Muscle in your bowling swing isn't always bad

[@kstark321]

Thanks for this. I took 20 years off bowling, I came back to "retool" everything and that's where my mistake was since I came back. I was *this* close to retooling my swing into a total free swing when I've never done that in my life and I have been very consistent "muscling the ball" even though that used to be a no-no.

[@Sevendeucegroup]

Thank you Jr.. hope you feel better soon.. Dr. F

[@bzerk1]

I’m glad you brought this up. I’m 5’3” and bowl 2 handed. When I bowled 1 handed thumb in I could use the free swing method and get pretty good speed and revs. When I went 2 handed no matter how fast I ran, or hard I power stepped I just couldn’t throw it as fast trying to use a free swing method. Just recently I decided I’m going to add some muscle into my shots but just simplify my form up so it would be easy to reproduce good shots.

[@BermyBrotha]

I'm 6'4" 300+ using 16lb equipment. I realized recently that I get so much more out of my ball if I just use gravity in my downswing. No matter what condition. More constancy to boot, too.

[@billpete3256]

I came to say the same thing. I'm 6'3 250. I'm blessed with long enough levers to keep the swing real easy and consistent, and still benefit from more speed and revs (power) than most other amateur bowlers.

[@Vrogmir]

I, a one-handed & thumb-in bowler, have a very loose/free upswing with no-precupping of the wrist. On the downswing, I sort of 'float' the ball and get myself underneath it and let the weight and gravity snap off a loose wrist with very nice consistency. It doesn't necessarily feel like I'm muscling, but more-so adjusting my shoulder height and hand-position as it floats on the downswing (I'd say mid-hip level?) and creating the quick cup at that moment. It does naturally create a bent elbow as well from my practice footage. I learnt it from practicing the free gravity pendulum swing first, and then observing some of the Japanese/Korean bowler coaching channels and incorporating that 'floating' technique into the gravity swing at low to high backswing heights.

[@Vrogmir]

@LifesTractionControl Out of curiosity, have you had any experience or opinions with this type of swing? I think, from what I've seen, BJ Moore sort of swings like how I described, in my previous comment.

[@marcus5803]

“Strong for his own body” 😂😂😂 no shade I know it wasn’t but that was funny. But once again you just told me something about my game I knew but couldn’t put into words. I definitely power through that fourth and final step to make everything quicker. Wrist, arm bend and muscle but now I have to go back at my recordings to see if I actually get up on my toes too. You’ve done it again sir! ✅

[@bowlersvault]

I have always felt this way! Depending on the individual, if there is control there in the physical game, a little muscle can be used to your advantage to manipulate the ball. Honing in on that skill takes time and that is something that I am still practicing. Hope you're doing well man. It's been some years since the Turbo Tech center. Will definitely have to make another drive up to get some work in sometime in the near future!

[@apolaconeagleeye8571]

Kind of glad to hear this. I get told I grab the ball too much at times. But my best games and ball motion come when I feel like I'm giving something extra at the end. Too old to change now. LoL.

[@travismusgrove6899]

I'm 5ft 7. Only been bowling seriously for almost a year now. But was taught the old school way as I grew up. I'm a free swing norm Duke style. Avg 190

[@dysfunctionaldave]

I'd just go one step further by saying that it's not about muscle being bad in the swing, it's where you're using it. You still want a free swing if you're an EJ/Kevin etc, it's just their swing stops being free at some point in the downward motion. If you can pendulum the ball to the apex, and then wait for the ball to naturally fall with gravity- and THEN add your own power to the ball with correct timing- the results are astounding. But that takes years and years of hard work to achieve consistently. What the vast majority of bowlers (especially ones with a decent strength level) are going to do, is muscle the ball from the very top of the swing, before the ball has started to descend. And that's where it's a detrimental issue, because you're now fighting against gravity rather than assisting it. You've also burnt your energy too early, and by the time you hit the release spot you've got little left. It's like a golf swing, or a boxing punch- you want a relaxed muscle until right before the moment of impact. The more relaxed you can be the more impact that muscle will have when you activate it. But you have to learn to relax and time that impact.

[@davidh2025]

Hope you feel better!! And of course, thanks for the video. Always helpful!

