Improving Your Bowling Grip

HAND: When holding the ball, your hand will be in the position shown on the right. Your forearm will be facing directly in front of you and your index finger will point directly in front of you. Your palm will be facing upward.

GRIPPING THE BALL: When you put your fingers into the ball, your fingers should be in the position shown.

Notice that the index finger is extended away from the other fingers to carry some of the ball’s weight; the whole finger is kept flush against the surface of the ball.

Notice the pinkie is tucked next to the ring finger. You can also hold the pinkie away from the other fingers to better distribute the weight of the ball, but I don’t recommend it. If you tuck the pinkie next to the ring finger, it will always be at the same place every time. This gives you better consistency because your pinkie will never hang on the ball at the end of your release.

HOLDING THE BALL: Using the grip described above, hold the ball with your palm facing directly up and your index finger pointing upward around the front of the ball as if you were flipping the bird with the wrong finger.

You will probably feel a little pull on your forearm tendons as this is a somewhat unnatural amount of weight to carry with your hand/wrist in this position, but this is normal.

Notice that the thumb is pointed at around 10 o’clock. It is vital that the thumb be pointed at somewhere between 10 and 11 o’clock or the ball will not hook properly.

SWINGING THE BALL: Once you have the ball in your holding position, you just swing the ball like a pendulum. Keep your forearm facing forward at all times. Keep your palm/wrist locked in the holding position described above.

RELEASING THE BALL: When the ball reaches the bottom of your swing (when it is closest to the ground), it’s time to release it. It all happens very quickly and mostly automatically (i.e., you do nothing but let it happen). The thumb comes out first and then the ball rotates as your fingers come out.

Because it is the last finger in the ball, there will be a moment when you will be carrying the ball’s entire weight on your ring finger. Make sure your ring finger goes smoothly upward as it comes out of the ball. This last snap provides a lot of the rotation on the ball so it will make or break your hook.

FOLLOWING THROUGH: Strictly speaking, there is no reason for a long follow through: once the ball is released, nothing you do will have an effect. The reason for having a follow-through is to avoid cutting your armswing too short by stopping at the release point. It’s a lot like swinging a baseball bat and following through after impact.