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General Category => Bowling Videos => Topic started by: leftyinsnellville on August 13, 2008, 09:18:02 AM

Title: Help with my release...
Post by: leftyinsnellville on August 13, 2008, 09:18:02 AM: I've been struggling terribly lately. I just can't seem to get the ball to come off my hand properly. It's probably something that I just can't recognize like timing. I shot some video today of me throwing three different balls. I'd be grateful if someone who knows more than me about bowling (which is practically everybody here) would take a look and offer some suggestions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eX-jwLktIsE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1kJH4nb8Hw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzpKrckQtIk

Thanks!
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220...221...whatever it takes.
Title: Re: Help with my release...
Post by: SVstar34 on August 13, 2008, 09:32:27 PM: I'm not great at analyzing video, but it looks like you have the same problem as me to where you start coming around the ball and getting alot of side rotation. For me, once I start to struggle I always go back to the basics.

smooth swing, firm wrist, and try to get more end-over-end roll.
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My Arsenal:
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Title: Re: Help with my release...
Post by: Stever5000 on August 13, 2008, 09:37:53 PM: I agree with SVstar about the side rotation. I can tell by the way your thumb leaves the ball that you're spinning it more than staying behind it.

Also, are the pitches and span the same on each ball? I noticed in the 2nd video that you seemed to hang in the ball more, which led me to wonder. If you're switching back and forth between pitches/spans, that can throw you off a little bit.
Title: Re: Help with my release...
Post by: on August 13, 2008, 10:01:11 PM: Definitely not getting out of the Sure Strike cleanly. Check pitches and also make sure the oval part of the thumb hole isn't too snug.

You look pretty solid to me. On the Rampage I think you could slide further left and maybe even target 1-2 boards left and get a much better read on the lane.

You could fine tune the release slightly, by staying behind it a split second longer, but for playing up the boards you really shouldn't be worried about anything except getting out of the ball cleanly.

One thing that I do when I'm playing closer to the friction (outside) is to start my hand on the side of the ball more. In your case maybe 7 o'clock or 7:30 position, and just maintain that position all the way through the swing and release. Do not allow the wrist to collapse, though.

For most people they will clear the thumb more quickly, and the fewer revs will help the ball stay under control at the break point, and maintain hitting power since you're on the "dry" longer. When playing outside the idea is to "let the ball hook, don't make it hook". These are ideas that help me. I hope they will help you, too.

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Lane Carter, Strike Zone Pro Shops - Salt Lake City, Utah
Brunswick Amateur Staff
Title: Re: Help with my release...
Post by: BXTECH on August 14, 2008, 01:31:09 PM: I am far from a certified coach but what i notice is that u need to lift more with the fingertips. It seems that ur flicking the ball with your wrist. Stay behind the ball more and LIFT so u can have a better roll of the ball. Just my observation about ur release.
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DEFEAT is only MOMENTARY!!!!!!

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Title: Re: Help with my release...
Post by: abrown on August 14, 2008, 01:46:59 PM: try to stay behind it more looks like your comming around way to early that
Title: Re: Help with my release...
Post by: leftyinsnellville on August 14, 2008, 02:02:28 PM: All great tips. Perhaps I should put my wrist brace back on...it's a Columbia glove with a velcro strap that goes around the wrist to reduce flexibility a bit.

Thanks to everybody for helping out. It is greatly apprciated!
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220...221...whatever it takes.
Title: Re: Help with my release...
Post by: SPR3WR on August 16, 2008, 09:12:41 PM: you are grabbing with your thumb in the sure strike or a bad drilling . the black hammer you roll the ball real good just stay behind the ball longer.

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high game 300
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Edited on 8/16/2008 9:21 PM
Title: Re: Help with my release...
Post by: eglleftcoast on August 16, 2008, 09:42:14 PM: Lefty, okay here is my two cents worth. First in my opinion, youâ€™re a big guy and youâ€™re fluffing your release. Hit it a little. Secondly, youâ€™re flaring your elbow. I know not everybody can throw it like PBIII, but watch him then look at your video. Try practicing in your basement or some place by keeping your arm closer to your side and your follow through coming right by your ear. This will also help you keep behind the ball a little more like others have suggested and also improve your accuracy.
Title: Re: Help with my release...
Post by: leftyinsnellville on August 18, 2008, 09:04:09 AM: Thank gents! I'm trying to incorporate your suggestions but don't seem to be getting the knack of staying behind the ball.

This is a video I shot yesterday during practice while I was trying my best to stay under and behind the ball. It looks like I'm improving a little, though I realize that my wrist is still breaking and I'm still coming around too early.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TopJ6aoKSpY

Does anybody know of any exercises or practice tips that can help me stay behind the ball longer and strengthen my wrist position? Again, any and all tips will be greatly appreciated.

