Avoid Forcing Your Bowling Shot
By: bowlingball.com Original Publish Date: 9/18/15; Updated 12/4/2020
If you are averaging between 150 to 170 and find yourself rushing your release and making poor deliveries, then avoid forcing your bowling shot.
There are a number of reasons why you might be forcing your shot. Fear of the pressure competition brings is one common reason, but one which few people openly admit.
Pressure does strange things to bowlers such as hurrying steps, turning the ball too early, taking eyes off the target, and so on. Forcing the shot is likely more common of a mistake than any when bowling under the gun.
If you tense your swing muscles, your neck, shoulders, and arm muscles, you might cause your timing to become a little late. Late timing can cause you to force your shot.
Slow ball speed is another reason why you may be forcing your shot. Trying to get more ball speed to prevent your ball from hooking early can cause you to hurry your release and force the shot.
Trying to apply more revs on your bowling ball can also cause you to hurry your shot and force your release.
Avoid grabbing at your bowling ball when your backswing arrives at the height of the swing by adding too much gripping pressure with your thumb and fingers. Retain constant grip pressure throughout your swing right up to the time you release your ball and you will reduce the risk of forcing your shot.
Applying too much gripping pressure with your bowling fingers and thumb might cause you to overturn your bowling ball or rotate your fingers sooner than intended.
This error in squeezing your ball before it arrives at the bottom of your forward swing arc is why you develop inconsistencies with your release.
Grabbing the ball with your bowling hand will certainly lead to forcing the shot.
Forcing the shot can lead to pulling your ball off of your intended ball delivery path.
Trying to add more power to your release because you feel that more hook will help you overcome a poor ball reaction is another reason why you may be forcing your release.
The trick is to retain a smooth timing sequence by not tensing your bowling muscles, avoid hurrying your steps, and do not use excessive gripping pressure at the top of your backswing and you will reduce your chances of making a poor shot.
Next time you are bowling in a clutch situation, trust your swing and your avoid forcing your bowling shot.
By doing so, good results might be just around the corner.
