No love for the two fingered bowler?!

[CrazieEddie]

Well, after finding out how much stuff costs, i could never go Pro anyway....lol..I didn't realize how much stuff costs to go on tour and stuff.........
On another note, people keep telling me to join a league, but why do that and bowl 3 games? That just gets me warmed up for the night.....I'm used to bowling on Cosmic bowl on Saturday nights and bowl about 10-15 games for only 14.00.............

A league can be more competitive. In a league, there's usually fresh oil, compared to open bowling, when most of the oil is already gone. Some leagues may have different oil patterns as well, compared to THS (Typical House Shot). In the leagues I'm in, I have a book average of about 192. My highest game being a 279, which I've only reached once. During open bowling, I would say my average is about 250, with several 300's.

Leagues are also fun. Some leagues allow beer or food frames, where if everyone in your team gets a strike on any or certain frame, everyone in your team will get a free drink or food order. We even pressure each other in our team, like if everyone strikes, except for you, then you HAVE to pay for the drink or food order for your team.

Being in a league is competitive. There's nothing like being the anchor and HAVING to strike on the last ball on the 10th frame to win.

A league is also rewarding. Most leagues give awards for the teams, so the money you spent doesn't go to waste. As mentioned, there are many awards given to bowlers who excel. A league may give extra money at the end of the season for the person with the highest score, series score, etc. Plus if you bowl 11 strikes in a row, a 300 game, or even 800 series, it will be posted on bowl.com, which is an official bowling website. Also for the 300 game, you will also be given a ring.

So sure you can brag to your friends that you bowled a 300 during an open bowling night. Unless they are there with you, they probably won't believe you, unless you carry the printout of your score around, which is kind of idiotic. But imagine wearing a 300 ring around and having people go to bowl.com for verification.

Usually after bowling is when the competition REALLY starts. I used to be in a league that after our league finished, we would bowl each other individually or as a team for money.

[lefty]

A league can be more competitive. In a league, there's usually fresh oil, compared to open bowling, when most of the oil is already gone. Some leagues may have different oil patterns as well, compared to THS (Typical House Shot). In the leagues I'm in, I have a book average of about 192. My highest game being a 279, which I've only reached once. During open bowling, I would say my average is about 250, with several 300's.

Leagues are also fun. Some leagues allow beer or food frames, where if everyone in your team gets a strike on any or certain frame, everyone in your team will get a free drink or food order. We even pressure each other in our team, like if everyone strikes, except for you, then you HAVE to pay for the drink or food order for your team.

Being in a league is competitive. There's nothing like being the anchor and HAVING to strike on the last ball on the 10th frame to win.

A league is also rewarding. Most leagues give awards for the teams, so the money you spent doesn't go to waste. As mentioned, there are many awards given to bowlers who excel. A league may give extra money at the end of the season for the person with the highest score, series score, etc. Plus if you bowl 11 strikes in a row, a 300 game, or even 800 series, it will be posted on bowl.com, which is an official bowling website. Also for the 300 game, you will also be given a ring.

So sure you can brag to your friends that you bowled a 300 during an open bowling night. Unless they are there with you, they probably won't believe you, unless you carry the printout of your score around, which is kind of idiotic. But imagine wearing a 300 ring around and having people go to bowl.com for verification.

Usually after bowling is when the competition REALLY starts. I used to be in a league that after our league finished, we would bowl each other individually or as a team for money.

So when people join a league, do they already know people? Or do u just walk in and say i want to join a league and they just put you with someone?

[CrazieEddie]

So when people join a league, do they already know people? Or do u just walk in and say i want to join a league and they just put you with someone?

Most of the sanctioned leagues have already started, but it still may not be too late to join. You can go to your local bowling alley and see if there are any spots available, which they will probably put you on. Or you can contact several league secretaries to see if a team needs a sub (substitute). If a person on a team can't bowl, they can use their average minus 10 OR bring in a sub if they want. Being a sub, you can bowl AND not have to worry about the weekly league fees. The regular player that you are bowling for will usually cover that.

You can join a league not knowing anyone. You can join a league with a buddy or have a group friends and form your own team. Either way, you will eventually get to know the rest of the people on the league.

The leagues I mentioned where you will get a ring for bowling a 300 game are sanctioned leagues. Sanctioned leagues have specific rules, such as age requirements, number of games allowed, and you need to follow USBC rules. One such rule is, if your ball lands in the gutter, but then bounces out and knocks a pin down, that pin is not counted and must be put back up.

I understand one rule, regarding no thumb bowling, is that your palm must rest over the thumb hole. I'm not sure that if you didn't, if that would be considered like a Foul or what.

[lefty]

I understand one rule, regarding no thumb bowling, is that your palm must rest over the thumb hole. I'm not sure that if you didn't, if that would be considered like a Foul or what.

What the? I'm not complaining at all, but the heck does that matter where the thumb hole is?...lol
The ball i use is an old 14 ib that a right handed guy gave me, but since i don't use my thumb i guess it doesn't matter that i'm a lefty.........

[acdunker]

I've never heard of a rule pertaining to a 2 fingered delivery. Jason Belmonte doesn't even have a thumb hole drilled on his bowling balls.

[Drano]

I've never heard of a rule pertaining to a 2 fingered delivery. Jason Belmonte doesn't even have a thumb hole drilled on his bowling balls.

"11.5.4 No Thumb Delivery. If player does not use his or her thumb to deliver the ball, but a thumb hole is drilled, a portion of the thumb or palm must cover the hole on all deliveries."

It doesn't matter in leagues though, it's a pba rule

Also, joining a league, my bowling alley gives you discounts on games.
0 leagues: $2.50/game
1 league: $1.50/game
2 leagues: $1.00/game
3+ leagues: $0.00/game

I'm in 3 leagues

[lefty]

"11.5.4 No Thumb Delivery. If player does not use his or her thumb to deliver the ball, but a thumb hole is drilled, a portion of the thumb or palm must cover the hole on all deliveries."

Dang! Now i have to know why...lol There has to be a reason.....I mean, there is a reason for everything...I just want to know.....lol It makes no sense, but obviously i don't know enough about bowling to understand that......I'm very curious......

[CrazieEddie]

I have heard from the guy at the pro shop that not placing the thumb or palm over the hole allows more leverage. I'm guessing more crank on the ball.

[Stormed1]

The other thing about having a thumbhole is it does not kimit your drilling options as much. Without a thumbhole the center of your bridge becomes the center of your grip and there is less imbalance allowed as i recal.As for the comment about Belmonte's grip he is a 2 hander not a no -thumber.

[acdunker]

The other thing about having a thumbhole is it does not kimit your drilling options as much. Without a thumbhole the center of your bridge becomes the center of your grip and there is less imbalance allowed as i recal.As for the comment about Belmonte's grip he is a 2 hander not a no -thumber.

Belmonte still does not have a thumb hole. I remember this from his first television show he made and the comments the broadcasters made.

I don't see much difference between a two-handed bowler and a no thumb. I don't use my thumb most of the time, but I still use my left hand to balance the ball on the down swing and to help push it backwards before I let go. I assume the two handed bowlers leave there other hand on there for better control.

Is that a rule that was quoted as 11.4.5? I have read the entire USBC rules from the website and have not found that rule. The only thing I found was talking about having a balance hole when not using the thumb, and a thumb hole drilled. It stated that all gripping holes must be shown they can actually be used, and not just there to offset any weights.