Whilst reading some posts today I had my own AH-HA moment. I now theoretically understand the concept of uncupping the wrist at the point of release but more importantly why one would want to do this. Before the dim lightbulb appeared over my head I kept reading recommendations that one should keep their wrist cupped and to unhinge it at the release point but I never read why someone would want to do this or even the physics involved. Now I do. It's pretty simple... unhinging from cupped to uncupped itself adds revs.

What I thought of that helped me to visualize this was the following. I asked myself what would happen to the bowling ball if I layed down on the lane with my arm flat on the lane palm side up? The ball will most likely stay stationary on your hand. Now what if I cupped my wrist and uncupped it? The motion of going from cupped to uncupped would add forward roll and the ball would have a much better chance of going down the lane. In the normal swing/release this can be translated into additional revolutions around your ball's axis.

I don't condone trying this concept in real life as most likely you'll injure yourself but this visualization did help me break through this concept wall.

The only thing is for me to see how I can physically apply this concept to my game. I can't wait to try this out!

For those of you that currently apply this concept to your game:
Where in the release should this concept be applied? Does the uncupping of the wrist happen with the thumb still in the ball and this uncupping action assists pulling the thumb out of it before you come around and change the axis of rotation?

Disclaimer:
I'm sure those with much more experience are saying "Well... duh" or "No kidding moron" . Well, the purpose of me posting this is to assist those that are having a tough time understanding this concept... like I did.

Thanks for listening.
--Craig

I believe the uncupping should be as the thumb is coming out of the ball. If the thumb is still completely in the ball as you unhinge it won't add revs, but rather reduce them. If you unhinge too late, with your thumb completely out, you will lose the ball off your hand. That's my thoughts on it, I could be wrong and I'm sure someone else will add their thoughts.

As you uncup the ball at the release, it is not uncupping so much as reaching forward through the bottom of the ball, like cracking a whip. When the arm snaps straight the motion speeds the hand out of the ball, the thumb exits on it's own without you having to release it, the fingers travel through the center of the ball, don't try turning the ball the snapping motion adds speed to the exit of the fingers which increases revs. Try touching the lane 6" past the end of your toe, if you have cupped your wrist to that point it will snap your thumb and fingers out of the ball, if you are squeezing the thumb you may need a doctor, so make sure your grip is right.

Its more then uncupping. When you tell someone to cup and uncup their wrist, they tend to always over due it, which can easily lead to injury.

The revs are generated as the thumb leaves the ball first. And the fingers follow around and through the ball in an accelerated arm swing. The whip as Jim mentions. The precis timing of that whip like motion is paramont. Too early and you will chicken wing and damage your thumb. Too late and you will give the ball too much air time.

Now many high level players cup and uncup the ball, but they are young able and fit enough to do so. Plus they have a lot of practice under their belt that has stabilized this complicated movement in their "muscle memory".

The main thing you want to keep remembering is that you are rolling the ball.

Erin

Since this is one of the few aspects of bowling I'm decent at, I'll throw my two cents in here.

One thing to remember is that you don't just cup the ball once and forget about it; to keep the ball cupped, you have to keep the ball in place with brute strength--against constantly increasing opposition from the ball--as it accelerates through your armswing. So, instead of thinking about your wrist action as uncupping and cupping, you might want to think about it as "release and recover".

What you want to do is pick your spot at the bottom of the armswing, as your thumb is exiting the ball (if you do this with your thumb in the ball, you're wasting your effort), and suddenly break the muscle tension in your wrist, so that--just for an instant--your wrist is completely limp. Don't think about uncupping at all: if you do this properly, with your arm and body continuing the shot, the ball will do all the work for you.

What you need to be doing from the moment your wrist breaks is "recover", i.e. snap your wrist from uncupped back to your initial (cupped) position. People talk about pulling their fingers "through the ball"; I don't think that's what actually happens, but the ball is moving so fast at this point, you need to feel like your fingers are going "through the ball" to stay in solid contact as you move around the surface.

When I practice my shot w/o the ball, I get a "one hand clapping" sound from the wrist action when my hand is at chin level.

Untutored,
Good post. This release is also referred to as load and un-load. I find I can go out on my backyard lawn and practice releases and it will carry over to lane play. Starting with hand in unloaded position wrist broken and thumb tilted down gives a good feel for the finish. Thumb out and fingers out toward your break point. It is simple but needs practice. Check out the bowlingmentor.com web site and read section about physical game and the load and un-load release. Good pictures.

Dianne

Practicing in the back yard might be exactly what I need to do to work on my numerous problems. Plus it only costs me time Would you recommend getting another cheap/used ball to use for this purpose? I'd hate to destroy my only ball while I practice at home.

Let1Hang,

Make sure there are no rocks. A nice lawn will be ok.You need about 60 feet or else a soft stopper. You can tell when the release is done right. I would not recommend a beginner do this because the feedback would be misleading.On the lanes I used a brokenwrist or uncupped position to get more length and later hook, playing a inside line out to 14 arrow to brealpoint and back, and was just what I needed. Without the practice I would not have the feel in my fingers to do this.
I used my new blue Vibe, but a spare ball is ok.Just use a ball with same grip and fit. Have fun.
Dianne

Awesome! Thanks for the tip Diane! Luckily I keep my lawn well maintained so I don't have to worry about the rocks and I have well more than 60 feet to work with. I'll also make sure to give the ball a good cleaning before I head back onto the lanes.

Now I have no excuse to practice daily

Glad you have such an ideal bowling green. I did look at one of your practice videos. You and I share the same problem with the backswing position. This is a good one to work out on the lawn.Get someone to watch you and tell you when it is straight.I found out for myself the feel is like I am swing back out to my right, but that is the feel I need for straight. Once the armswing is straight other things will then start to work better.
Timing is also something you can expirement with. Watch Chris Barnes and David Ozio. see where the ball is on each step.
The one step drill is also good on the lawn,just simulate a slide.Get into the finish position and swing the ball straight and release. Only one draw back to lawn bowling is rain.Let me know if you think the practice helps.
Dianne