How to properly Squeeze a bowling ball | Does it fit you correctly? 

wow! that helps a ton man! I always squeezed my ball because it was going to come out on my back swing. I never knew the thumb hole had to be THAT tight. that makes a lot of sense now.

Yeah learning to relax. I habe thrown the ball behind me so many times.. lol.

I have been trying to get back to form after 15 years away. I've had lessons, watched videos until my eyes bleed, and practiced a lot. This video and the one that Robert Smith released a few weeks ago on release is a perfect pair. It's one thing to understand the cup/uncup motion. But to do it right you need to understand what your muscles are doing and when. That's where the squeeze instruction comes in. You explained this perfectly. I always think about thumb nail to the back of the ball. I had not thought to apply that to my middle and ring finger in the opposite direction. It helps me roll smoother instead of lifting the ball. Thanks JR!

Great video JR. Most of the videos I’ve seen on this subject is to relax the thumb and don’t squeeze. I’m going to try your method of bending the thumb backwards to clear the thumb.

I can't wait to try this because I'm a chronic squeezer and my hand gets to the outside of the ball before it even passes my leg on the way back.

Thanks JR. Once I got use to the feeling of flexing the thumb the other way it gave me a much more consistent release without hanging up.

Your previous discussions/videos on this vastly improved my consistency. You explain it so well and it makes so much sense.

I'm over here in pdx, OR nodding my head. Easy to understand, no fluff, etc. Thank you very much for sharing this knowledge, JR

Thumb fit is so important. Spans and pitches are so important. Personal preference is so important. I personally like an oval thumb fit for this reason. Your thumb isn’t round... it’s oval shaped. As should be the thumb slug in your bowling ball. In my unprofessional opinion.

JR this video was so well timed for me. I just got my first bowling that has been fitted to my hand and I have been going through the growing pains of trying to get rid of all the bad habits I've built bowling with a ball that didn't fit my hand. I have a really bad problem with grabbing with my thumb. Thanks for sharing all of your great bowling tips with us.

This was a well timed tip for me. I've been having issues correctly how far under the ball I can get in my release. Thinking more about the thumb should help.

This explains why my thumb always got swollen at the join . I started using tape to keep it from getting blisters

Outstanding information. There are not a lot of coaches who understand the bowling release. Your information is the best I've seen.

Wish i would’ve known this sooner! I have a blister on my thumb from squeezing.

Thanks JR

Glad you made this video. This was the first question I asked anyone when I started bowling again. What is your grip pressure?

Good info gotta try this one thx

Great video and very informative. I will share it

Need to really practice this because I do have a knot on the knuckle of my thumb from squeezing too much

Thx JR. I really like your videos. Very informative!

Thanks for this video JR, I will definitely try this! Great video as always

I've been looking for years for a ball to replace the ball I had split thumb to thumb with no success. I had the original Black Widow. My local guy, out of the box, drilled it with a pin about 2 inches above the fingers. Then he 500 grit sanded it. He then lightly, and I mean lightly polished it. He then 3000 grit hand scuffed it. That ball hooked on anything. The center I bowl at likes oil, which it not a bad thing until they seem to have a sale on oil some weeks and can't get anything to move. I tried several balls with this method and asked a few pro shop guys and no success. Was even told by a couple that it's not possible with modern equipment. My ball speed down lane is around 17mph and rev rate is around 325

Most helpful tip you have shared, for me at least

This is no joke. I have been a bad rut lately grabbing at the bottom of the swing and falling off my shot. I'm guessing I'm pulling the downswing also but at this point I'm just trying to work it out. Thanks for this!!

Cool video talk tech bowling Jr Raymond

I’m left handed. It was fun throwing the alley ball, but this new ball has me learning all over again. My thumb gets caught in the ball, and it winds up in the next lane. I’ll watch this recording till I get it.

This is my NUMBER 1 PROBLEM, AND MY squeezing seems to be getting worse year after year. I have a 1/2 Calus on the back right part of my Thumb Knuckle and I just can't seem to get my Thumb Out first. I just had a Attention Star drilled with the Thumb slug for the first time, the person drilling my Ball is on the PBA Pro Tour, bowls in league with me he knows how I throw it and how much I squeeze. So he has this drilled to my proper Thumb. And I feel like there is no way In hell I'm getting this ball off my hand. It's been so frustrating cause like you stated my Release point is different and effects my Spoed and Breakpoint. Ty for this video I need about 100 versions on this. This weekend I plan on trying the new ball, and on Monday he is drilling me the Ion Pro with another slug just a fraction bigger for when my Thumb might swell a little. We shall see how this goes. But my squeezing has affected my Average and Spare Shooting Dramatically.

Fantastic video JR, great content as always. How do you translate this feel to two-handers that you coach? Any chance of a follow up video for two-handers?

Now you tell me not into the walls 😂 great tips !

Every time I use pad instead or nail, I know it. I find that I end up gripping with my pad, I'm frustrated and trying to guide my shot. Good video. The first few times I tried it it felt very awkward.

So quick question. So you want your forward at the palm not at the knuckle ?

Basically, your hand is open while fingers and thumb are in the holes? The opposite of making a fist?

To J R Raymond, can you feel the ball coming off your fingers ?

A couple of notes here: 1. If you squeeze the fingers outwards, as you said to stay in the ball longer to increase hook, i dont think it is done by "more yo-yo effect", but by lifting on the ball. To increase RPM via the yo-yo effect, your hand has to travel more around the ball regardless of if you squeeze the fingers or not. It's a wrist and elbow thing only. 2. About when the ball falls off the hand. Doesn't thumb pitch affect that? (meaning too much forward or too reverse).

When you're holding the ball straight down, how does the ball feel on your thumb? I have a tendency to press too much, so I use a thumb sleeve/sock to ensure I don't get hung up. If I'm wearing the sleeve, I can't just let the ball hang down like you were.

What does finger pitch have to do with this? 🤔

Question, when I was taught how to b owl (20 years ago) I was taught to pinch the skin right at the base of my thumb, kind of pinch it to create almost like a seal. When you get to the bottom of the swing and straighten our your thumb, it lets go. Does this sound familiar? Should I be retraining myself?

You shouldn’t have to squeeze or grip at all. It should just hang on your hand. All about pitches