Can the release be something that happens naturally?

**jbeck** · 12-18-2012, 11:02 AM

I'm trying a Vise Grip 3 wrist support once it gets to me. I can't seem to get enough axis rotation unless I force it by really cupping my wrist in the backswing...my ball doesn't seem to hook much without it. It's almost frustrating to see my ball go straight a lot. Maybe a new ball? I don't know...wrist support is less expensive. My wrist turns naturally but not enough to rotate the ball much.

**Hammer** · 12-18-2012, 03:53 PM

jbeck- if you want the ball to get revs on it at your release you have to make sure that your fingers stay bent in the finger holes at release to put spin on the ball. You might have the urge to straighten them to get the ball off your hand but this is wrong. On release you will feel the ball pulling on your fingertips when the thumb comes out. This is the feeling you should have. In practice you can concentrate on gripping the ball with your fingertips and keep gripping all the way through the release of the ball. Also keep a straight wrist and don't let it bend backwards on your forward swing. What might make your wrist bend backwards on the forward swing is if you muscle the ball from the top of the backswing through the release. The weight of the ball will become too much and will cause this. Let gravity pull the ball down and have a relaxed arm. Tight arm muscles will keep the mechanics of the swing from working right. So keep gripping the ball with your two fingers until the ball is off your hand and then you can relax them as you are watching your ball spinning towards the pins.

**Tampabaybob** · 12-18-2012, 09:00 PM

jbeck....Hammer makes a good point. When I see some of my kids on the league babying the ball I tell them to squeeze, just a little, with their fingers. Some people will disagree with this technique, but I've found it's the easiest way to get bowlers out of the "lazy release". I also , as Hammer agrees, explain about gravity taking the ball all the way to the point of release. I explain this point of release as your "explosion" point. This is where, if you're going to use any muscle tension at all, is where you want to have the most effort. And then continue with a good follow through. It seems to work for those that do very little to the ball at the point of release.

Bob

**GeoLes** · 12-19-2012, 11:10 AM

The last half hour of Monday night practice produced a ball with lost snap in the back end. It seems that as I fatigue mentally, I lose the "lift" in my release, as the fingers and wrist become lazy. So no. Release is not always effortless. Sometimes you have to really focus to keep it even when you think that you have it. - At least I have to.

**jbeck** · 12-19-2012, 01:13 PM

I'm going to try this today when I bowl.

**GeoLes** · 12-19-2012, 04:25 PM

In private practice, I use isolatiion followed by integration to work on that. I assume final slide position, release and simply swing while observing how the ball leaves my hand at the foul line, not caring where it goes down lane. As long as the revs are consistentm the ball should slide to the end of the oil and turn into the gutter. I then roll normally and see the effect.

**jbeck** · 12-19-2012, 07:24 PM

Originally Posted by Tampabaybob

jbeck....Hammer makes a good point. When I see some of my kids on the league babying the ball I tell them to squeeze, just a little, with their fingers. Some people will disagree with this technique, but I've found it's the easiest way to get bowlers out of the "lazy release". I also , as Hammer agrees, explain about gravity taking the ball all the way to the point of release. I explain this point of release as your "explosion" point. This is where, if you're going to use any muscle tension at all, is where you want to have the most effort. And then continue with a good follow through. It seems to work for those that do very little to the ball at the point of release.

Bob

Well I had a good practice today! I made sure to keep my index finger behind the ball and a little pressure in my fingers. I managed to bowl two games over 150 (151, 161) in a 3 game series which was the first time I've done that all month! I also bowled more strikes today than I had all month, but the 3rd game I think the lanes were broken down and I couldn't find the pocket to save my life on the left lane. It messed with me mentally to where I couldn't even knock down any spares, so I ended up with a 106 the last game. I felt I needed a more aggressive ball on that left lane cause it just wouldn't hook back to the pocket...it was fine on the the right, but my mechanics were off as well. I also learned to just let gravity drop the my swing while I exploded on release. I'd never seen my ball hook so beautifully. Dang last game! I'm still happy with what I got though and felt motivated to keep it up.