Author Topic: How can I get the ball off my thumb earlier? (Read 2427 times)

Baboon · « **on:** March 26, 2009, 11:57:12 AM »

Lately I've had an issue with grabbing the ball a bit. I knuckled it pretty badly for a while, and once I got over that, I still have a tendency to get it off my hand too late in the swing. This makes it hook up a bit early and greatly limits my ability to play the whole lane; I'm mostly relegated to playing up a board.

Suggestions on how to convince myself to let the ball go a bit sooner and roll it more with my fingers?

Thanks!

Babababababaloon

Brian Green · « **Reply #1 on:** March 26, 2009, 08:38:24 PM »

my first instinct without seeing you bowl is to use more reverse on the thumb pitch... maybe taking it 1/8 to 3/16 back from what u are at now........
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Edited on 3/26/2009 8:38 PM

Stan · « **Reply #2 on:** March 26, 2009, 08:53:24 PM »

Don't want to be too simple, but stop grabbing the ball. Grabbing the ball means the ball is coming off your hand too soon and you have to grab it to hold onto it. Have your fit checked by a good pro shop.

Russell · « **Reply #3 on:** March 26, 2009, 09:06:42 PM »

Ill partly agree with Brian...but I want to point out that too much reverse can compound the problem.

My vote for most likely cause is thumbhole being too loose or tight. If it's slightly too loose it will cause you to knuckle it a little and not allow you to release your grip pressure.

When I need a piece of tape in the thumbhole and I keep bowling my track moves up about 1/2" because I pinch it just a hair. The ball will seem to be coming off pretty clean...but I can't be really soft at the bottom because I'd lose it.
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Spit_Fire · « **Reply #4 on:** March 27, 2009, 12:15:33 AM »

well, today i just made the best change in my game. I went from 0 left or right to 1/8 left, wow, a world of diffrence. My span is 5 1/16 x 5 3/16 with 7/16 rev thumb and now 1/8 left. I feel the ball come off my thumb and on to my fingers and then up the side. I have a high track too 5 1/2 over 1/2 up

dizzyfugu · « **Reply #5 on:** March 27, 2009, 02:45:00 AM »

quote:
Don't want to be too simple, but stop grabbing the ball. Grabbing the ball means the ball is coming off your hand too soon and you have to grab it to hold onto it. Have your fit checked by a good pro shop.

That's simple but true. I had a phase when I'd grab the ball much too tight. Reason were timing issues, but after I concentrated on my release point (ideally when the ball passes your sliding foot's ankle) I intentionally let the ball go in this moment, and it helped a lot reduce loft and topping the ball. With a better timing (I had very fast feet and had to wait at the foul line for the ball) this problem more or less disappeared, but I have become conscious about my release point - and sometimes in longer tournaments, when I see inconsistencies in my ball reaction, I start focussing on the "ideal" release point again as well as slowing my feet down.
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Mike Austin · « **Reply #6 on:** March 27, 2009, 06:23:04 AM »

Think about "opening" your hand, fingers and thumb at release. Or, pushing your thumb nail against the back side of the hole. The key is to keep your thumb straight. If you drop the ball at this point, that's okay, mission mostly accomplished. Add some tape to the thumb hole.

I would have your fit checked also, but don't necessarily think more reverse is the answer. That could just let you "knuckle" the ball more AND get out of it faster. There could be other reasons that you are knuckling the ball. Span too short, too much reverse pitch, too much bevel, thumb hole too big, and infinite combos of these.

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« **Reply #7 on:** March 27, 2009, 08:17:44 AM »

quote:
Think about "opening" your hand, fingers and thumb at release. Or, pushing your thumb nail against the back side of the hole. The key is to keep your thumb straight. If you drop the ball at this point, that's okay, mission mostly accomplished. Add some tape to the thumb hole.

I would have your fit checked also, but don't necessarily think more reverse is the answer. That could just let you "knuckle" the ball more AND get out of it faster. There could be other reasons that you are knuckling the ball. Span too short, too much reverse pitch, too much bevel, thumb hole too big, and infinite combos of these.

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I agree!

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The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer and not of Brunswick Corporation.

Edited on 3/27/2009 8:20 AM

Scolai · « **Reply #8 on:** March 27, 2009, 01:32:26 PM »

2 words: Magic Carpet.

You grab the ball with that stuff in the hole and you'll lose skin. It does, however, provide a good feel and clean release.
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Author Topic: How can I get the ball off my thumb earlier? (Read 2427 times)

Baboon

How can I get the ball off my thumb earlier?

Brian Green

Re: How can I get the ball off my thumb earlier?

Stan

Re: How can I get the ball off my thumb earlier?

Russell

Re: How can I get the ball off my thumb earlier?

Spit_Fire

Re: How can I get the ball off my thumb earlier?

dizzyfugu

Re: How can I get the ball off my thumb earlier?

Mike Austin

Re: How can I get the ball off my thumb earlier?

Re: How can I get the ball off my thumb earlier?

Scolai

Re: How can I get the ball off my thumb earlier?