QuestionI saw your previous response to a question concerning this grip. I then spotted this PBA article: THE LOCKER ROOM BUZZ Much talk this week has been focused around a bowling ball drilling pattern called the Max-Y-Grip. Over 25 players this week have drilled balls testing the pattern, with much reported success. The drilling makes a hand fit anatomically correct on a sphere (the thumb enters the ball more on the side, rather than in the middle of the palm). Carl Hoffmire, a PBA member since 1987, developed the grip in 1991 and gained a patent for the idea just last year. The Croydon, Pa., resident is assisting the PBA Senior Players Services staff this season, working in the Tour's traveling pro shop. "Everyone that's tried it has really liked how it's come off their hand," he said about the grip. "It's basically a double-offset grip." A study was recently administered by the New York State Chiropractic College. The study revealed the grip relieves fatigue by 50%, decompresses the carpal tunnel (2-3 mm) and reduces pain in the forearm, elbow and rotator cuff. Plus, Hoffmire claims the grip helps allow the thumb to come out of the ball as "slick as a whistle." It seems to me that you would benefit from this drilling given that you are always worried about injury. Have you personally experienced this drilling, or do you know someone personally who has?
Answer
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Joe thanks for your question concerning the Max-Y grip. Although this is new to many bowlers per'se. I have found through experience with it that you have to TRAIN the Bowler to deliever the ball! As a coach, your first prioriy is ball fit. Properly spanning a bowler is key. However as a coach you HAVE TO SHOW bowlers how to properly deliver the bowling ball. This way they will roll the bowling ball down the lane.
I do not mean to criticize. However, as coaches we hope a player will come to us with a skill set we don't have to tweak but a little bit. Believe it or not, we pray they are happy and healthy with their ball fit. Age, flexibility, and cognitive understanding are key issues when dealing with a bowler. Stretch their hand, cripple their wrist, much like a player I had this week, and you derail them for several months.
There is a particular mind set that goes with this spanning. I have been teaching that mindset to bowlers for two decades. Again, age, flexibility, and cognitive understanding that you can roll the ball a particular way off your hand is key to excelling with this grip, and with just your regular grip!!!
The Sarge Easter, or either the semi conventional grip for the ring finger works because of a bowlers understanding of the connection between the thumb and the middle finger.
Carl is no doubt making strides in this arena because he feels strongly that this will have a legitimate impact on bowling for the long term interest of the sport. God's blessings to him for his efforts and much success.
However, my job is that of being the best software -PEOPLE- coach I can be. A serious effort has to be made on a bowlers behalf to teach them the proper way to deliver the ball off the hand physically. Not many coaches entertain that aspect of bowling unless other factors of the approach are taken care of first.
Basically, your release must be pretty bad if that is the first thing that catches a coach's eye. It's about the release of the ball for sure Joe. Like any Bowler you should be able to command your release.
Personally, I will train you to throw the two board with the correct release and the right equipment. Next I will do the same for you when you play inside, as well as to the extreme left if needed. The key point is... I will train you, but you have to work on the feel.
This is about feel and execution. So, if I tell you to roll the ball, and you spin it, we need to get on the same page. In a way the max-y grip helps bowler to get on the same page. However, someone needs to show you or serious injury can result in a very short time.
