Hi...newbie here

[abbynormal]

Hi,
My name is Abby. I bowled in high school a few years back and my husband and I have just taken up bowling again last year. I admit I don't know a whole lot about bowling so I hope I can learn a lot from here.

In high school I bowled on a few leagues (not through school) and on my school team. It was a lot of fun and really enjoyed it. My "coach" didn't know a lot about bowling he was there pretty much to supervise us so we could have the team so we didn't learn a whole lot from him.

Currently my average is right about a 120. I was using a regular plastic ball drilled conventionally. I decided today that I wanted to step it up a bit and got a Grape Vibe. We went bowling today and I feel like I get the exact same reaction as I did with my plastic ball. I really can hardly tell any difference and it's really starting to frustrate me. Before we got it drilled the owner of the store told me to keep it conventional until I get used to the difference in the ball. IDK. I really am thinking about going back tomorrow and have him drill it for fingertip. I have never bowled like this so I am a little nervous to try it. From what I can tell and what I have seen online I will get a way larger reaction if I get it drilled this way.

So I guess I have a question. Of course I realize if I switch to fingertip it will be different but I am worried that I wont be able to hold the ball. I feel like it will seem like the ball is heavier. Does that make sense? I don't know if I have the strength in my hand to keep it in there long enough. Is it a really hard adjustment? Am I going to be screwed if I change it?

TIA

[eugene02]

Hi,
My name is Abby. I bowled in high school a few years back and my husband and I have just taken up bowling again last year. I admit I don't know a whole lot about bowling so I hope I can learn a lot from here.

In high school I bowled on a few leagues (not through school) and on my school team. It was a lot of fun and really enjoyed it. My "coach" didn't know a lot about bowling he was there pretty much to supervise us so we could have the team so we didn't learn a whole lot from him.

Currently my average is right about a 120. I was using a regular plastic ball drilled conventionally. I decided today that I wanted to step it up a bit and got a Grape Vibe. We went bowling today and I feel like I get the exact same reaction as I did with my plastic ball. I really can hardly tell any difference and it's really starting to frustrate me. Before we got it drilled the owner of the store told me to keep it conventional until I get used to the difference in the ball. IDK. I really am thinking about going back tomorrow and have him drill it for fingertip. I have never bowled like this so I am a little nervous to try it. From what I can tell and what I have seen online I will get a way larger reaction if I get it drilled this way.

So I guess I have a question. Of course I realize if I switch to fingertip it will be different but I am worried that I wont be able to hold the ball. I feel like it will seem like the ball is heavier. Does that make sense? I don't know if I have the strength in my hand to keep it in there long enough. Is it a really hard adjustment? Am I going to be screwed if I change it?

TIA

Only to answer your ball seems to be heavier,
when the ball is drilled to your hand span, it will definitely be much lighter. You can carry 1 - 3 lbs heavier ball because of it.. Hope I ain't wrong about this..

am a newbie too >_<

[abbynormal]

Only to answer your ball seems to be heavier,
when the ball is drilled to your hand span, it will definitely be much lighter. You can carry 1 - 3 lbs heavier ball because of it.. Hope I ain't wrong about this..

am a newbie too >_<

Well I really hope that's the case. Thanks

[eugene02]

Well I really hope that's the case. Thanks

yea sure! welcome.. hope more experienced players can share their thoughts with you too :)

[billf]

Welcome to the forums Abby! Some people think I'm nuts but the first thing I do with a new bowler, as a coach, is get them into fingertip grip. Conventional the balls all react about the same; round and go pretty straight. Besides, when starting to try to get better you will encounter lots of changes along the way so may as well get the most mentally challenging change out of the way. When a ball is properly fitted to your hand, you WILL NOT drop it. It will feel like it at first, until you learn to trust it. Now with the fingertips, you want them to have a loose but snug fit. If they are too tight you will feel a burning sensation on the pads of your fingers as callouses develop. Luckily changes the tips is cheap and easy.
Centrifugal force will keep the ball in your hand on the downswing. Momentum is our friend in the swing with this grip. If you start to get pain or callous on the knuckle of your thumb then you are trying to hold onto the ball. Don't squeeze. It is a huge mental obstacle for some to overcome but the first key to a good release.
There are some very knowledgeable people here so don't ever shy away from asking a question.
Let us know how the change to finger tip goes and best of luck.

