Trying to get more revolutions with little wrist strength

[Punkrulz]

Hey guys,

I've been suffering with an issue for quite some time and I can't quite figure it out. I'm currently bowling with a 15lb Mutant Cell. I've always had issues attempting to get a bit more revolutions on the ball, and depending on the lane conditions I throw the ball relatively straight with very little back end. If I happen to hit a dry spot (which isn't far outside of where I throw the ball), I don't have the revolutions to bring it back into the pocket.

I was observing my friend who's a good bowler, and it's very obvious with his revolutions and the way the ball is rolling. I can't get my ball to react in the same manner. I have a traditional 4 step approach, and I start the ball low towards my waist in an attempt to reduce the speed on the ball to get more reaction out of it. I used to angle my wrist in a little bit, as mentally I felt that would give me more hook but that didn't help. I'm staying behind the ball now to keep the pressure off of my ring finger. I finish in the same method they explain of throwing a nerf ball underhanded with rotation, and I'm trying to flick it off of my fingers more... but I'm still not getting it.

I'm going to try to get a video at some point soon, however it will only be an iphone video so it wont' be big or good quality. I know you guys are working on limited information, but I would appreciate any assistance you can offer. I will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have!

[DanielMareina]

A video would be a huge help. If you are rotating your wrist like the football exercise, there is no reason why you shouldn't be able to just do the same motion faster to get more revs. What I would recommend doing is, try to focus on your follow through. You want to lift up on the ball as you are releasing it. This creates an upward motion as the ball is coming off your fingers and will result in more revolutions. Norm Duke is an excellent person to watch, because his arm motion is pretty easy to see the difference in speed. He has a fast upward motion at the release point, even though his arm speed the rest of the time isn't especially fast.
Another small trick to getting more side turn in to move your pinky finger against your ring finger. If you finger is already there, you can curl your pinky, so the top of your nail is on the coverstock of the ball. The pinky finger can get in the way of side turn, and cause you to get more forward roll than you want. I hope all this helps a little bit. Definately post a video when you get a chance though. It makes it a lot easier for us to diagnose the problem.

[Punkrulz]

Dan, here are three different videos of me bowling. Sorry for the poor quality. My buddy also said he rolls the pinky, so I was giving that a try to no success. I was having issues bowling tonight, probably because I bowled the day before as well. Hopefully the videos help.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdVSIsL2aUk

My friend pointed out some issues with my stance, so I tried to straighten my foot after that and I dropped my shoulder accidentally as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKSfemJbbq4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLAqtLmfaZA

[DanielMareina]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKSfemJbbq4

This video of yours is not a bad shot at all. Your timing isn't really matched up on the other two, and that will make a big difference. The other good thing about the video is that it clearly demonstrates the issue you are having. The problem is that your hand is not far enough behind the ball. Your hand is on the top half of the back of the ball by the time you start rotating. This not only cuts down the revs you get on the ball, but it also makes you not roll the ball off your hand. You want to feel the ball roll off your thumb, and then have your fingers come out as you are following through. Your wrist rotation isn't the problem, just your hand position. I will tell you, it will take some getting used to though. Most people don't start with the wrist strength to really stay behind the ball.
I would recommend working on your sliding and your posture also. You don't bend your knee very much or slide almost at all, but the big difference will come when you can keep your shoulders upright. Right now you lean over too much. This stops you from rolling the ball, and will restrict your follow through. You want your knee and your shoulders to be in a vertical line of eachother. So if you had a laser pointercoming from the ground and going just in front of your knee cap, you would want the laser to hit you under your chin. I hope that makes sense. These videos were way better quality then some I have tried to analyze. Keep up the practice, and let me know if you have any other questions.

[Punkrulz]

Dan, thanks for the response! I guarantee I'm going to have a ton of questions, so I hope you have good patience. I should be able to get more videos Friday when the league starts, but hopefully we will start on the even number lane since it's easier to see what I'm doing from that angle.

First and foremost, I figured that this was going to be a wrist strength issue. Ive always considered doing wrist exercises however I never knew what to do and how much to do of it. Do you have any recommendations for that? How can I tell that my wrist is strong enough, especially without actually throwing the ball (so I can tell at home that I'm ready!). Does this basically point to peoples ability to curl their wrist during delivery? Or do I not quite need to do that?

As per the delivery and stance, I also figured that was an issue. The proshop owner told me to stand more straight up, however due to it not seeming comfortable I sank back into old habits. Is there another way I can practice that so I know I'm doing it right?

Thanks!

[DanielMareina]

First of all, the Curling of the wrist isn't necessary. Or not to the degree that a lot of guys do it. What you want is for your hand to be directly behind the ball at the bottom of your swing. Some people, myself included, get even lower than that, but it isn't necessary, and actually I am working on getting less revolutions. The exercise that I find the most productive is to have a dowel with a weight hanging on a string. You turn the dowel like the accelerator on a motorcycle, which will inturn lift the weight as the string wraps around the dowel. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rcc6QFu_9Z8 is a video of a very weird guy, but he is using the kind of thing I am talking about. As for practicing, I set the ball on the ground , put my hand in it, and then practice rolling it from my hand being behind it and roll it to the point of release. This gives you the ability to practice the motion without having to support the weight of the ball.

I have plenty of patience, and am glad to help. As for practicing the act of staying straight up, I would say that is an act of repetition. Lunges are good practice to that particular motion, simply because that is almost exactly what you are doing. The only difference is that lunges are meant to work out your legs, and bowling isn't. So you don't have to exagerate the motion, but the balance and posture are the same. Really though, bowling with good posture comes from doing it enough that it becomes instinct, just as everything else about the sport is. Good luck in league!

[Punkrulz]

Dan, I've added you to Facebook. Perhaps we can discuss on facebook chat to get some real time help?

[Punkrulz]

In addition to that since I don't have those particular resources handy to strengthen the wrist, would trying to curl my ball as a weigh work to help? Or would that cause injury? I've reviewed my video, and to my understanding it looks like I'm right on top of the ball during release, which would primarily cause just left to right rotation and no angle. Is that correct?

[DanielMareina]

I accepted your request on Facebook. I leave mine logged in while I am at work, but am not always at my desk necesarilly, but if I am around I will respond. Curling your ball might work, but I would be carefull because a bowling ball is more weight than necessary. As for your video, you are correct. The rotation you will get is more of a spinning than a rolling. What you want is to roll the ball in a way that your "axis tilt" will be about 45 degrees and halfway down the ball. You check this by putting tape on your pap and seeing what way the tape aims. You can't do that during league, or a sanctioned league atleast, but during practice it will help. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9NQfI-F7SQ is a good video of a person with good axis tilt. Talk to you soon.

[Punkrulz]

Thanks Dan.

Is there anything that I can change with my form that may aid me in getting more leverage with the wrist? Or is this strictly a wrist strength issue?