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Author Topic: two fingers no thumb bowling with the one hand?? pros and cons of this?  (Read 69445 times)

looseleftie

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Hi all
My team mate over the last year has begun bowling without his thumb in ball. He cradles ball between hand and lower arm. He generates a ton of revs, has strong forward roll, and sends the pins all over the place creating awesome ball reaction and regular strike bonanza.

My question, should I follow him? His av has picked up 20 pins, and he is only improving.Is this a technique that can be used till you're  70 yrs. He uses only a 12lb ball, but u wouldn't know it when the ball his the pins!!!

Myself, more of a stroker, not a great angle of entry or a ton of revs. It is just so exciting to watch. The green eyed monster returns LOL!!

I would love to read your thoughts on this.

Does anybody else bowl the same, or have views regarding this technique?? I would love to know any pros/cons with this?
Take care
LL

 

looseleftie

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Re: two fingers no thumb bowling with the one hand?? pros and cons of this?
« Reply #1 on: January 28, 2008, 05:41:48 AM »
Hi guys thanks for the quick replies.

Freakin, good point, there are no pros that I know of who do this, but to be honest, I am not a pro, nor my team mate. I don't bowl anywhere near the number of games, so I am looking at perhaps trying this. I would be most happy to av close to 200 or so....

I don't know, I really want as many  takes/opinions on this post.

Are there many/or any higher av bowlers who use this technique???

Also, are there any potential long term problems (physically) with this action??
I want to bowl till I'm old and grey. I've already got the grey. SOB,SOB!!

Look forward to all thoughts on this.
LL

Zanatos1914

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Re: two fingers no thumb bowling with the one hand?? pros and cons of this?
« Reply #2 on: January 28, 2008, 06:44:13 AM »
Bowling 2 fingers is more of power game because you want be able to control your revs on the ball and you have to be able to get the ball down the lane and hit your mark..

Most important thing is reading the lane and seeing the oil and knowing your breaking point.  


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RotoGripGal

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Re: two fingers no thumb bowling with the one hand?? pros and cons of this?
« Reply #3 on: January 28, 2008, 06:56:18 AM »
I would stay away from it.  You're more apt to either mess up your back or your wrist.  I would either talk to someone in your pro shop or even one of the higher averaged bowlers in your house.  There may be some simple adjustments you can make to increase your average.  Let's face it, unless you use a video camera you can't see your approach, so having a second pair of eyes isn't a bad thing.  It might even be the case, that although you have a good ball, it doesn't fit well with your bowling technique.
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se7en

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Re: two fingers no thumb bowling with the one hand?? pros and cons of this?
« Reply #4 on: January 28, 2008, 07:33:32 AM »
Pros:

You wont have to deal with callus.

You get a discount on ball drilling.

Cons:

You wont really ever be that good on anything but walled up house shots, and even then, it's rare to see a thumbless bowler break out of the 190s.

PS: Jason and Osku are two-handed bowlers. There's a big difference.
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badnuzjr

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Re: two fingers no thumb bowling with the one hand?? pros and cons of this?
« Reply #5 on: January 28, 2008, 07:46:03 AM »
I bowl my strike shot with two fingers and my spares with thumb in ball.  I have been doing it for about a year and half now.  I have bowled in only 2 sanctioned leagues, the first the PBA Experience league last summer and now in a standard USBC league.

Bowling is about repeatability and if you can be repetitive with 2 fingers than go for it.  If you can't, try something else.  Here are a couple pictures from this weekends action...

http://www.freewebs.com/badnuzjr/1.27.08a.jpg
http://www.freewebs.com/badnuzjr/1.27.08b.jpg

That is my track inertia.  And as you can see clearly, thumb out of ball.
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Edited on 1/28/2008 8:48 AM

another300

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Re: two fingers no thumb bowling with the one hand?? pros and cons of this?
« Reply #6 on: January 28, 2008, 12:24:00 PM »
Well Mike Miller from New Mexico won 4 PBA titles using the no thumb release and has thrown 55 300's according to stats http://www.stormbowling.com/company/bowler-staff.asp?tour=6

Pro's -
Lots of rev's
Great pin action
great carry
more area

Con's -
takes years to master
will have to learn to bowl with thumb when you get older
horrid splits
more suseptible to wrist problems

notgoodenuf

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Re: two fingers no thumb bowling with the one hand?? pros and cons of this?
« Reply #7 on: January 28, 2008, 01:53:04 PM »
well bowling with 2 fingers is what i do.  like 7 years ago when i started bowling i couldn't really hook it the "normal" way.  so i started bowling with two fingers.  

