Need hook help :(

[RoccoRock]

I can speak on this from personal experience. I bowled thumbless/two handed for 2 years. Any time I tried to put my thum in, I couldn't get revs, the ball went straight, and I sprayed it all over. Over the summer, I put a lot of time amd effort into figuring out why this was the case. Most of it is what everyone is saying, my thumb was coming out late. I had to figure out how to get out quicker, and cleaner. I went to a larger thumb hole, and worked hard on keeping my thumb straight, and getting the ball on my fingers at the bottom of my swing, and off my thumb. I was even doing release drills yesterday for this same thing. Even though I started doing better with getting the thumb out quicker, the last few times out I got lazy, so I had to drill it again. When your sitting around at home, take your ball, and a bunch of pillows, and just try releasing the ball a few times into the pillows. Don't swing it back that far, just concentrate on getting the thumb out quicker. Scince I've been doing that, my rev rate has gone up, I can't match my two handed revs, but I get close enough. I still don't have one hand thumb in quite down yet, and still am not sure that's how I want to bowl, but I have gotten much better at it. In fact my second and third highest games ever were over the summer, in a 4 day span, with my thumb in. For me the larger hole worked well too. When I did the dills yesterday, if I put so much as one peice of tape in, my thumb hung up in the hole. The downside to the big thumb hole is you have to grip the ball hard with your fingers, and you tend to grab with you thumb at the bottom of the swing.

[AngeloPD]

Rocco, you can try adding Rom's Magic carpet tape so that your thumb is snug and you'l get a consistent release everytime.

[rab91787]

I have practiced throwing on to my bed for release practice and can get a lot of revs that way, but once I try that with a full backswing I can't replicate it. I will definitely have to focus on getting my thumb out fast. Do you think the best motion for doing that is going from cupped to uncupped?

[billf]

There is nothing wrong with that speed. In time you will get the release down and the revs will match.

[Tampabaybob]

I have a Virtual Gravity for when the lanes are oily and use an old Brunswick Power Groove that I've had forever when they dry up. Thanks for the responses, though. I'll have to practice the wrist cup/un-cup this weekend. With thumb I usually throw around 17.

Well, with the virtual gravity, that ball should be hooking out of the house. I'm assuming that your 17 MPH is at the cameras down lane, so off your hand you're releasing at about 18.5 to 19 MPH. Thats pretty fast. Depending on the oil pattern, I'm guessing the ball is sliding a bit too long before getting into the hook phase. I know its hard but give it a try to get down a mile or so an slower with emphasis on that quick uncapping release. If you're on a THS shot, (about 40 feet of oil) use the rule of thumb and subtract 31 and play the 9 board on your first ball. You should probably have to drop on the 10 - 12 board, and float the ball out as far as the 7 board to get the ball to roll up into the pocket. If it doesn't come up to the 1 -3 pocket move a board right and vice-versa if it's too much. If its dead on the nose, move 3 left with your feet and two boards left with your target and get more into the oil.

Let us know what's working for you or what didn't happen. This is coaching by osmosis and hard when you can't be right next to the person you're coaching but hey we'll give you as much help as we can.

Bob

[Fatal]

I'm also having troubles with my release. I think it might be that my span is to short as well. I got my ball about 2 years ago and my hand span has changed. I let the ball out way to late. I was at the lanes last night working on my release and i notice when i let the ball go early is creates more revs but it seemed to lack the power i usually have.

[RoccoRock]

Rocco, you can try adding Rom's Magic carpet tape so that your thumb is snug and you'l get a consistent release everytime.

Haven't tried that product, I'll look into it. I've tried Ace Shur Cushin, didn't like it. I'm going to try Vise Hada Patch tomorrow.

[billf]

To be matched at a ball speed of 17mph, I would guess a release at 19-20mph, would require a rev rate of 400-450 rpm. The 600+ you say you are getting at 17mph thumbless is very rev dominate. Obviously with either style, if you're matched instead of rev dominate, you will play a different line but get better carry.

[rab91787]

Wow I just saw an instructional video on youtube describing what to do with your thumb during a good release and he said it should always be pointing toward the gutter. I always tried turning it but that has never worked well. I gave the thumb to the right a try practicing on my bed and it seemed like it helped get my thumb out and allowed my fingers to rotate the ball during the follow through. Does that sound correct? I always tried finishing with my thumb turned inwards but maybe that is incorrect.

[billf]

If your thumb was turned in then you already started the rotation. That's way too late. Thumb should be at around 1:00 or 2:00 position when exiting. 3:00 for those who like to really crank a ball (rough on the wrist).