How do I relax my hand when throwing?

[AZBowla]

It seems like a no brainer but my last ball was drilled with a much larger thumb hole than the one I have now. As a result, I'm used to squeezing the ball during release, and the new ball has gotten hung up on my thumb a couple of times, which has caused some swelling to occur. Today when I bowled, I ended up fingertipping the thumb hole in order to make sure I didn't get hung up on it because my thumb is a bit swollen and sore. I also had the pro shop widen the thumb hole out a little bit, which helped.

Fingertipping the thumb hole helped me get better revs and control but I know that's not the right way to throw the ball. The guy at the pro shop said the ball is designed to hold on to me, not the other way around, and so long at I keep my hand relaxed I should have no problem. So how do I do that? When I hold the ball the way I'm supposed to, I find myself worrying about my thumb getting hung up in it, so I don't get the revs and control I want. I also am catching myself squeezing it as the ball comes down from my backswing and I can't seem to stop doing that. Are there any exercises or release drills I can do at home to break myself of this habit? Thanks for the help!

[Zothen]

You can put tape in thumb to snug it up and just let thumb come out naturally. just don't think about your thumb getting hung up. Just get up and bowl!

Zothen

[edpup316]

This was one of toughest things for me to do. You want me to have a muscle free swing but how am i suppose to kepp the ball on my hand and give it revs!?!?!?!? Then I had a guy explain to me putting tape into the thumb hole. I hadnt really used it that much over the years so i never thought it was a big deal. He said that if you can turn your thumb in your ball 360 degrees all the way around you need some tape because most poeples thumbs are not perfectly round. I ended up putting 3 pieces of tape on the back of my thumb hole and boy did it make a huge difference. I NEVER FELT SO RELAXED IN MY SWING IN MY LIFE. So Zothen is on the money. Put some tape in and see how it works. The ball will come off has long as you dont squeeze. Start off being completely relaxed. You might drop it a couple time but it come off and then work your way up.

[billf]

This will help as long as the thumb is the correct size, with or without tape. It's a free arm swing drill. Just hold the ball and let your arm swing from the shoulder, back and forth, several times. Take a break and do it again. You will not only free up your swing but also learn to trust that the ball isn't going to fall off. It's also easier to relax at home doing this than when on the lanes. Train your hand and enjoy.

[Zothen]

@AZBowla-Out of curiosity,why did you get the thumb hole bigger on your last ball? Also if you have to put more then 3 pieces of tape in thumb,then I would have a thumb slug put in and only drill it 1/8 larger then your thumb for swelling shrinking.

Zothen

[GeoLes]

It seems like a no brainer but my last ball was drilled with a much larger thumb hole than the one I have now. As a result, I'm used to squeezing the ball during release, and the new ball has gotten hung up on my thumb a couple of times, which has caused some swelling to occur. Today when I bowled, I ended up fingertipping the thumb hole in order to make sure I didn't get hung up on it because my thumb is a bit swollen and sore. I also had the pro shop widen the thumb hole out a little bit, which helped.

Fingertipping the thumb hole helped me get better revs and control but I know that's not the right way to throw the ball. The guy at the pro shop said the ball is designed to hold on to me, not the other way around, and so long at I keep my hand relaxed I should have no problem. So how do I do that? When I hold the ball the way I'm supposed to, I find myself worrying about my thumb getting hung up in it, so I don't get the revs and control I want. I also am catching myself squeezing it as the ball comes down from my backswing and I can't seem to stop doing that. Are there any exercises or release drills I can do at home to break myself of this habit? Thanks for the help!

Are you sure you did not steal that problem from me? After having a corrective drilling due to poorly measured span, I realize that I had the same issue. I should be able to insert the thumb and finger tips all the way, turn the wrist up, and allow the ball to rest on the thumb and pads of the palm comfortably.

I discovererd that I wanted to pull the thumb half way out. When I moved the hand slightly, I felt a vacuum lock the thumb in. In compensation, I would either turn the wrist early, dropping the ball prematurely, or muscling the swing to force the ball off the thumb. It is a tough mind game to overcome. I practice by assuming finish position, or by pushing off while standing near the foul line and sliding into finish position on the forward swing. (It eliminates other approach distractions). When I do it right, the thumb begins to come around upon release and the thumb sort of pops out and I can feel the fingers add lift as I follow through to the mark. It really is a mental exercise in trust.

[AZBowla]

Thanks for all the tips everyone. Went bowling yesterday and while my scores weren't much to talk about (177 was the highest) but I think I finally overcame the problem I was having with the thumb. I'm not really sure how I did it, I started out with my thumb only partially in, but by the the third game I was no longer thinking about it and realized that at some point in the second game, I was putting my thumb in all the way. One thing I do remember doing was inserting my fingers all the way into the grips as far as they would go first, and then the thumb. As a result the ball held on to my fingers and I was able to release normally without having to even think about my thumb coming out. I was even able to get some good revs going and hit the pocket from the right side of the lane. Now I just need to focus on reading the lanes better so I can get those scores up. I keep leaving 7's or 10's or hitting soft and leaving splits, but I know that's just because I'm still adjusting to this new ball.

It really is something to watch this ball "kick in" in the last stretch of the lane and suddenly steer to the right like some sort of guided missile as it seeks the pins - that is very cool. I'm having a lot of fun with this ball.

[Davec13]

It really is something to watch this ball "kick in" in the last stretch of the lane and suddenly steer to the right like some sort of guided missile as it seeks the pins - that is very cool. I'm having a lot of fun with this ball.

It is fun to watch the ball actually do what it claims it can do. Sounds like there may be a few more DV8 balls added to your collection soon huh?

[noeymc]

i let my left hand pretty much hold the ball see if that works as you start your release you r hand will natural hold the ball i think at least that's how i do it

[AZBowla]

It is fun to watch the ball actually do what it claims it can do. Sounds like there may be a few more DV8 balls added to your collection soon huh?

Not just mine, but my girlfriend as well, who has settled on the DV8 Misfit for her collection.