Author Topic: Punching a ball for a broken finger (Read 5612 times)

joblo1978 · « **on:** August 30, 2009, 04:09:25 PM »

I have a question for all drillers and anyone who has familiarity with this.

BTW, this is my first post, there's lots of good info on this site.

I've been bowling for a long time, my girlfriend has recently picked up the sport too. She's gotten in the 160 range a few times with not even a year of bowling, a basic power groove reactive and conventinal drilling. I'm sure she wants to get more involved with a better ball and I would like to see her throw a fingertip drilling. Only thing is is while drunk one night (before I met her) she was wrestling with her sister and got her ring finger stuck in a belt loop, twisted and broke it. She has very little use of the tip and just moving it is painful still. She doesn't think she could throw a finger tip ball but has also never had the chance.

What do you guys think? I don't think the axis could be done in a way on that finger so it wouldn't hurt her. I think if she tried to generate any kind of lift with that finger on a 14 lb ball that she currently throws would result in alot of pain for her. It also has a funny angle to that fingertip also. She does not have a very strong wrist and doesn't throw the ball with alot of authority or have a high rev rate or speed....yet.

What about drilling up a ball with just her middle finger and pinky?

joblo1978 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 31, 2009, 12:45:27 AM »

With a finger tip grip on only the middle finger, is she really going to gain any benefits from a fingertip grip at all? Will she gain more control or lift over the ball at all?

joblo1978 · « **Reply #2 on:** August 31, 2009, 09:06:43 AM »

quote:
The ball will be more balanced and supported with the wrist and hand. The finger tip middle finger will still provide some extra lifting action. Hooking a bowling ball isn't done with the fingers. It's a combination of mechanics and a solid release point flat spot along with the un-rolling of the wrist. The finger upward action is not required to hook a ball.

What you would be doing is letting the ball sit in your girlfriends hand alittle better and less strain on the wrist and hand. It will eliminate some of the excessive grab that a conventional grip can give bowlers, thus helping out the bad finger and the lack of wrist strength.

Well...maybe not required, but when I unload on my ball, my fingers drive through.

JohnP · « **Reply #3 on:** August 31, 2009, 09:28:03 AM »

How serious is the GF about the game? If she's more a recreational bowler that's participating to be with you, leave her in the conventional grip she's used to. Spend the money you would have spent trying new grips to get her some good coaching. -- JohnP

joblo1978 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 31, 2009, 09:35:24 AM »

Does it matter really?

She's a potential league bowler. And she's getting her coaching from me. I think with my 10 years plus of bowling and a high of 278/734 I'm qualified to coach her. I'm just not familiar with drilling a bowling ball around an injury and figured I would look here.

joblo1978 · « **Reply #5 on:** August 31, 2009, 11:26:28 AM »

Well this got off topic reall quick. A simple question about drill up a ball and my average, level of skill, scores, years of bowling, qualifications to flip a hamburger and alot of other things are now an issue. I don't really have to explain myself but I have an affinity for correcting people.

-My skill and average has nothing to do with being being a registered and licensed coach. Just because I am not licensed, doesn't mean I don't know the game and cannot properly assist others with their game. Just because someone has a drivers license, doesn't mean they can drive. I see this daily as I'm sure many of you do as well. Some of you may be terrible licensed drivers yourselves. This issue is mute in this topic. I am qualified and currently responsible for more than most people can fathom in my profession however.

-I have no need to bowl vicariously through her. She can do whatever she wants and I have considered this. She understands the benefit of a fintertip grip and is just unsure if she can physically do it or not. It's as simple as that. Why on a serious bowling site someone is discouraging another to roll fingterip I will never no. How many conventional grip bowlers are in here flaming me I would like to know? How about you guys drill another ball conventional and pay for some coaching? Does that make any sense to go backwards in your game? Unless you have hit a wall, I don't see why. We just want her to do the best she can and utilize every advantage. This is clearly one of them. And no, not everyone is a league prospect, she is though, mainly because she is learning quickly and has considered it strongly. Time is the only issue.

-And what is this rationale that a high score does not make you good? I would consider a high score an indication at succeeding at some thing.

Let's try and stay on topic now that I have cleared these things up for you guys.

My observation is simply this. She's getting good roll on the ball, however her speed is low, her ball doesn't grip the lane hard and she's lacking carry because of this. I think a higher performance ball is an option for her and would be really curious to see how she does with one that carries through the pocket. It makes sense in every way to get her rolling fingertip (if she can physically do it) as opposed to her wanting to do it later.

Thanks for the earlier replies, whoever you guys are, we'll look into it and explore getting her power groove plugged and redrilled fingertip on the middle finger.

If she wants too

Jeez!

Guined · « **Reply #6 on:** August 31, 2009, 11:27:35 AM »

joblo1978

KWBOWLING846 is correct, maybe a little harsh about it, but correct. Bowling score has no relation to the ability to be a good coach/instructor. I know people that have numerous 300's and 800's and they would make horrible coaches. I also know people that are just average players that are certified USBC coaches and are excellent coaches. You see they have been properly trained to not only coach the fundamentals of the game but, to see the minor things that cause problems.

One of the most annoying things to me is when I hear someone say something like your problem is your pulling the ball. That's not coaching, that's noting and end result. A coach would be able to look farther back into the bowlers approach an recognize the problem area. They would then suggest solutions to correct the problem.

