I have a few questions, anyone willing to help?

[fatback]

When i bowl my thumb starts to get tore up about a quarter of an inch above where my thumb meets my hand,(it's dead center on the part of the thumb that faces toward your palm when making a fist) and it's right before my release when i feel the pressure being put on my thumb, I bowled 3 games last night, and i have a blister on my thumb now. I don't know if it's the way i'm bowling, or if it's the way my ball is drilled.

Also, Another thing is when i release the ball, it sounds like it's bouncing which i know is not supposed to happen, and i would like for someone to give me some tips on getting a quieter release.

One more thing is i have trouble being consistent, I average a 150ish in my highschool league, and I could be so much better if i could continue to play the same like over and over again. I know where i should be, and i always miss my mark by 1-3 boards. any tips on that?

I appreciate any help anyone can give me. Thanks everyone.

[JaMau24]

1. I would think that your ball isn't drilled properly to fit your thumb. Maybe have thumb slug put in too, it should give you a smoother release for your thumb.

2. For a quieter release, you just need to release lower than where you are. Try starting lower, and ending lower, that should help.

3. Practice, practice, practice.

[fatback]

Thanks, and also, im bending my knees and bending forward slightly, and it's still making a thud noise. am i releasing to late or early? It sounds like it's bouncing.

[Josch]

Depending on how you bowl, you may be able to improve your consistency by keeping your back foot on the ground during the slide. 2 weeks ago in my youth league the coaches really emphasized this and scores have been much better the last two weeks, myself included. I've been hitting my mark more often and bowled my best series and game. Just keep your back foot on it's side as you slide. It has greatly improved my balance and helped others in my league too. Also make sure you have a strong follow-through that guides the ball.

If you hear a bounce you're probably releasing late. The ideal place to release is at the bottom of the swing or slightly afterward. If you were releasing early you would probably hear one loud thud and not bouncing. Most people who have their ball bounce bowl thumbless and therefore have a cupped wrist and a fairly high release. You're probably releasing late.

[bowl1820]

Three possible causes of your thumb problem.
Span Too Short or Too Long
Hole Needs More Bevel
Hole Too Big

As for the bounce, if its a double bounce like sound thump thump. Your releasing the ball too early, driving it into the lane.

[billf]

Bowl1820 nailed the thumb issue, as usual and the bounce.
If you are consistently missing your mark in the same spot, adjust your eyes accordingly. Everybody has a dominant eye. Those of us whose dominant eye is not on their dominant hand side, i.e. left eye dominant but right handed bowler, will encounter an optical illusion type effect. One of the greatest bowlers of all time, Norm Duke, said in his training video that he knows he has to look 3 boards over from where he wants the ball to go. It's near impossible to have your arm go straight to a point when the eye is not looking straight at that point.
If your missing to both sides of your mark then the problem is somewhere else in your approach. Keeping the slide foot on the floor does help with balance with lack of proper balance being a very common issue affecting accuracy.
Good luck and keep us updated.

[fatback]

Thank you Bowler and Billf, i really appreciate your help. Any tips on practicing releasing the ball later? And i kinda noticed when i look like 3 boards to the left i usually hit my mark more consistantly. I didn't realize they it was with the whole dominate eye thing though, thanks for that man. Appreciate it. Also, beveled means kinda like rounding out the edge of the thumb hole right? About how much would that cost as well?

[martin]

for me, sometimes the release goes smoothly, sometimes my thumb sticks.. why is that so?


Those of us whose dominant eye is not on their dominant hand side, i.e. left eye dominant but right handed bowler, will encounter an optical illusion type effect. One of the greatest bowlers of all time, Norm Duke, said in his training video that he knows he has to look 3 boards over from where he wants the ball to go. It's near impossible to have your arm go straight to a point when the eye is not looking straight at that point.


i think i have this "problem".. sometimes when i aim for the 12-13 board, it goes to the 10th.. now then i realize it's because of this..

[jaydee]

If your thumb is getting torn up where I think your saying (side of your thumb), I would guess that the thumb hole needs to be ovaled, (or more ovaled if it already is some).

Could also be bad fit in general. Find a good pro shop near you (ask the good bowlers in your area where they go) and have your hand remeasured. You said you're in high school, you are probably still growing and may need to be refitted.

[fatback]

If your thumb is getting torn up where I think your saying (side of your thumb), I would guess that the thumb hole needs to be ovaled, (or more ovaled if it already is some).

