Going from a backup ball to a more normal release

[Steve1591]

I have a friend of mine that Ive started working with to go from a backup ball to a more normal release.

He never used to really get much on his backup ball as he usually came through the ball with breaking his wrist in his swing. Now that is somewhat of a problem as it seems he is really having a problem not breaking his wrist during his swing while we are working on a more normal release ..

Does anyone have any ideas on how to help this? Perhaps using a wrist support for now until he can do it on his own? I have a robbys rev i gave him to try out, is that a good choice? I just dont want him to get depending on a support or anything as it really shouldnt be needed.

Any other ideas or suggestions are welcomed as well :rolleyes:

[BubbaRay]

You could suggest to him to use the wrist support untill he trains hi wrist . Also he needs to keep his palm of his hand facing forward from the start of his backswing right through his reklease point untill he muscle memorized his wrist to stay in that position . The wrist support might be the better option. It is difficult to try and change something in the beginning. It will take some time untill he can stop breaking his wrist. You could try and teach im not to break his wrist with the 1 step approach.

[Curacao_Dejavu]

give him about a month with the wrist support and then evaluate.

I (still) throw a backup ball.
when I switched to a normal release I used a robby rev II. at the end of the second week with the wrist support, I could throw "normally" but of course without real power and so on, but the ball was doing what it's supposed to go look like. it's because the league started again, and we were short on team members I went back to the backup ball.

If he is committed to change, I would suggest for him NOT to go for league play till he has about the same avg as before with the backup ball, so he won't feel like he's letting the team down with lower scores.

best of luck.

[snowspike1]

i used to throw back-up and yes a wrist support would help. What helped me was not jumping straight to turning (shaking hands with) the ball. Stay behind it and let the cover/core do the work to start with. Once comfertable then mess with hand and more AR.

[Rowdy]

Using a wrist support is the only way to get someone off a backup ball. But before you take it to the lanes have him make some half swings with a house ball on the carpet. Go nice and slow,with no steps. When you start seeing the correct rotation start to develop,move out to a lane and go really super slow,and keep reinforcing that proper rotation. Build speed and swing as he gets more comfortable. I've helped a lot of people get rid of a backup ball and the most important thing I've found is that it helps to practice a little every day once they start getting the ball to rotate the right way.