Talk Bowling

Question from Brandon:
Q – The tendon on the inside of my thumb (where my thumb connects to my hand) gets very sore/painful and, if I bowl several times a week or more than 3 games at a time, it starts to affect my throw. I start losing the ball early because I can’t keep a hold on the ball as easily. If I don’t use vaseline/neosporin and some bowling tape to protect the skin there the skin tears open and causes even more pain. I usually use my 16lb Brunswick Nemesis and this has been a problem from the first time I used the ball.

My question is:
Is it common for the tendon on the inside of your thumb supposed to get sore/painful when bowling a lot? Is this something that the guys throwing 20+ games a week have just gotten used to or is the grip on my ball slightly too far apart?

Thanks,

Brandon

A – We are not doctors, but there is no reason you should hurt because of bowling. If you are hurting, you should have your equipment looked at by a pro shop operator and your hand looked at by a doctor.

As for the skin tearing problem, I have the same issue. I now use protecting tape, but when bowling a lot, that tends to still get very sore. What I find for myself, is that I am gripping the ball too much, putting to much flex in my knuckle, as if I need to hold onto the bowling ball. This is the wrong approach. Your thumb should be snug enough that the ball holds onto your thumb, not your thumb holding onto the ball. The force of the delivery should help your thumb out of the bowling ball on its own.

Question from Brian:
Q – My question is with regards to tournament play. I am having a problem with making a transition from game to game. Each game we move one to two pairs and I often am at a loss in the first 3-5 frames causing me to play catch up towards the end of the game. How do you approach the first shot on a new pair during tournament play?

Thanks for your time,

Brian S

A – I think that’s the whole reason they make you move. To let people that adjust quicker, more effective. After all, it’s a sport, and adjusting shows that you have more skill than your opponents.

Most tournaments have you moving just one pair over. Meaning that you can watch what is working for the people currently on that pair while you are waiting. Normally the lanes are not so vastly different that you have to make big moves from where you are currently at, but I have seen them vary widely.

The goal when you move pairs in a tournament is to make a safe shot in the opening frame and not only give yourself a look at the way that lane is playing but to at least come out of there with a spare. Like it was said above, the lanes normally are fairly close but due to the previous bowlers and type of tournament, they may not be close at all. Make smart shots until you get lined up and do not make your adjustments so big that you get yourself in trouble. Try not to get frustrated, once you do it is very difficult to overcome. Think about what you saw in the motion of your bowling ball and if you are lucky enough to not to be the first bowler watch your opponents or team mates ball reaction.

Question from Asro:
Q – Hi, my name is Asri from Singapore.. I intend to play two handed bowling like Jason Belmonte style. As you know this style does not uses the thumb.
Hence, we are required to use both fingers and to what extent does i need to insert my fingers? it is just the fingertips or has to insert those fingers deeper in, like what we would do when using those plastic houseballs? Thank you.

A – This applies to the rules in the US, which I assume are comparable all over the world. I would check with your local association if you are concerned about being disqualified for any reason.

I think you are referring to the fact that there can only be one hole in the bowling ball that is not used for gripping purposes (usually a weight hole). That rule just says that you have to prove you can use the hole for gripping, not that you HAVE to use it during competition. Fingertips into the finger holes would suffice. I think Jason and some of the other well know two handed bowlers go back and forth from just finger tips to fingers all the way into the ball like a conventional grip.

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Last Week’s Question of the Week:
Q – Who was the first professional athlete to complete in a national PBA Tour event?
A – Larry Sieple – punter, Super Bowl Champion Miami Dolphins, circa 1974 at Bird Bowl in Miami, Fla.

Question of the Week:
Q – Who was the first PBA bowler to roll more than one 300 game in the same tournament on multiple occasions?
A – Watch the next episode

New Releases / Videos:

Choose Your Path Contest – Congratulations to COREY P on being selected as the winner of the Choose Your Path Contest! Chris is the lucky winner of a Pyramid Path bowling ball (Any Color/Weight), Path Bowling Bag (Any Color/Model) and Any Pyramid Shoe! Thank you to all who participated!

