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Author Topic: Effect of using either the pinky finger or the index finger, or a full hand grip...  (Read 16327 times)

JessN16

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Effect of using either the pinky finger or the index finger, or a full hand grip...
« on: March 02, 2009, 08:05:07 AM »
Been wondering about this one for awhile -- I have a pinky finger hole drilled in all my stuff. It helps lessen stress on my wrist, distribute the weight of the ball more equally and project the ball down the lane. It also lowers my track off the finger holes a little.

I can rotate my hand over and throw with my first three fingers, as well, by putting the index finger in the middle finger hole, middle finger in the ring and so on. When I do that, I come almost right up the back of the ball. Unfortunately, as I rotate my hand around it also changes my spans (with my fourth finger in the pinky hole, it has the effect almost of a Sarge Easter grip) so it may not be painting a really accurate picture.

I guess this is as simple as me drilling up an old ball with five finger holes in it, but before I do I figured I'd ask -- anyone here drilling for a bowler that uses his index finger, or better yet, a full five-finger grip?

Also, what kind of reaction do you think this would give, and also, why do we not see more bowlers use all five fingers in the ball? The only thing I can think of is that it's too difficult to clear the entire hand at release.

Jess
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strikeking

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Re: Effect of using either the pinky finger or the index finger, or a full hand grip...
« Reply #1 on: March 02, 2009, 04:27:12 PM »
I drilled up a "5 finger" conventional grip for a bowler a long time ago and the ball went straight as an arrow! The general rule used to be: the more fingers you put in the ball, the less rotation you got. I know there are exceptions because some old timers could really hook a "conventional" grip. Maybe thats why "no-thumb" bowlers get so much hook.

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JessN16

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Re: Effect of using either the pinky finger or the index finger, or a full hand grip...
« Reply #2 on: March 02, 2009, 04:32:13 PM »
quote:
I drilled up a "5 finger" conventional grip for a bowler a long time ago and the ball went straight as an arrow! The general rule used to be: the more fingers you put in the ball, the less rotation you got. I know there are exceptions because some old timers could really hook a "conventional" grip. Maybe thats why "no-thumb" bowlers get so much hook.

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I can't do much with a conventional grip, either. About the only person I've ever seen hook a truly conventional grip ball is the PBA's Chris Warren.

What I'm talking about here is having all four finger holes fingertip.

I think if you could time it well, it would be OK. Just adding finger holes wouldn't necessarily kill revs, IMO. Look at the effect of bowling with both the middle and ring fingers as compared to just the middle finger, as was once done. When I use a pinky, I tend to get more revs but that may be because the ball is better-balanced on my hand.

I think the primary issue would be timing -- getting four fingers synchronized to come out of the ball rather than just two (or three in my case). What I'm most concerned about from a technical aspect is whether it would raise/lower my track or change my PAP. Clipping the index finger hole would be a big consideration and anything more than 4.5 pin-to-PAP would probably do that for me.

Jess

Edited on 3/2/2009 5:32 PM
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nacpizle

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Re: Effect of using either the pinky finger or the index finger, or a full hand grip...
« Reply #3 on: March 02, 2009, 04:38:10 PM »
If, you have 5 holes in the ball, it would bring it out of usbc specs
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JessN16

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Re: Effect of using either the pinky finger or the index finger, or a full hand grip...
« Reply #4 on: March 02, 2009, 04:53:09 PM »
quote:
If, you have 5 holes in the ball, it would bring it out of usbc specs


Negative. You can have a total of 12 holes in a bowling ball: Five gripping holes, five vent holes (one for each finger), one weight hole and one "inspection hole" or "mill hole," which I haven't seen in a ball in ages.

Jess
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azus

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Re: Effect of using either the pinky finger or the index finger, or a full hand grip...
« Reply #5 on: March 02, 2009, 04:54:39 PM »
quote:
If, you have 5 holes in the ball, it would bring it out of usbc specs


No. you are allowed to use 5 holes for your 5 fingers, and vent holes to those and an X-hole for a total of 11 holes.
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AStrikingChink

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Re: Effect of using either the pinky finger or the index finger, or a full hand grip...
« Reply #6 on: March 03, 2009, 12:41:20 PM »
Jess,

Check this article out,  not sure how this guy is drilling balls but it sounds like he would drill an index finger and pinky finger hole in his bowling balls.  When I used to bowl in the Michigan Jr. Masters Tournaments years ago, the late great Dan Ottman from the PBA Central Region was the tournament director and he was always pushing this drilling method, it might be similar to what you are thinking.  I never paid much attention to it, but it does sound interesting the more I think about it.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCK/is_3_19/ai_76549164

Matt (the former chink of college bowling)
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JessN16

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Re: Effect of using either the pinky finger or the index finger, or a full hand grip...
« Reply #7 on: March 03, 2009, 12:56:47 PM »
quote:
Jess,

Check this article out,  not sure how this guy is drilling balls but it sounds like he would drill an index finger and pinky finger hole in his bowling balls.  When I used to bowl in the Michigan Jr. Masters Tournaments years ago, the late great Dan Ottman from the PBA Central Region was the tournament director and he was always pushing this drilling method, it might be similar to what you are thinking.  I never paid much attention to it, but it does sound interesting the more I think about it.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCK/is_3_19/ai_76549164

Matt (the former chink of college bowling)


Thanks, just sent you a PM.

If anyone knows exactly what's going on the link provided above, please share.

Jess
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themagician

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Re: Effect of using either the pinky finger or the index finger, or a full hand grip...
« Reply #8 on: March 03, 2009, 01:01:37 PM »
quote:
quote:
Jess,

Check this article out,  not sure how this guy is drilling balls but it sounds like he would drill an index finger and pinky finger hole in his bowling balls.  When I used to bowl in the Michigan Jr. Masters Tournaments years ago, the late great Dan Ottman from the PBA Central Region was the tournament director and he was always pushing this drilling method, it might be similar to what you are thinking.  I never paid much attention to it, but it does sound interesting the more I think about it.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCK/is_3_19/ai_76549164

Matt (the former chink of college bowling)


Thanks, just sent you a PM.

If anyone knows exactly what's going on the link provided above, please share.

Jess


The driller in my local town had a ball done this way and has tried to replicate it, he isn't that great of a driller so its not perfected for him but he is getting there. The drilling style uses a lot of reverse and a lot of away pitch. When he drills a ball "freestyle" he also turns the finger inserts counter-clockwise to get your hand at a different angle, doing this combined with the thumb pitches lays your hand on the ball and creates a very different feel. It is not for everyone but a few guys that crank on the ball in my town have experimented with it and really like it.

I don't know a whole lot on it and can find out some more tonight but then again its not from the "orginiator" so its hard to say how accurate it really is. Also I find that this "grip" is essentially the "offset" grip with away pitch in the thumb, but thats a whole different discussion.
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bowler001

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Re: Effect of using either the pinky finger or the index finger, or a full hand grip...
« Reply #9 on: March 03, 2009, 04:44:43 PM »
Jess,

Just did an index finger for a guy who experiences tendon problems in his ring finger, so he uses his index and middle finger now. I was very skeptical of it, but he ended up liking it, and bowled fairly well with it. The thing I found unusual about this particular style, was the ball doesn't really sit in the palm of your hand, it is more off to the side. He still seems to get decent revolutions, since he is still using only 2 fingers, but I still find it unusual. I recommended that sarge easter, but he was more willing to try something that is rarely done, lol.

Had he added an index to the existing grip, and used 3 fingers, I could see it working fairly well, but this was just goofy, but hey, he likes it so i cant complain.


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