Expert: Russ King - 8/10/2007

Question
Here is my problem. I am a 22 year old right hander in Lousiana and I just started bowling about three or four months ago.  I throw pretty high revs and very high speed (between 19.7 mph and 20.8 mph) I seem to get my best pin action and hit the hardest at between 16 and 17.5 mph.  I throw straight down the boards and have almost straight up rotation, with a pretty hard hook down the lane (when i give the ball enough time to break).  My best game is a 232 and when im not having control problems and im comfortable i bowl around a 160-170.  My problem is that since day one i have been having this problem that is killing my consistency.  I tend to muscle the ball around, pulling it somewhat behind my body, so i end up either over compensating and crossing over to the 7 pin or throwing it straight in the gutter because im not compensating enough.  I dont know how to make myself let my arm extend loose for a smooth, slower shot.  I am throwing a fingertip grip but i feel like i have to hold on to the ball.  Could it be the fact that i am not comfortable with the ball on my hand and im trying to hold on to it making me muscle the ball around?... if so what can i do to help me relax my arm swing.  

I throw a 15lb brunswick ultimate inferno.  It was for a lefty so it has been drilled twice, so it is probably a little under 15lb.

Thanks,
Jeremy

Answer
If you are having to grip/grab the ball , your grip is wrong!!You can't develope consistency if you are fighting the grip.No matter what you try , you first need to correct the grip.Then once you get the right grip , you can feel out what needs to be done.
 JUST AS AN EXAMPLE
    MY HAND LOCKES INTO THE GRIP UNTIL MY HAND REACHES THE RELEASE POINT. THEN IT RELEASES CLEANLY AT THAT POINT.THIS IS A PERFECT GRIP.
ONCE YOU GET THE GRIP CORRECTED, I WILL HELP YOU WITH YOUR GAME.