Re:An Elite Release

[Chinshow]

Joe Slowinski's article in the June 2011 edition.
Practice Technique #2. (p45 lower right box) Swing & Slide Drill.
Is there any place on line or an issue where he decribes this drill like he offers with the Foul Line Drill?
Thanks

[SLOWINSKIATLARGE]

Visit my coaching web site to read more about the swing and slide drill.
http://bowlingknowledge.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=201&Itemid=62

[future]

Hi Coach,

How does your demo release on youtube differ from the releases of PBA stars like Barnes, Jones etc that we can see a lot of in slow motion? Can you post a slow-motion version of your release and/or describe it in detail? From the pros' slow-motion vids, this is the process of their release my untrained eye could observe: 1) hand cocked, 2) hand uncocked and turned to face direction of axis rotation, 3) thumb release and wrist collapse, 4) ball rolls off closed fingers. How does yours compare and is it a different release?

Further, in your BRS, you talked about 'lead and push' with certain fingers to achieve different axis rotation. Can you explain whether the pros use the same technique or not? From the slow-motion vids, it seems they just let the ball roll off their fingers at the last moment without much lift or 'hit'. How does that compare to what you teach, and how exactly should we 'push'?

Many thanks.

[SLOWINSKIATLARGE]

In the down swing, the inside of the elbow moves to the hip placing the fingers to the inside of the bowling ball. This is often seen as the index finger facing straight-down into the release. And, from the top of the swing, all top players have the swing move inside on the downswing. In addition, the elite bowler begins to cup the ball as well as bend the elbow in the downswing into the ignition of the release. These two get the fingers under the ball. The fingers to the inside create a further distance for the fingers to travel. These three components set the stage for a longer distance for the fingers to travel. The drill sets the stage for the cupping and fingers to the inside. Since it is not a full swing drill, the bent elbow is not applicable in this drill.

As the hand passes the heel, the player begins to turn thier hand. The fingers are rotating under and around the bowling ball. As the hand is rotating, the palm faces the floor (wrist collapses) with the fingers ending at the specific axis of rotation location. The arm is fully extended with the ball leaving the hand well in front of the foot.

The drill mirrors this movement of transitioning from moving from loaded to unloaded as the hand turns and extends into the lane.

A great release has no upward movement. It is extended downward into the lane. The interpretation of lead and push is best understood as lead and extend (e.g., push finger through the target). The goal is to stop the hand from rotating past the intended axis of rotation. For low axis of rotation, extending through your target while leading with the pinky and ring finger can help to repeat a lower axis or rotation more consistently.

[future]

Hi Coach,

Thanks so much for responding, although I am afraid that without the help of video it will take some time to figure out all that you said. For example, it's hard to visualize how the wrist could collapse so much as to be facing the floor, unless this occurs way before the downswing reaches the vertical position. It's just difficult to 'picture' the whole thing without seeing the process. Are there any slow motion videos out there that demonstrate some of this?