Gravity Bowling Swing
Updated 10/2/2020Successful players have repetitive bowling swings. One factor common to all successful swings is the use of the force of nature to aide the swing process.
A frequent term to discuss a natural bowling swing is a gravity swing. A gravity swing is one where a given bowler relies on the force of gravity to handle swinging the heavy weight of a
bowling ball.
It must be stated at this point, that every swing is a gravity swing.
Power players with extremely high rev-rates have gravity swings.
The same holds true for in-between players (Tweeners) and for “Stroker” type styles of players, both of whom use far fewer revolutions imparted on the bowling ball than do power players.
All delivery styles use various levels of freedom in their arm swings. The degree of muscle tension and arm control in handling the bowling ball throughout the swing cycle varies from player to player.
Bowlers who rely on gravity to help them swing the
bowling ball more so than arm tension or muscle use are typically said to have a gravity swing or a free and loose swing.
Since every bowler must hold on to a heavy ball as part of the bowling approach, a certain degree of muscle use and arm tension is involved in the swing cycle.
It is well known that bowlers who have repetitive swings rely on the freedom of motion gravity provides more than bowlers who rely arm control and restricting the freedom of arm motion throughout the swing cycle.
A repetitive and consistent swing is one which takes the same amount of total elapsed time from the instant the bowling ball is placed into motion, at the beginning of the approach, to the time the swing is completed to a full follow-through position.
These repetitive swing cycles tend to use the forces of gravity to aid the swing cycle more than relying on arm tension or muscle control to complete the swing cycle.
It is also evident that bowlers using a gravity swing tend to maintain consistent swing motion for longer intervals than bowlers relying on muscle controlled swings.
There are three times during any swing cycle which are key focal points to implement gravity swing motions. These three points of any swing are key to successful gravity swings.
The beginning of the arm swing movement, also known as the “pushaway” motion, the top of the backswing, and the moment the bowling ball begins to fall into the downswing from the top of the backswing are three keys to the gravity swing process.
Once the bowling ball begins its initial movement into the swing at the beginning of a given bowler’s approach, the ball should be allowed to swing swiftly and freely into the back swing cycle on its path to the top of the backswing.
A gravity swing is void, or nearly void, of tension and arm control during the backswing cycle.
Once the bowling ball reaches the top of the backswing, it must hesitate for a split second and not be forced into the downswing. A moment of hesitation allows for the gravity swing to sequence into the down swing cycle from the back swing cycle.
The bowling ball should then fall freely and be void of arm tension or muscle control into the downswing with a gradual acceleration to a full follow-through swing completion.
The gravity swing can help any bowler improve the swing cycle.
Simply develop the freedom of motion to begin the swing cycle when getting the ball into the backswing void of arm tension.
Next, allow a moment of hesitation at the top of the backswing before the bowling ball falls into the down swing.
Finally, rely on the force of gravity to help your bowling ball fall into the down swing unhurried and without using muscle control.
This three step process will help you in developing a gravity swing.
Consistent and effective bowling ball deliveries are directly linked to repetitive swings. Using a gravity swing is the surest way to develop a repetitive swing.
