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Author Topic: grabbing at the bottom  (Read 4417 times)

gfh2a

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grabbing at the bottom
« on: December 17, 2007, 08:37:33 AM »
What do you personally do during a series when you start grabbing the ball just before release.  I usually start having problems with this around the third game.  I usually focus on keeping my wrist firm which works well but I figured I would ask for other bowler's solutions.

Thanks

george
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Raven829

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Re: grabbing at the bottom
« Reply #1 on: December 17, 2007, 04:44:45 PM »
George-
  I have a huge problem grabbing the ball, and squeezing it in general.  A few weeks back I concentrated on aiming at my target with my palm and just letting the ball roll off my hand towards the target.  The result was a release where I am more accurate, increased my revrate slightly, and the ball reads the lanes better.  Think of it as an "open hand" release.  I also had to snug up my thumb because I was coming out of it so much cleaner.  YMMV.

Don

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bluerrpilot

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Re: grabbing at the bottom
« Reply #2 on: December 17, 2007, 04:46:18 PM »
Picking a closer target like the dots instead of the arrows will help a little. it will promt you to set it shorter which will help you let go sooner.
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Scolai

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Re: grabbing at the bottom
« Reply #3 on: December 17, 2007, 05:13:45 PM »
I intentionally press my thumb against the back of the thumb hole.  It keeps me from knuckling the ball and grabbing it in the downswing.  If only I could remember to do it on every shot...

Pete Weber is a great example of how to throw the open handed shot.  At the top of his follow-through, his hand is flat - so much so that it looks like he just slapped someone upside the head.  Few would argue that PDW is a bad example of how to release a ball.
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DOconTEX

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Re: grabbing at the bottom
« Reply #4 on: December 17, 2007, 05:27:49 PM »
This is a really bad fault in my game, having had some success in the short oil and urethane days with grabbing at the bottom.  If I have perfect timing I can get away with it and it FEELS so good when done right.

But I have learned recently that I have more velocity, more hit, fewer "how did that happen" leaves (Yes that WAS a 2-4-7-9-10) and don't jerk it on the beak as much if I just work on an open handed release without as much fingers and hit.  Back ends aren't as impressive and it doesn't come screaming back from the ditch if I toss it outside, but the carry is better and the pins dance.
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novawagonmaster

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Re: grabbing at the bottom
« Reply #5 on: December 17, 2007, 07:25:41 PM »
If you quit squeezing all at once, you will be dropping the ball bigtime!
I began by focusing my squeezing at the base of the thumb instead of knuckling the thumb. This was a huge step for me in trusting the release. After that step, I began re-slugging equipment with tighter thumbs and more forward pitch. Now, if I grab the ball, it's a knuckle ball (no revs). The open handed release if beautiful once you get the hang of it!
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Strider

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Re: grabbing at the bottom
« Reply #6 on: December 17, 2007, 07:55:16 PM »
Scolai gives some excellent advice.  Also, your thumb may shrink as the night goes on.  If your thumb hole is loose, you'll have to grab just to keep from feeling like you'll drop it.  As a quick test, add a piece or two of tape when you start grabbing, then try to go to your relaxed arm swing/release, especially if you do what Scolai says in his first sentence.
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Juggernaut

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Re: grabbing at the bottom
« Reply #7 on: December 17, 2007, 08:15:44 PM »
quote:
What do you personally do during a series when you start grabbing the ball just before release.  I usually start having problems with this around the third game.  I usually focus on keeping my wrist firm which works well but I figured I would ask for other bowler's solutions.

Thanks

george
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Input equals output


  "Grabbing" is usually a sign that my thumbhole has begun to get too big, or that my thumb has shrunken as the night progressed.

  Usually, a piece of tape ( I prefer the textured white tape, but many prefer the slick, black tape) will fix my grabbing problem.  The snugness of the hole allows me to relax my hand during the swing phase and just roll the ball off the end of my fingers without having to consciously "hold onto" the ball.

  Depending on your thumbhole's pitch, it might be a wrist strength problem. The reason I say this is because you state that it is later in your set, usually around the third game.

  If your thumbhole has some reverse ( which is common in "stretched" grips ), as your wrist gets fatigued, your hand position during the swing phase will be slightly different, letting the ball "down" early and causing the thumb to want to exit early.

   My equipment is drilled with 3/8 reverse in the thumbhole and, if I don't stay under the ball good, and keep the thumbhole pretty snug, the thumb will want to exit the hole too early and cause the instinct to grab at the bottom of the swing if I don't keep my wrist in a good position.
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REvans284

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Re: grabbing at the bottom
« Reply #8 on: December 18, 2007, 01:18:30 AM »
quote:
 "Grabbing" is usually a sign that my thumbhole has begun to get too big, or that my thumb has shrunken as the night progressed.

  Usually, a piece of tape ( I prefer the textured white tape, but many prefer the slick, black tape) will fix my grabbing problem.  The snugness of the hole allows me to relax my hand during the swing phase and just roll the ball off the end of my fingers without having to consciously "hold onto" the ball.

  Depending on your thumbhole's pitch, it might be a wrist strength problem. The reason I say this is because you state that it is later in your set, usually around the third game.

  If your thumbhole has some reverse ( which is common in "stretched" grips ), as your wrist gets fatigued, your hand position during the swing phase will be slightly different, letting the ball "down" early and causing the thumb to want to exit early.

   My equipment is drilled with 3/8 reverse in the thumbhole and, if I don't stay under the ball good, and keep the thumbhole pretty snug, the thumb will want to exit the hole too early and cause the instinct to grab at the bottom of the swing if I don't keep my wrist in a good position.
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Thats a really good explanation.  I too have a squeeze the ball problem and its the last thing you want and you do want to stop it as much as possible (when you squeeze harder you are obviously flexing muscles in your arm and it leads to muscling the ball even when you may have a free arm swing).  

Like jug said, the best way to fix it is to snug up the hole. Unfortunately for me, My thumb likes to fluctuate in size (and my whole hand sweats bad) so I live and die by tape and my puff ball.  I wish I had a switch grip system so I wouldn't go through tape as fast because its easier to adjust for just one hole.

Later,

REvans284
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Dan Belcher

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Re: grabbing at the bottom
« Reply #9 on: December 18, 2007, 07:29:35 AM »
quote:
I wish I had a switch grip system so I wouldn't go through tape as fast because its easier to adjust for just one hole.
Absolutely.  The best thing I ever did for my grabbing problem was convert all my equipment (except my spare ball) to a switchgrip thumb.  I now have a fairly snug thumbhole that feels just right that I can use in every ball.  I also started using Vise Hada patch on my thumb instead of using white tape -- I prefer the smooth, slick feel, but it keeps the thumb snug so that I don't drop it or grip it.  Since switching to this, I'm throwing the ball better than I ever have in my life and my scores have definately reflected this.
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