Hey Michael,
From my experience, there are a few things that can be causing this.
I'll focus on the main two...
1) Did you move/change the starting ball position anywhere inside towards your stomach/chest area vs keeping it out on your side or in line with your right shoulder? If you start the swing with the ball path anywhere inside of your shoulder, it will immediately cause you to have an "inside out" swing which causes it to go "out" to clear your hips and away from your body in your backswing. When this naturally returns, it returns on an inward path and causes for an immediate tug/pull position.
Correction: Make sure you start the ball in your stance at least next to your body (or in line with your shoulder) so it can clear your hips and stay on a straighter swing plane. You can even try and exaggerate it slightly by holding it out right some (past shoulder) because that will alllow you to have an "outside in" swing path and that will return the ball back to the right automatically. However, I'd recommend to try it even with your shoulder first.
2) Is the shot you're bowling on or have you practiced recently on a condition that was tighter then your normal swing shot causing you to square up your shoulders to hit the pocket? As good natural athletes always do, we adjust to whatever condition we encounter. If the shot was tighter, you may have altered your finishing position without knowing it and have held onto this feel.
Correction: Make sure your shoulders are open at the foul line so it places you in the proper position to swing a ball. *Identical to a quarterback throwing a football to his receiver on the right side line, his shoulders are physically in an "open" position relative to the scrimmage line when releasing the ball. I also recommend to start a few boards left of where you naturally start on the approach and walk towards your target so you are walking slightly right at all times and this helps keep your shoulders aimed at the target properly.
Regardless of our target, we always want our shoulders to remain "square to target", not square to foul line. Being square to target has a different meaning and allows us to face our intended target at all times. If we want to swing, shoulders should be open facing the target. If we want to play down and in, then it shuts down and becomes parallel to the foul line. Picture throwing the football and you'll see what I mean very easily. Hope this helps bud or send me a vid of your current shots while you're tugging and I can do an analysis of that, thanks.
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Rick Leong - Ten Pins Pro Shop
Track Intl. - Amateur/Pro Shop Staff
Vise Inserts Staff
www.Trackbowling.comwww.startabowlingrevolution.comSee profile for Track Ball videos
*El Presidente of the Track Legion
Edited on 6/23/2006 8:25 AM
