I am 17 and I want to get better at bowling for College

[bowl1820]

I think the main problem with doing it would be the probability of the ball rolling over the hole.

[J Anderson]

I should get a fingertip grip? Or can you please explain, because I googled it, and it said that conventual grip is used more for beginners and fingertip is used more for intermediate bowlers and professional, and that there is a semi fingertip grip as well.

I think the consensus here would be to say have it drilled fingertip. Semi-fingertip is almost never used anymore. I think it was originally developed for old-timers who wanted the increased leverage of fingertip but were afraid that they would drop the ball if they only had their fingertips in the ball.

[martinezsam2495]

ok, on sunday I bowled a 195 with the technique my uncle was teaching me, and have now switched from using my middle finger and index finger to my ring finger and middle finger. Today I went bowling but had a stump because I was bowling low 110s, I know why I messed up, I was thinking too much of my shot, and making unecessary adjustments. I am really working on getting my own ball, and thinking about getting a critical theory ball. I burned myself out today, as I was unable to curve the ball efficently after 2 games. I know it's just a bad day, but what got me ticked was that there is 5 min of practice before league started and I was pre bowling, got 5 consecutive strikes during the practice. When those 5 min were over, I got another one which would of made 6, but it went downhill from there.
*sigh, I am not giving up or no where near discouraged I know I can do better, and just need rest.

[J Anderson]

ok, on sunday I bowled a 195 with the technique my uncle was teaching me, and have now switched from using my middle finger and index finger to my ring finger and middle finger. Today I went bowling but had a stump because I was bowling low 110s, I know why I messed up, I was thinking too much of my shot, and making unecessary adjustments. I am really working on getting my own ball, and thinking about getting a critical theory ball. I burned myself out today, as I was unable to curve the ball efficently after 2 games. I know it's just a bad day, but what got me ticked was that there is 5 min of practice before league started and I was pre bowling, got 5 consecutive strikes during the practice. When those 5 min were over, I got another one which would of made 6, but it went downhill from there.
*sigh, I am not giving up or no where near discouraged I know I can do better, and just need rest.

This is why my normal pre-league warm up is first ball at a corner pin, second at the pocket. That way I never waste a strike on a practice shot. Unless of course I throw an absolutely terrible first ball.

[martinezsam2495]

This is why my normal pre-league warm up is first ball at a corner pin, second at the pocket. That way I never waste a strike on a practice shot. Unless of course I throw an absolutely terrible first ball.

I shouldn't have threw practice shots then?

[billf]

It's a superstition about "wasting" strikes. Although shooting the corner pin first can give you an idea of how the pattern is outside of the normal strike area. Remember, what separates the good and great bowlers is picking up spares. Most nights good bowlers will be around the pocket most of the night (99% of the time). Open frames can be a real game killer. Practice is to get loose, quickly find a strike line and see how the rest of the pattern reacts.

[J Anderson]

It's a superstition about "wasting" strikes. Although shooting the corner pin first can give you an idea of how the pattern is outside of the normal strike area. Remember, what separates the good and great bowlers is picking up spares. Most nights good bowlers will be around the pocket most of the night (99% of the time). Open frames can be a real game killer. Practice is to get loose, quickly find a strike line and see how the rest of the pattern reacts.

For me, 10 minutes of practice is just barely enough time to get warmed up. The shoot the corner pin first is an old Nelson Burton Jr. tip of the week. It was meant more for when you're paying by the game for practice outside of a league so you get the maximum number of rolls per game.

[billf]

I was taught how to break a pattern down in less than 5 shots using the reaction towards corner pins. Hasn't helped me much lol

[martinezsam2495]

This is why my normal pre-league warm up is first ball at a corner pin, second at the pocket. That way I never waste a strike on a practice shot. Unless of course I throw an absolutely terrible first ball.

hmm I think I might do that,

[martinezsam2495]

It's a superstition about "wasting" strikes. Although shooting the corner pin first can give you an idea of how the pattern is outside of the normal strike area. Remember, what separates the good and great bowlers is picking up spares. Most nights good bowlers will be around the pocket most of the night (99% of the time). Open frames can be a real game killer. Practice is to get loose, quickly find a strike line and see how the rest of the pattern reacts.

I got to work on picking up my spares, since I have had open frames and problems with the back left pin, 10 pin for me right?