That’s interesting about putting pressure on the middle finger to get around the ball more, will definitely try that out in practice when I have to move inside
putting more pressure on your middle finger will also raise your axis tilt, just something to keep in mind as the higher the axis tilt the longer the ball will get down the lane before it starts to hook
great advice as always. Just had 2 new to me balls drilled and my PSO put the thumb pitches different then the 2 balls I already had. The "new" balls come off my hand a lot smoother.
Thumb issues. That's all I've dealt with in the last several months since coming back to bowling after extended time away. I got 3 new balls drilled for this league I'm in and they all feel different from one another. One was so tight on the thumb I had to cut out some of the insert myself in order for it to no longer rip the skin off my thumb. I never have issues with the middle and ring fingers though. Only the damn thumb. It's frustrating because I'm unable to practice during the week for my league since my thumb always needs time to heal. I'll allow it to heal all week and then as soon as league night comes around again the thumb tears open again and again and again.
I use to have this same exact problem! I hope by now your no longer dealing with this.. if you’ve already sanded down the thumb some and this is still happening than it sounds like you could be gripping the ball too much. I would bowl continuously with my skinned on my thumb ripped off and for years I did that until I learned I was releasing and holding the ball incorrectly! But it was also do to me having my proshop sand down the thumb so much it wasn’t a perfect fit and I kept having to claw the ball on my swing so it wouldn’t fall off.
At the pro shop I got my bowling balls in, I messed around with the adjustable bowling ball, adjusting it until I achieved the fit I wanted from the bowling ball, including hole sizes. The two balls I had drilled at that pro shop using the same pattern (one Ebonite Destiny Pearl, one Brunswick T-Zone, both 15lbs) have given me zero issues, towards the end of my first league I've joined in six years, I got my average to about 179. I also used the bowling ball in 2 separate tournaments over 2 consecutive weekends, and had my average in the 180's (for those tournaments). I think I did ok for just winging it. (the guy running the pro shop did a little fine tuning with me, but I was quite close on my own). I'm currently trying to figure out what a good choice for a light oil (~frame 15 on league nights) ball that will help me have a more consistent shot once I have to stop using my "strike" ball instead of going to my backup (less consistent) strike line with my T-zone. One last note: I find inserts uncomfortable, so I don't use them.
Great video again JR, that would be a serious road trip for me, live in fl. But I’ve always wanted to met you in person and Lee also.. keep up the good work.. videos like this one have been lost, no many ppl do practice stuff, thumb release or hang ups, switch grips( why ) etc. ok Coach talk to you later.
I just started bowling again after about 30 years away from bowling. And I just had my first ball fitted. I definitely get pain on the inside of my thumb as you described early in the video, but I also get it in my ring finger. The location of the discomfort on my ring finger is on the inside of my hand between my palm and my second knuckle. I can't tell if that's from poor fit, or just from the fact that I am basically new to bowling again and my hand is just not used to hurling a 15 pound ball. That being said, I've been bowling for about 10 to 15 games with this ball over two weeks or so, and my hand still hurts every time I use it. The pain in my ring finger almost feels as if the span between the thumb and the ring finger is not quite correct. Like my hand is just a little tiny bit twisted. Either that, or I'm using my ring finger and thumb to squeeze the ball which is causing the pain and the inside of my ring finger and the inside of my thumb. But I definitely plan to go back to the pro shop and just have him double check the fit. Unfortunately, even though this is a highly reputable pro shop, they did not check my PAP in order to determine my layout location. They just gave me a generic pin above the ring finger layout, as you described. I really wish they hadn't done that with a $250 ball. (Fitted and Drilled price) the guy that did it is an ex PBA professional bowler as well as a pro shop owner operator for more than 30 years. When I asked him about checking PAP, he said as a new bowler it wouldn't really matter that much. In the last week, I've managed a 220 and a 231 as well as several high 100s, so I'm doing OK with it, but it does still hurt my hand every time I use it. And it hurts for days afterwards.
I see on TV a lot of pros seem to be using a dropped ring finger. Most balls I've had drilled have the ring finger 1/16 to 1/8 inch farther from the thumb than the middle finger. For years I've had pain and swelling at the first knuckle of my ring finger. Recently went to a dropped ring and most of the discomfort is gone.
Chasing300, you must be talking about Lee’s Pro shop where JR works out of. Yeah I live in FL, so that’s a serious road trip. But I bowl at a house 10 min from me but thing is their pro shop sucks, so I go all the way to a place off Saw Grass road 2 hour drive...
Hello, I haven't bowl for approximately 20 years now and just got back since my daughter is interested. I re-drilled my ball for fit and started watching your video and learning a lot more. I tried to copy your approach and swing with the inside. I noticed lately that my wrist started hurting (dorsal wrist pain, I think) had to rest for a few days,.also noticed a callus in the base of my thumb. Is this a ball fit problem?. Keep in mind we only have one bowling place in this small town. TY!
Well I took my ball recently to the pro shop to get it fixed to my hand and as soon as you said you feel discomfort on the inside of the thumb I was like really we just got it fixed lol
My issue is my thumb is callusing heavily on the side. Off to the side of my cuticle, and the side of the joint. I want to get an interchangeable thumb so I'm not rolling the dice with every slug I get drilled. But I don't know where to begin with finding out why it's getting so bad.