10000 likes on bowlinball.com (currently 9850) and have a chance to win 1 – $100 G/C, 2 – $50 G/C, or 4 – $25 G/C good on bowlingball.com

Contest reminder:
bowlingball.com gives away a brand new bowling ball every week of the year. 52 weeks, 52 winners. All you have to do is signup for our contest weekly.
Also through the end of the 2012, there is a separate giveaway just for participating on BowlingBoards.com. Come join the community of bowlers there, discuss equipment, lane conditions, tips, techniques, and more. Every post you make is an entry into a drawing for a brand new bowling ball.

Closing:
Please remember that bowlingball.com is free shipping on every item, every day. No hidden handling fees, no packaging fees, no added insurance fees. The price shown is the price you pay at checkout. No Surprises.

Question from Johnny Yang:
Q – I currently throw a 14 pound bowling ball at 16 mph with decent amount of revolutions on the ball ; I was wondering if I should move to a 12 pound ball where I can get LOTS of revolution on the ball and be able to amp up the ball speed to 18-19. Hope I get my question answered. THANKS!

A – There are so many things to discuss with this question. First off, most 12 pound bowling balls do not have the same weight block as their heavier versions. Usually 14 pounds is the weight in which the cores are most effective.

There is more to bowling than just speed and revolutions. Accuracy would be a huge concern. Usually when the bowling ball is too light for the bowler, they tend to be much less accurate. Also, with a lighter bowling ball, you have much more potential for deflection. The pins will actually be more of a roadblock to the ball than with heavier bowling balls.

My personal opinion, stay where you are at. 16MPH is a good ball speed as long as you are consistent and getting some revolutions on the ball. Also remember that just because you increase your ball speed, it does not mean that your ball will hit the pins any harder or with more force.

Question from Kevin:
Q – Why did the PBA stop using the Gold Pins and I think you mentioned this before but I couldn’t find it. Which is better More Power/Speed with major hook, or less power less hook.

A – I really don’t know the reason they stopped using the gold pins.

As far as power/speed, we kind of just addressed that in the last question. A heavier bowling ball will provide more “power” at the pins provided it has enough speed and revolutions. You want driving power into the pins, not necessarily hook. People want to see the big hook, moving the bowling ball from gutter to gutter and back again, but that doesn’t increase your carry percentage. You want enough hook to get the ball driving into the pocket at an aggressive angle to help carry the pins.

More power/more hook or less power/less hook. What really matters is how your ball in entering the pocket and how it is driving through the pins.

Sponsor:
This weeks episode is brought to b Roto Grip and the all new Defiant. The Defiant features the all new Paragon core designed to help expand the RG plane of the ball. This revolutionary core is wrapped in the all new MicroBite coverstock that is stronger and more textured then the competition.
This combination offers you strong midlane roll and a huge continuous, sweeping hook on the backend.

Check out the Defiant and other top sellers from Roto Grip on bowlingball.com.

How to contact us
Email us questions@talkbowling.com
Leave a comment on TalkBowling.com
On Twitter we are @TalkBowling
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Last Week’s Question of the Week:
Q – Who was the first PBA Champion to win titles using a three step approach, a four step approach, and a five step approach?
A – Former PBA TV analyst Mike Durbin

Question of the Week:
Q – Which bowling center in the U.S. boasted the most lanes in a non-split house before it’s eventual demolition?
A – Watch the next episode

Choose Your Path Contest – Get 2000 likes and win a Choose Your Path Prize Pack
10000 likes on bowlinball.com and have a chance to win 1 – $100 G/C, 2 – $50 G/C, or 4 – $25 G/C good on bowlingball.com

Contest reminder:
bowlingball.com gives away a brand new bowling ball every week of the year. 52 weeks, 52 winners. All you have to do is signup for our contest weekly.
Also through the end of the 2012, there is a separate giveaway just for participating on BowlingBoards.com. Come join the community of bowlers there, discuss equipment, lane conditions, tips, techniques, and more. Every post you make is an entry into a drawing for a brand new bowling ball.

Closing:
Please remember that bowlingball.com is free shipping on every item, every day. No hidden handling fees, no packaging fees, no added insurance fees. The price shown is the price you pay at checkout. No Surprises.