How To Crank A Bowling Ball
If you wish to learn
how to crank a bowling ball, then begin with understanding a few important release techniques to regulate a consistent and effective bowling ball release motion. "
Cranking" a
bowling ball means to impart a strong rate of revolutions on the bowling ball by means of a quick and decisive releasing action with the bowling hand coupled with a sizable degree of axis tilt and with a reasonably high ball velocity.
Your release action determines if a ball will hook sharply as a "crank release" causes, or if the ball will go straight. Developing a
hook release is certainly preferred over a straight ball delivery. A hook ball will enter the pocket at the pin deck with an increased angle of entry more likely to maximize pin carry. A straight ball entering the pocket with less angle of entry will deflect off of the head pin and not enter the heart of the pin formation which increases the chances at a strike result.
A bowling ball with a high rate of revolutions, a high ball speed, and a sharp angle of entry into the pocket will produce the highest chances of getting strikes. The risk is greater, however, in controlling a ball with a severe or sharp hooking motion compared to a modest hook motion. Both can lead to very desirable results. Make sure you are skilled enough as a bowler to be able to have good balance, good posture walking to the foul line, and a solid platform when releasing the bowling ball before you work at generating maximum power in your release. Maximum power with no control of direction will produce far less than favorable results.
There are techniques to follow if you wish to learn how to crank a bowling ball and one is to maintain constant and very firm grip pressure on the pads of your fingers from the stance position on the approach and throughout the entire swing motion and into the critical release area at the bottom of the forward swing as your hand nears the back of your sliding shoe. If you release the ball between the shoe laces of your sliding shoe and the toe of the shoe, the momentum developed from the swinging of the bowling ball will carry the ball onto the lane surface beyond the foul line. The closer you can regulate the "moment of release" to that precise area of your sliding shoe, the more consistent your release will become.
Another factor in developing a "crank" release is the placement and positioning of your bowling hand on the bowling ball. Using a full finger-tip grip drilled by your pro shop operator and making sure you learn to allow your bowling
thumb to exit the ball prior to the fingers exiting the ball gives you the best chance at hooking a bowling ball. In fact, there are some players who choose to not use a thumb to hold the bowling ball but rather use the fingers only to generate maximum revolutions of the ball. To produce a strong hook requires discipline because of a fast and significant rotation by the wrist and lift by the bowling fingers during the release of the ball.
The "crank" release used by power players provides a sharp and strong hooking motion at the back end of the lane and begins with setting-up on the approach with your hand under the ball with the palm of your hand facing toward the ceiling, or perhaps even further under the ball, as to allow a maximum rotation of your fingers at the "moment of release." Work at maintaining your hand behind the ball as long as possible or until your hand reaches the release zone before you rotate your bowling fingers.
Rotating the bowling fingers too early relative to the release zone will only cause a reduced rate of revolutions, an ineffective axis of rotation imparted onto the bowling ball, and inconsistent deliveries. The release must happen at about the shoe laces of your sliding shoe and occur very quickly with the thumb exiting the ball before the fingers and with the fingers making a decisive rotating motion from under the ball to the side of the ball in a split second of time.
If you are a right handed bowler (opposite for left handed bowlers), as your hand reaches the critical release zone with your hand maintaining the "behind the ball" positioning on the forward swing, you must rotate your fingers quickly and decisively from left to right or about about three to four hours on a visualized clock dial from "behind the ball" to the side of the ball which is from the 7 o' clock position to the 4 o' clock or the 3 o' clock positions. Try not to over-rotate your bowling fingers beyond the 3 o' clock position as to rotate your entire arm over the top of the bowling ball as if you were trying to impart a "spinning top toy" motion.
A quick rotation of the bowling ball with a manageable amount of finger rotation will tilt the rotating axis to perhaps a range of 45 - 70 degrees of axis tilt, cause a noticeable high rate of revolutions and the "crank motion" you seek on your ball, and will cause the ball to hook sharply down the lane.
Be careful not to rotate your entire arm but rather only your fingers and wrist action; this cannot be stressed enough. Another tip is to tilt the wrist upward while you are releasing the ball. This will fly your thumb out of the ball well before the fingers so the fingers can rotate the ball and create additional revolutions, increase the amount of axis tilt and maximize your release hook potential.
bowlingball.com always recommends you consult with a certified coach, particularly if you are working on developing a powerful release technique. Cranking the ball is not for everyone. We hope these tips help!
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