Could also be bad fit in general. Find a good pro shop near you (ask the good bowlers in your area where they go) and have your hand remeasured. You said you're in high school, you are probably still growing and may need to be refitted.

It's more like right in the middle of my thumb, like if you bend your thumb and kinda flex it, it's right where the bone starts to stick out on the bottom of your thumb. My friend who is a licensed coach (he took the test a few months ago) told me i just need to build up a callus or something like that.

[bowl1820]

It's more like right in the middle of my thumb, like if you bend your thumb and kinda flex it, it's right where the bone starts to stick out on the bottom of your thumb. My friend who is a licensed coach (he took the test a few months ago) told me i just need to build up a callus or something like that.

If the spot is here-
http://www.jayhawkbowling.com/Pro_s_Corner/Fitting_Tips/fig6.jpg

That's a indication that it could be-
1.Span Too Short or Too Long
2.Hole Needs More Bevel
3.Hole Too Big

Personally I believe if a ball is fitted properly, you shouldn't get any callouses or need to build up one.

[Hampe]

Personally I believe if a ball is fitted properly, you shouldn't get any callouses or need to build up one.I've got to agree with bowl1820. I've never seen anyone with a well drilled ball getting callouses on their thumb. No matter how many games they play.

[striker12]

yeah im with bowl1820 too cause i use to get a callius on my thumb awhile ago but i also never had properly dirlled balls for myself untill know and since i got my new balls i have not had 1 yet other then the 1 on the palm of my hand witch bowl1820 helped me out with when i did not know if i was doing soemthign wrong or right.

bowl1820 puts all the best stuff on here cause he know alot of placeson the internet or its beside him of everything that about bowling.

[billf]

Bowl has the best diagrams, hands down. I use to get a callous at the base of my thumb, palm side. I didn't complain and my driller gave me heck for not saying anything when he saw it. Beveled the hole and no more callous.
Now I get one on the knuckle of my thumb. That's from me being a knuckle head and gripping the dang ball.
If your friend is really a certified coach and said you just need to get use to it, he forgot what he learned. The pic Bowl1820 put up looks just like the pic in the learning module for the bronze certification with the same reasons given and they strongly emphasize that callouses or any other kind of pain is NOT normal.

[bowl1820]

Here you go
BRONZE CERTIFICATION Chapter 6 Bowling Ball Parts and Dynamics.

First thing proper fit
"Blisters, calluses and broken blood vessels on the athlete’s hand are signs of an improper fit."

http://www.athletics2000.com/andrew/Documents/USBC%20Bowling%20Ball%20Parts%20and%20Dynamics.pdf

[billf]

I'm not sure what I find more impressive: all the links and diagrams or the fact you can remember where to find them all.

[striker12]

billf i think he has it all down on a paper so if he ever needs to find something he can find it in one of the sites but im thinking he has maby 10-20 sites on a paper thats my guess

[fatback]

He's got the bronze certification, and i showed it too him a few days ago, which it had time to heal. So he may not have realized how bad it was to start off with. How much would beveling my ball cost btw? I'm going to try to do it this sunday. I don't think the span is off or the thumb hole is too big, because the shop i went too according to my dad and everyone else i've spoken too (rather knowledgeable bowlers for the most part) have given high praise about the shop, and the ball is only like 2-3 months old, so i don't think my hand has changed too much in that time. The thumb hole in my ball is closer to a 90 degree angle though at the top of the hole, and that's what i'm thinking is causing the blisters and what not.

[Hampe]

If you take it to the same guy who drilled it I wouldn't think he'd charge you just to bevel the hole. It's not exactly a complicated procedure....and most pro shops I know will do small adjustments like that for free if you got the ball drilled there originally.

[fatback]

Thank you hampe, and to my understanding, beveling is rounding out the thumb hole at the top where it starts, is this correct? i'm not 100 % sure what it is.

[Hampe]

Thank you hampe, and to my understanding, beveling is rounding out the thumb hole at the top where it starts, is this correct?Yep....that's it.

[fatback]

Thanks, it seems that beveling my ball so far has improved my game a TON. I was constantly bowling good my first game until my finger started to get tore up, then i would start bowling like 120s and what not, it wasn't fun. I got it beveled for free last thursday, bowled a 191, 182, 187. I was pretty happy with the results. Thanks everyone for the help.