L atelier du bowling

Proper shoulder leverage is key to a pure natural release

If a bowler can maintain the proper shoulder leverage throughout the delivery, the result is a straighter arm swing, better accuracy and consistency. One of the methods used at Dick Ritger Bowling Camps to help students develop a feel for the role the shoulders play in creating leverage is by using a bowling ball with a specially-designed handle. Students are positioned at the foul line in their finishing positions and told to hold the ball at their sides to simulate the lowest point in the swing. We then ask the students to lift the ball using their shoulders, but with no assistance from the arms or hands. The tension felt in the shoulder can be channeled to create leverage at release. Shoulder leverage is important because it allows you to release the thumb at the exact moment at the bottom of the swing which creates a more pure, natural and perfect release. With the thumb releasing at the proper moment with the fingers remaining bent inward, gravity forces the ball off the fingers at the perfect release point. You then move the fingers forward through the ball (not around it) and this tilts the axis before the ball contacts the lane. The forward movement of the fingers and proper shoulder leverage keep the ball straight through the front part of the lane while the proper axis tilt gives the ball a greater skid length and better backend reaction.