Ok, since I'm examining all aspects of my game lets talk release

[zdawg]

I think I have a tendency to break my wrist which I've developed since I stopped gripping the ball, when I think of having a strong wrist (that is my wrist firmly locked into place and not moving at all) when I'm doing heavy lifting in the gym it always coincides with me gripping a bar tightly - it stands to reason that if I loosen my grip considerably that my wrist loosens as well. Anybody ever experience this? I'm gonna toy around with it later today or tomorrow when practicing.

If you cup your wrist the entire time, backswing/forward swing do you keep it cupped and locked even when you release the ball? Or do you unlock your wrist just prior to the release point?

The reason I ask, is I was reading a few articles on having different releases and I got interested in the "cranker" style release and I read a bunch of articles on it - what strikes me as odd is that it was mentioned that one article in particular mentioned breaking the wrist back at the last moment (I think it mentioned a movement similar to casting a yo-yo downward) and snapping it back up I guess. Just wondering if somebody can clarify that a little bit?

[the_grimace]

I think it's just a matter of practice. It is possible to keep your wrist firm but your grip somewhat relaxed, but I agree it's difficult. The arm and hand has something like 40+ muscles, so you got to learn to contract the very specific right ones and let the others relax.

From my understanding of a cupped wrist/cranker release, I've always believed there was two ways to do it.

1. The wrist is cupped at setup and remains cupped throughout the entire approach until release where here the wrist uncups in a powerful snap creating the high revolutions cranker players get.
2. The wrist is just firm, maybe even open from setup to the top of the back swing, but on the start of the downswing the player will cup his wrist and keep it cupped till that release point where it snaps and uncups as in #1.

Keep in mind many crankers also utilize a slightly bent elbow on the downswing to better stay under the ball and gain leverage, that's something that might be useful to you, but it does require strong conditioning of the arm to avoid injury.

[zdawg]

Keep in mind many crankers also utilize a slightly bent elbow on the downswing to better stay under the ball and gain leverage, that's something that might be useful to you, but it does require strong conditioning of the arm to avoid injury.

Thanks, yeah I'm looking more at it from an information standpoint at the moment, I'm not concerned about my arm so much as the ligaments in my wrist which have been sore - still, I figure it can't hurt to look at all different releases, once I can truly master my current release advancing and adding something that can increase my revs might not be a bad idea.

[Terrier]

When I had trouble keeping a relaxed grip and a cupped wrist, I was told to use my index and pinkie fingers to support the ball. It took a little while to get used to the extra weight on those fingers instead of completely on the drilled fingers, but now it's second nature. Once you get a feel for it, it helps tremendously.

[zdawg]

When I had trouble keeping a relaxed grip and a cupped wrist, I was told to use my index and pinkie fingers to support the ball. It took a little while to get used to the extra weight on those fingers instead of completely on the drilled fingers, but now it's second nature. Once you get a feel for it, it helps tremendously.

Quick question, do you tuck your pinkie? I tried it one time a while ago after reading about it, but it felt so weird it threw everything off that I was working on that day so I put it on the back burner to try later on.

[Terrier]

I tried but gave it up due to blisters on that knuckle. I never liked taping my fingers, so it was either going to tape/glove or not tucking. I can see how tucking the pinkie would make the advice I gave about supporting the ball with the other fingers impossible. Can't do it with just the index finger.

[SouthpawTRK]

I'm sure that you've seen this video before, but if you have not, here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5nnDbV0znE

Check out the video at 6:29 in regards to a cupped to uncupped wrist in the release.

[tr33frog]

Until this thread I didn't know people tucked their pinky on purpose. I used to do it all the time on accident and had to look up why you would do it because of this thread.

The things you learn...

[vdubtx]

Yup, pinky tucker here. Helps me not come around the ball.

[Rdmonster]

Might have to try the whole tucking the pinky just to see what it does. I like the suggestion of letting the weight of the ball rest in the two non drilled fingers. Interesing concept.