Bowling Release Techniques: From Beginner to Pro

The release is the moment your thumb and fingers leave the ball. Your approach and swing lead up to it, and the release decides how the ball rolls: its speed, its axis and its rev rate. This guide explains five bowling release techniques – from the straight ball for beginners to the two-handed style of the pros – and when each one makes sense.

Before you work on your release, make sure your approach footwork is consistent. A good release depends on a repeatable approach.

1. The straight release

With a straight release, your hand stays behind the ball throughout the swing and the ball rolls towards the target with little or no hook.

Hand position

• The palm faces the pins at release.
• The thumb points up.
• The wrist stays firm, without turning.
• The fingers come straight out of the ball without a sideways movement.

Ball motion and use

The ball travels on a straight line, which makes this release easy to repeat. It is the natural starting point for beginners, and many experienced bowlers use a straighter shot for single-pin spares, especially the corner pins. Whether you should stay with a straight ball or learn a hook is covered in our comparison hook vs straight ball.

2. The conventional hook release

The conventional one-handed hook is the release most league bowlers work towards. The ball first skids through the oil on the front part of the lane, then starts to hook and enters the pocket at an angle.

Hand position

• The hand is behind the ball in the downswing.
• The thumb exits first.
• The middle and ring fingers then lift and rotate the ball slightly to the side as they leave it.
• The wrist stays firm through the release zone.

Wrist position

A cupped wrist generally produces more revs and hook potential, a flat wrist a more moderate hook, and a broken (bent back) wrist less rotation. The differences are explained in our article on wrist position in bowling. If you find it hard to keep your wrist stable, a wrist support can help.

Finger action

After the thumb has exited, the fingers lift through the ball. Many coaches compare the movement to turning a door handle. A relaxed grip helps the ball come off the fingers cleanly.

3. The suitcase release

The name describes the hand position: at release, the hand is on the side of the ball, as if carrying a suitcase. For a right-hander, the thumb is at about 9 o'clock and the fingers at about 3 o'clock; for a left-hander, it is the other way round.

Ball motion and use

Because the hand is already on the side of the ball, there is no need for an active turn at release. The ball rolls with a gentle, even arc. That makes the suitcase release a useful step between a straight ball and a full hook.

4. The spinner or helicopter release

With the spinner release, also called the helicopter or UFO style, the ball rotates around an almost vertical axis, like a spinning top. The style is popular in parts of Asia, especially in Taiwan, and is usually thrown with lighter plastic balls.

Ball motion and use

The ball travels on a fairly straight line and hooks little. Spinners can reach high rev rates, but because of the steep axis most of that rotation does not turn into hook. The style is mainly used on dry or flat lane conditions and is rarely taught outside Asia.

5. The two-handed release

With the two-handed style, the bowler inserts only the two fingers of the bowling hand and leaves the thumb out. The other hand supports the ball through the swing and comes off just before the release. Jason Belmonte made the style known worldwide; Jesper Svensson and other professionals also bowl with two hands.

Ball motion and use

Because the second hand carries part of the load, two-handed bowlers can produce high rev rates – Belmonte and Svensson have both been measured at over 500 rpm. The style changes the entire delivery, not just the release, so it is best learned with a coach. Read more in our portrait of Jason Belmonte and the two-handed revolution.

Which release technique suits you

There is no single best release. Your choice depends on your goals, your physical condition and how much time you can spend practising.

A common path is to start with a straight ball, move to the hook once your approach is consistent and try other styles later. Whatever you choose, consistency comes from repetition. Filming your release helps you see what really happens; our guide to video analysis explains how. If you want more rotation on the ball, read how to increase your rev rate.

Your feet matter too

Every release ends with the slide on your last step. A predictable slide makes it easier to repeat the same release frame after frame. BOWLIO bowling shoes have a genuine leather slide sole under both shoes, so they suit left- and right-handed bowlers, from beginners to professionals.