Thumb problems preventing clean release

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Jochemke
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Thumb problems preventing clean release

Post by Jochemke »

Hello,

One of my team mates was getting pretty consistent and having an average of 180. But although his scores were quite good, his technique was a bit strange. He was coming around the ball pretty much and even pulling the ball towards him instead of the spin direction towards the pins.

Now he has been working on fixing this and getting a solid release. Yesterday we were training together and he said that he was having problems getting a clean release. He took a photo of where his thumb/hand was hanging on to his ball.

Does anybody know what the problem might be or even better how to solve this?

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Re: Thumb problems preventing clean release

Post by snick »

it is either a bad fit, a gripping issue, or a release technique issue.
Have a certified PSO look at the fit, and possibly a certified coach look at his delivery.
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Re: Thumb problems preventing clean release

Post by skfboiler »

I’ve been having similar problems with my thumb coming out clean the four years that I’ve been learning how to bowl. At least until last month while talking about this issue with one of my bowling friends. He told me that he puts most of the thumb pressure at the base of the thumb with the thumb nail sliding on the back of the hole. Sure enough, a week later I found this videos by JR Raymond on YouTube on this topic. Man, let me tell you my thumb has not hung up since. My revs, scores, and confidence has gone up. Watch the video and you can better than what I tried to describe. Subscribe to his channel as he has a lot of good videos on technique.

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Jochemke
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Re: Thumb problems preventing clean release

Post by Jochemke »

skfboiler wrote:I’ve been having similar problems with my thumb coming out clean the four years that I’ve been learning how to bowl. At least until last month while talking about this issue with one of my bowling friends. He told me that he puts most of the thumb pressure at the base of the thumb with the thumb nail sliding on the back of the hole. Sure enough, a week later I found this videos by JR Raymond on YouTube on this topic. Man, let me tell you my thumb has not hung up since. My revs, scores, and confidence has gone up. Watch the video and you can better than what I tried to describe. Subscribe to his channel as he has a lot of good videos on technique.

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He has been using this technique as a guide and since he's doing that he has troubles with his release. As he describes it: it feels like the ball is hanging on this spot (red part in the picture) and sometimes it even hurts a bit.
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Re: Thumb problems preventing clean release

Post by skfboiler »

Perhaps the PSO or even your friend can sandpaper that area of the thumb hole, creating a bevel. I would consult the PSO first. He/she should have a solution. Before I had my finger/thumb pitch adjusted, I develop a nerve pain issue at the base of the thumb. My PSO beveled that area which helped a lot. I even tried a product for bunions on the feet called "Bunion Guard". It is a gel that is supposed to slide over the toe to help with bunions. I slid it over my thumb and that was good temporary fix until I had my thumb hole beveled and subsequently my pitch adjusted.
Bunion Guard.jpg
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Re: Thumb problems preventing clean release

Post by JohnP »

Things to check - span (too long?), bevel (not enough?), pitch (not enough reverse or too much forward), hole size (too big?). A complete refit with a certified fitter would be good. See Mo's fitting tips in the wiki (radio button at the top right hand side of every page here). -- JohnP
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Re: Thumb problems preventing clean release

Post by kajmk »

This page at Jayhawk bowling supply "fitting tips" has some comprehensive text and illustrations.

http://www.jayhawkbowling.com/Pro_s_Cor ... tting.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: Thumb problems preventing clean release

Post by VLe »

Everything sound a lot like a delivery issue. Timing is the key for basically everything.

Other than that. I hang up the ball in exactly the same location with too much forward combined with little left pitch (as right hander). If i add some right pitch (or substantially more left pitch) to the hole, the release becomes much more clean. Bevelling is also a key to clean release. More forward pitch usually requires more bevelling.
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