BallReviews
General Category => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: majik13 on April 11, 2007, 06:54:23 AM
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Only three weeks left to bowl in the season, and I am looking towards my practice schedule over the summer and I really need to work on my release...it has gone to pot over the year. So much so that I am constantly grabbing the ball at the bottom of my swing and killing the revs. My one friend said "It's like you are trying to make the ball hook...you don't have to". Does anyone have some valuable words of wisdom/practice technique to help me remove this nasty habit from my game? (Other than "just throw the ball...?") Any insights are greatly appreciated!
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pressure your fingers/thumbs towards the rear of their respective holes.
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This is more of the same as injury stated, but what helps me, is to feel like I am pressing my thumbnail into the back of my thumbhole.
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James
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I had similar problems... just keep your hand behind the ball and open and pull it upwards like PDW does.
No need to do any finger-pulling... the upwards movement of your hand is more consistendly and gives you as much revs as needed... it is all a matter of timing.
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"Have fun and bowl well!" - Grayson
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Pick a point out above and IN FRONT of you on the ceiling of the center...reach for it without accelerating toward it.... another problem could be your pitches could need adjusting..... (in your fingers)
Other than that just don't hit it.....
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Ten pin?????? Where?? I throw a BUZZSAW there is NUTTIN left on the deck...
Proud MEMBER of the FOS!!
Member of the FOS, if there happens to be a 9 pin standing just toss a saw and cut it down~~!
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Not sure what you mean Buzzhead "Other than that just don't hit it....." ??
Good tip on picking a spot on the ceiling...I will try that one out soon...
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I re-drilled a ball with no inserts, and didn't bevel the holes on the fingers and just a little on the thumb. I only used it for practice and if I grab it, I know it, If I spin it, I know right away. You would be surprised how may shots seem decent but with sharp holes, you know there was something a little wrong. I have since drilled all my new stuff with less bevel and I seem to catch a release problem right away instead of letting it get worse and becomeing habit. I am sure I will go back to inserts in the future but until I am happy with my release, sharp holes it is.
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Glad you mentioned that Jeremy...I am getting a Pain from AllStarbowing_Joe and my plan is to have it punched up with no inserts to see if that makes a difference. Thanks for the tip.
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Here is what I have done to avoid grabbing the ball. I have a very tight thumb hole which I control by means of putting hada patch tape on the sides of my thumb. This allows me to relax my grip and to perform any type of release with no problems of thinking that I have to hold on to the ball. The swing and gravity takes care of my thumb sliding out easy. I never use tape inside my bowling balls. If the ball is too loose I put another piece of tape on the side of my thumb. I never put tape on the top or bottom of my thumb.
At the same token you are protecting your thumb from scrapes, cuts and after years of bowling avoids your thumb looking like a preztel.
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I went through a similar problem about a month ago. A few friends came up to me and told me that I was squeezing from the word go. I was literally squeezing the ball before I started my arm swing. I think that I was subconsciously afraid of dropping the ball. I threw a few extra pieces of tape in the ball and dropped my insert sizes down a notch and practiced trying to keep my hand as relaxed as possible. This allowed me to get the ball of my hand clean. Also, I tried to remember to "pop" out of the ball at the point of release with my hand wide open towards the ceiling (similar to that of PDW). Worked for me, hopefully you will have the same success.
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Why does everyone try to make it harder than it really is? Overthinking makes the game that much more difficult.
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majik,
Grabbing the ball, particularly at the bottom of the swing (release point) can be attributed to:
1-incorrect hole sizes and/or pitches (thumb and/or fingers),
2-incorrect form from the beginning (at the stance position), which promotes...
3-bad timing throughout the approach, particularly the release/follow-thru,
4-or a combination of any/all of the above.
I suggest you determine your problem by analyzing a little at a time. That is, first see if the ball fits you properly, and if it doesn't, get it fixed by a qualified driller.
If that doesn't fix it or is not the problem, concentrate on your mechanics (if you can't figure out what you may be doing wrong, seek the advice of a good qualified coach, even if it means paying him/her--it'll do you wonders in the long run.)
You will soon figure it out and learn greatly from your current dilemma.
