Bitten by the bowling bug.

[RoccoRock]

I am driving my wife nuts. In the last 2 years I have gotten more and more into bowling. I started with a league once a week, now I do the one league, about 20 games of practice a week, and I have a nice collection of bowling balls. She wishes I didn't get this into it, but she suggested we join the league, so its's on her. My only regret is that I didn't get into bowling until I was in my mid 30's. I did bowl for a while when I was 19, but I didn't get addicted like I am now. Right now I am trying to transition into a more conventional game, for the last 2 years I've been palm bowling, or two handing. I've had some success with those styles, I even have a 300 game 2 handed in a practice session. I just feel like I am just way too inconsistent palming the ball, and two handed is too hard for me to repeat my delivery. No matter what style I end up using, I am hooked, and even if I am "stuck" being a palm bowler, I just love bowling, and hope to keep getting better. Just figured I would introduce myself by telling everyone a little about me, and hopefully I'll become a regular poster.

[GeorgiaStroker]

Welcome to the forum Rocco. Lot's of good info here, and the best part is that there is none of the judgemental, bowlier than thou attitudes that seem to be present on other forums. The guys and gals here are very helpful and knowledgeable so feel free to ask for help as needed, just remember all the advice is worth what you pay for it. lol. In other words you may get conflicting advice because what works well for me might not work for you. Make sure you have a good grasp of the basics, especially since you are changing delivery styles, maybe look into trying a coach to get you started on the right path, then practice practice practice. Video is the best helper. Try to get some tape of yourself when you are really going great so you will have a reference to compare it to when you are having a slump. Mostly have fun. Bowling is a sport you can play for a lifetime if you don't let it frustrate the heck out of you. There is always a good game waiting around the corner when your tanking and always a bad game waiting when you're on the top of your form. Laugh off the bad games and set em up one more time.

[billf]

Welcome to the forum. I also started bowling after being well into my 30's (36). I didn't take it very seriously until about a year and a half ago. Now I bowl three leagues Aug through May and two during the summer. It's a blast and I really wish I had started earlier in life. It's as much fun as baseball and football for me but without the heat and screaming coaches.
I recently found out that my grandfather bowled for 40 years. Maybe he would have gotten me started if he lived longer. He was my mother's step-father but we are a lot alike. I found out a few years ago that we also share the same profession.

anyway, this site is filled with good people that are always willing to offer a hand.

[The German Shepherd]

Welcome Rocco. You will find a welath of good info here. BTW, I have a coupl of bowling acquaintances that palm the ball and they had to learn it following the mastery of bowling with the thre finger style (yes, I know the thumb is not a finger...;))

Jay

[ursus]

Welcome aboard Rocco!! I also didn't start bowling untill recently in my early 40s

[RoccoRock]

Thanks for the welcome guys. I practice a lot, and I do video most of them to see what's right and whats wrong. I don't have a coach, but I get a lot of good advice my my local pro shop guy. I think I know were my game is headed. Much lile Osku Palerma, or Tom Daughtety, and Tom Smallwood, I will probably end up palming the strike ball, and put my thumb in for spares. My biggest problem with my thumb in is lack of power. I can hook it, but it's almost 3 miles an hour slower than my palm ball. Even my two handed is a mile an hour slower than the palm ball. Once I get sorted out, I'll look into paying for a coach, even if it's for one or two lessons.

[TheSheibs]

Welcome to the forum. I don't know too much about two handed bowling style. There are some on here that know about better than I do so I will leave that to them. As for your wife getting on your case for getting into bowling as much as you have. I have the same problem. Only my wife doesn't bowl. At least you can take her with you to spend some time together. Hopefully my wife will get interested a little bit more. Good luck.

[martinezsam2495]

Welcome Rocco, I have a feeling your going to win the ball.
Just a pinch of the feeling,
don't worry let that bug keep on biting, it's going to give you a fun way to blow off steam.

[RoccoRock]

Bowled 24 games of practice last night. Even though the scores weren't great, I was happy, and most important comfortable with my thumb in. In fact, when I took my thumb out for a few games I didn't like the feel at all. It has always been the opposite for me, thumb in was awkward and thumb out was like going home. My MPH was up with my thumb i , still not as hard as thumb in, but now it's in a range that I can deal with. Strung a few strikes a few times (best string of the night was thumb in), made most of my makable spares, and most importantly (to me) looked good. I have to get one of my newer balls re drilled and see what happens. I'm debating on doing it with my 607a or my 508a. I really dont want to do the 607a because it's the ball that works the best without my thumb, and I kind of want to keep it the way it is in case I want to go back. I may just do my strongest ball, a 919c, but that needs to be resurfaced too, and moneys tight.

[billf]

Completely re-drilled or just the thumb? Given that money doesn't grow on trees, despite what my kids think, I would suggest waiting and getting the Vise IT (interchangeable thumb). That once you get a thumb that's comfortable you can have it on all your balls. Just getting the inner piece done on the others is fairly inexpensive. The comfort level will help when going from ball to ball also.
I also wouldn't recommend doing the 607a first. The reason you gave is valid and it just wouldn't make sense to change your go to ball until you're sure that's what you will stick with.

[RoccoRock]

Completely re-drilled or just the thumb? Given that money doesn't grow on trees, despite what my kids think, I would suggest waiting and getting the Vise IT (interchangeable thumb). That once you get a thumb that's comfortable you can have it on all your balls. Just getting the inner piece done on the others is fairly inexpensive. The comfort level will help when going from ball to ball also.
I also wouldn't recommend doing the 607a first. The reason you gave is valid and it just wouldn't make sense to change your go to ball until you're sure that's what you will stick with.

I would probably have to plug and re drill. Both the 508a and the 607a are currently drilled specificly for my no thumb delivery. The thumbhole on both is shifted to the right, and I put my fingers in to the second knuckle. The 919c is closer to being ready to go, it really would only need a new slug and grips, but again it definatly needs resurfacing. If I do it, I'll probably do it with the 508a. I most definatly will do an interchangeable thumb, although my driller only has the turbo switch grip system. I may also see what he has for used balls on his shelf. Looks like I'm making a trip to the pro shop tonight. The good news, to me anyway, is a lot of the advice you guys are giving me are things I either already do, or things I'm planning on. That tells me I just might be on the right track, or at least within site of it.