The mechanics of a good arm swing

A few weeks ago, Jennifer started giving me grief about my arm swing, because at the top of the swing my hand turns completely out, meaning my palm is perpendicular to the floor.  Now, I don’t know when this started, but I know it’s a result my trying to learn the more dynamic release that is utilised by the pros.

After much reading and hours of video viewing, I learned that the pros do three relatively simple things that simplifies their game, increases their accuracy and increases their power at the pins:

1. They keep their hand on the inside of the ball
2. They keep their elbow close to their body
3. They keep a slightly bent elbow in the downswing

Now, item three is really something that the power players use and is in fact a major source of their power, but I will explain that in more detail later.

Work the inside of the ball

Pros work the inside. Amateurs work the outside. – Randy Pedersen, PBA Hall of Famer

The above quote is something I heard Randy Pedersen say while I was watching a PBA show on TV just a week ago. It really is something that separates the pros from the proverbial joes. So whats the big deal about working the inside of the ball? Well let me tell you.

The pros do two things here.  They keep their hand on the inside of the ball, meaning their hand is closer to their body than the ball.  The other thing they do, is they keep their wrist cocked throughout the swing. This is called the strong wrist position. Now these two things by themselves don’t do much for you. The real magic happens at the release.

Just before the release point, they quickly rotate their wrist to the outside of the ball while keeping their hand behind and under the ball. Then, they uncock their wrist right at the release. By quickly rotating your wrist around the ball, the ball already has rotational energy working on it before it even gets off your hand. When you actually start to release the ball, the fact that your hand is under the ball means your hand must travel further around the ball before it leaves your hand, meaning your hand works on the ball for longer. By uncocking your wrist as the ball comes off your hand, your putting more rotational energy into the ball. All of this translates to more revolutions on the ball as its leaves your hand and begins its journey toward the pins. More revolutions, more hook, more power at the pins, more strikes.