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Regards,
BowlingWolf
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I have been going through this myself. I now have developed a more relaxed and smoother release. As stated in other replies, make sure that the ball fits your hand well enough so that you don't "feel" like you need to squeeze it to hang on. Not just the thumb fit but the pitches must be right for you. I am not very flexible so I keep my thumb pitches a little forward, 1/8 - 3/16, and also 0 - 1/8 palm. This lets me be more relaxed in my swing and then I can let the ball come off my hand more naturally rather than feeling like I am going to drop the ball, which makes me hang on and then try to make the release happen, which usually caused me to hit up on the ball, or grab it at the release point. Good fit and relaxed grip allow for a relaxed swing and then trust the release and watch the ball go a little longer but then make its turn to the pocket with great roll and therefore pin action. I'm loving it this way now, less stress on my body too.
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Wow...thank you all for the tips and advice. I'm pretty sure my ball fit is fine, I do think my approach/mechanics are the problem...so I will be looking for a coach in the Harrisburg, PA area...if anyone knows a good one in the area to recommend, I'm all ears. I also plan to video my approach mechanics to see what I am currently doing before going to a coach for changes. Thanks to all again...you are the best and I appreciate all the advice, I only hope to continue the great advice and hopefully pass along any tips I have learned to others in the forums as well. I will keep you all posted as to my progress.
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Majik,
Make sure you get some good side shots of your approach. A lot of release problems are more timing related than ball related. Of course, check your fit to eliminate that worry.
Once you see yourself on tape, you will be very SURPRISED at what you look like.
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Harrisburg???? if you want to travel a bit check out John Wilcox over in Mifflinburg. I am not very familiar with Harrisburg bowling, but only live an hour away...
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Ten pin?????? Where?? I throw a BUZZSAW there is NUTTIN left on the deck...
Proud MEMBER of the FOS!!
Member of the FOS, if there happens to be a 9 pin standing just toss a saw and cut it down~~!
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Majik,
Are you close to Fairview? If so, go on bowl.com, under the coaches section, and look up Mike Shady. Great guy, very knowledgeable, he drilled some equipment for me when he lived here in Wisconsin. He will be able to identify any grip issues and will definitely be able to help you with your swing/release and get you away from "making the ball hook".
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I've been lucky long enough...now I'd like to get good.
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No...Fairview is in Erie...Bob Learn Jr. country...about 5 hours drive to get to Erie from here. I get up that way camping during the summer, but don't usually take my equipment along for those trips.
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quote:
Once you see yourself on tape, you will be very SURPRISED at what you look like.
Oh, yeah. Highly recommndable.
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DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany
Confused by bowling? Check out BR.com's vault of wisdom: the FAQ section (http://"http://www.ballreviews.com/Forum/Replies.asp?TopicID=74110&ForumID=16&CategoryID=5")
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Yeah that is step one...I need to know what I look like in order to work on fixing the issues. I think taping is the best way to accomplish that for me. And now that I've lost 47 lbs. I won't need a wide angle lens to fit in the picture...if you can't laugh at yourself who can you laugh at???
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You can also try setting your thumb in the hole. BTM did an article on it a few months ago.
The basic concept is to press your thumbnail upward, and slowly back your thumb out of the hole very slightly, having the skin on the opposite side of the thumb on the palm side grab, creating somewhat of a suction effect (not literally). Ultimately your thumb is now in the hole at an angle and straightened out.
I've never gotten a more smooth release. I also use Magic Carpets.
Over time I have relaxed my grip to the point where last night, for the first time ever, I had a ball drop off my hand and roll into the setee area at the top of my backswing. Woops. The hole wasn't loose, but I also use thumb tape with a smooth texture and didn't set my thumb properly. Bad combo!
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Cobalt Bomb Solid
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Thanks...I do "wiggle" my thumb in my pre-shot routine as a reminder not to "grab" the ball, but something else is amiss...I need to film and see what is going on before anything I think.
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Thanks...I do "wiggle" my thumb in my pre-shot routine as a reminder not to "grab" the ball, but something else is amiss...I need to film and see what is going on before anything I think.
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try a piece of rought tape on the the inside if you thumb if you can, and work with the previously stated PDW open hand approach. Trying to do to many things often ruins everything else positive you have going for you.
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