free arm swing

[Coleco]

Went to the bowling alley today to try and change up my style to the free arm swing. I've never bowled using this method at all, and after reading up a lot, I wanted to give it a shot.

I could not do a free arm swing shot once. Every time I tried, the ball felt like it was going to fall off my hand. I read that as you're about to release the ball, the thumb should come out and the two fingers take over to give you the hook. I could not accomplish this at all. I also read that the thumb should be relaxed throughout the entire swing without squeezing the ball. Just another thing I could not accomplish. What in the world am I doing wrong. I know it's hard to say online since you can't see me, but it's just so frustrating not being able to use this style, as I want to really bad. I eventually just switched back to my old style where I'm actually muscling the ball.

I treid different size balls and nothing helped.

[dizzyfugu]

It could be that the thumb pitch in your current balls prevents you from relaxing the grip. The thumb should fit loosely, so that you can hold and control the ball without much effort. If the pitch is negative, it might slide off of your thumb and you will drop the ball, without an chnace to impart proper lift. If you normally do not play with a straight elbow, e. g. "shoveling" the ball with muscle from behind/below, this might be another indicator for a pitch issue. I guess there is not much to do.

Maybe a grip-enhancing glove could help you, but I am not sure. Without seeing you play, recommendations are hard to make.
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DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany
Team "X" website & more about me: http://web.mac.com/timlinked/iWeb/X/Thomas.html
"The Future's So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades" - Pat MacDonald

[newman891]

There could be several things causing you problems.  First of all, we need quite a bit more information as to how you bowl and what equipment you are using.  Is the ball drilled to fit your hand?  Not only that, but is it drilled conventional or with grips and a slug? Stretched or relaxed?  Are you beginning your approach with you hand beside, under, or around the front of the ball? Is your elbow tucked or is it popping out?

Give a little more pertinent information and I am sure plenty of us will be more than happy to ablige.  Thanks, and good luck.
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Matthew R. Adams
Current Line-up: Action, Action Packed, Enriched Uranium,  The Thing Returns, Vendetta Sniper, Pure Energy, XXXtreme, and Tropical Storm

[Coleco]

I was using the in house plastic balls. My motion is bastically a pendulum motion, however, as I come up to release the ball, my elbow is slightly bent and I muscle it off. I don't use a glove, or anthing else. I don't know the properties of the inhouse balls either. I'm just assuming, anyone that bowls with the free arm swing (lets say someone here on the boards) most likely has a custom ball drilled for their size, but I'm willing to bet, if they went and used an inhouse ball, they'd still be able to use the free arm swing, but of coures it would be less effective because of the ball.

I just want to be able to bowl using this motion. I know getting a ball custome fitted to my fingers may help, but if I can't do it at all with an inhouse ball, my guess is, I won't be able to do it with any ball made for my fingers. There has to be something I'm doing wrong. I just don't understand. I will try to video tape my next bowling session, and show you all how I bowl.

[dizzyfugu]

Free peundulum is a technique; you are correct that you do not a special ball, but a ball drilled for your hand (even a polyester ball with conventional grip) will be very beneficial. House balls rarely fit well, and with a matching drill you might use a ball that is 1 or 2 lbs. heavier than before, with a much more comfortable grip, accuracy and impact. A heavier ball will also help you with a free pendulum when you can let garvity rule.
 
For reference, you might take a look at a bwoling book. I can recommend on the free pendulum topic the book by John Jowdy - he describes the basics quite well.

Ron Clifton's website www.bowl4fun.com has also lots of tips and insights available for free.
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DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany
Team "X" website & more about me: http://web.mac.com/timlinked/iWeb/X/Thomas.html
"The Future's So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades" - Pat MacDonald