Expert: - 2/25/2010

Question
in the so called "hand shake release" is the thumb stationary at 9, 10, or 11 o'clock position and as you go through the swing do you rotate the hand/wrist at all or hold it firm and straight through the whole release? any other suggestions would help. thanks

Answer
Id,
The handshake is a visual reference to get the hand in proper position at release. You can't shake hands with the thumb at 9 or 10 (you're overturning a little), you'd poke your thumb into the handshakee's hand. The hand's rotation, contributing to axis tilt, rotation and rev rate, can come from an inside position, where fingers are at 7 and 6 o'clock, or a lesser axis rotation (more up the back of the ball) where the finger's are at 6 and 5 o'clock, or a weaker position still with fingers at 4 and 3 and thumb at 11 (the handshake position).

When I teach the skill, I suggest that a player learn the weak (handshake) position from set-up through delivery. When you can execute the delivery consistently, you will see the rotation and feel the ball off your thumb with weight shifting to your fingers/palm of your hand. Adding more (quicker) turn and exaggerating the lift, adds to rev rate and sometimes changes your axis of rotation. Over turning weakens your tilt, causing a lower track -more skid and skittish downlane reaction. But once established as part of your muscle memory, adding to your release (or using multiple hand positions) helps a player handle various or changing lane conditions with a more subtle adjustment than a ball change.

Thanks for the question. Good luck and good bowling.