The Fast Bowling Back Swing

bowlingball.com, Originally Posted: 11/5/2013; Updated: 2/12/2023

The key to a good swing is a fast and loose backswing. Getting your backswing moving swiftly and without arm tension as soon as you begin your push away motion is critical to setting the tempo for an effective gravity swing.
Regardless of where you hold your bowling ball in your stance position, it is important to loosely get the ball swinging with no restraint whatsoever into the backswing all the way to the top of your backswing.
A pure bowling arm swing can be described as a gravity swing. Any gravity based swing is virtually void of muscle control and relies instead on the forces of gravity to swing the bowling ball back and forward into the release position, and continue on to a full and complete follow through motion.
Since the backswing is the first portion of your swing cycle, your beginning movement of the bowling ball should be as free of arm tension as possible.
You do not need to use excessive “cupping” of the bowling ball with your wrist during your set-up position on the approach. In fact, you can hinge or tilt your wrist back, commonly described as a “broken wrist position.”

When you tilt your wrist back when gripping your bowling ball, your arm tension is greatly reduced.
Your ball will generate greater swinging speed if your arm muscles are void of tension.
If you “cup” the ball in your stance position on the approach, notice how tight your forearm muscles become.
Tight muscles move slowly.
Loose muscles move swiftly.
By the way, it helps to reduce tension in your neck and shoulders when you set-up and while you bowl. Trust your swing and avoid that “death grip” on your bowling ball.