Day 1 of Training, :(2 finger bowling)

[J Anderson]

Yeah, it can be used as an advantage, since I can not throw a straight ball with the ball I'm using at the moment, I'm planning on getting a critical theory ball, but I heard that if you use 2 fingers and you swtich to 3 you have to start your average all over again?

There are only two times that I know of when a new average must be started over from scratch: A youth bowler switching from two handed, no finger delivery to one handed. An adult bowler switching from right handed to left or visa- versa.

[TheSheibs]

I think I saw in another thread that you are lifted handed. If that's true then you can naturally hook the ball without trying too hard, with the properly fitted and drilled ball. I am left handed and have a Colombia 300 Freeze Hybrid that is drilled for a finger tip grip. I use all three fingers too. When I throw this ball all I have to do is make sure I hit my mark and have a good release. The ball does the rest. If you have to force the ball to hook, as a left handed bowler, it is not drilled right. Keep in mind that a majority of bowlers in the world are right handed. In order for their advice to work, you have to flip it to a mirror image to see translate what they say into how us lefties bowl. We have the ability to wow right handed bowlers with picking up spares. Bowling is one sport where being left handed has it's advantage.

I am not saying that any advice given to you is bad. In fact the opposite. People have given you great advice on here. All I am saying is don't forget to translate it into what us lefties do.

[martinezsam2495]

yeah I'm able to curve houseballs, I haven't tried curving a houseball greater than 12 pounds though..
The ball that I'm currently using is 15 pounds though

[martinezsam2495]

There are only two times that I know of when a new average must be started over from scratch: A youth bowler switching from two handed, no finger delivery to one handed. An adult bowler switching from right handed to left or visa- versa.

Oh, so I would be able to throw both aways and shouldn't experience any problems?

[martinezsam2495]

I think I saw in another thread that you are lifted handed. If that's true then you can naturally hook the ball without trying too hard, with the properly fitted and drilled ball. I am left handed and have a Colombia 300 Freeze Hybrid that is drilled for a finger tip grip. I use all three fingers too. When I throw this ball all I have to do is make sure I hit my mark and have a good release. The ball does the rest. If you have to force the ball to hook, as a left handed bowler, it is not drilled right. Keep in mind that a majority of bowlers in the world are right handed. In order for their advice to work, you have to flip it to a mirror image to see translate what they say into how us lefties bowl. We have the ability to wow right handed bowlers with picking up spares. Bowling is one sport where being left handed has it's advantage.

I am not saying that any advice given to you is bad. In fact the opposite. People have given you great advice on here. All I am saying is don't forget to translate it into what us lefties do.

Since your a lefty as well, I would like to ask you a question, on a house pattern, will a critical theory be a great choice? I throw with a hook, and my strike shot requires me to release the ball, towards the 2nd arrow from the right side of the lane, and letting it go down the lane then hook into the 2nd and 1st pin on the left, it sends all the pins flying.
Really? I don't throw with 3 fingers yet though, I never knew that... so we lefty's have the power of a natural hook?!
I'm going to post a video of me bowling soon, maybe by Sunday, and I would ask if you can personally give me advise on wether what ball I should get, or approach, etc..
thanks in advance!

[bowl1820]

I think I saw in another thread that you are lifted(<-left) handed. If that's true then you can naturally hook the ball without trying too hard, with the properly fitted and drilled ball.

Where did you hear lefties naturally hook a ball from? In all my years of bowling and all the stuff I've read I've never seen that statement made.

Now the closest thing I've heard to something like that is, That women have a natural tendency to throw backup balls that men don't. It has to do with the construction of men and women's arms.

If you have to force the ball to hook, as a left handed bowler, it is not drilled right.

Yes, if you have to force a ball to do something, then something is wrong. But it's not necessarily drilled wrong, there are several possible causes.

Wrong ball for the lane conditions, Your not releasing it properly, etc. You just can't just jump to "well the ball is not hooking and I'm a left hander so it's drilled wrong"

Keep in mind that a majority of bowlers in the world are right handed. In order for their advice to work, you have to flip it to a mirror image to see translate what they say into how us lefties bowl.

Okay that's true enough for most things.

We have the ability to wow right handed bowlers with picking up spares.

