Free arm swing

[qstick777]

I've been reading some books and most seem to suggest using a muslce-free arm swing.  They suggest either a push-away or drop-away start and let the weight of the ball do the rest.  This makes sense, but after watching the pros, some of the better bowlers at my house, and even the videos posted here, it seems that most do not use the free arm swing.  

How high of a backswing can you get by just dropping the ball and letting it swing back?  Personally, after watching video of my self, I notice that I use a controlled/muscled back swing and very rarely get the ball more than waist high.  I find that easier to control and makes for much more accurate shots.

When I first started bowling I tried the free arm swing and noticed that I got much more lift (and physically being able to feel my thumb come out first - almost like a dropping sensation) but I also had more arm pain.  I've since moved down in weight, but notice that I throw the ball at the same speed as before (I thought I would get more speed by moving down).  I no longer have any arm pain, but I also no longer can tell if my thumb is exiting first.

Anyways, I've been watching the PBA this season and noticed that almost all of the pros have back swings that come up to shoulder level or higher.  They all start with ball between chest and waist high, and it just looks like they are muscling the ball to get it up that high.

I've experimented a little and when I try to get my back swing higher I get more ball speed, but I also have a harder time controlling my release and accuracy.  I also noticed that I tend to keep my elbow bent (just slightly) through the entire process (push away, back swing, and delivery), and when I try to keep my arm straight I have the same problem (no accuracy).

Any thoughts/ideas as to which is the proper way?  Is it possible to drop the ball from waist height and using a muscle-free armswing to have the backswing get shoulder high?

[dizzyfugu]

Hi qstick. First of all, do not worry about other people's armswing - do what feels comfortable or natural to you. A high or low backswing is no guarantee for high results. It is you ablity to control your and the balls motions, frequently, and make adaptions to chnaging lane conditions.

For a beginner, the unmuscled armswing is the best way to reach this goal. With a proper pushaway or dropaway you should get a good timing, the ball acting like a pendulum giving you rhythm and stance on your way to the foul line.
Tempering with this through muscle (either to push the ball higher in your backswing or to accelerate the ball on its way back forwards) will surely cause disharmonies and you will be likely to deviate shot after shot. It takes a long while to develop such a cranker style.

Personally, even though I am quite big, cannot cope with this muscled armswing.
I am also a pure stroker, but I rely on finesse and exact ball release to get high score. I only have 250 RPM and 15mpf - but it works great for me, and I do not think that one should play against the style that works bets by nature.

Hmm, considering the PBA finaly last year, Tom Baker with his stroker style and rather low backswing made it for the championship!
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DizzyFugu --- Reporting from Germany

"All that we see or seem, is but a dream within a dream..." - Edgar Allen Poe

[JohnP]

qstick777 -- The laws of physics tell us that a true pendulum will swing to a height a little lower than its starting height.  But a bowling swing introduces other variables - the shoulders move lower during the approach, and the speed of the approach itself.  I doubt that many bowlers have a "true" pendulum swing.  The higher it goes above the starting position, the more muscle is used.  --  JohnP

[ozsweet]

Is one of the books you've read 'Bowling Execution' by John Jowdy? If so, his description of how it works and why he believes it is best is excellent. He, however, also says that a semi-controlled arm swing works very well for many players. If you've haven't read it, read it.
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I am my only ignored user

[dizzyfugu]

A "normal" backswing should reach shoulder height. Anything higher will stress your muscles and twist your body. Normally, only with muscle force you will get this high. When you hold the ball at waist height (forearm paralell to the ground), a free swing, together with your body's forward motion on the approach, should get the ball to shoulder height.

A higher backswing is not necessary, and in fact it bears risks you must know and be able to handle. You get more power and speed though it, but you lose exact targeting and "fluent" movements. Normally you will only see crankers or cranker-wannsbees playing this way.

I do not think it is a style to emulate if it is not natural to you ansd your game. The experience you tell about sounds "normal". I'd suggest experimenting with it, the pushaway and your timing. It might also be influenced by the lane conditions you normally face. On dry ground, more speed is a nice weaapon to have in store when other cannot control the ball, having it hook off beyong Brooklyn.
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DizzyFugu --- Reporting from Germany

"All that we see or seem, is but a dream within a dream..." - Edgar Allen Poe

[qstick777]

Yes, Bowling Execution is one of the books I was reading.  I bought about 4 last year when I first started bowling - Bowling Strikes (Dawson Taylor), Winning Bowling (Earl Anthony w/ D. Taylor), and Focused for Bowling (Dean Hinitz) are the others.  I won't pretend to have read all of them, but I have glanced through all of them.

I guess I don't really have a muscled armswing as much as a controlled armswing - by that I mean that no matter where I start the drop (waist high or chest high - haven't tried shoulder high ) I always seem to bring the ball back to the same height, and for me its about waist high.  I think for me its an accuracy/control thing.  I've experimented and tried a higher backswing, but I lose a lot of accuracy.  I can tell I'm getting more speed, but I can't hit my mark consistently.  Maybe thats something that would come with practice?

I'm not really complaining about my style, just an observation that I've noticed after watching the PBA and paying more attention to the people in my league.  I just think its funny that pretty much all of the books and most people say the accepted standard is a free-arm or pendulum swing, but watching the pros (and most of the vids posted on this site) seem to use a slingshot swing.  For example:  Mika doesn't even appear to have a drop away - he just holds the ball at his waist, takes a step and then pulls the ball way back above his shoulder and lets it rip.  I for one have a hard time bringing my arm back that far by itself, can't imagine doing it with a 14-16lb bowling ball!

[guzmand19]

Hey, just to add a few things.  You can minipulate the height of the backswing without muscling the ball, by simply pushing out on the ball harder to start the swing.  

Muscling the ball most commonly comes into play in the transition period between backswing peak and the start of the downswing.  The problem with muscling is, it's impossible to repeat the same motion again and again.  You must also take into account, that your muscles introduce variables such as fatigue and soreness.  If any of those things are present, your swing will suffer during games.  Having a free armswing means as long as you start the motion at the same rate and height, the swing should be very close to the same each time.  

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D <~~~~ Used to be terrible wiffing 10 pins.  Now through much practice, can wiff any single pin spare at any time.

Darrell Guzman
guzmand19 - Yahoo IM and MSN screen names

[RealBowler]

I've seen this, but most people seem to agree on two things:

1) You should keep your shoulders square to your target;
2) The shoulder joint is not a true pivot (as evidence - stand and have somebody pull back on your arm - you can't go back very far without feeling the strain on the joint and muscle)

To get a higher back swing you will have to open your shoulder during the back swing.  This is contrary to point number 1.

To have a higher back swing you will gain speed, but will sacrifice accuracy (generally speaking).  Of course with the added speed you may also gain area on the lane in which to play.

Point being (as I believe somebody already mentioned) is to just play your own style.  I personally don't think I could ever physically pull a 15lb bowling ball shoulder or head high.  I don't think my arm could take that for very long.  Just use whatever style feels the most comfortable to you.
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Haywood

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