Amateur
Regional Pro Hopeful
Registered: 05/03/08
Posts: 528
A/S/L: 19/M/Tacoma, WA
Hopefully I can just get my fit as close to perfect as I can get in order to not squeeze. I've come to the conclusion some grip pressure will be necessary but it sshould be very little.
Don't think some grip pressure is necessary! If you think it is, you will probably grip too much. If the ball is drilled correctly, it WILL stay on your hand even with your arm and hand completely limp!
Here's my experience with regard to the free swing: I decided my main objective was to have a truly free swing, so I tried keeping my arm completely limp. My accuracy went up, revs went down, scores went UP! Now when I know what a free swing feels like, I'm trying to have a stronger wrist position again while trying to keep my swing as free as possible.
So, basically, a completely free swing and a cupped wrist are probably not achievable, but you can get close with practice. You need to teach your body to be able to keep your underarm muscles active and all your other arm and shoulder muscles relaxed.
#59131 - 06/12/0808:26 AMRe: Help with Accuracy
[Re: Amateur]
Lefty
Legend
Registered: 01/30/05
Posts: 1867
A/S/L: 36 / M / Rochester, NY
Originally Posted By: Amateur
The one thing I don't understand about keeping your whole arm relaxed is once you're in the swing, how do you expect to stay under the ball? You need to use your wrist/forearm for that. If you don't, I bet you either sacrifice revs or don't get the right roll you want on the ball anyways.
You don't have to use your wrist and forearm for that. The reason you think you do is because you slow down your arm swing and gravity wants to pull the ball to the floor and you are using your muscles to slow it down. If you don't prevent the ball from falling, your hand and the ball will fall at the same speed and it doesn't take any effort at all. At the bottom of the swing, your hand will be behind the ball and as it goes up the back swing, your hand is actually on top of the ball.
#59132 - 06/12/0808:27 AMRe: Help with Accuracy
[Re: Luksa]
Lefty
Legend
Registered: 01/30/05
Posts: 1867
A/S/L: 36 / M / Rochester, NY
Originally Posted By: Luksa
Here's my experience with regard to the free swing: I decided my main objective was to have a truly free swing, so I tried keeping my arm completely limp. My accuracy went up, revs went down, scores went UP! Now when I know what a free swing feels like, I'm trying to have a stronger wrist position again while trying to keep my swing as free as possible.
#59171 - 06/12/0805:12 PMRe: Help with Accuracy
[Re: infernocal]
Amateur
Regional Pro Hopeful
Registered: 05/03/08
Posts: 528
A/S/L: 19/M/Tacoma, WA
Okay, I agree with you guys about the free armswing. I know it's a little harder to cup the wrist and still stay free, but like Luksa said it will get better with practice. How much accuracy would you be sacrificing if you wanted more revs though?
It's the grip pressure deal I really hate right now. It just seems out of this world to me.
#59173 - 06/12/0805:44 PMRe: Help with Accuracy
[Re: Amateur]
Lefty
Legend
Registered: 01/30/05
Posts: 1867
A/S/L: 36 / M / Rochester, NY
You don't have to sacrafice any revs if you release the ball properly. It's not cupping that's going to get you the revs. It's keeping your fingers inside the center of the ball.
EDIT: From looking at your release and revs, you should be able to get more revs and a better ball reaction with a free arm swing.
#59190 - 06/12/0811:20 PMRe: Help with Accuracy
[Re: Lefty]
Amateur
Regional Pro Hopeful
Registered: 05/03/08
Posts: 528
A/S/L: 19/M/Tacoma, WA
That makes sense lefty. What I've been doing recently though, is staying inside the center of the ball when I wanted more side roll. I noticed it gave me more revs too, but when I wanted to have more forward roll I would hold my hand so my fingers are at 4 and 5 on the clock and just keep it there through the release without any turn. That's a lot easier than trying to turn your hand less at release point, even though you don't get as many revs. Does that make sense?
#59191 - 06/12/0811:32 PMRe: Help with Accuracy
[Re: Amateur]
Lefty
Legend
Registered: 01/30/05
Posts: 1867
A/S/L: 36 / M / Rochester, NY
Yep, that makes sense. Something else you might want to look at is that you don't have the ball cupped when you get to the line. In fact your wrist is slightly broken. So whatever you're trying to do at the beginning of your approach doesn't have you end up with a cupped wrist. Hope that helps to alleviate your fears of what will happen if you don't cup the ball.