starting out, its pretty impossible to be consistent and accurate. but now after working at it, i have a lot more versitility and accuracy.  i can play as straight as a lot of people with there thumb in the ball. i don't really have a lot of problems leaving obscence splits.you throw it good you get good results....you throw it bad, you pay.....just like always. its just about how much effort you want to put into it.  as far as physical problems, i throw 15 pound equipment and haven't had any problems....but i am still young, only 25....bowling since 18.


like was stated earlier, you just have to be able to repeat whatever you choose....its all about repeating

Spartan

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Re: two fingers no thumb bowling with the one hand?? pros and cons of this?
« Reply #8 on: January 28, 2008, 02:05:24 PM »
well, you stated the pros. more hook, better revs, and better carry. plus the power and onlookers.
the cons are:
-insane splits
-somewhat difficult to use for spares
-hard to be accurate
-takes lots of practice to use effectively

however, one of my good friends is a no thumber. mind, he's bowled this way since he started. his average is around 225 and he is leading our invitational youth scratch travel league. but, the only way to describe him is a stroker-his style is very smooth. no extra wrist or hand stuff, he just rolls the ball. but yes, he has high revs. his ball speed is about 16-17 mph.

hope this helps and best of luck.
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MrNoThumb

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Re: two fingers no thumb bowling with the one hand?? pros and cons of this?
« Reply #9 on: January 28, 2008, 02:15:55 PM »
I'am one of those bolwers that don't use a thumb, bowled like that for 16 plus years, something I wished I wouldn't have started. My wrist is sore after bowling, hand swells up after 6 games, but I average 205 without my thumb. I have tried to put my thumb back in the ball and can't even hold it anymore. Shot my 300 without thumb also.
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azus

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Re: two fingers no thumb bowling with the one hand?? pros and cons of this?
« Reply #10 on: January 28, 2008, 02:16:16 PM »
I know a bowler that used to bowl like that. He didnt do greate, avg max 140, now he uses a thumb hole. Much more precise when he bowls, scores has gone up.
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mrbowlingnut

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Re: two fingers no thumb bowling with the one hand?? pros and cons of this?
« Reply #11 on: January 28, 2008, 02:22:35 PM »
He won 1 title thumbless the others were as a 3 finger bowler, yes his 300 on tv was thumbless using a fire quantum he is very smooth for thumbless but shoots spares 3 fingered.


quote:
Well Mike Miller from New Mexico won 4 PBA titles using the no thumb release and has thrown 55 300's according to stats http://www.stormbowling.com/company/bowler-staff.asp?tour=6

Pro's -
Lots of rev's
Great pin action
great carry
more area

Con's -
takes years to master
will have to learn to bowl with thumb when you get older
horrid splits
more suseptible to wrist problems


VIXIV

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Re: two fingers no thumb bowling with the one hand?? pros and cons of this?
« Reply #12 on: January 28, 2008, 02:23:43 PM »
I'll finish off my practice sessions throwing with no thumb, just for fun. here's a quick vid from a few months ago:

VID

I started out throwing no thumb before I had my own equipment. It was so annoying trying to find a house ball that wasn't gonna annoy that much. When I finally got my own stuff drilled, I was just so used to it and comfortable with it, that I stuck with it. Yeah, if you're serious about this sport, stick with the conventional and proper way of throwing it.

Oh, and please try not to hurt yourself if you try this! lol I see too many people who get really close to face planting or launching themselves into the adjacent lane lol

Zanatos1914

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Re: two fingers no thumb bowling with the one hand?? pros and cons of this?
« Reply #13 on: January 28, 2008, 02:43:17 PM »
quote:
I'am one of those bolwers that don't use a thumb, bowled like that for 16 plus years, something I wished I wouldn't have started. My wrist is sore after bowling, hand swells up after 6 games, but I average 205 without my thumb. I have tried to put my thumb back in the ball and can't even hold it anymore. Shot my 300 without thumb also.
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Bowling balls are like video games I don't need anymore but I keep buying them.


Dude I have a question...
Since you have been bowling longer than me how are you holding the ball.
I noticed your comments about the wrist and etc..
Started throwing a 16 but dropped down to 15.2 with a brace to support my wrist... Megaforce 9000

I like the extra grip on the ball...


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high_revs

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Re: two fingers no thumb bowling with the one hand?? pros and cons of this?
« Reply #14 on: January 28, 2008, 03:12:39 PM »
I converted & it works for me.  I was a stroker for 18 years (40 years old) and is a pretty consistant spare shooter, but could not consistantly string strikes.  Five years ago, converted to 1 handed no-thumb strike ball & with thumb for spares.  Could never compete in local scratch tournaments, since stringing strikes is a priority.  Now, although not averaging as high as the the elite bowlers, at least I can keep up with them more times than not. And it does not bother me not having the high 220+ average, since I would rather compete in tournaments than carry a high average. cheers