Some videos of me bowling, critique/help wanted

[10-in-the-pit]

Very nice improvement, great job. It is much more balanced.

One new comment for everyone, is it still recommended to keep the pinky finger next to the ring finger or have it split? I see it is split in your shot, but I always learned to keep it together.

[mattfl]

Interesting question. Next time I go I'll try it together to see if it changes anything for me.

[10-in-the-pit]

I was taught that spreading the pinky flattens the hook, so keeping it together would give it a little more. You could also bend the pinky to keep the nail of the pinky against the ball to increase it more, but I always experience a much different release (old school).

[mattfl]

Well, I'm always looking for more hook so I will give it a shot and report back

[got_a_300]

I have used all three positions with the pinky finger, I've found a closed pinky gives you a little more spin
on the ball through the heads and mid lane with a little more hook on the back ends and then with a tucked
under pinky it just amplifies the spin and maybe changes the tilt on the ball somewhat and gives you some
more hook on the back end.

I mainly spread my pinky and index finger now since I want to get a little more roll on the ball through the
heads and mid lane with a little less hook on the back ends since we are bowling on synthetic lanes now
days and they hook a lot on the back end. The only time I move my pinky finger in is if the heads and mid
lane are fried so I can get a little more spin on the ball and less heavy roll on the front end to clear the
heads and mid lane and get to my break point.

Back in the 80's and 90's when all we had was wooden lanes I always had to keep my pinky finger tucked in
because the wooden heads would dry up so fast and the ball would start hooking mid lane making it hard to
get the ball down lane to my break point.

[10-in-the-pit]

Thanks! I just know it gave the shot a little more "oomph" to it. I think I'll play around with it some more myself. I've had trouble in the past because it changes the way I my hand is in the ball and it comes off the hand differently.

[BOWLWEST73]

I see a few things that jump out at me. first is your balance as addressed by several others already. Second most glaring thing to me is your swing looks very tense and controlled - way too much muscle being used here as noted by the bent elbow. Let your arm fully extend and let the ball come to its natural high point in the back swing. Don't fight gravity. Let that natural force guide your swing and your accuracy will improve. Along the same lines, it looks like you are really squeezing the ball. Did you have your span checked when you purchased new equipment or did you just take measurements off of your last ball? If it has been a while since you bowled, it may be worth having that double checked. The last video that you uploaded on 1/31 seems much smoother, but you still look at times like you are trying to control the swing with muscle.

[martin]

the most recent video is better in terms of being balanced and you're pointing the toe straight (though still needs to be worked on.. lots of shots the foot just points straight but suddenly turn towards the right gutter and puts you off balanced) but the deep knee bend doesn't seem to be quite there yet..

[MFein]

Your backswing is the first thing I noticed. Your arm is not completely straight. Consistency breeds around backswing. Relax your shoulders and your arms when you start going for the pushaway. You should be relaxed through your entire approach.

[resstealth]

I only watched the first one, but what stuck out to me was your balance, and how much you seem to go brooklyn. For the balance I really don't have any suggestions, but moving left a bit should help you hit the pocket more.