Expert: Russ King - 12/11/2007

Question
Can you suggest some type of drill that I can work on during my practice sessions that will keep my (right)arm from coming across my body after releasing the ball? I'm a
right handed,stroker-style bowler using a 14lb.ball. I find
myself about every third or fourth frame doing this bad habit.I really don't that I'am doing this until one of my
teammates tells me "that I'am still coming across my body
with arm". HELP PLEASE !!!

Answer
YOU NEED TO DEVELOP A FEEL. PUT A SLICE OF MASKING TAPE ON THE BACK OF YOUR HAND TO WHERE IT FEELS UGLY & BOWL WITH IT.THIS WILL TRAIN YOU TO FEEL WHERE YOUR HAND IS IN RELATION TO YOUR BODY.

IF YOUR HANGING IN THE GRIP(GRIP NOT DRILLED RIGHT),THIS CAN ONLY BE CURED BY RE DRILLING OUT A CORRECT GRIP.

CROSSING YOUR BODY COULD MEAN SEVERAL PROBLEMS. BUT CAN EASILY BE CURED!

IF ONLY 1 IN 4 DOES THIS, THERE IS AN INCONSISTENCY SOME WHERE EXCLUDING A BAD GRIP.

THE TAPE WILL HELP.YOU MAY BE SQUARING UP A BIT OFF IN YOUR STANCE.SET YOUR ROUTINE UP BY STARTING THE SAME WAY EVERY TIME. YOU NEED TO BEGIN YOUR SHOT BY GETTING UP OUT OF YOUR SEAT THE SAME WAY,WALKING UP TO THE APPROACH THE SAME, PICKING UP THE BALL THE SAME WAY, STEPPING UP ON THE APPROACH WITH THE SAME FOOT EVERY TIME,WITH THE SAME PACE/SPEED WITH THE SAME FRAME OF MIND EVERY TIME.

NOW THAT YOUR READY TO ACTUALLY THROW THE SHOT, SET YOURSELF TO WHERE YOUR SQUARED UP TO YOUR TARGET THE SAME EVERY TIME. SHOULDERS ARE SQUARED UP WITH YOUR FEET HIPS AND HEAD ALSO.PUSH THE BALL OUT TO THE DIRECTION TO YOUR TARGET. THIS SHOULD BE STRAIGHT OUT INFRONT OF YOU NOW THAT YOUR SQUARED UP TO THE TARGET.LOCK YOUR WRIST INTO ONE POSITION NEVER FLOPPING IT OR MOVING IT AROUND AT ANY POINT.ONCE YOUR ARMSWING STARTS DOWNWARD,YOU LOCK YOUR ELBOW FROM HERE ON.KEEPING YOUR ARM IN CLOSE TO YOUR BODY/LEG, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO PROJECT THE BALL OUT & DOWN TO YOUR MARK.BY DOING THIS, YOU CUT OUT A BIG PART OF THE FEELING TO CROSS YOUR BODY.

OPENING UP YOUR HIPS MAY BE THE PROBLEM. SHIFTING YOUR HIPS OPEN PUSHES THE BALL OUT/AWAY FROM YOUR BODY.WITH YOUR ARM AWAY FROM YOUR BODY, ANY LIFT AT RELEASE WILL BRING YOUR HAND ACROSS.

TRY THIS & GET BACK WITH ME ON HOW IT WORKED. I HAVE OTHER THINGS YOU CAN TRY IF THIS DIDN'T DO IT.