sore fingers

[JohnN]

Any of you senior bowlers get sore fingers ? I use a fingertip grip and my fingers get sore by the last knuckle. Think I have lost some flexibility there. Been getting what looks to be a blood blister under my ring finger for several years now. Probably should get the pitch changed but wouldn't that reduce roll potential ?

[RobLV1]

Any of you senior bowlers get sore fingers ? I use a fingertip grip and my fingers get sore by the last knuckle. Think I have lost some flexibility there. Been getting what looks to be a blood blister under my ring finger for several years now. Probably should get the pitch changed but wouldn't that reduce roll potential ?

As we get older and less flexible, it is very important to have our hands and ball fit checked frequently (every year or two). No, getting the pitch changed will not reduce your "roll potential' (whatever that is), it will just allow you to bowl without pain, and that's a good thing!

[Amyers]

it may even be something as simple as your fingers have increased in size slightly and now the grips are too tight. Have it checked by your PSO. Properly fitted equipment is the first step in bowling better.

[JohnN]

Guess what I mean by "roll potential" is will I reduce the amount of roll I can produce if I start using a more negative pitch on my finger holes.

[scottymoney]

Exactly what Amyers said if your grips are too tight. I liked my grips tight until recently when I changed them and went to a bigger size. Going bigger I was able to stop using finger tape and my fingers are pain free. I can now bowl however many games I want without any pain.

I also agree with Rob, make sure to go have your PSO check it out and see if your hand has changed. A small change can make a big difference.

[Mike White]

Guess what I mean by "roll potential" is will I reduce the amount of roll I can produce if I start using a more negative pitch on my finger holes.

The most roll you can get is 100%, and with a modern ball, it kinda hard not to achieve 100%.

Think of the pad of your fingers like the tread of a tire.

If you have the wrong pitch, less of the tread is making contact with the road (inside of the finger hole)

The lower area of contact, the more likely the spot that is contacting is doing too much work, and getting blistered.

[fokai73]

That's why I don't like forward pitch for the fingers. A lot of bowlers have this finger position and pitch /| instead of having ||....

/ - finger pad
| - finger pitch

Low budget illustration lol

[JohnN]

I have a Brunswick Mastermind that I don't use anymore with a cracked bridge. Going to take it in, have it plugged, and re-drilled with new finger pitches and see how it feels.

[Jessiewoodard57]

My PSO suggested I go from the lifts to ovals and that helped a lot

[RobLV1]

In modern bowling, we don't "lift" the ball, we rotate through it, feeling the ball on the palm of the hand as we roll it. This release is actually easier with a little away pitch on the fingers.