[Florida Bowler]

I had the same experience. I got a new ball and it was not hooking any more than the plastic one. Then I got it drilled for a fingertip grip, and boy what a difference! It took me a while to tame the hook, but once I did, my average went from about a 150 to about a 175.

-DJ

[eugene02]

i was using my forearm to throw before i got my own ball.. after i played maybe 5 - 7 games in a night.. my arms would be aching.. luckily I have my own ball now.. much better.. don't feel as painful even though i bowl 13 - 15 games..

[JaMau24]

Welcome Abby!

[The Mayor]

Welcome to the site Abby! You will have no problem with a fingertip grip! Actually, your hand is spread out over more of the surface of the ball which makes up for the fact that you don't have your fingers in as far. I think fingertip is easier to throw and is easier on your hand. As Bill said, I recommend starting with a fingertip grip for everyone (besides small children). Your goal is to go to fingertip and throw a hook anyway, so why learn to bowl with conventional and then learn to bowl with fingertip? You might as well start out with the fit you'll end up with!

One more thing, just because you get a fingertip grip, doesn't mean you will absolutely throw a hook. If you throw a ball straight, it will go straight. It doesn't matter if it's the most aggressive ball on the market. You've still got to release the ball in a way to get it rotating in the right direction. Having fingertip and a good ball like the Grape Vibe will make it so much easier though!

[Mi5hka]

what weight is the bowling ball you are using right now ? fingertip like everyone said would probably be the best thing if you wanted to learn that way anyway. hey get some coaching also! :) good luck!

[abbynormal]

what weight is the bowling ball you are using right now ? fingertip like everyone said would probably be the best thing if you wanted to learn that way anyway. hey get some coaching also! :) good luck!

My plastic ball was a 12. I moved up to a 13with the vibe.

As for all the other advice, thank you so much. I really appreciate it. I went back to the pro shop to have him change it and he was very reluctant and trying to talk me out of it. Needless to say I will have it back on Friday.

Thank you again.

[billf]

This is probably very wrong of me but oh well.
I bet the man at the pro shop is over 50. Why? Bowling is one of the sports where gender is irrelevant. If you guys don't believe me then go challenge Missy Parkin, Stephanie Nation, Shannon O'Keefe or any other female that regularly bowls in the ladies pro events. Rather bowl against a cranker? Michelle Feldman will eat your lunch. That being said, what I have seen way too many times over the years are men of that age or above feeling that "the little lady" can't handle or do what "the boys" do and are usually condescending. It's not all men of that age and they don't really mean anything by it. They are just from an era when things were different than they are now.

Yes I grew up with female cousins who played baseball and football on my teams. I fought hard for the football player to get a chance to try out for the team and almost quit over it. I was a sophomore and the coach was going to cut her, even though she was our best corner back just to avoid potential locker room issues. We handled it and was well worth it.

[abbynormal]

This is probably very wrong of me but oh well.
I bet the man at the pro shop is over 50. Why? Bowling is one of the sports where gender is irrelevant. If you guys don't believe me then go challenge Missy Parkin, Stephanie Nation, Shannon O'Keefe or any other female that regularly bowls in the ladies pro events. Rather bowl against a cranker? Michelle Feldman will eat your lunch. That being said, what I have seen way too many times over the years are men of that age or above feeling that "the little lady" can't handle or do what "the boys" do and are usually condescending. It's not all men of that age and they don't really mean anything by it. They are just from an era when things were different than they are now.

Yes I grew up with female cousins who played baseball and football on my teams. I fought hard for the football player to get a chance to try out for the team and almost quit over it. I was a sophomore and the coach was going to cut her, even though she was our best corner back just to avoid potential locker room issues. We handled it and was well worth it.
Yes he was older, at least 60. I'm not going to accuse him of that but it does make sense.

[sandycheese]

Only to answer your ball seems to be heavier,
when the ball is drilled to your hand span, it will definitely be much lighter. You can carry 1 - 3 lbs heavier ball because of it.. Hope I ain't wrong about this..

am a newbie too >_<

I started bowling again (I had done so at a much younger age), and had never used fingertip. I bought a new ball and had it drilled as a finger tip. I too, was afraid that I wouldn't be able to hold onto it, and would drop it on the downswing. It was never an issue. If the ball is drilled correctly to fit your hand, there will not be a problem. I believe that I get a much better ball average this way and currently carry a 173 average.