, so I watched the video. I solved the issues using things my coach told me last week, when I had my thumb in. I translated it to no thumb, and it was very good. I slowed down my feet, and relaxed my arm swing, and the results made me very happy. I hope to post video soon. So, i just have to be what I am, and bowl how I know how to bowl to be my best, and not worry about what people think, or how there are really no top level bowlers who bowl like me. I am an "idiot" palm bowler, and if anyone had an issue with that, come get some.

[RoccoRock]

[ursus]

Glad you finally found your identity. Best of Luck in your Tourney!!!

[billf]

That video looked good. Score is what matters, not how you get there.

[RoccoRock]

Only thing I wish I could do is release the ball lower. Any time I have tried that I have messed myself up so I guess I just have to live with it. Thinking about trying a 14 pound ball, make it a little easier to carry on the backswing. My spare ball is 14 and I feel it's easier to throw it at times. I almost bought a used 14# misfit off ebay today, but it just got a little too expensive.

[billf]

I can't explain it with just words but the no-thumb delivery lends itself to not getting as low.