Expert: Chip Aki - 11/18/2008

Question
What can I do to get my thumb out of the ball sooner during my release? It seems that I am late getting my thumb out and not getting any turn on the ball.Any suggestions?

Answer
The first thing to look at is to make sure your span and thumb pitch is not an issue.  This would have to be done by a reputable pro shop.  If the fit is causing you to squeeze the ball, you will not have a repeatable thumb release.
Second is to check your timing.  If your foot is to the foul line a noticeable amount of time before or after the ball, that will cause problems as well.

I am going to assume that neither of the first two are of real concern.  In the past, I have seen this be an issue of trying to over hit the ball with the fingers.  This causes the thumb to lock in the ball.  Concentrate on keeping the fingers firm and let the ball roll off of your hand and into the lane.  This will increase your revs and allow your hand to naturally turn around the ball.  If you catch this correctly, you will get more on the ball with less effort.

Sometimes, less effort on hitting the ball equals more reaction and hitting power at the pins.

Good luck,
Chip