How much does your wrist do when you bowl? If you bowl without thinking much about what every part of your body do, you’re making a mistake. Just like your hands, fingers, and legs, your wrists get some job done when you position your body.
Hence, the right positioning of your wrist is so essential. If you have been overlooking this matter, now is the time you put focus on it. So how should your bowling wrist position be? This article has all the answers you need. So sit back, relax, and give it a read for everything you need to know about bowling wrist position.
Types of Wrist Position When Bowling
There are more than one ways to make the position of your wrist. Each has its own specialty. So are you wondering how many different ways you can position your bowling wrist? Because proper wrist positioning is important to generate various bowling releases, You should consider these bowling wrist positions I’m about to discuss.
1. Hinged wrist position
Have you ever noticed how door hinges work? Imagine your wrist making a position similar to that. You can do that by placing your bowling hand’s palm and arm in a straight line where the hand of your heel and the inside of your palm point in the same direction. Now, tilt your bowling hand on the side of your arm that is at a 90° angle with the inside of your bowling arm and your hand.
To do this specific wrist position properly, you have to balance your bowling ball on your bowling hand’s palm during your ball swing and ball release. Right when you deliver your bowling ball, your wrist is going to unhinge in a fast and snappy motion. The fingers of your wrist will do their task which is to rotate your ball a little.
You might resonate this bowling wrist position with releasing a frisbee toy. The more rotation you add to the toy, the more it flies in the air. This wrist position is quite similar in that case. Using the hinged wrist position will add a lot of revs and produce more axis tilt. This will make your ball hook and roll sharply at the backend. Generally, power-dominant bowlers love to use this position when they bowl for a better rev rate, of course, a high axis tilt.
2. Broken wrist position
The name pretty much indicates how this wrist position is going to be. For this position, you have to set your bowling hand’s heel aligned in a straight line with your arm and your palm facing upward. After that, tilt your bowling wrist back in a way that the back of your hand is gonna move toward the back of your arm.
The broken wrist position is also called collapsed wrist position. Because your bowling fingers exit the ball before your thumb, it is one of the weakest releases. This wrist position will promote a longer skid length and a low rev rate, something that many bowlers prefer. It will help you deliver your bowling ball in a straight line which will make things easier to pick up the spares and also to bowl on dry lane conditions.
3. Straight wrist position
Well, this is a pretty basic one. Most bowlers find this wrist position pretty simple because the back of your wrist and your bowling arm stay in a straight line with the heel of your hand. The straight wrist position promotes a medium rev rate, moderate power, and sometimes a high and sometimes a low axis tilt. However, that depends on how much you rotate your fingers during ball delivery. No wonder why this wrist position is so common. The versatility it offers is truly something.
4. Cupped wrist position
Okay, so for this wrist position, you have to start with your hand’s heel aligned with your bowling arm, and then, all you have to do is, tilt your bowling wrist upward. While you’re doing it, move your fingertips toward your bowling arm.
This wrist position enables a quicker thumb exit during your ball release. And because the thumb gets out of the ball faster, the ball’s weight falls onto your middle and ring fingers. This lets you rotate your ball better, have a high rev rate, better ball energy at the backend, and also a high axis tilt. The position also lets you hook your bowling ball better and lets you control your bowling ball more.
However, the position itself is hard to control unless you learn to do it accurately and gain consistency. Because it will take a great amount of wrist strength, new bowlers might need wrist support for their bowling hand to enjoy the benefits of this hand position.
5. Revolved wrist position
For my final pick, I have decided to include the revolved wrist position which is pretty similar to the straight bowling wrist position. But there is a twist. You have to rotate your wrist during the approach at about 90 degrees while your bowling ball is still in your hands. If you hold the side of your ball, you can rotate the ball 90-100 degrees. This is when your hand will be right under the ball. This will enable decisive finger rotation during ball delivery. And, yes, you will be able to get a high axis tilt, boost your rev rate, and of course, hook your bowling ball.
Conclusion
Are you not sure which wrist position to use? All you need is some practice and experimentation. Soon you will understand how you can customize your wrist position and how much impact it will have on your bowling ball. You don’t necessarily have to use one position though. You can master multiple styles with adequate practice. Do not forget to wear your wrist guard before you decide to alter the roll on your ball. If you have any further queries, feel free to reach out to me. As always, good luck and keep on rolling, fellas!
Passionate Bowler and Bowling Enthusiast
Jess Pinelli is a dedicated bowling enthusiast with a deep love for the sport that spans over 6 years. With numerous strikes, spares, and a few gutter balls under hes belt, he has honed his skills on lanes across the country. Pinelli’s journey in the world of bowling has been a remarkable one, from casual weekend games with friends to competitive league play and even a few local tournaments.
Driven by her passion for the game, Pinelli decided to channel her expertise and knowledge into the digital realm, becoming a prolific author on this bowling website. She’s your go-to source for everything bowling-related, from mastering the perfect hook to choosing the right bowling ball and even navigating the world of bowling etiquette.
When she’s not busy writing informative articles or reviewing the latest bowling gear, you’ll likely find Pinellis at her favorite local bowling alley, helping newcomers improve their game or enjoying some friendly competition with fellow bowlers. She firmly believes that bowling is not just a game but a community, and she’s committed to fostering that sense of camaraderie both online and offline.