The only thing that happens is if I dig my fingers in too far, once I'm warmed up and my hand has loosened up, I'll get a tendon that pops on the downswing as I load up under/behind the ball. I don't know if this is a fit issue, as in the span may be a touch long, but as long as I remember not to insert my fingers too far in it's never an issue. I actually tend to like that it happens, not the pain obviously, but having something give me definitive feedback that I did something wrong.
After 3 years of figuring out differnt thumb pitches and thumb slug sizes I finally found my thumb and proper span fit after seeing like 4 different pro shop op and coaches lol, including Ron Hoppe haha sorry Ron NOW I just need to figure out why my middle finger is getting scratched/cut when I release and also figure out why my middle finger is in throbbing pain 24/7 even without bowling (from finger tip down to middle finger's first knuckle) I think it's bruised and forever swollen lol
Check your span and pitch. Had the same issue with my ring finger. Figured out better spans and pitches using material online (like the IBPSIA guide) and went to Sarge Easter grip to fix that.
I feel like my thumb has to really grip the ball to hold onto it without it falling to the ground. My fingers feel fine. When I release the ball, I can’t get my thumb out before my fingers without feeling like I’m losing the ball. This makes me think my ball is too heavy, yet it’s only 14 pounds. Should I be doing drills to strengthen my forearms and wrist or try to get a thumb insert? Currently I have no inserts in any holes and they’re just drilled to my span
So quick question, I'm adjusting from a conventional grip to a fingertip grip. I haven't bold with a fingertip grip since maybe 2006 2007 should it feel almost like getting calluses on my fingertips for the first several games.
Hey question, I have just developed calluses on both sides of my thumb. It’s swelled and will not fit in the ball unless I squeeze it in there and then fits for the night but hurts at first then goes away. Any help with this would be appreciated.
My pro shop told me I was fitted incorrectly and said my fingertip should lay flat and knuckles should not be pointed up or have any space under finger
I don’t expect and answer but I got a new ball but a part of my skin keeps tearing off. I would let it heal fully then try bowling again but it would tear off. I tried some tap but dropped the ball 4 times so I stopped.
My biggest bowling ball has insert and my new bowling ball doesn’t have inserts and it’s made for me to put my fingers in all the way but it’s still tight is that bad way of bowling or should I go with inserts? I bowl two fingers by the way…
For me I've started out with a forward (hated it) but forwards your thumb tends to stay in longer. Then I went to a neutral- zero- or whatever it's called and I liked it. easier to release. but still get caught sometimes. Now I'm at a little of a reverse and I like it a lot more because i can get my thumb at faster and more smooth without fear of getting caught if my thumb is sweaty or starts to swell after 4-5+ games. Anyways there should be some out there on youtube i've seen a bunch I've had so much of this problem too
I feel like the ball pulls on my thumb when I hang it at my side and it then hangs on the knuckle of my thumb. I keep getting bleeding on my thumb. Then if I use tape the ball gets stuck and ball ends up in the air 😩
I am not a pro so I don't have my own ball but I use a wrist positioner, ever since I start using it my finger would hurt midgame so is there any way of preventing it besides getting my own bowling ball
Hello I am a big fan from Asia. I would love to know how to practice to make more pressure on the ring finger? Because i always feel most pressure is on middle finger and cause a long-term pain on the middle one. >
I have the exact opposite problem lol. I'm going to a new pro shop to check my ball. My ring finger hurts for days after nothing in the middle. Wanna trade balls? 😂😂😂
Also. I put my hand in 2 other female balls and i could handle a 15lb both were. They spares were nice. I get my first ball made ans get a 14lb and i cant even bend my wrist. Ildoes that mean my spare is off. New bowling here? I know its only 1lb but i could handle theirs but now i cant handle mine and the thumb hurts like its being cut at the crease the knuckle and between knuckle and crease between finger and thumb
Hi ! My thumb and my finger feel okay in my bowling ball but ive been having wrist pain. Do you think it can be too long of a span issue? Thank u! My ball is drilled finger tip
I've had a plaguing issue where the ball sticks to my thumb so violently the ball will fly almost half way down the lane after it FINALLY rips free of my hand. Have you done any content on this topic already?
If you have sweaty or clammy skin you would benefit having a thumb slug. Having just a hole in the ball crossing over 2 different materials can be tough especially if your hand is sweaty or clammy skin. Also you would make the hole size bigger another thing you can do is add reverse pitch that should help get your thumb out easier.
Why cant we just mold our own thumb shape or the pro shop. Like the mouth guards? Even if you could find a harder material? Becauee i still cant get my thumb right and it is driving me crazy. Im the type of person who is straight up addicted until i figure out what in my mind i need to to do somwthing right. 🤪 i hate that about myself. But i thought am i the only one who thought if something like this or they have and its a stupid idea
If your current ball has finger inserts those can be replaced for smaller or bigger inserts. With only using fingers and no thumb I would personally want my fingers to go in deeper almost to the 2nd crease. But with finger inserts you will want what is called vacu grips this allows the insert to expand and you can release it without the scariness of getting stuck in them. Have plenty of friends that use only fingers and no thumb that don't use inserts. They will put their fingers into the 2nd crease. They will get a smoother cleaner release without inserts.
I have had ring finger issues for over a year. Swelling and stiffness immediately after bowling. Low rev one handed bowler with little flexibility in that finger. Any suggestions?
I would place your thumb into your bowling ball and lay your fingers out flat completely on the ball. If the first crease in your finger does not reach the center of your holes, your holes may be either too short or too far from where they should be. I've had my finger holes 3/16 of an inch off and after I had bowled three games, the tendons in my fingers were sore for about four days.