P.S. I don't know if I mentioned that I recently gave up the wrist brace in order to improve my ability to adapt to changing conditions. Maybe I just became too dependant on the brace to hold my wrist in place...
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220...221...whatever it takes.
Title: Re: Help with my release...
Post by: dizzyfugu on August 18, 2008, 09:31:31 AM: What helped me a lot when I topped the ball too much was the idea of chasing or pushing the ball with my ring finger down the lane. Keep your swing up and, once you let the ball loose with the thumb before it passes your sliding foot's ankle, continue the swing with some muscle and concentrate on the ring finger - feel the ball rolling across your ring finger tip. That's one piece of the puzzle. Additionally, make sure your upper body is upright and youzr shopulders keep square to your target. You will have a hard time with a clean release if you bend too much forward with your torso. bend your sliding foot's knee instead, so you have a stable end position and can release the ball at the downswing's lowest point for maximum leverage. This also makes staying behind the ball easier. If you bend forward, your thumb clings to the ball too long, you tend to loft and simply cannot impart any good forward revs.

Good luck, though, tough task!
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Title: Re: Help with my release...
Post by: Nicanor on August 18, 2008, 09:43:00 AM: Ron Clifton helped me out a little with the same problem. One thing he had me practice was to turn the ball out away from your body a little bit. You see some bowlers turn their hand and ball away from their body quite a lot but I don't think its necessary. For me this did two things, it helped to keep my hand behind the ball longer and also helped to keep my elbow in (closer to the body. I have very wide shoulders and by the time I was coming down with the down swing, my hand was already on the side of the ball and my mind telling be to lift topping the ball and the thumb would wind up left or down (just like you were doing when throwing the Rampage). This worked because though I was telling my self I was turning my hand out and it felt like it, I was really staying behind the ball but my muscle memory felt as though I turning the ball out. It has worked wonders in teaching me to keep thumbs up on release.

The other old school tip I worked with a lot was a towel under the arm pit (throwing arm/hand). If the small hand towel or bowling towel under your arm pit falls out too early, your arm/elbow is bouncing out away from your body. The tip is to work on that drill until eventually the towel doesn't fall at all during your follow through.

Ron has a lot of great bowling tips on his website. I believe its bowl4fun.com

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Nicanor (Ten On The Deck)

Edited on 8/18/2008 9:48 AM
Title: Re: Help with my release...
Post by: leftyinsnellville on August 20, 2008, 02:51:36 AM: Threw some more today trying my best to incorporate your suggestions. Focusing on the ring finger was a great suggestion Dizzy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lf6K98_Nfuc

Some are better, some are not so good, and some are just plain bad. Again asking for any suggestions and tips.

Thanks for everybody's help.
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220...221...whatever it takes.
Title: Re: Help with my release...
Post by: leftyinsnellville on August 21, 2008, 11:11:02 AM: Still seeking free lessons and tips because I absolutely suck!. (Yes, I'm working with a coach...gold certified, in fact. But he's off in Malaysia coaching their national team for the upcoming world championships and his replacement is useless, so I'm resorting to begging for help since league starts tonight.)

Here's three videos from yesterday's practice. Still more of the same problems, but I think I'm improving. Again any suggestions about what to focus on, how to change my hand position for a better result, or anything else would be greatly appreciated.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1fpa2TtSVM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CidDcMK1BMc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRsNCJ6DtXo

Thanks again!

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220...221...whatever it takes.
Title: Re: Help with my release...
Post by: on August 21, 2008, 01:33:59 PM: lefty,

Don't sweat it. You're doing fine. A small move with your feet to the left, will allow you to play slightly straighter lines through the heads. The ball will read more consistently, and you can relax and let the ball go. Your moves after that will probably be parallel ones to the right.

If you get too technical you'll cripple yourself with "analysis" and do more harm than good. It's better to wait for your coach to return. He knows your game better than we can by watching video from one angle. Tear it up tonight.

On edit, here's a link from Fred Borden. The last 1:30 or so talks about a secondary release or the money shot. That's what I was referring to in my prior post. Let the outside part of the lane be your friend. This release will allow you to stay out there longer since you're keeping the revs under control.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGIyYa5egu8

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Lane Carter, Strike Zone Pro Shops - Salt Lake City, Utah
Brunswick Amateur Staff

Edited on 8/21/2008 1:40 PM
Title: Re: Help with my release...
Post by: leftyinsnellville on August 21, 2008, 03:04:00 PM: quote:
lefty,

Don't sweat it. You're doing fine. A small move with your feet to the left, will allow you to play slightly straighter lines through the heads. The ball will read more consistently, and you can relax and let the ball go. Your moves after that will probably be parallel ones to the right.

