Approach and Release

[DanielMareina]

First of all, changing your foot work pace and size will change the swing of the ball. Lots of people speed their feet up at the end to increase their ball speed. The problem with this is, it makes you pull the ball forward to catch up with your feet. This does speed the ball up, but it ruins a free arm swing. I try and teach people to keep an even pace all the way through their approach. I actually will have them count out loud 1..2..3..4.
As for the two comments about the follow through, watch Wes Malott and Norm Duke and compare the two. Because of Norm Duke's very straight backward and forward movement, he will end with his hand coming straight up beside his head at the end of his follow through. Wes uses a figure 8 ball swing (bringingthe ball out, then behind your body, then pushing the ball out on the release, with an across the body follow through) which makes his arm come across his chest during his follow through, and his hand will end up on the left side of his face. They used to frown on this kind of style, but it is taught as an optional method to increase revolutions. I use the figure 8 style myself due to being the kid who always wanted to hook the ball as much as I could. Now I am trying to tone my revs down a bit, so I am creating less of an 8 than I used to. I do teach people to start with more of a Norm Duke style, because it is much easier to teach them how to rev the ball more than the opposite direction.

[mdmjdm]

Well, Darrell's initial post was concerning his release, and I guess I was trying to get back to the beginning of what could cause it. Bowling is one of those wonderful, annoying, fun, and frustrating sports where it is very easy to find yourself chasing a SYMPTOM of a problem as if it were the CAUSE of a problem.

We've all been there...practice on one key element of our game that we think is THE problem, only to find out later that it was merely a symptom. Everyone has their own way of delivering a bowling ball, and there are certain fundamentals everyone must follow, but the best way is YOUR way...as long as it is consistent. Look at WRW Jr...admit it, if you didnt know who he was, and saw him practicing next to you, the first thought would be "what a herky-jerky, raise-up-at-the-line release...not smooth at all"...and then you would realize that he can hit a fly from 60 ft with the exact same speed and release.

For right-handers, if you fall off to the right, PROBABLY fast timing (body at the line before the ball). If you fall off to the left, PROBABLY slow timing (ball at the line before your body). You should be able to stand there at the line on one foot forever, like a bowling trophy pose

So, I guess what I am saying is this: If you are having release and/or accuracy problems, go back to the beginning and see if you are making a mistake BEFORE the poor release that is CAUSING the poor release. Your address position (whatever it is) should be EXACTLY the same every time. Head, shoulders, elbow, forearm, ball...ALL in the exact same position. Your finish position should be EXACTLY the same each time. Follow through position, knee bend, and good balance all the same.

If you get both the address and finish consistent, you may be suprised to see your release "fix itself". Sorry so rambling, my brain gets going on bowling and wont shut off...

[truthseer]

I want to thank those that contributed to this thread. All of you offered very good ideas, of which I’ve taken as suggestions and incorporated them into my practice play.

I would like to add something to all these suggestions, though. While looking at adding another bowling ball to my arsenal, in which I have added since, there were lots of YouTube video clips showing different ball reactions.

These video clips gave me an idea. I used a digital video camera and taped myself from the back for a couple of practice games. I requested to use dual lanes in my practice and moved the camera from lane to lane for each frame. I took the recording back home and edited, what I taped, into a long edition of myself bowling each throw of the ball.

The taped result gave me enormous amounts of information as to what I was doing from the back angle. To make a long story short, as it turned out I was unconsciously breaking my wrist back slightly enough that it forced me to compensate the error into swinging my arm exaggeratedly across my chest; again, all this unconscientiously. This wrist break caused the ball to fall off my thumb prematurely. The tape also showed that I brought my hand around the ball while the wrist was breaking which caused my thumb to hang up in the thumb hole.

Not meaning to purposely minimize those that have good ideas to better the common amateur bowler, but having access to a digital video camera adds to the help of bowlers that don’t have the ability to see one’s self from the back; with tongue firmly in the cheek.

This aspect of bettering one’s self is one way of employing a dedicated and loyal coach.

Thanks again.