[@ryanmcmullen3378]

I’d say I’m more like a Parker Bohn and not even because I’m left handed but I have more of the old school finesse style game and I don’t think I generate a lot of rev rate.

[@gregjefferson8112]

I the same way.Still old school. Left handed also.

[@StunninW83]

More of a muscle baller, trying to retool a bit so I can find that consistency we all are looking for lol. Anyway, thanks for the video, hope you’re feeling better, my guy!

[@nevinkinzel]

Smaller lefty (5'6", 155-160lbs) with a higher speed free swing (18.5-19.5 on the screens depending on the house- after warming up). I will move up to slow down if I need to because I am speed dominant, not rev-matched.

[@stellaraudioaz]

I used to be a free swing kind of a player when I started bowling back in the mid to late '90s when I was bowling on wood lanes but I had to change because I needed more angle through the rack for better carry. I was averaging 201 back then. I'm averaging 210 now.

[@jondoe6618]

I am a norm duke! Straight up the right side.

[@jonathanthomas8574]

Thank you

[@tomholloway7566]

The start is use the minimum muscle tension to perform the act you need to do

[@christopherturner8768]

I'm a free swing type of bowler, been trying to add some muscle to my shot to get more power into it but man is that hard to do without messing up the rest of the swing

[@MikeDCWeld]

I'm sort of a weird combination of both. I throw one-handed, no-thumb, so I have to use muscle like a two-hander does, but I don't force it like you typically think of when people talk about muscling the ball.

[@questfor900]

2 hander. I have many injuries, so I don't focus on rev rate. I am just working with my coach and experimenting with good fundamentals and ways to stay healthy. I've noticed the better my fundamentals get, the more revs I naturally have without trying to wrench on it too hard. I would like you to do a video more in depth on a 2 handers swing. IMHO I think it needs to be muscled. With a backswing a third as high as the traditional 1 handers I do believe we have to be more aggressive through the ball at release. Like you already mentioned, not having to worry about the thumb helps tremendously. But where do you think the revs/speed come from on a 2 hander? How much *muscle* is involved comparatively to the 1 handers. Thanks in advance.

[@UhKimboze]

Same situation here sorta, where I bowl the lanes are so dry I really need that 2 handed speed.

[@Stormvet9091]

Solid info.

[@slim6088]

I just put a little umph in my swing at the bottom and it gives me reves and speed but only when I'm playing up 10. When I swing it and take the umph out and use my hand to put revs on it it's perfect slow down for me. But I've been working on it for 20 years even when I just bowled for fun and took 10 years off of leagues. U gotta work on the basics to make changes or improvements

[@sunlessmortal3559]

One handed no thumb, feel like i have to give is some so i dont drop the ball. Just figuring out how to keep my hand under the ball, if i dont i have to move way left even with a weak ball.

[@scottythompson940]

Cool video talk tech bowling bowling ball

[@johnwillock6787]

Mikey S is learning to throw it slower and seems to be making big strides.

[@tdub5693]

I start out smooth and easy but as soon as I start going thru the face of the head pin I muscle and then the wheels fall off timing goes bad like 230-220,160 lol

[@Jimboit2]

Guess I'll be taking my ball with me to the weight room. Dead lifts and squats. Should help me.

[@hectorcamacho6098]

I'm more old school stroker 14 to 15 ball speed 14.4 lb balls how would i Increase ball speed just wondering?

[@seymourcarson]

My coach would light me up for using muscle.

[@timothyhaynes5282]

I'm a 130lbs powerlifter and can throw 16 17 mph usually using just my legs the generate energy

[@stellaraudioaz]

Ryan Ciminelli is a good example of a power lefty. Look at the size of his left arm compared to his right one.

[@willjames6437]

It doesn’t look nearly as bad as it used to, last time I checked.

[@FearTheWeird300]

I’m kind of a lefty version of you. I try to play the lane straighter though.

[@richardschundelmierjr6227]

I bowl more old school took 10 years off I have been up to 217 avg. But it sucks foe getting that off carry for a strike

[@marcjohnson5268]

Im a muscle type because I am a 2 finger one hand bowler

[@23bluetank]

Imma finneser type of bowler lol

[@jcc_482]

Hand trainers and/or swing trainers...good thing or hoe hum?

[@Ftybr57]

I’m confused. I’ve watched all you videos to not do that?