Here's the deal. A coach I know always tells his students to squeeze the fingers at the release point - when they want the ball to come off the hand. Kinda like you'd squeeze the brake on a bicycle.

I really disagree with him. I prefer the open hand release (the kind that PDW, Chris Barnes and other pros have).

I would take this as BS if it came from just A coach, but this guy coaches the national youth team of a very successful European country (successful bowling-wise).

Can any of you explain why would you want to squeeze the fingers. I think it causes inconsistency. Also, I used to do it, but after watching the pros, I started practicing the open hand (straight fingers) release and it appeared to me like I got more revs like that.

I'm actually really frustrated, because now EVERYBODY here keeps saying you should squeeze the fingers. And now I'm doing it again sometimes, although I don't want to. I guess they imprinted this BS into my subconscious and I hate this!

So, my question. Why would you want to do this? Does it add revs? Am I right in trying not to do it?

Squeezing the fingers is a method that PDW uses to get the ball to hook earlier and harder, sometimes if you have watched over the years, mostly back in the urethane era he would follow through with his fingers in his palm as he released the ball, then extend the fingers after the ball was off his hand. He usually did this in the TOC or when they had a long oil pattern that he needed to generate a quick reaction at the break point, because there was only 10ft of dry to get the ball to face up to the pocket.

Several coaches have suggested using finger pressure from different fingers to alter your rotation. Tucking your pinky is a good way to create more finger pressure without squeezing the fingers, this is what I do when I need this reaction.

Actually, I don't believe PDW squeezes the ball at all with his fingers. He uses hand rotation to create the revs he needs. That is why Randy Pederson always says Pete has the cleanest release on tour. There is absolutely no lift in his fingers. If he does, the ball leaps at the breakpoint and goes high. His ball becomes inconsistent at the breakpoint. You will hear him say " just let the ball go". Grabbing the ball at the release can give you extra revs, I believe it is at the cost of consistency. However, Parker Bohn III has made a great living by grabbing the ball at the bottom of the swing. All that really matters is if you can repeat the motion the same way every time. To me grabbing can lead to muscling.

Luksa, do whichever method makes it easier for you to repeat shots. Whether you lift with your fingers or use an open hand, as long as the motion is repeatable and consistent. Don't do what everyone else is doing just because they say to do it. Be yourself. All that matters is how many pins you knock down.

You can recognize a finger squeezer by looking at their hands after release. If their fingers are very close to their palm, you know they squeezed the release.

Smooth I didn't say PDW released the ball like this all of the time, he did it once on one show and I remember it because Randy Pederson pointed out what he was doing and why.

You are right, Parker Bohn does release the ball like this all the time, I wouldn't call it grabbing on the ball at the release, which involves more of a lifting motion, he just uses finger pressure to induce the ball to rev up earlier. Just because you use a little finger pressure doesn't mean you have to [censored] on it at the release.

Squeezing with the fingers was prevalent among the top bowlers in the pre-reactive resin era - scores were generally lower and a 300 meant more back then. In fact Earl Anthony co-authored a book by Dawson Taylor with a chapter specifically dedicated to squeezing the ball at release to create more revs.

I think, though, that it is depends a lot on your particular style as to whether your hand remains closed (squeezing) as opposed to being open (Pete Weber). I think one of the reasons PDW's hand is open at release is because his hand ends up at the side of the ball at 3 o'clock and if he squeezed the ball at that point he'd end up pulling the ball. On the other hand, Parker Bohn III both curls his pinky and squeezes to the extent that he ends his follow-through in a clenched fist. What does he do that is different from PDW? Parker pretty much stays behind the ball from start to finish so he can squeeze the ball and still stay on his target line.

Does that mean most coaches in Europe give BS advice?

No, there are some coaches in the US that I'm sure give the same advice. I wouldn't call it BS at all. Over time techniques, technology and even the players change. Some just don't change with it, or they think the same methods can be used. There are always going to be differing views and opinions, as we've seen on these boards. Sometimes the unconventional works, look at Ryan Shafer with his muscled swing, or Miller in the 90s with the thumbless release, or the Jason Belmonte with the two handed approach. Each bowler needs to find what works for them.

Seems to me that this was an older method of teaching. It used to be that you would get your rubber ball to turn more by finger pressure at the release. Now, it wasn't squeezing, but more of a flick of your fingers.

The older leather bands that you strapped on your wrist with the thumb hole also had a pretty thick pad in the palm. This pushed your hand away from the ball and put more pressure on the fingers by stretching your span.

If you youtube Pete Weber, you come up with about 40 different videos. Scroll down through them and you will come up to a nice visual of Pete's delivery including his patented open hand release. I also liked seeing him play straight against Walter Ray. I'm a big fan of PDW's style. I spent plenty of time watching him bowl on youtube.

Luksa, Fred Borden's book "Advanced Tips and Techniques" mentions both open and closed finger releases and when to use each, http://www.bowlingsbookstore.com/catvdins.html?mgiToken=469E76161DB8FD7C4#Advanced%20Bowling

I don't have time to watch the whole match, but Pete's shot around 3:20 here shows a non-open hand.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbniHbosHCs

Testing, some people could not see the post I am quoting...

Something else to consider as well... you can momentarily squeeze your fingers like that just to get the ball to release. You don't have to finish like that, but tapping your finger pads against the holes will cause the thumb to release. You don't have to finish with a closed had to do this either.

I'm not advocating this because it felt to weird to me, but this may be what the coach is referring to.

PDW was doing exactly that on one match, the one I referred to back a few years ago, to put finger pressure, but lessen it a little.

Frankly, I couldn't see it. PDW definitely had an open hand on the rest of his balls. So, if he did it, it was only on 1 ball.

PDW did it twice he needed to double in the 10 to win and he rolled the 1st ball open handed and struck on the second shot close handed (added fingers) and left a 10 pin and lost.

Yeah, he actually tells people to squeeze the fingers to get the ball to release. But I'm not exactly sure how squeezing the fingers would release the thumb from the ball. If the ball is holding on to the base of the thumb, wouldn't the squeezing of the fingers just press the ball harder into the base?

Anyway, thanks for all the replies. I just wanted to be sure it's OK if I don't squeeze the fingers.

It is ok not to squeeze your fingers. Its easier to be consistent since you have to time it just right to still hit your target.

As for how squeezing the ball would release the thumb from the ball, it will start the ball rolling forward off the hand.

Try it and see . Just swing the ball and throw it on the couch. When you squeeze the fingers like that, the ball will come off your hand. I can't answer why, but I can tell you it works.

It releases the friction of your thumb webbing which holds the ball on your hand. Push your fingers, and the thumb comes out. Nothing is holding the ball.