If you get too technical you'll cripple yourself with "analysis" and do more harm than good. It's better to wait for your coach to return. He knows your game better than we can by watching video from one angle. Tear it up tonight.

On edit, here's a link from Fred Borden. The last 1:30 or so talks about a secondary release or the money shot. That's what I was referring to in my prior post. Let the outside part of the lane be your friend. This release will allow you to stay out there longer since you're keeping the revs under control.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGIyYa5egu8

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Lane Carter, Strike Zone Pro Shops - Salt Lake City, Utah
Brunswick Amateur Staff

Edited on 8/21/2008 1:40 PM

Thanks, Notclay...just what I needed to hear. I won't think tonight, just throw it like I know how and have a good time. Thanks again!
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220...221...whatever it takes.
Title: Re: Help with my release...
Post by: Dan Belcher on August 21, 2008, 03:18:17 PM: The first thing that comes to mind every time I watch your videos: quit trying! You're just trying way too hard to make it hook. Quit thinking about it and just roll it down the lane. Your thumb stays in it for a long time when your hand comes all the way up the side and then over the top of the ball. Just try to keep your wrist slightly cupped and try to tumble the ball and purposely try not to hook it much. Don't stay completely flat under the ball at release like WRW on a spare shot, but also don't try to make it hook. Just try to roll it with just a TINY bit of rotation around the side, and really try to project it out through your target down the lane. What feels like a small amount of rotation around the side actually is a lot more than you'd think. The ball will come off your hand much cleaner and quicker, giving you more accuracy, and it'll pick up a smoother, more consistent roll. But the key is still stop trying!
Title: Re: Help with my release...
Post by: se7en on October 05, 2008, 05:17:41 PM: Your thumb is pointing towards the pins at release almost like a suitcase release. I would focus on having it point towards the ceiling at the release and keep your fingers in the 4-5 o'clock position (for a lefty). Use extra pressure on your index finger to keep the wrist a little more firm to help achieve that.
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There is nothing so easy to learn as experience and nothing so hard to apply.
Title: Re: Help with my release...
Post by: RyanRPS on October 05, 2008, 06:35:38 PM: Your hand is up on top of the ball.. i'd try to get your fingers down in the bottom half of the ball coming into the release...

check out this slow mo video... looks simple enough but generates around 500 RPM...

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=a1U20tH2K8U

Ryan
Title: Re: Help with my release...
Post by: 86camaroman on October 07, 2008, 11:10:21 AM: I am a lefty I average around 220 to 230 depending on the house. I think I have a few videos of me throwing some shots they arent slow motion but if you want I could post them up here for you to watch. I put alot of hand on it for a lefty.
Title: Re: Help with my release...
Post by: abrown on October 07, 2008, 11:22:46 AM: looks like your comming round the ball before it passes you leg on the down swing. stay behind the ball a little more and come up behind it not on top or the side of it
Title: Re: Help with my release...
Post by: strikealot on October 07, 2008, 11:33:14 AM: i agree withh most on here..stay under the ball as long as u can..dont rotate around the ball with your wrist, use your fingers more,, try to get the ball off your thumb more and use your fingers to rotate ball...your hand is clearly on the side of the ball at the release pt...keep the palm of your hand facing the ceiling longer, keep your thumb facing the ceiling longer...plus your left handed so you dont need to change much to strike alot...just a joke
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Edited on 10/7/2008 11:36 AM
Title: Re: Help with my release...
Post by: TheAxeEffect415 on October 22, 2008, 06:14:23 PM: I personally think your thumb hole might be alittle to snug. Your thumb looks to be consistantly hanging in the ball. Try to always remember ELBOW up never out. When I practice and I have that problem I slow my timing down about half speed. It helps me get my timing down. When I tend to come around the side of the ball like your doing, Its usually an indication that im speeding up my timing alittle which causes my elbow to flare and my hand to move around the side of the ball. Just slow down a bit in practice watch your release and you should see improvements! ) Good luck!
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Know your worth... Expect nothing less
Title: Re: Help with my release...
Post by: DukeHarding on October 22, 2008, 06:31:56 PM: Lefty,

My .02 . . .
When you kick your LEFT leg behind and to your right side in your slide and finish, that opens your shoulders, and you lose leverage...

Practice, planting your LEFT leg straight behind you.
Try to keep it planted to the floor.

Hope that makes some sense?
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Duke Harding