Intermediate Bowler New Ball questions

[jetson]

Some background:I bowled in a league as a youngster and having only been an occasional bowler until recently taking up the sport and bowling several games weekly. I said intermediate bowler because I average about 145-150 (high game of 232 a couple weeks ago). I have always thrown a straight ball but would like to develop a hook and am starting some lessons to improve my game. I say lessons but it's basically free advice from a guy that's averaging about 230-240 that bowls next to us most weeks. I just purchased my own shoes and the Hammer Arson (red/black/silver) 15# ball. This will be my only ball (no separate spare ball).

I spoke to a couple different pros about getting the ball drilled and they both wanted to see me bowl and said I should go with a fingertip grip/drilling. Since I will be REALLY changing my game in the near future, I'm not sure what good watching how I bowl right now would be useful. A couple of other guys I often see bowling that average around 200 just bought new balls and went away from fingertip to conventional grips and both said they like it a lot better. I understand their bias towards liking their new equipment but I still place some value in what they say. I saw that Hammer gives up to five different drilling patterns. So, with all of this my questions are:
1.) should I even get this ball drilled right now or just work on my game and then get it drilled when I know more about my "new" style, game, etc. or just drill it now and then either get it re-drilled or get a new ball later?
2.) what are the pros and cons of conventional vs. fingertip grips?
3.) how do I go about selecting from thedifferent drilling layouts (http://hammerbowling.com/images/uploads/pdf/CTNH-035_Symmetric_Core_Drill_Sheet.pdf)

Sorry this is so long, thanks a lot for taking the time to read and post.

[jbeck]

Welcome! Since I'm not that knowledgable on these topics or don't want to give you wrong advice...I'd say look into the FAQs here. I didn't know about them when I first joined here, but there is some real valuable info there including videos! I will say go with fingertip to get more control though and keep practicing...it'll come.

[e-tank]

I had this same problem before i decided to get my own ball.

I would either get your positive axis point(pap) measured at your pro shop or just have them drill your arson with a generic pap so your can work on your hook. A ball that fits you vs a house ball is night and day difference in control, feel and hooking. Since its your first ball id just get the standard layout. As you get better youll start to know what you want in a ball and can either re drill it or buy a new one to compliment your arson

[ecub]

1.) should I even get this ball drilled right now or just work on my game and then get it drilled when I know more about my "new" style, game, etc. or just drill it now and then either get it re-drilled or get a new ball later?
Bowling requires consistency. Get the bowl plugged & redrilled for fingertip. You will get out of the ball easier, and it allows to create better revs for hook.

2.) what are the pros and cons of conventional vs. fingertip grips?
Fingertip allows you to get out of the ball cleaner, and create a hook.

3.) how do I go about selecting from thedifferent drilling layouts (http://hammerbowling.com/images/uploads/pdf/CTNH-035_Symmetric_Core_Drill_Sheet.pdf)
Tell what what kind of shot you want. The pro shop guy will then drill it out to your specs. Don't worry about PAP yet. Since it's your first time with fingertip, you probably won't have a consistent release to have one. A generic, using the sheet, layout will work. I used it for several years. Later as you home in on your game, you will know what you want, and therefore, can get more specific on the drilling layout.

Welcome to the forum! :)

[billf]

Welcome. Finger tip all the way. Accuracy is the most important part of this game and those allow all the variants that lead to accuracy to be done easier and better. Layout choice; leave to the pro shop for now until you get your style down and have a clue what kind of hook you are the most comfortable with.

[Tampabaybob]

Welcome to the boards. I'll agree with Bill and tell you to start off with a fingertip drilling also. It's a much more comfortable grip, easier to release and easier to learn to throw a hook with. Have the pro shop person drill your ball the way he thinks it should be for a new bowler. Here, you have to trust his judgement and experience to get you started on the right track. If you want to throw a hook, probably the easiest way to explain it to you is that it would be releasing the ball as though you're turning a door knob to open the door. Hold your thumb at 12:00 from start to finish and as your thumb is coming out of the ball "OPEN THE DOOR". Just a quick flick of the wrist and fingers and watch your ball roll over your target. That should get you where you want to be to start. Good luck and let us know how you're doing.

[billf]

It just dawned on me why the door knob analogy never made sense to me. I bowl right handed but am left handed. So not only would I be using the wrong hand but turning it the wrong way lmao

[ArtVandelay]

I woldnt worry about PAP or anything like that since you will be learning so you will likely be changing over time, and the PAP wont end up accurate.

