I am considering putting a small amount of reverse pitch in my finger holes. I have a 5"+ span and am starting to have some pain in the first joint of my middle finger.  Also, I have read some posts on this board about using reverse pitches on longer spans.  I currently use no forward or reverse pitch in my fingers and use the semi grips.  Would these grips be countering the effects of putting reverse pitch in the fingers and should I just go with the regular ovals?

Wayne,
Yes I am using the grips with the hump, I find them to be very comfortable.  My span is already shortened slightly.  Do you feel that you lost revs when you added the reverse to the fingers?

i use the same grips and kept tearing my fingers, so i went to 3/8 reverse and i cannot begin to tell you how comfortable my fingers feel now.

no tears, no pain.. the ball just comes right off the hand cleaner.
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Paul Smith
04/05 PBA West Region Rookie of the Year
Ebonite Regional Staff
"Bowl to Win"

Thanks for all the great responses.
JohnP, I have tried balls without grips up until last year.  Since going back to grips I have been bowling much better.  I actually dug an old Teal Pro Zone out of the closet that has no grips in it that I might be able to have the shop drill for grips without needing to plug to try out a new pitch.
Paul, funny you mention the tearing, I was practicing a few weeks ago and in the 8'th game my middle finger ripped open at the joint on my ring finger side.  I used to always get cracking there from grips until I went to looser grips and the semis.  
Wayne, I have heard of the vacuum grip system and have thought about trying that as well.  From what I understand the finger holes are drilled with two different depths and sizes and then the grips are only glued in on the front, is that basically it?  I like hearing you didn't lose revs.  I was thinking that if this did turn out to be more comfortable then I might actually be able to hit the ball better as you indicated.

Spare Time -- Try 5/8 reverse on the MF and 1/2 reverse on the RF.  If you use grips with forward pitch added in, add 3/16 reverse to offset it.  If your driller has an adjustable fitting ball, have him put these pitches in and see how they feel.  --  JohnP

I just received some Vise grips a week ago that I ordered for the power lift side. They have the power lift on one end and the knob (semi?) on the other. I am confused how a knob part way down in the grip below the top of grip is supposed to work. Is your finger supposed to go in so deep that the center of the knob is at the first joint or the first joint below the knob? It looks to me like if you put your finger in only to the first joint like you do on the power lift side, that with the finger tip on top of the knob center you would have the same as reverse pitch.

Hard to explain here what I am asking. Does anyone know what I am saying?


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Brick

mogators, based on your flexibility & it's your middle finger bothering you, I would try 1/4 to 3/8 on the middle, & 1/8 less on the ring from what you put in the middle. You may also find you will need to adjust the span just slightly on one of the fingers to get the even feel of both again if you know what I mean. You may even want to try the vacu-grips while you're at it. There's nothing more comfotable! Let us know what you do & the results.
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Wayne
Hardcore FOS

Rom 2:2 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools

That's not bad Andy! I've actually seen a lot of those & I think the manufacturer just killed 2 birds with 1 stone. Probably convenience for pro shops!
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Wayne
Hardcore FOS

Rom 2:2 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools