I am having a great deal of difficulty lately releasing the ball right at the foul line. When I do this, my follow through is ineffective and my ball is basically DOA when it hits the floor. It goes 50 feet before it struggles to react..not a good thing when on a PBA pattern, or any pattern for that matter. For some reason I am not getting the ball out ( timing issue again?)so it can react to the condition. When it thuds right there at the foul line, I kill the shot before it even happens. My thumb fit is ok.
Are there any drills that I can practice in the mean time before I see my coach next week. I'll try putting a towel out in front of me and throw over that, but are there any others.? Its something I know I'm doing ,..but its extremely difficult to stop. I don't know where these bad habits come from, but they are hard to correct.

Eraser, are you slacking your wrist? Coming out on top of the ball? This is common for that problem. Try to keep your wrist cupped. And, follow through.

That could be part of the problem. I am trying to ditch the wrist brace this summer, but I think I was doing it before I took off the brace. It feels like I'm just driving the ball into the lane, instead of onto the lane. I need to follow through the shot better, instead of just banging it into the lane right at the foul line.

Could you be bending your elbow on your forward swing and pushing the ball forward and down instead of swinging your arm straight? I know some one who does this and the way you describe "driving the ball into the lane" is how I would describe his ball too.

To me it sounds like early timing. Causes of early timing:

1. Starting the ball too soon.

2. pushing the ball too far out in front of you which makes you run after it and pull the ball through to catch your feet.

3. Forcing your down swing doing this causes the ball to speed past your foot while it is still sliding.

Remember you want to be in a stable position at the foul line before the ball comes through. If you are still sliding or just getting to the line as the ball gets there, you are early.

CoachJim,
I do believe its a timing issue, I am notorious for starting my ball in motion before I start my feet in a four step approach. And I have been guilty of "muscling" the down swing on occasion.

Its funny,..you work and work at something and finally get it right. Then the next time you bowl those bad habits sneek up on you. I don't think losing the wrist brace is the reason, I have had some nice games without it. And I really like not wearing it, and don't want to have to go back to it if I can help it. Luckily I have a lesson with my coach next week. In the meantime though I thought I would work at it on my own. So thanks for the suggestions.

You could try a 1-step approach to practice a free-arm swing. You could also try bowling while paying attention to where the ball is when you step. When you do those drills, you should focus on how well you did them and not where the ball went.

Eraser, cgeorg, Lefty and I were having a conversation yesterday in the chatroom about wrist supports. They do prevent the wrist from slacking, and do still allow you to cup. Taking it off places more reliance on yourown wrist to keep its position. But, while bowling with it, that was something that you didn't have to think of, or retained a muscle memory of. So, your wrist could be going itsown way. It needs to be trained.

Dennis,
I have thought of that too, and I think deep down (but don't want to admit it)that I have become so dependant on the wrist brace, that my wrist has become lazy. When I first took it off I paid extra attention to keeping my wrist from slacking, and staying firm. I bowled great, 240 something back to back on the Viper. Now being on a PBA pattern, maybe I'm paying to much attention to the pattern that I have neglected the wrist and its become lazy again. So I think you may be right, and I need to pay more attention to what my wrist is doing.
Thanks,
Tim

If you slacken your wrist, it will happen in the backswing. So, be conscious of it. I did that too. And, it can be beaten. I took mine off a couple of years ago and had similar trouble. I would put it back on as a re-training tool when I noticed my wrist slacking. You can feel your wrist pressing on the rigid support. I sometimes use it, especially on the PBA patterns.

I substituted an elastic stretch wrap around my wrist that puts pressure on my wrist, and reminds my to keep it straight.

I also took a video of the back of my approach and it clearly showed the problem.

To me, a wrist support is another tool that I keep in my bag. It's not a crutch.