Video shows frame-by-frame of Chris Barnes' release. I am sure many of you have seen it.

I think I do a pretty good job of keep my hand behind the ball. I wouldn't say that my fingers are in that 7/8 o'clock positon of Barnes', but they are "past" 6 o'clock.

But, all I do as the ball gets to my slide ankle is rotate my hand counter-clockwise. I am pretty consistent with it. But if I start too early I will come over the top of the ball. Probably a pretty common "miss" if you will.

Every so often I get that feeling where my fingers seem to "flick" off the ball. Those balls seem to pack some extra punch if they are on target. Watching this video, looks like Barnes does this.

2 questions... Should I be striving to acomplish what Banres is doing in his release? How do I get there and what should I really be feeling?

Well, being as Barnes is one of the best bowlers on the planet, we should all try to do what he does.

Post of video of yourself, so we can see what you're doing, exactly. You will have better luck getting advice after that.

Looking at that video I just had a revelation.

Funny thing about the way everyone releases the ball now is I remember I had a similar release when I was a junior and everyone tried to get me to change it lol. Now it is what is taught...Amusing how things change. I also now changed holding the ball to in front of me versus on my hip straight forward of where it will be in my swing. I do like the new ball position in front. I can't wait to see where the game is in another ten years...

Nothing to do with this thread, but you gotta love randomhero's avatar!

Yeah: Munsen!!!!

Well I saw that another poster was using the same pic... So I made a change :-)


Ok, Desertdog... What was your revelation?

2nd... Am I to be using my fingers more in the release. Sure looks like Barnes is doing some "lifting" of his fingers to add a little foward roll. Thought that was "hitting" the ball???

had to do with my thumb getting out quicker and following through down the lane rather that upwards

Hitting-up on the ball is when you bring your finger beyond 3:00 to increase side roll.

Hitting up on the ball is exactly what it says... it's putting revs on the ball, by forcefully lifting with the fingers in an upwards motion. It's not so much the position of the hand, but the motion of it. Watch Shafer in the video, low backswing, plant the foot, then rip through it. Awesome in the old days, but not the best match for today's conditions and equipment.



Barnes, and Rash, Smith, Jones, Fagan, etc definitely put their fingers to work in the release. It's just not an upward force... but a forward force... like wrapping your hand around the ball... then unwrapping it with some snap.

What it is, basically... is the no thumb/two hand release with your thumb in the ball.