Relaxed grip is saving my hand right now. After bowling for a while now I've had blood under my ring finger nail, and serious pain sometimes after release. Turns out my span was super stretched and my finger nails were pressed to the backs of the holes. I've shortened my span, much more relaxed, now my fingers are more flush, although I consider my span to be normal now, not necessarily relaxed. Pain is slowly going away.
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-If you're not willing to change, you're not willing to improve.

-Life is like a coin, you can spend it any way you want, but you can only spend it once.

-90 percent of the game is half mental
-Yogi Berra

Just a few things not previously mentioned:

If you are thinking about going to more forward pitch on your thumb (reasons for doing this are outside the scope of this discussion) a shorter "relaxed" span is often needed to release the ball properly.

Stretched versus relaxed span is often a matter of simple preference.  I've met top-notch bowlers who have used a relaxed span and top-notch bowlers that have used a stretched span.

25 years ago when lifting/hitting up on the ball to create entry angle, I preferred a stretched span because it created helped create more tension on the fingertips right off the bat and helped the fingers stay in the ball a bit longer to create a gentle loft.

Over the past few years I've changed to the cup-and-collapse style release and a relaxed span.  I feel the relaxed span allows me to get out of the ball more cleanly at the release point and allows my hand to be relaxed through the entire shot.
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J.J. "Waterola Kid" Anderson, the bLowling King  : Kill the back row


Edited on 7/17/2006 4:31 PM

I've known people who have torn tendons in their wrist because of the strain of a stretched span. There really no bowlers on tour that use a streched span now. There is no gain only pain.
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"Viva la Nacion De Brunswick"

We run thru this topic from time to time.

JohnP, CoachJim both described how to measure relaxed versus stretched. Of course there are a variety of extremes.

A relaxed span is much easier on the hand. I have never seen an injury as a result of using a relaxed span but I have seen hundreds from using stretched spans.

Almost every professional bowler uses a relaxed span and this has been true for years. They simply cannot afford the wear and tear on the hand that comes from using a stretched span.

The relaxed fit also allows you to use a much more relaxed arm swing and less hit that is needed in the modern game.

And finally I believe the grip gives more options in your release.    

from what i have seen in the forums
a streched grip causes a lost in revolutions
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