* Bowling - Choosing A Delivery - The Release

By Michael Russell

The release is probably the most important part of the game of bowling. No matter how good you look going up to the foul line, if you don't have a good release you're not going to score very high. We're going to take a look at some of the options open to the bowler and try to explain the pros and cons of each release.

There are basically 3 types of releases, with variations on each one. If you ask a pro bowler he will probably tell you that in this case a certain release is better than another. But that's not going to help the average bowler if the "better" release is too hard for him to control. So we'll just cover the 3 releases and explain the good and bad of each and let you make your own decision on what to use.

The most common release for the casual bowler is the straight underhand or straight ball. This is where, when the bowler approaches the foul line and releases the ball, he lets it roll off of his fingers while keeping the palm straight pointed toward the ceiling. This is not only the simplest release but the easiest to control as the ball will go in a straight line, unless lane conditions are so dry (more on conditions in another article) that the ball will start to go either to the left or right anyway. This also depends on how straight the arm is at the release point. The downside of this release is that it doesn't allow the bowler to take the most advantage of the lane conditions and place the ball in a way where he will get the most pin action. This is why almost no pro bowlers use this release.

The most common release for the pro and better bowler is the hook. This is where, at the point of release, the bowler rotates his hand, if he's a right handed bowler, to the left. This has the effect of causing the bowling ball to hook to the left as it travels down the lane. The biggest benefit of this release is that it allows the bowler to hit the pins at an angle that will cause the best pin action. The downside is that this release is very hard to control. If you turn your hand too much to the left the ball can get away from you and head wildly for the gutter. Perfecting the hook takes a lot of practice.

The least common release for anyone, pro or novice, is the backup ball. This is where, at the point of release, the bowler rotates his hand, if he's a right handed bowler, to the right. This causes the ball to go from left to right instead of from right to left. The reason people will use this release is because it is easiest on the wrist for those who don't have strong wrists. The downside is this release is going to give you the least chance of scoring high. You have to shoot for the 1 and 2 pins instead of for the 1 and 3 pins on your first shot, which is just not good bowling. There has probably never been a pro bowler who used a backup ball.

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