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Author Topic: Quick Question  (Read 1090 times)

Zach M

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Quick Question
« on: March 24, 2007, 09:36:25 AM »
I have been having a lot of problems with throwing a full roller rand having my ball constantly roll out on me.  I'm in the process of changing my style to a more consistent way, but this is causing me lots of problems.  I feel like I'm costantly squeezing the ball with my thumb at the bottom and forcing it through, and can't seem to get any revs.  Any help is much appreciated.

-Zach

 

Rileybowler

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Re: Quick Question
« Reply #1 on: March 24, 2007, 05:48:10 PM »
Zach it would be hard to say anything without seeing you bowl what I would suggest is to take a couple lessons tell your coach what it is you are trying to accomplish and he or she could make a worl of difference in your game, even the pro's use coaches and good bowling
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NateNice

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Re: Quick Question
« Reply #2 on: March 24, 2007, 05:55:27 PM »
quote:
I have been having a lot of problems with throwing a full roller rand having my ball constantly roll out on me.  I'm in the process of changing my style to a more consistent way, but this is causing me lots of problems.  I feel like I'm costantly squeezing the ball with my thumb at the bottom and forcing it through, and can't seem to get any revs.  Any help is much appreciated.

-Zach


At no point at all should you ever squeeze with your thumb.  From pushoff to release your thumb should just be in the hole.

Are you cupping the wrist some?  You have to have some wrist if you want to hook the ball.

Thin about throwing with 45 degrees of axis rotation.  How would you have to release a ball to accomplish this?  Think about it some so you can feel it.  Practice with a tennis ball or some other very light ball.  Underhand it into a wall or something and try and put 45 degrees of rotation on it.  (a full roll is 0 degrees.  If the ball is spinning side ways it's 90 degrees.  45 is obviously in between those).

I found this helped a lot when I got my hook better and better.  

Make sure you're griping with your middle and ring fingers.  Try and feel the ball with the other two fingers.  Use an open hand to get as much hand on the ball initially so you can hold it and cup your wrist more easily on the entire swing.

The only way to really practice it is on a lane.  Get out there and don't worry about the shot.  But try and not squeeze your thumb anymore, or any finger for that matter.

When everything is right the ball will feel nearly weightless in your swing and it will come off your fingers wonderfully.  You won't even notice the thumb ever being in the ball.

It takes time and practice though.  Lots of it.  And really think about what your hand would have to be doing to accomplish this.

Ron Clifton has some good advice on this.  Go to http://bowl4fun.com/ and read his lessons there.  He also posts here as user "Magic Carpet" and if you post this in the Misc forum, he'll maybe give you a reply.

NateNice

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Re: Quick Question
« Reply #3 on: March 24, 2007, 06:02:39 PM »
I should add, when you're releasing the ball it's all in the fingers.  The momentum created by swinging the ball gets transfered to your fingers mainly.  this is why some people get so many revs on the ball and it looks effortlessly.  It's because in many ways it is.  they just have a nice swing and are able to transfer a lot of this energy to the fingers as they release the ball at just the right time to create maximum revs.  Make sure you're bowling with your fingers so to speak and follow through.

And regardless of what anyone says, in my experience the most revs you can generate and still control and repeat (this is the key as you can probably make more revs, but you wouldn't be as consistent and accurate with it) your shot, the better off you are.  Todays balls like revs and you should put as many on your ball as you can control.  This doesn't mean you need revs to be a good bowler, of course.  I've found revs give you a little more margin of error (even on a block, outside shots have more revs and come back and inside shots are a late release with fewer revs and stay on line...granted, I'm talking a few boards at the breakpoint here) and obviously create more backend and better carry.  However, the best shot is the one you can do over and over.