I was watching a video on Mike Wolfe and I'm just interested in how smooth his release is. How does he create so much power? It looks like right before release, he gets more under the ball and flips through it at release? I know he was a power player before turned into a more straighter player...but can anyone give me insight into this method? Thanks!

P.S. here are some videos:

His ball fits his hand is how he does it. He doesn't have to squeeze the snot out of it to hang onto it and it just comes off his hand at the same point every time. How important do you think it is now?

Coach Jim, you had mentioned that to me last week (about that it sounded like I was squeezing the ball). As a result I added tape at the beginning when my thumb is usually loose (It swells up as the night goes on) and then adjusted it as the night went on.

I had not been paying a lot of attention to that and it makes all the difference in the world when you are not squeezing the ball during your release. Thanks for the advice.

So how much forward pitch should I start out with? Having my thumb smaller than mostly everyone elses, people suggest more forward pitch.

I have not seen anyone that couldn't get out of 3/8 forward, so I would start there, you need to keep going forward with the thumb until your thumb hangs in the hole, then back off 1/8". You can go forward in smaller increments, but it will take longer and cost you more money and you will probably still end up at least 3/8" forward or more by the time you are done.

I have found that 3/8" forward gives you a good starting point and prevents you from knuckling the thumb in just a few shots, after that your hand will learn to relax, then the thumb might start slipping again, when this happens you need to go at least another 1/8 to 1/4 forward. Just make sure your span is right, it may measure out different than it fits, so make sure your fingernails aren't pressing into the back of the finger holes, if they are, shorten the span a little.

One more reminder that if and when you go forward, relax your hand and make sure you don't knuckle the ball or you will injure yourself, so be careful the first few shots maybe do a one step delivery until you get comfortable with it.

I should have a ball in by tuesday, should i talk to the Pro Shop about having a 3/8 forward then? Or should I see what he suggests?

So you're staying start off with 3/8 forward, then keep adding more forward pitch, until the ball hangs on my thumb?

Are you having to knuckle your thumb, or use excessive force to hang onto the ball? If so then going forward with your thumb pitch as I suggested is the only way you will improve beyond a 180 average.

Make sure your span is not too long or you will risk injuring yourself, this is very important. To check your span put your thumb in the ball and lay your fingers across the holes, the edge of the fingers that faces the thumb hole should hit 1/2 way between the first and second knuckle with your hand relaxed not stretched.

Post back and let me know how it goes, as I have said before, be careful the first time you bowl, you might want to go with a one step delivery at first to train your hand to stop squeezing the ball. If it comes off one time then hangs the next that is you squeezing the thumb so realize that is what's happening and try to relax your hand, it usually only takes a few shots to get used to it, one of my youth bowlers shot a 235 the first game he used it and that was with the first two frames open when he launched the ball half way down the lane, league is definitely not the time to make this change, but he did it.

I just bowl socially with friends usually on sundays. The Ebonite house ball i use is an okay grip, and I did the test of letting it hang on your fingers, i find i am pretty relaxed. It wouldnt suprises me if i could relax more with a proper grip. Ill let you know in about a week once i have my own.

Also, which ball should I try replugging and drilling? I guess i'm going to need a ball that I won't use anymore, to experiment with?

Check with your ball driller then, I thought you already had your own ball drilled finger tip. You will need coaching to do it on your first fingertip ball, so consult with your ball driller and go forward in a year or two when you have progressed as far as you can. If you have a coach and want to try it, then feel free, but ask him/her first.

Changed my pitch to 1/8 forward. The ball feels even lighter now. Throwing the ball better also. Of course, it can all just be mental but i'll report back in a few days to tell you how it is. Feels real gooood

Don't be surprised if your thumb starts to slip again and you find yourself squeezing to hang onto the ball again soon, it doesn't take long for your hand to learn to relax, when and if it does you will need to go another 1/4" forward.

So I had to squeeze again today. It wasn't as much as last time, but I could feel a slight grab on my part. It feels better, but good enough. I believe I was at 1/8 forward. Just wondering if I should go to 3/16th or 1/4th forward? I read in a previous post that your span was slightly bigger than mine. I'm at 4 and 1/2 span, I believe from what I heard yesterday from my ball driller. And your forward pitch was 1/2? Yeah, I'm thinking of going to either 3/16th or 1/4th. Just wondering in how big increments.

Go to 3/8", on one ball at least.

Rickywin, can you post a photo of your hand on the ball (doing the span test) and a photo of your hand while holding the ball?

Also, when you guys swing the ball, does your hand keep touching the ball or not? I'm talking about the pads just below the fingers. It seems when I completely relax my arm and hand, I lose contact between the ball and palm. Only the fingers and thumb are in contact with the ball.

I'll try when I get the chance. Cgeorg, why do you say try 3/8? My ball driller says thats a pretty big difference from where I was at.

You're already at 1/8"... That's only 1/4" difference to 3/8". If you want to waste an extra 30 bucks or 60 bucks having it done 2 or 3 times to get there, be my guest. But I would take 1 ball to 3/8" and see how it goes.

Re:Luksa, Only my fingers and thumb touch the ball.

I agree with cgeorg recently went, from 3/8 rev to 3/8 fwd, in
one move!! And it was no big deal. Felt much better to!

So little update. I went from 1/8 reverse to 1/8 forward. Better feel but not there yet. Then went from 1/8 forward to 3/8 forward and relaxed my hand completely...and the ball went about ten feet in the air and landed in the next lane's gutter. After two of those, i decided I didn't trust the ball anymore and wanted a smaller forward pitch. I decided on 1/4 forward pitch and it feels great! It feel as though I have plenty of room in my thumbhole, but when I start the swing, the ball doesn't fall of my hand. I exit the thumb cleaner, and get more revs (from what I believe). I'm also able to project the ball now. I used to have problems with dryer lanes since i couldn't project. Not a problem for me anymore. Now its all down to practice, practice, practice!

That's good to hear Ricky, don't be surprised if sometime in the future your hand starts to relax more and you have to go to either to 3/8 or 1/2" forward. Now, you understand how much you were squeezing the ball and how much it limits what you can do with the ball. Post back another video if you need more help, let me know how the practice goes.