The pushaway is important, as it is one of the initial physical movements that occur when executing a shot. Thus, a number of areas, including speed and backswing height, are dependent on this motion occurring at the right time. The pushaway can occur in different ways, depending on where you hold the bowling ball in your stance (below, even with, or above the waist).
As a general rule of thumb, the pushaway should match your style of bowling. Crankers—those who hook the ball a lot but have little slide—likely will start the ball on or closer to their second step (of a four-step approach). Tweeners and strokers—those who hook the ball less or play straight up the boards and have more slide—will start the pushaway on or closer to the first step. Determining into which category you fall can be done by consulting your pro shop operator or a certified instructor.
The beginning height of your armswing also is based a lot on the tempo of your footwork. Although these methods are not absolute, footwork of higher speeds would be accompanied with lower beginning ball height and slower footwork combined with higher beginning ball height. The higher footwork speed will provide the necessary ball speed, while slower footwork is assisted by a higher swing, thus providing the right ball speed for your game.
Although I mentioned in an earlier article that your legs provide ball speed, injuries or leg problems may prohibit this from working, so another way to accomplish this is through a greater beginning ball height.
When executing the pushaway, the arm should be almost fully extended. This type of pushaway allows the ball to swing the arm easier, thus not requiring the bowler to pull the ball into the backswing and then back through the shot (which hinders the execution of a full follow-through extension). This concept goes back to the pendulum or grandfather clock arm type of swing—loose and effortless.
The optimal release point occurs at the bottom of the swing in proximity to your leg as your arm comes through. Think of this release point as the bottom of an arcing motion that allows you to propel the ball onto the lane. This release requires just a fraction of a second; once learned, it can occur without even thinking about it.
Release points that are not as effective are ones that occur when the swing is on either a downward or upward motion. The downward motion likely will not achieve enough lift on the ball, and more than likely, it will drive the ball into the lane abruptly, which will not allow a good read on its reaction as it travels down the lane.
The upward motion will not allow the ball to be propelled enough onto the lane, which subsequently causes the ball to hook too early in most cases. This motion is referred to as "hitting up on the ball."
There are some exceptions to these concepts, as individuals have adjusted their games enough to where what they do works more times than not.
If you feel that your timing is good, the other answer would be to check your grip. A ball that clears your hand on the downswing could be falling off your hand. Conversely, a ball that stays on your hand until the upswing could be too tight in a certain area (thumb, grip). As I mentioned in my "process" article, if your ball is not drilled to fit your hand properly, good timing goes to waste.
There really is not a lot of complicated motion in the release,
nor should there be: A smooth, effortless motion
provides the best results.
The final area is the position of the hand on the bowling ball. There are a number of different positions, depending on what type of roll you put on the ball, with the most common being underneath the ball.
To visualize this, think of having your hand in the ball and positioned underneath. Your hand is at the six o’clock position and the top of the ball is 12 o’clock. With your hand in the ball in the six o’clock position during the armswing, at the bottom of the swing, the fingers rotate to three o’clock (right-handers) or nine o’clock.
Other hand positions include moving the hand slightly right to five or four o’clock (right-handers) or left to seven or eight o’clock (left-handers) to create earlier roll. Another position for the hand is behind the ball facing the pins, which will create length.
When executing the shot, it is a good idea to keep your hand steady in whatever position you began. This allows for a more consistent release, and top bowlers always strive to repeat shots. If you are having trouble with this, a wrist support device can help, but a second set of eyes is your best bet.
When you think about this, there really is not a lot of complicated motion in the release, nor should there be: A smooth, effortless motion provides the best results. Forced or tight motions often bring trouble and frustration. Do not let this get you down, since you may not have known what was causing errant shots or strange ball reactions.
To summarize:
I know all of this sounds like a lot, but by contacting your pro shop operator or a certified instructor, it can all be understood more easily. Visualization is always the best method of explaining a concept or an idea.
Until next time, take bowling one shot at a time, as every one of them has a value, make the best shot you can each time, and keep thinking.