Fingers on release.

[GoodGorilla]

Last night I was bowling with my spareball because my wrist is a little to sore to throw hooks. I've been experimenting with different things with the ball because it is new. I'll get to the point: I had the most accuracy if I would use my two fingers as aiming mechanisms, especially after my thumb had exited the ball. I was wondering if this is related to hookballs. What angle and direction should these two fingers be while/after rotating the ball? After my thumb exits the ball what do I do with these two fingers? I always have payed the most attention to the wrist, but after my wrist is sore, it has given me the opportunity to study the fingers.

This pdf that says to go from 7-8 o' clock to 5-4.
bowlingballexchange.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=3258&d...

http://bowlingknowledge.info/images/...inskiapr08.pdf

But do you jerk your fingers after your tumb exits? I normally would, upwards. Also to get 7-8 o' clock i picked up a ball and found out: That to get 7-8 o clock, I have to twist my wrist to maximum in the oppositie direction. It doesn't feel comfortable at all, I bet it's not supose to be confortable.

Looking down at my hand by myside, I noticed I can also achive a 7-8 o'clock a different way. I have to rotate my wirst in the direction of my fingers away from my thumb. From the videos, it looks like this way is the way it is supose to be done. I wonder which way is right.

[vgw]

I normally release with my fingers/hand going up. I am guessing that the follow-through that is at an angle would cause the ball to follow that path. If you pointed towards a point or the pins, the ball would go straight at it.

[Hot_pocket]

Yes the correct way is for your fingers to provide the lift and hook. The thumb is suppose to exit the ball as the fingers rotate it at the release point. now where the hand finishes varies

[billf]

As a right hander and rotating the wrist clockwise, it is slightly uncomfortable but there is also (for lack of a better term) a stop built-in as the wrist will only go so far. The back up ball drill will help with this http://bowlingknowledge.info/images/...article_09.pdf

What you are describing is playing the inside part of the ball and not many amateurs bother to learn this tried and true method. Good luck.

[GoodGorilla]

As a right hander and rotating the wrist clockwise, it is slightly uncomfortable but there is also (for lack of a better term) a stop built-in as the wrist will only go so far. The back up ball drill will help with this http://bowlingknowledge.info/images/...article_09.pdf

What you are describing is playing the inside part of the ball and not many amateurs bother to learn this tried and true method. Good luck.

I am excited to start doing this. I recently got back into bowling, but in the past I use to throw back up shots for fun. Infact before I got my newer balls I threw my spare shots like that. I'm having a little difficulty understanding when Joe says to rotate the elbow. I always did it at the release point, is he saying you need to rotate the elbow as it is comming down, and just keeping it there? I think that the pro bowlers that play the inside of the ball have their elbow on the inside on the way down. It seems like joe wants me to have the elbow tucked in in all the way down, and to just throw it like that.

[Tampabaybob]

I am excited to start doing this. I recently got back into bowling, but in the past I use to throw back up shots for fun. Infact before I got my newer balls I threw my spare shots like that. I'm having a little difficulty understanding when Joe says to rotate the elbow. I always did it at the release point, is he saying you need to rotate the elbow as it is comming down, and just keeping it there? I think that the pro bowlers that play the inside of the ball have their elbow on the inside on the way down. It seems like joe wants me to have the elbow tucked in in all the way down, and to just throw it like that.

With the new technology balls, newer cover stocks and cores, many of the top coaches are now teaching to use just your fingers/hand to achieve the best rotation of the ball. The old technique of "hitting" the ball at the line is kind of out the window, because what they are saying, is the newer balls actually gain rotation and roll by not hitting up on the ball at the point of release. Now with that said, the way it appears you are releasing the ball, using just your hand and fingers to rotate it, you should be able to get the most out of your ball.

As far as your elbow goes Joe is 100% correct. Your elbow needs to be inside on your downswing and as close in to your body as possible. I teach to "feel your arm brush (your side) down and back". The inside of your elbow should "always" be facing the pins.

Bob

[billf]

There are a few coaches I trust implicitly. Joe Slowinski, Ron Clifton, Fred Borden, Ron Hatfield, Jeri Edwards, Kristina Frahm and Kathryn Cox. The first two have a lot of good articles on their websites. The next three have a good website also. If you haven't heard of the other two yet, you will soon. They all have a way to convey what they mean in a way that's usually easy to grasp and adapt their teachings to the bowler while staying on the edge of what's new to our sport. They have a keen understanding of the physics of the game and the kinesiology of bowlers.

[GoodGorilla]

With the new technology balls, newer cover stocks and cores, many of the top coaches are now teaching to use just your fingers/hand to achieve the best rotation of the ball. The old technique of "hitting" the ball at the line is kind of out the window, because what they are saying, is the newer balls actually gain rotation and roll by not hitting up on the ball at the point of release. Now with that said, the way it appears you are releasing the ball, using just your hand and fingers to rotate it, you should be able to get the most out of your ball.

As far as your elbow goes Joe is 100% correct. Your elbow needs to be inside on your downswing and as close in to your body as possible. I teach to "feel your arm brush (your side) down and back". The inside of your elbow should "always" be facing the pins.

Bob

A few questions: You have to keep your elebow in at all times for the drill right? The pro bowlers I watch rotate their elbow the opposite way on release, and do that funky side angle of the wrist to get that 7-8 oclock ball angle. How does cupping come in to this?

[Tampabaybob]

A few questions: You have to keep your elebow in at all times for the drill right? The pro bowlers I watch rotate their elbow the opposite way on release, and do that funky side angle of the wrist to get that 7-8 oclock ball angle. How does cupping come in to this?

OK, lets go back to basics for a second. You want your arm to swing as straight and as naturally possible, right? So in order to help do this the inside of your elbow would be always facing the pins. Once you can master having your arm swing as straight as possible now work on your hand position and release. At for a starting point, look down at your hand and make sure your thumb is at least in the 1:00 position. You'll hold that position all the way thru your swing until your thumb "starts" to exit the ball. This is going to give you a good semi roller type of roll. Now lets take it a step further....with your thumb at 1:00 turn your wrist inward (toward your left side). This action, if you can hold it throughout your swing is going to change your roll axis on the ball. You should see your track move further away from the thumb and finger holes with this position. Remember you need to hold this all the way thru your swing until the thumb just starts coming out, then rotate the ball with your wrist and fingers.

Now one step further....with your hand tilted in...and your thumb at 1:00...now cup your wrist (wrist to be bent back towards your torso). Again the important factor here is the last, split second of your release, is where your hand comes uncupped and your wrist and fingers do the work. This also should show you a bit of a different reaction of the ball and possibly a little bit better carry on the pins, IF DONE CORRECTLY. Practice all three as different lane conditions may warrant changing these at different times to get the reaction you want. Not the easiest thing to accomplish and be consistent with, but if you have these concepts in your bag of tricks you'll probably be a few steps ahead of your competition.

Try it out and let me know how you do. (and one other thing that may help... if you tuck your pinky finger under you may add a few more revs to the ball !)

Bob

[billf]

A few questions: You have to keep your elebow in at all times for the drill right? The pro bowlers I watch rotate their elbow the opposite way on release, and do that funky side angle of the wrist to get that 7-8 oclock ball angle. How does cupping come in to this?

For the drill yes. The purpose of the drill is to get the bowler use to having their elbow facing that way. Most times the front of the elbow normally faces more towards the body, like when we walk. So having it face towards the target will feel unnatural at first. Your elbow WILL rotate without you realizing it while bowling.