And she throws a hook!

[DLP]

Thank's for the offer Bob :9 Food shopping though takes precedence! You can't bowl on an empty stomach.

Learned a little more at leagues as to what is causing my "thumb" issue. Trying to see if I can explain. One of the biggest advantages I got from using the Mongoose Lifter was not only was it stopping my wrist from snapping back, but having the support against the back of my hand really let me feel like I could open and relax my palm and fingers. I know, placing a lot of trust in the brace, but it really let the ball sink into the flesh of my hand, where it got to the point that I felt like I needed absolutely NO grip on the backswing to hold the ball. It just kind of stayed there thanks to momentum.

I stopped using the lifter when I got the ball re-driled (and got it back Friday night). I stopped, thinking because of how the brace is setup, it would probably get in the way of throwing a backup ball. But now, I'm not so sure.

I didn't put two and two together until leagues tonight when I finally caught on to what was happening. Because I haven't developed the memory yet of what that ball feels like relaxed in my hand, what I'm running into is that my old habit of gripping the ball has come back. I caught myself more than once doing that and it was really noticeable because of the blister on my thumb. But, I feel like if I don't grip the ball is going to fall out of my hand on the backswing. Yet, I DONT feel like this will happen when my hand is pressed against the support that the Lifter provides, because it forces my hand into a more open position that lets it hold the ball much easier, with the flesh of palm holding the ball instead of the fingers (make sense?)

I can get the feeling it provides if I face my right palm up, and press lightly in the center of my hand from below with my left hand. It visibly causes the base of the fingers to flare ever so slightly and I can feel how the palm of my hand is much more open.

Does anyone know of any drills I can work on to get into the habit of holding my hand open and more relaxed without having the brace on? Or should I just bite the bullet, strap the Lifter back on and try and work with it as far as my release is concerned?

[billf]

[QUOTE=billf;88170]
This applies to back up bowlers only;
In your stance place your hand under and to the outside of the ball. The lower right quadrant. Try to keep the ball in that position as far through the swing as you can. It gets easier with practice so be patient. As the arm goes by your slide ankle, rotate it as you naturally would, clockwise so your fingers come up and through the ball at the lower left quadrant. Keeping the pressure between your index finger and BASE of the thumb will help keep the thumb open. Imagine your thumbnail hitting the hole in the ball as it comes out.[QUOTE]

Not a drill but how it should be done. Easier with a tight thumb hole.

Does anyone know of any drills I can work on to get into the habit of holding my hand open and more relaxed without having the brace on? Or should I just bite the bullet, strap the Lifter back on and try and work with it as far as my release is concerned?

Your turn Bob. I've personally don't recall any drills for this. Maybe the release drill or one-step drill?

[DLP]

Noted, on a sticky. Getting it tattooed on the inside of my eyelids (just kidding - I think)....

[J Anderson]

Noted, on a sticky. Getting it tattooed on the inside of my eyelids (just kidding - I think)....

Donna, read this only if Bills advice doesn't work.

For some people what works is to hold the ball in the position that they want the hand to be in at release when they get into their stance. Its sort of like telling your hand o.k. this is how you're supposed to wind up. It does complicate things as you would have to rotate your fingers counter clockwise as the ball drops into the swing and then back clockwise at release. That's why I said not to read this unless Bill's advice doesn't work, simpler is almost always better in this game.

[billf]

Donna, keeping the pressure from different fingers (ring, middle or index) and the base of the thumb will affect ball roll. Experiment with each. Takes some of the boredom out of practice. Once you get use to keeping the thumb pressure lmited to the base you will gradually reduce your bending of the thumb.

[DLP]

Got the thumb hole ovaled a smidge on the inner side. Wow did it make a DIFFERENCE! I went from bleeding profusely after two throws to not getting bit by Dippy at all.

After that small change, I felt like I could go into the back swing with absolutely no need to grip the ball. The thumb rested into the oval area!!!
Btw - Bill worked with what you had recommended with the hand in the lower right quadrant. I don't know WHY I wasn't doing this before;well I know why, because everything that is written says under the ball!!! Anyway, I worked with keeping my hand where you had mentioned. I didn't bowl my best - but I couldn't have bowled more consistently tonight if I had tried.

I had the absolutely most beautiful single oil stripe this evening after a few throws on fresh oil. Pro was able to measure and get my axis point.

Took some sagely advice from the pro, I need to take what I have and what I'm comfortable with and dial in my timing. After seeing the oil track from the ball (and its consistency) and looking at me bowl for a bit, that is where he stands.

I get to work with my coach again on Wed night. He is fully aware of the change to the backup drill pattern.

There is no kermit the frog "YAAAAAAA!" so use your imagination

I asked the Pro if he could write the definitive guide to bowling a backup ball... he said a few more months and I should be able to do it :P ... I don't want to WRITE it.. I want to READ it!!!

[Tampabaybob]

Donna, you're on the right track. I'm not sure if your coach can "definitively' put it down in writing, but if he can that will help you. As all bowlers are (slightly) different, it boils down to getting as much practice as you can, and getting that muscle memory settled. As I said being on the right track helps immensely, because now you're "feeling" what's going on during your approach and also your release. Many bowlers that have bowled for years can't tell you that they can feel what's going on and that really hampers any chance for improvement until they do. Sure, it's nice to see people continuously throw as though they were a machine, but if they can't feel what's going on in all aspects of their game, they'll always have problems. You're way ahead of the power curve, so keep it going. Get out and practice as much as you can this summer and by the time the fall leagues roll around you'll be more than ready. Good luck.