are there any no thumb bowlers in the pba

[Etrain]

besides the 2 handed bowlers....

so far...
tom smallwood
jim pratt
ryan whitney
mike miller
tom daughtery

[The Mayor]

The only one to win a title (and he won several) was Mike Miller. He's by far the best no thumb bowler I've ever seen. He's an example of someone who started out bowling with his thumb in but never had much success. He switched to no thumb and it clicked. This is the exception and not the rule though. Also, Jim Pratt made a TV show, he's also a no-thumber.

[Etrain]

The only one to win a title (and he won several) was Mike Miller. He's by far the best no thumb bowler I've ever seen. He's an example of someone who started out bowling with his thumb in but never had much success. He switched to no thumb and it clicked. This is the exception and not the rule though. Also, Jim Pratt made a TV show, he's also a no-thumber.

i just saw a vid on jim prat, his backswing is basically identical to mine, thanks for posting. I was only able to find slow motion vids of him on youtube but no regular versions .... go figure

[chrono00]

does tom smallwood bowl no thumb too? I remember he has some quirky about his approach but I can't remember what it is

[Etrain]

does tom smallwood bowl no thumb too? I remember he has some quirky about his approach but I can't remember what it is

he bowls with a half thumb

[I suck at bowling]

Mr.100

Tom Daughtery

[chrono00]

he bowls with a half thumb

ah that's what it is.

[americantrotter]

I do wish there was more to see online. Most of it available is kids messing around.

[JaMau24]

Ya, Smallwood doesn't bowl without a thumb. He just doesn't have it all the way in. I throw very similarly to Smallwood.

[billf]

Ya, Smallwood doesn't bowl without a thumb. He just doesn't have it all the way in. I throw very similarly to Smallwood.

Jason, do you look as goofy doing it? sorry, had to ask.

[JaMau24]

Jason, do you look as goofy doing it? sorry, had to ask.

I'm not sure honestly. I've never watched myself bowl. Hell, for all I know, I look nothing like him when I bowl. That is just how I envision how I look when I bowl, something similar to his style. I have a small fear that if I ever watch myself bowl, I'll see something that I might think is really weird that I'm doing, and subconsciously try to correct it every time I bowl from that point forward, and consequently, will start bowling bad.

I understand the other side to that argument though.. which is, maybe I'll notice I'm doing something wrong, correct it, and become better. I'll watch myself eventually. (When I'm on ESPN ;))

[billf]

The first time I watched myself, earlier this year, I saw about ten things wrong in ten seconds. I've tried correcting them and use the reaction videos to see if I have made any progress. Still get aggravated that I'm not seeing what I feel. It's no great wonder I suck so bad.

[JaMau24]

The first time I watched myself, earlier this year, I saw about ten things wrong in ten seconds. I've tried correcting them and use the reaction videos to see if I have made any progress. Still get aggravated that I'm not seeing what I feel. It's no great wonder I suck so bad.

Well, I officially have seen myself bowl now. Mike shot some video of me at the tourney today. Honestly, I was surprised at how much better my form looked, compared to how I thought it looked. I don't really think I look like Smallwood now. I'll upload some video here in a little while.

I did notice some things I do wrong though. Specifically, It doesn't look like I'm ending at the same spot every time. Could be a HUGE reason why I don't always hit my mark. Now that I know, hopefully I can correct the problem, and I can become much more accurate and hit my mark more often.

[billf]

Glad to hear both things. That you don't look goofy AND identified an issue.

[JaMau24]

Glad to hear both things. That you don't look goofy AND identified an issue.

Well of course, that's just my opinion lol.. You still may think I look goofy :D

[martinezsam2495]

Mike Miller, is amazing, I know you posted him up there,
but you might start seeing me around there in a couple of years.
hahhaha