Two finger spare shots

[slickstrings]

I recently got a fingertip ball but am not good enough yet to shoot spares with it, so I use my old ball with a conventional grip. However, I heard that way back in the day balls only had two holes cause it increased accuracy in straight lines. I've seen pictures of balls like this too. So I've since been experimenting with throwing the ball with just my thumb and middle finger and it does seem to go dead straight. Is this a bad habit to get into cause I've really never seen anyone do this anymore.

[ArtVandelay]

Does it work for you?

Im not aware of any rules against it. If you like it, and it works, I say go for it! Who cares if its a bad habit if it works for you! Once youre averaging a nice score, and picking up all your spares, maybe people will copy you and you will bring it back!

[billf]

I imagine it lost favor due to the extra weight being off balanced in the hand but if it works, go for it.

[ecub]

I recently got a fingertip ball but am not good enough yet to shoot spares with it, so I use my old ball with a conventional grip. However, I heard that way back in the day balls only had two holes cause it increased accuracy in straight lines. I've seen pictures of balls like this too. So I've since been experimenting with throwing the ball with just my thumb and middle finger and it does seem to go dead straight. Is this a bad habit to get into cause I've really never seen anyone do this anymore.

Does your bowling ball have a weight/balance hole? If so, and part of your hand does not cover the unused finger hole, then I believe it is ILLEGAL.

[GeorgiaStroker]

Does your bowling ball have a weight/balance hole? If so, and part of your hand does not cover the unused finger hole, then I believe it is ILLEGAL.

As long as he could reasonably demonstrate that the hole can be used by the finger in a normal delivery it is legal. Since the ball is normally used with three fingers then throwing it with two does not violate the rules.

[J Anderson]

I recently got a fingertip ball but am not good enough yet to shoot spares with it, so I use my old ball with a conventional grip. However, I heard that way back in the day balls only had two holes cause it increased accuracy in straight lines. I've seen pictures of balls like this too. So I've since been experimenting with throwing the ball with just my thumb and middle finger and it does seem to go dead straight. Is this a bad habit to get into cause I've really never seen anyone do this anymore.

Not a bad habit to get into if works for you. If I remember correctly, Walter Ray Williams Jr. used to shoot ten pins this way. When I don't use a plastic ball for the ten I do it too.

[Zothen]

It is perfectly ok to shoot spares with your thumb & middle finger. I do when I really need to flatten out my spare ball! Back in the late 80's til I left in 2000,that is how I picked up spares. I got that tip from Pete Weber or Walter Ray I think back in the 90's when the PBA had tip of the week during their telecasts.

Zothen