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?