I finally figured out the root cause of my recent problems

[Big Nick]

I've been bowling atrociously for the last few weeks, and it's taken far too long for me to realize what the problem is..... I've been squeezing the ball..... A LOT....

One of the local bowling alleys has $8 unlimited bowling on Wednesday afternoons, so my wife and I went to practice there today after work. The first few games I bowled were alright, but nothing to write home about. Then, on a whim, I decided to bowl a game with my old ball (a conventionally drilled, 13 lb Tropical Heat). With the smallest of efforts, I bowled a 190; my highest game in almost a month. Then it dawned on me that while using my old ball I wasn't squeezing the ball like my life depended on it. I was applying just enough pressure to hold on to it during the swing. So I went back to my new ball, a 15 lb Storm Manic, and tried to replicate the same feeling. Out of no where I was back on the right side of the head pin instead of going Brooklyn, the ball movement was more predictable, and I actually got a few strikes in a row. I don't remember the score for that game, but the following game I bowled a 200. My wife was ready to leave by this point, but I wasn't content and decided to roll one more game. In my final game everything clicked and I bowled my personal best game ever, a 223.

It was mind blowing the difference between the way the ball reacted when I was squeezing it like there was no tomorrow versus not squeezing at all! I know I've read about how you aren't supposed to squeeze that ball, and I didn't think I was applying that much pressure until throwing that one game with my old ball. Once I backed off the pressure, the difference was night and day. I just hope I can carry this success into league this weekend. I haven't bowled my average during league in at least two weeks.

[JaMau24]

Awesome. Glad to hear you have fixed the problem. This seems to be a common problem when people are struggling. A nice free arm swing without squeezing the ball is the way to do. Good luck continuing to fix the problem and nice job on the 223! Hopefully many higher scores are to come.

[The German Shepherd]

Think about this, Norm Duke (from what I understand) does not bevel the edges of his thumb and finger holes for the expressed purpose of not squeezing the ball. He keeps the edges SHARP so that it give him pain if he squeezes the ball!

Jay

[Tampabaybob]

Nick, that's great. When you practice intently and you can concentrate on "feeling" the ball in your hand and other points in your approach and swing, that's when good things start to happen. As you found out, with these new computer designed balls you do not have squeeze the ball or force the ball in any way. A smooth natural swing with little or no muscles and no squeeze on the ball and your scores increase.

Now that you've "found" the secret, that 223 high game will be history in a few weeks. Good luck.

Bob

[Big Nick]

Nick, that's great. When you practice intently and you can concentrate on "feeling" the ball in your hand and other points in your approach and swing, that's when good things start to happen. As you found out, with these new computer designed balls you do not have squeeze the ball or force the ball in any way. A smooth natural swing with little or no muscles and no squeeze on the ball and your scores increase.

Now that you've "found" the secret, that 223 high game will be history in a few weeks. Good luck.

Bob

Up until yesterday, I wouldn't really call it practicing. I was just hurling the ball trying to find anything that worked, and becoming more and more frustrated as time went by. I didn't realize how hard I had been squeezing the ball until after bowling with my old ball for a game.

I'm sure I can beat the 223 score, but I hope it comes sooner rather than later. For such a good score, I actually left the 9th frame open. Luckily I was able to put it out of my head and focus on what I needed to do in the 10th. Three rolls later I had turkey'ed the 10th and finished with the 223. I was very happy with the score, but closing out the 9th would have increased my score by at least 10 or 15 pins.... Oh well, I guess the chase is what keeps us going back to the lanes.

[75lockwood]

Glad to hear you found "the root cause of your recent problems" lol, squeezing the ball can be a big issue, i remember back when i would do this, it got the the point where my thumb would swell and i would have to squeeze to hang onto the ball (not a good combo) so i had to take a week off let the swelling go down and focus on not squeezing, my average increased about 15 pins once i got the hang of it. as for that ninth frame, if you had struck in the ninth you would have added 21 pins to your score (assuming you got 9) 1 strike from a 244 game

[billf]

Mr. Norm Duke doesn't use grips in his finger tips either. They are drilled finger tip and fit snug but he doesn't use the grips.

Nick, glad to hear you found the problem. That's why I have a piece of magic carpet cut up and stuffed in the bottom of my thumb hole..reminds me not to squeeze. I have been doing better without that in there lately though.

[Big Nick]

My wife had a lesson with the same pro that I've been getting lessons from. While she was doing that, I grabbed a lane and rolled a few games. I averaged in the mid 170s over the five games, which is the best I've done in quite a while.

@75lockwood: thanks for pointing that out :P A 244 would have been awesome!

[Tampabaybob]

Up until yesterday, I wouldn't really call it practicing. I was just hurling the ball trying to find anything that worked, and becoming more and more frustrated as time went by. I didn't realize how hard I had been squeezing the ball until after bowling with my old ball for a game.

I'm sure I can beat the 223 score, but I hope it comes sooner rather than later. For such a good score, I actually left the 9th frame open. Luckily I was able to put it out of my head and focus on what I needed to do in the 10th. Three rolls later I had turkey'ed the 10th and finished with the 223. I was very happy with the score, but closing out the 9th would have increased my score by at least 10 or 15 pins.... Oh well, I guess the chase is what keeps us going back to the lanes.

One of the harder things in your release is to relax your arm swing (no muscle) and relaxing your hand in the ball. When it all comes together, you'll surely feel it and you'll see the difference in the way the ball reacts and your final scores. It just takes practice. keep up the good work.

Bob

[Hammer]

The thing I do in practice now is to see how light I can hold the ball without squeezing it with my thumb. Sometimes I hold it so easy with my thumb that my thumb feels like all it is doing is taking up space in the thumb hole. In practice I concentrate on this feeling as I swing the ball. So all your thumb really does is stay in the thumb hole until you release the ball. Doing this makes the thumb come out easier and faster thus giving you more revs on the ball. Sometimes more revs on the ball means a harder hit in the pocket and better pin carry and a mean messenger pin that will clear anything that dares to try standing. Think light thumb when practicing.