Expert: Russ King - 8/24/2007

Question
Hello again, I been practicing with what you been telling me, but for some reason I cant get the ball to turn and snap into the pocket. I wanted to also ask if the ball is suppose to be fitted completely to my hand? Because I have a small gap between my hand and the ball and was wondering if this could affect the feeling and cranking the ball. Thank you.

Answer
You will need to practice for a while to get the basics down. The fancy stuff comes later once you get the first things down.Once you get ALL THINGS RIGHT, you will be ready for hook.
A stretched grip leaves room for one pencil under your hand & a relaxed grip leaves around 3. A good test is to put your hand in the ball. Rest it on a table with the thumb facing you.With your other hand ,press down lightly on your fingers knuckle.If your finger pushes back in the hole hitting the back of the hole. You probably could stand a little more stretch.You want a little give & finger joints develop authritis.So, this will be a feel thing. If you reasonably think you could lengthen the span, tell the Pro Shop driller & see what they think.I COULD TELL YOU IN A MINUTE IF I WAS THERE.

YOU WILL FEEL THINGS GO GOOD & JUST NOT SO GOOD. THIS IS THE POWER OF STAIRSTEP LEARNING.THE THINGS THAT GO GOOD, YOU ADD TO PROGRESSION.THE BAD, YOU LEAVE BEHIND.YOU HAVE TO TRY THINGS INORDER TO LEARN IF THEY WORK.THROWING STRAIGHT AT FIRST & DOING IT RIGHT,GETS YOU TO THE NEXT STEP.PATIENCE!!!!!!
IT TAKES ME 4 MONTHS TO START DOING A CERTAIN THING GOOD ENOUGH TO COMPETE.I GO BACK TO THROWING SIMPLE & STRAIGHT TO SIMPLIFY THE APPROACH SO I CAN FIT IN THE NEW THING.THEN I SEE HOW IT WILL WORK.THEN GET GOOD AT IT. THEN START FANCY STUFF WITH IT. IT TAKES TIME.
YOU WILL FEEL THINGS THAT ARE STRANGE. STRANGE IS PART OF CHANGE.YOUR GRIP WILL FEEL DIFFERENT FROM DIFFERENT RELEASES AS YOU DEVELOP NEW & BETTER FORM.DON'T GO OFF CHANGING THINGS RIGHT AWAY. YOU NEED TO SETTLE INTO THINGS.THEN AFTER A WHILE,THEN YOU ADAPT THE THINGS.WRONG IS EASY & FAST. RIGHT IS HARD & VERY REWARDING!!!!
 GIVE IT TIME.