Expert: Chip Aki - 3/26/2010

Question
I know that the bowling ball should roll in a counter clockwise motion in order to move right to left.  What I am having trouble understanding is the explanation of the release.  It says rotate hand in a counter clockwise motion just before release and the thumb will fall out on its own from lift from fingers.  But I am having trouble and notice it isn't clear to me which way the hand is rotating in a relation to the axis of the counter clockwise motion.  Is the counterclockwise motion of the release a vertical counterclockwise motion or a horizontal counterclockwise motion?   Because I noticed from watching videos that the hand comes around the ball in a horizontal counter clockwise motion and then they release it.  Any help would be great.  Thanks.

Answer
The proper motion is a counter clockwise rotation of the hand through the ball.  This would take the base of  your index finger and while that is still in contact with the ball, it would rotate from the 6 oclock position to the 4 oclock position.

Chip