Causes & Corrections

[classygranny]

What are some of the causes and related corrections for "grabbing" the ball at the bottom of the swing?

[RobLV1]

What are some of the causes and related corrections for "grabbing" the ball at the bottom of the swing?

The most common cause is a poor fit on your bowling ball including pitches. As we get older, our bodies change at a more rapid rate. It's a really good idea to have your hand measured on a yearly basis.

[djp1080]

Hole pitches definitely add to the problem. Going in a forward direction on the thumb has helped me relax my hand and not have the ball feel like it's falling off my hand on the backswing. Over the last few years I've added fitting/protection tape to my thumb and have it placed on both the back and front. Having covered the front of the thumb I don't get as much sensation that I might be loosing the ball during my swing which helps keep me relaxed. Over the last few months I've experimented with patch tape on my fingers as well. I was getting some irritation on the sides of my fingers on the edge of the nail. Not any more... Played around with various tape suppliers to see what works best for me. YMMV...

[NewToBowling]

I usually grab the ball if my timing is off and/or I speed up to the line and force my backswing down. If you let gravity take care of your backswing there won't be as much gravitational force and you won't be as likely to grip or tug the ball. At least that's been my experience.

[classygranny]

I usually grab the ball if my timing is off and/or I speed up to the line and force my backswing down. If you let gravity take care of your backswing there won't be as much gravitational force and you won't be as likely to grip or tug the ball. At least that's been my experience.

I think this is more of what I am experiencing as my PSO usually checks the fitting on each new ball. That would be less than 6 months ago. I just recently started this habit, and it's not all the time. Some days I don't grab it at all...some it seems to be every shot.

So I am assuming slowing my feet and/or relaxing the arm swing would be a starting place to find my needed correction?

[Aslan]

Usually fit or timing.

Sometimes I 'grab' when I'm trying to "make" the ball hook...or if I'm off-balanced.

[Tampabaybob]

Hi Classy....long time no talk with !! How've you been?

The grabbing, as Rob said can usually be cured by adjusting a pitch. My question, though, is when you're drilling a new ball, are you having them measure from your "most comfortable" ball, and then looking at any possible adjustments to those measurements, IF REQUIRED.
I always use the same ball as my benchmark for someone to drill a new ball. That said there's no guarantee that they will hit it perfectly, but it's going to be as close as possible.

The other posibility is to make sure your thumb is at 1 o'clock at the release point. this should relieve some grabbing. Good Luck.

Bob

[LOUVIT]

I was told today that on my push off I was turning my thumb from 1 o'clock to like 11. I corrected that and my release the same and wow what a difference.

[classygranny]

Hi Classy....long time no talk with !! How've you been?

The grabbing, as Rob said can usually be cured by adjusting a pitch. My question, though, is when you're drilling a new ball, are you having them measure from your "most comfortable" ball, and then looking at any possible adjustments to those measurements, IF REQUIRED.
I always use the same ball as my benchmark for someone to drill a new ball. That said there's no guarantee that they will hit it perfectly, but it's going to be as close as possible.

The other posibility is to make sure your thumb is at 1 o'clock at the release point. this should relieve some grabbing. Good Luck.

Bob

Bob, so great to have you back on the boards.

My balls really all feel the same...I wouldn't know which one feels best. My PSO is great in fitting so I didn't think that was an issue. I use ITs in all my balls. I'm thinking of going to a new PSO and seeing if they feel the fit is correct, but I really do trust mine.

As I look back (I'm not grabbing the ball as much now) I think our approaches went through some weather transition and I had started to plant more than slide, and I think that may have created that grabbing feeling. Hard to tell from yesterday. I scored ok...525 in am 568 at noon. And this after I started a new therapy session on Thursday. By the end of the second session, I was aching to say the least. Hopefully with the new muscular therapy and I can stay down with the ball and get my swing back to its normally relaxed swing. Also, I think with the shoulder tightness, I wasn't staying behind the ball, so that should improve after a few more therapy sessions.

[Tampabaybob]

Gayla, it's good to be back. It's been a while so I'm just looking around and throwing my two cents in here and there.

You may have hit the nail on the head about planting your foot, as opposed to sliding. Stopping short (planting) will cause someone to grab the ball that normally is used to sliding. check or have some one watch you and "guestimate" how far you're sliding and whether or not your arm swing is arriving at the bottom as you're sliding. If you're getting there early, you can slow your fist step just a hair and get back into time. "If that's it".

Looks like you're bowling well though.... some good scores.

Bob