As far as fingertip vs conventional... I have never heard of someone going BACK to conventional and liking it better if they were COMMITTED to finger tip and learning fingertip, and eventually comfortable with fingertip. If you arent comfortable learning fingertip, you have to be honest with yourself and go conventional. Learning fingertip will be uncomfortable, and it will take time. You have to have a lot of patience. But you will like it much better if you learn it properly.

As far as drilling... I prefer a pin down layout because I think it makes the ball react more predictable. I think the most common layout is pin high, but I would tell the driller that you will be learning and you want a layout that will be adaptable to your learning process, and easier to read and more predictable in its action. Explain that you are learning, so having them watc your current style might not be a good indication of what you need.

Good luck!

[jetson]

Thanks guys. I took your advice and went fingertip. The pro, Jim Hintze at Madison Plaza Lanes, took a great deal of time listening to me and drilled it using the pattern he decided upon while I waited. We then took to the lanes and he helped me tremendously. The ball feels comfortable and I was hooking it and felt like I have some control almost immediately. Jim is really easy to talk to, answered all my questions and gave me some excellent tips on my whole delivery. Right now, aside from inconsistency (if I remember what he said) my speed can be a bit too high compared to my rev rate and I have to slow some things down a bit. Obviously, there is a lot more to it than that and I have a lot of practicing and learning to go, but for a new ball, and a new way of bowling, in both grip and arm/hand position, I felt much more comfortable than I expected. Tomorrow night will be my first time out bowling games and I'm really looking forward to it.

[e-tank]

Thanks guys. I took your advice and went fingertip. The pro, Jim Hintze at Madison Plaza Lanes, took a great deal of time listening to me and drilled it using the pattern he decided upon while I waited. We then took to the lanes and he helped me tremendously. The ball feels comfortable and I was hooking it and felt like I have some control almost immediately. Jim is really easy to talk to, answered all my questions and gave me some excellent tips on my whole delivery. Right now, aside from inconsistency (if I remember what he said) my speed can be a bit too high compared to my rev rate and I have to slow some things down a bit. Obviously, there is a lot more to it than that and I have a lot of practicing and learning to go, but for a new ball, and a new way of bowling, in both grip and arm/hand position, I felt much more comfortable than I expected. Tomorrow night will be my first time out bowling games and I'm really looking forward to it.

Awesome. Listen to the pro and post any questions you have here + practice and youll get better pretty fast. I went from a 130 avg in December to fairly consistently bowling 200 ish games(avg in sig is my league avg) now. So keep at it

[Zothen]

Definately fingertip! Fingertip allows you to play more of an angle to the pocket,while conventional you are limited to stright and a lot of deflection of pins.

Most ball manufacturers have multiple drillings! Most new fingertip bowlers get a generic drilling which is a controlled hook and once you get good at that then you can go to a more aggressive hooking pattern or ball.

You should get comfortable with the fingertip in about 1-2 weeks! DO NOT USE AN AGGRESSIVE BALL WHILE LEARNING TO THROW FINGERTIP! I would suggest a Slingshot for learning and it will be good spare ball later. I think the Arson(Unless it's low flare)might be to much for learning fingertip.

Zothen

[Tampabaybob]

Thanks guys. I took your advice and went fingertip. The pro, Jim Hintze at Madison Plaza Lanes, took a great deal of time listening to me and drilled it using the pattern he decided upon while I waited. We then took to the lanes and he helped me tremendously. The ball feels comfortable and I was hooking it and felt like I have some control almost immediately. Jim is really easy to talk to, answered all my questions and gave me some excellent tips on my whole delivery. Right now, aside from inconsistency (if I remember what he said) my speed can be a bit too high compared to my rev rate and I have to slow some things down a bit. Obviously, there is a lot more to it than that and I have a lot of practicing and learning to go, but for a new ball, and a new way of bowling, in both grip and arm/hand position, I felt much more comfortable than I expected. Tomorrow night will be my first time out bowling games and I'm really looking forward to it.

Sounds like you found a great driller that's willing to spend some quality time with you. pay attention to what he's said and get out there and get some good practice in. Glad to hear you went with the finger tip drilling. You really won't regret it. See if you can get into a summer league. That will give you the opportunity to get to know some other bowlers and you'll learn a lot from them as well.

Good luck and let us know if we can answer any questions along the way.