New bowler sore fingers and backup vs. regular delivery questions

[renenkel]

Hello Bowling Gurus -- I've been bowling for a few weeks now, first with house balls, and two weeks ago I got my own ball at a local pro shop. They gave me a 14 lb. mastermind genius drilled for full fingertip grip. I started out rolling it straight, and worked on developing a right-to-left hook delivery with the help of a friend who is a local league bowler. (I'm right handed, 6 ft, 185 lbs, 50 yrs old.)

After a week of practicing that, with poor consistency and shooting scores under 100, I saw my friend roll a backup ball and thought it looked intriguing. I thought, why not try that, it couldn't hurt? After two practice shots, I played a whole game throwing backup balls (with left-to-right hook) from the left side of the lane toward the left side of the headpin, and lo-and-behold, I scored 175! I was astonished! What an improvement! And it felt so effortless. Okay, I thought, so maybe that's what I'm meant to do. I continued to practice that, and a week later bowled a 189 game. Now I was making progress!

The only problem is, after switching to the backup ball, the knuckles of my two middle fingers are very sore and swollen. It's so bad I have to put them on ice afterwards and take anti-inflammatories. I'm afraid that if I continue playing this way, they may be seriously injured and I may not be able to bowl any more. This didn't happen with the normal delivery.

Has anyone had a similar problem? Does a ball need to be drilled differently to throw backup balls? Is that what's wrong?

Also, since I'm a "blank slate" beginner, is there any reason why I should play so much better throwing backup balls? Perhaps something related to my anatomy? Or could it be that maybe the lanes just aren't as rutted on the left side?

Should I ignore the early success I've had so far with the backup ball and focus on learning to throw the normal hook shot instead, which didn't hurt my fingers, even though it was more frustrating and progress was slow?

Sore and confused,
Robert

[Blomer]

Hi Robert,

There are a lot more people who will be able,to give you better advice on here than me, but here's my thinking...

When you say back up ball. I'm assuming a house ball? If so, those balls are usually plastic or so and won't hook much if at all. They are also not drilled to your hand measurements, so that may be a reason why it hurts. When throwing that ball, you are most,likely throwing it straight and may ahve better success than the ball you bought as you don't have much practice with it. When throwing the ball you got, it's measured to your hand and is why it doesn't hurt when you throw it. If I was you, I would practice with the ball you bought and stay away from your back up ball. Though you may want to buy one as they are great for spares. As your ball is drilled with finger tip grips, that will make your ball hook as well as how it's drilled. Practice practice, practice and you will get better. I was in your shows last yr. as i practiced I has able to the pocket a lot better and more often. I learned where to stand, where my target is and how to throw it. Shortly later I had my first 200 game. With a hook, you will get more pin action helping your scores a lot. Stick with your new ball! Good luck!

[bowl1820]

Hi Robert,

There are a lot more people who will be able,to give you better advice on here than me, but here's my thinking...

When you say back up ball. I'm assuming a house ball?

That's not what he's talking about.

A "Back up" ball is not referring to a plastic or spare ball.

A "Back up" ball is a shot that hooks the opposite direction of normal. That is, left to right for a right-handed bowler or right to left for a left-handed bowler.

[bowl1820]

Should I ignore the early success I've had so far with the backup ball and focus on learning to throw the normal hook shot instead,

Hi welcome to the board.

Okay standard first response

Being a blank slate You should see a local coach and maybe get a lesson or two to get you started on the right track.

Yes, you should ignore the early success. You got better at it because you kept practicing at it, keep practicing at the normal release and you'll get better at it.

Plus you won't be injuring your fingers! Throwing a backup ball you are having to twist your arm and hand in basically a unnatural direction.

Using a normal release you'll have better control and have better leverage on the ball. Which will give you better consistency , rev's and power.


Move back right and just try the simple beginners 45 degree release, it's one of the first releases you learn and it will give you a good basic roll on the ball, with some hook.

Just hold the ball with a firm straight wrist, (Don't worry about cupping or cocking your wrist/hand)


and hold the hand at a 45 degree angle


You hold this position throughout the swing and just release it down the lane.

Thumb first, then the fingers, just roll the ball off the hand. Don't try to make it hook, let the ball do the work. (The Mastermind Genius is a pretty strong ball.)

[renenkel]

That's not what he's talking about.
A "Back up" ball is not referring to a plastic or spare ball.
A "Back up" ball is a shot that hooks the opposite direction of normal. That is, left to right for a right-handed bowler or right to left for a left-handed bowler.

Yes, that's what I meant. Thanks for the clarification.

[mike_thomas93]

Ohh mastermind Genius is my next ball on my wish list. Plan to get it in another week. Welcome, new member.

[renenkel]

Ohh mastermind Genius is my next ball on my wish list. Plan to get it in another week. Welcome, new member.

Thanks! They asked me what color of ball I wanted and I said green, so they gave me the green/black/gold mastermind genius. Guess I was lucky to get a good ball, and green too!! :-)

[zdawg]

I can tell you I injured my first knuckle on my middle finger on my right hand throwing a backup ball. At some point I need to make a Dr appointment and get it checked out, as some nights it gets very swollen just bowling normally - my problem is the middle finger doesn't come out of the ball quick enough and the finger tip gets bent sideways, so I'm fairly certain there is some damage to the joint.

So, yes you can injure yourself throwing a backup ball if your finger/s aren't clearing the holes properly.

[renenkel]

I can tell you I injured my first knuckle on my middle finger on my right hand throwing a backup ball.

Wow, that's sobering info. That's exactly what was happening to me. The finger was getting bent sideways. Do you still throw the backup ball or have you switched to the normal way?

[mike_thomas93]

lol nice. What can I say? Green's my fav color too. And I wanna get a chance to use green-colored inserts, soo that's my opportunity right there.