Finger tip grip

[drlawsoniii]

Ok so my buddy carries a 195 average using a conventional grip playing almost all the way in the right gutter and throwing is tropical breeze almost straight. (RH) He is interested in getting a new ball as his breeze is about 8 years old, we want him to get a finger tip grip on a new ball, but I want to know what is the best / cheapest way to go about it. Should he have his ball plugged and re-drilled fingertip so that the PSO can check his track and form? Or should the PSO just be able to pick a ball and layout for him without seeing him throw with the correct grip?

Thanks,

Rob

[Amyers]

I would just buy a new ball with a generic layout. His release is likely to change as he gets used to the fingertip so why spend the money for the plug and redrill on a 8 year old ball. I would suggest leaning towards the middle less expensive route or if the PSO can get something on clearance for him

[panbanger]

You say "we" want him to get fingertip grips, but what does HE want? If he doesn't really want to switch to a different grip he's going to be salty if he has trouble adjusting to it.

[J Anderson]

I would just buy a new ball with a generic layout. His release is likely to change as he gets used to the fingertip so why spend the money for the plug and redrill on a 8 year old ball. I would suggest leaning towards the middle less expensive route or if the PSO can get something on clearance for him

I agree. I admit that the cheapskate in me would be tempted to plug and redrill, use this ball so the PSO can find my PAP, then buy a more agressive ball after getting used to the new grip. The problem would be that the redrilled ball should now have more hook and therefore would not be as good as a spare ball.

[drlawsoniii]

You say "we" want him to get fingertip grips, but what does HE want? If he doesn't really want to switch to a different grip he's going to be salty if he has trouble adjusting to it.

We as in his other friend and I, my friend wants to learn to throw a with a fingertip so that he has a better opportunity to carry. He's very very accurate but doesn't get the pin action he would get if he could get some revs on the ball.

[Tony]

I wouldn't touch his current ball, just order a new medium level ball and keep the old one as it, it will take some time to get used to throwing a fingertip / hook ball and he might want to use the new ball in practice, while still using the old ball for leagues, at least until he gets up to speed with the new ball.
I bowled with guy who tried the same thing a few years ago, he never did use the new ball with fingertips in league, well not until he plugged it and re-drilled it to be a conventional ball.

[mishatx]

I agree - drill a new ball, and keep using the old one in competition. His average will go down while he adjusts to fingertip.

[J Anderson]

I wouldn't touch his current ball, just order a new medium level ball and keep the old one as it, it will take some time to get used to throwing a fingertip / hook ball and he might want to use the new ball in practice, while still using the old ball for leagues, at least until he gets up to speed with the new ball.
I bowled with guy who tried the same thing a few years ago, he never did use the new ball with fingertips in league, well not until he plugged it and re-drilled it to be a conventional ball.

This is why drlawsoniii and his friends should make sure their teammates old ball "disappears" after he gets the new one. If the fit of the new ball is good, it will take very little time to get used to the feel of throwing with a fingertip grip. It may take a bit longer figure out what line to play with it, but as long as he has the old one, the temptation to the sure nine drop rather than risk a split, a bucket or a washout will be there.

[Tony]

This is why drlawsoniii and his friends should make sure their teammates old ball "disappears" after he gets the new one. If the fit of the new ball is good, it will take very little time to get used to the feel of throwing with a fingertip grip. It may take a bit longer figure out what line to play with it, but as long as he has the old one, the temptation to the sure nine drop rather than risk a split, a bucket or a washout will be there.

I understand your point, however in my opinion the buddy needs to decide for himself what kind of ball to throw and his friends shouldn't railroad him into what they have decided is best for him. At least that's what I would expect of any of my pals.....

[J Anderson]

I understand your point, however in my opinion the buddy needs to decide for himself what kind of ball to throw and his friends shouldn't railroad him into what they have decided is best for him. At least that's what I would expect of any of my pals.....

If you read Rob's response to panbanger, his friend does want to learn to throw with a finger tip grip. The best way is almost always to make a full commitment to doing so. If he bowls in a 'serious', i.e. An "I can't afford to risk having two bad weeks in a row" league, he might want to wait until the end of the season to get the new ball. If it's not that serious a league, he should buy it now and get used to it asap. Then he'll be all set to kick some serious butt in a summer league.