It's worth it to spend time with a certified coach. You could actually do more harm than good.

As far as layout you can try a the Sarge Easter grip. Some of todays great PBA player plyers are or have used it. Robert Smith, Mike Devaney, Michael Fagan.

Good luck and for your girlfreinds sake find her a coach.

KWBOWLING846 Very interesting obvservation about todays soft conditions and coaching! Could make for a great discussion topic.
--------------------
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Edited on 8/31/2009 11:28 AM

joblo1978 · « **Reply #7 on:** August 31, 2009, 11:35:52 AM »

You're exactly right. Stating you're "pulling the ball" does not help the bowler identify what was done wrong and what needs to be done to fix the problem.

My expalaining the fundamentals of bowling is in terms she can understand, followed by physical corrections she can make that have resulted in improvements.

Thanks for the concern.

Again can we stay on topic here?

michelle · « **Reply #8 on:** August 31, 2009, 01:12:06 PM »

Chief among things to check would be whether the finger is still in the healing process. Her orthopedist can give that interpretation. And being someone who tried bowling through a broken hand because we were losing the PWBA, I can tell you that it is NOT something I would recommend for a beginning bowler (which is still where the G/F would be classified).

If it is the residual twinge that can occur with some fractures that have healed as much as they are going to, then a professional driller will be able to make informed decisions regarding pitch and span after measuring the hand in question...

renaissanceman517kak · « **Reply #9 on:** August 31, 2009, 01:25:53 PM »

Good grief, I can't imagine why anyone would want to give you any advice...

And I'm wondering, if you're so qualified, how come you don't already know the answer to this question?

No Revs00300 · « **Reply #10 on:** August 31, 2009, 01:45:41 PM »

That was funny.

no300tj · « **Reply #11 on:** August 31, 2009, 02:07:39 PM »

Joblo, as you have found out, posting here requires thick skin. If your post stays on the home page long enough, her broken finger will be Bush's or Obama's fault.
If her finger is as good as it will get, a good driller should be able to come up with a plan to allow her to bowl pain free or with as little pain as possible. You may have to try a few things to hit on the right one.
--------------------
whoever said size doesn't matter never had trouble with a thumbhole

Kid Jete · « **Reply #12 on:** August 31, 2009, 02:13:06 PM »

These forums have gone even further downhill in the last few months than they already were... hard to believe, I know. I wouldn't even bother asking questions here. Just go find a good driller in your area and ask him. You won't have to worry about getting smartass burger flipping comments from internet tough guys. This is exactly why I rarely frequently this place anymore. When you need an answer to something do like I do and just PM one of the guys on this site that is here to help people with bowling, not act tough, bash on the government, etc. I would PM Brunsnick about the Sarge drilling, he still uses it himself as far as I know.

joblo1978 · « **Reply #13 on:** August 31, 2009, 02:26:17 PM »

I guess so. Don't seem to be any moderators here. That's cool though.

Yes the finger is as good as it will get. Thanks for all the help.

quote:
Joblo, as you have found out, posting here requires thick skin. If your post stays on the home page long enough, her broken finger will be Bush's or Obama's fault.
If her finger is as good as it will get, a good driller should be able to come up with a plan to allow her to bowl pain free or with as little pain as possible. You may have to try a few things to hit on the right one.
--------------------
whoever said size doesn't matter never had trouble with a thumbhole

EboHammer4ever · « **Reply #14 on:** August 31, 2009, 02:43:28 PM »

joblo1978...I would think you can have her try a Sarge Easter grip if her broken finger is as good as its going to get. Assuming that she can get into a conventional grip, I think she should be able to get into a Sarge Easter grip....but I would probably put about 1/2 to 3/4 reverse (away pitch from her palm) in her ring finger to help alleviate the pain.

I've never drilled a Sarge Easter grip myself...trying to remember what Robert Smiths specs were or Mike Devaney's but I would think it would help her create some revolutions.

I would also go to your driller and if he has a fitting ball, have her try it out, but with a ton of reverse (away pitch) in her ring finger and see how it feels with a finger tip grip in her ring finger...won't hurt to try it out on his stuff. Maybe also try a wrist brace for her as well (don't know if you said that in all these replys so I appologize if you said she does) that might give her support and take some stress off her finger.

All you can do is experiment now with her grip and try a couple things.

Good luck

Ebo4ever
--------------------
Jarrett Roseboom
Ebonite fan
pics of my equipment
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Author Topic: Punching a ball for a broken finger (Read 5612 times)

joblo1978

Punching a ball for a broken finger

joblo1978

Re: Punching a ball for a broken finger

joblo1978

Re: Punching a ball for a broken finger

JohnP

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joblo1978

Re: Punching a ball for a broken finger

joblo1978

Re: Punching a ball for a broken finger

Guined

Re: Punching a ball for a broken finger

joblo1978

Re: Punching a ball for a broken finger

michelle

Re: Punching a ball for a broken finger

renaissanceman517kak

Re: Punching a ball for a broken finger

No Revs00300

Re: Punching a ball for a broken finger

no300tj

Re: Punching a ball for a broken finger

Kid Jete

Re: Punching a ball for a broken finger

joblo1978

Re: Punching a ball for a broken finger

EboHammer4ever

Re: Punching a ball for a broken finger