The reason you find the bowling ball more difficult is most likely due to arm tension from squeezing the ball. As you know, it is easier to grab a small thing than a big thing - forward pitch makes the grip more like holding a baseball - reverse makes it like palming a basketball.

Many people have longer ring finger spans than middle finger spans (myself included). In fact, I'd say it's probably "most". You may need a quality fit check.

Hi cgeorg,

I've migrated my thumb hole to 5/8 forward. I have been a clincher in the past. I did my time almost putting the ball through the alley ceilings. I've gone through the cold sweats of fear afraid the ball won't come off my hand. I now love my 5/8 forward and get out of it very clean. If I can learn to not grip and get out of the ball anyone can - but it’s not for the faint of heart. The only thing that locks my thumb in the ball is if I "break" my wrist back.
I am in the process of backing off my 5/8" forward to 7/16" since I have learned to not grip the ball. (Per Erin - Atochabsh). Also I am lengthening my span on my spare ball & taking its 5/8" forward thumb to 1/4" forward - similar to Chris Barns).

Will up date,

~John

Hmm - it could just be where the weight is then. In a shotput, the ball is very dense and the weight is close to your palm. With a bowling ball, the weight is a good 4-5 inches away from your palm. So, you lose leverage, even with the same weight, making it harder to hold the same 16 lbs.

John, your swing looks better, but your cadence went back to 1..2..3..4..slide instead of 1..2..3.4.slide, keep the swing the same and speed up your feet that should get the trail leg out of the way and get your timing right.

EddieK, the modern method for perfect timing is to say the word "foot" as the slide foot stops then say the word "ball" as the ball passes, if timing is right you should be able to say the word football, with john, the foot and ball are at the same place at the same time, so he is early. In ye oldern days it was thought that the foot and ball should be at the release at the same time, but it was later found that the bowler is better able to impart leverage at the line from a stable position if the foot is still moving as the ball is being released, then the bowler is not stable. Many things have changed since then and timing is just one of them.