Expert: Russ King - 4/15/2007

Question
QUESTION: I have a 13lb ebonite tornado (blue).  I started bowling a hook this year, I have a 145 average.  I hold my hand in the handshake position thumb at 11, pinky tucked, pointer finger extended.  I have ball drilled for maximum break, occasionally I get a nice throw, it slides down and break hard on the back end.  But only occasionally.  I don't get a lot of revs on the ball, I tried holding my hand with the thumb at 1 and pinky at 11 and ending in my original starting position.  I pull up with my fingers but it doesn't roll from 5 to 11 and I can't get revs on it, when I do get the revs it slides right through the break.  I am very frustrated.  My husband gets ton of revs but can't teach me how to do it.  Any other tips would be appreciated
ANSWER:  YOUR WRIST HAS TO BE AT LEAST STRAIGHT TO CAULKED.DON'T ROTATE YOUR HAND AT RELEASE.A BLUE TORNADO IS A BIT OF A HARD SURFACED BALL. IT WILL ONLY HOOK WHEN IT FINDS A DRY AREA OF THE LANE. A HOUSE SHOT IS WET(OIL) IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LANE AND AS YOU GET OUT NEAR THE FIRST ARROW, IT GETS DRY SO THE BALLS WILL HOOK THERE.
AS YOU RELEASE THE BALL,POINT YOUR THUMB UP TO THE SKY & SLIGHTLY PRESS YOUR FINGERTIPS (FINGERTIP GRIP) INTO YOUR PALM SO YOU GET LIFT ON THE FINGERS.NEVER PRESS WITH YOUR THUMB. THAT HOLDS BACK THE HOOK. ALLWAYS PRESS SLIGHTLY WITH YOUR FINGERTIPS.PROJECT THE BALL THRU YOUR RELEASE & OUT TO THE TARGET STRETCHING OUT THRU THE SHOT.AS YOU PUSH AWAY THE BALL ON YOUR 1ST STEP,YOU LOCK YOUR ELBOW & KEEP IT LOCKED ALL THE WAY THRU THE RELEASE & UP FOR THE FOLLOW THRU.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE BLUE IS (REACTIVE,URETHANE)BUT TRY SCUFFING UP THE SURFACE A LITTLE WITH A GREEN SCOUR PAD TO GET MORE GRAB(LIKE TIRE TREADS IN WATER).IF IT IS SHINY, THIS SHOULD WORK BETTER FOR YOU.IF IT SEEMS TO WORK BETTER,MAYBE GO TO THE PRO SHOP & GET IT SCOURED/SCUFFED UP ON THEIR BALL SPINNER TO GET IT EQUAL ALL AROUND THE BALL.
 TRY SOME OR ALL OF THE ABOVE & LET ME KNOW WHAT WORKED SO WE CAN GET A BETTER REACTION NEXT TIME.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: the tornado is reactive, I also have a ebonite urethane ball that will take off across the lanes in a hurry, I use it for my 7 pin pick up since I can't keep it on the right side pocket.

I broke my wrist as a child and was told by another bowler that I may never get the revs on it due to injury.

Also when you say don't rotate my hand you mean release the ball with the thumb at 11 as if I were shaking someone hands and then use the gripping of the fingertips to get the pull?

I really want to become competitive and take part in more tournaments and my ultimate goal would be to join the PBA since the women's went under.

Thank you for your help!

Answer
Since you have had a bad injury, we need to see what it can and can't do.
 If you can't get many revs as those people say( I WOULD RATHER LISTEN TO WHAT YOUR WRIST TELLS YOU) then we can get you a heavy rolling ball.
On the rotating release,if you hold the ball at the 11 position all the way thru the approach thru the release it is not rotating but stationary.If you hold the ball in another way than the release point, then you are moving your position thus rotating to 11 .I bet you come over the top of the ball alot & your accuracy flairs out to different points alot.This is due to rotation on the release. You basicly have to grow up doing this for it to be useful.
I suggest holding the ball with the weight of it in yiour palm & 1/2 way down your fingers(hand under the ball).Pinkie in pointing finger out.As you hold the ball, put your thumb in line with the target. Push away to your target with the thumb pointing in that target direction.As your hand & arm come thru the downswing, your thumb is still in that target direction.Now at the release point, your thumb is at around noon with fingers slightly left of thumb still under the ball holding the weight.THE ARMSWING HAS TO BE CLOSE TO THE BODY!As you release the ball, put a pressure on the fingertips like pointing them into your palm.YOUR ELBOW STAYS LOCKED.With your fingers, drive the ball to the target with them over the foul line down the lant to your target. As the weight of the ball transfers from your palm thru your fingers, you have a pressure on your fingertips pressing into your palm.As the weight of the ball passes the fingertips, you drive them thru the ball out to the target & up going to the follow thru with your fingertips ending up in your palm. In time, your pointing finger will find lift also as you drive thru the shot.
 This is how I throw. I get plenty of revs but heavy rolling revs. Yes! Not as much as I used to get. But enough to make the heavy roll make up for their loss.

 DRIVE THE FINGERS THRU THE BALL OUT/UP TO THE TARGET!!!!

The direction of the roll to the target gets turned into the pocket by friction from the lane to the ball. Finding the right line may take a little time untill you get the release down pat.
 KEEP YOUR ARMSWING CLOSE TO YOUR BODY & ELBOW LOCKED!!!

By keeping your elbow & wrist locked, you transfer the weight up into a pendulum shoulder that can hold the strain better than a elbow or wrist.
 WORKIN AROUND THE INJURY!!!!
If you can do it right, you may not need a support on the wrist.
The follow thru should come up thru the release thumb going thru the line to the target up thru the release up to the sky pointing up around noon.
THE THUMB IS A GUIDE (FRONT SIGHT IN A RIFLE)TO WHERE THE SHOT/RELEASE WLL BE GOING.THE FINGER TIPS WILL BE DOING THE WORK.
DO NOT PROJECT THE BALL WAY OUT TO THE RIGHT ANYMORE.YOU HAVE THE POWER TO PROJECT THE BALL DOWN THE LANE MORE.THIS KEEPS THE ARMSWING IN TIGHT.
Take your overhooking ball the next time you practice. You might find it not overracting as much maybe in time a second arrow power shot may develop.If it still overreacts, try a coat of Car Wax (turtle wax) to straighten it out a little. If that works, you may seek a shine on it from the Pro Shop on their ball spinner.
 I KNOW THIS IS A LOT! TRY IT & LET ME KNOW HOW IT FELT & HOW THE INJURED WRIST HELD UP.