Hi - Just signed up for the forum so let me know if I'm doing anything wrong!

Little background: I use to bowl pretty regularly in college and just out of college (about 10 years ago). I didn't know a ton then. Use to throw the ball with two fingers, then got my own ball and eventually learned how to throw with a thumb in a more classic style. I recently got back into bowling (need some sort of stress release, competition, outlet) and joined a local league.

I also decided to buy a new ball as its been a while and when I worked with the pro shop at my local alley, he mentioned that my previous ball was drilled as a "full roller", although not drilled well. He watched me bowl some and saw the tracks go between the fingers and thumb and then drilled my new ball. Now that I've spent some time watching online videos and reading more about it, it feels weird that my release falls in this category. I've slo-mo videoed myself throwing and my hand seems to stay behind the ball until my arm is coming through. I do start to turn my wrist counter clockwise (I'm a righty) probably too early to get high rev and end up in a bit of a suitcase hold position. From the videos and text I've read, full rollers start in a suitcase and actually rotate clockwise, so its odd to me that somehow I get tracks like a full roller. So my questions are as follows:

1. Am I truly a full roller just from the tracks?
2. I imagine the adjustment i need to make to get more REVs is to stay behind the ball for longer, if I do this and I moved away from being a "full roller", what would happen given my drilling is set up for full roller.

Otherwise, I'd also love to hear any tips for how to improve my bowling!

Here's the slowmo video on youtube for those interested: https://youtu.be/3Tf7y8-Mdq4

Pinbuster explained it well. Full rolling is almost always the result of the bowling fingers rotating slightly clockwise (righthander) ONCE THE THUMB has exited the ball. So, practicing rotating the hand counterclockwise at release can correct this. It's not an easy transition to make however. It requires lots of practice, repetition and patience. 

Another cause can sometimes be found in the downswing, where the bowling arm
is directed to the left of the bowling shoulder (in a motion towards the center of the body). With some bowlers, they "sense" their bowling arm and hand being pulled left of the bowling shoulder, and in a subconscious effort to realign the bowling arm with  that shoulder, will subconsciously rotate their hand counterclockwise while attempting to realign the arm at release. I would suggest examining videos of your armswing to see if this is the cause. 

Best of luck to you!

NO

Hi hamburglergt - Good question.  The first thought is do you want to invest the time it takes to retrain your body and release?  I was a full roller in my youth up to about age 36.  Pretty good, I won tournaments and got a PBA check.  Moved out of state and decided to dedicate to a semi roller, three quarter track out side of the thumb and finger alignment.  Successfully made the change and shot award scores and won tournaments.  It takes work!  Note that a Fuller Roller Pin location is at 7 on the clock.  Three quarter pin location is between 12 on the clock and 2 on the clock.  The first thing is to have an experimental ball drilled strong for a semi roller.  Next you have to change your release from a counterclockwise release, to a clock wise release.  The new release should never go beyond 11 on the clock.  Start at a thumb position of 2 on the clock.  Be calm, be slow, practice.  Gold Level Coach ABE Denny