Left or right Handiness has nothing to do with picking up spares, it's skill and practice.

Bowling is one sport where being left handed has it's advantage.

To an extent this can be true, in regards to how the lanes are dressed and how conditions break down through out a bowling match. But being a left hander can also be a liability because of the same reasons.

I am not saying that any advice given to you is bad. In fact the opposite. People have given you great advice on here. All I am saying is don't forget to translate it into what us lefties do.

Well said.

[martinezsam2495]

Where did you hear lefties naturally hook a ball from? In all my years of bowling and all the stuff I've read I've never seen that statement made.

Now the closest thing I've heard to something like that is, That women have a natural tendency to throw backup balls that men don't. It has to do with the construction of men and women's arms.




Yes, if you have to force a ball to do something, then something is wrong. But it's not necessarily drilled wrong, there are several possible causes.

Wrong ball for the lane conditions, Your not releasing it properly, etc. You just can't just jump to "well the ball is not hooking and I'm a left hander so it's drilled wrong"




Okay that's true enough for most things.



Left or right Handiness has nothing to do with picking up spares, it's skill and practice.



To an extent this can be true, in regards to how the lanes are dressed and how conditions break down through out a bowling match. But being a left hander can also be a liability because of the same reasons.



Well said.

Have you tried the Critical theory? I heard it has amazing hook potential,

[bowl1820]

Have you tried the Critical theory? I heard it has amazing hook potential,

I haven't used one, so I can't give you any personal opinion on it.

[TheSheibs]

All my life I have been told lefties have a natural hook and don't have to work as hard to make it happen. I've never questioned it since I have caused a house ball to curve, which if I remember correctly are drilled in a nuturl(sp?) pattern. By that I mean that the finger holes are drilled the same size and the top of the finger hole and bottom of the finger hole are even. If I remember right house balls are drilled this way so that no matter what hand you bowl with, you can still use one. As the original poster of this thread stated: he can hook a house ball. Back to lefties having a natural curve. Think back to the 80s. We didn't have the cores in those ball like we do today that make it so that even someone new to bowling can make it curve. So you had to know how to throw it to get that hook. With a lefty, we start to notice the ball curving at an early stage in developing our bowling technique. You might not have heard it before because there aren't that many left handed people in the world, let alone that bowl on leagues. Next time your at your league count how many are left handed and then ask how long it took them to get the ball to curve. Also, I don't think anyone has actually done a study on it. Maybe one day I'll do a little research on the topic.

When I said that if the ball doesn't curve for you, it would be drilled wrong. I speak from a situation I cam across where the ball was drilled in such a way that the pin was above and centered between the finger holes and the oil ring(right term?) was going through my thumb hole and between my finger holes. When throwing it straight at the head pin I noticed(multiple times) that the ball would start to curve to the right but then go back to the left. When I showed it to another pro-shop I found out that it was conventional grip(what I wanted due to being how I've thrown for many years) and that he holes where drilled in a spot that the ball would only curve if you forced it. Therefore, the conclusion was it was drilled wrong for a lefty who used a conventional grip. Not saying that it is the reason for the ball to not curve but for a lefty who had no problem in the past and then switched to a heavier ball, how t was drilled was the problem. The pro-shop did suggest that I keep it for a spare ball. That's another Discusion though.

As for picking up spares. I have no problem throwing accross the lane to pick up the 7 pin or the 10pin. Most righties will use a spare ball and try to throw as straight as they can for the ten while standing in the same spot as their first ball. Please note that has been my observation made during league bowling and for all I know could be how they are taught in the Bay Area.

As for lane conditions. A right handed bowler has multiple people bowling on the right side of the lane. Which if the lanes are freshly oiled could have cause a poor bowler(right handed) to change the line to the pins and could affect how their ball breaks. A left handed person, goingwith the odds of another left handed bowler being on the same lanes, are more than likely the only left hander on that set of lanes. Therefore, a lefty can make a nice line to the pocket on the left side of the lane that would only be affected closer to the pines and after their ball has started breaking towards the head pin.

Please keep in mind that some of what I said are based on my own observations, not articles or statements made by any proffessional bowlers.

As for a ball. I have to admit that all of the new balls have cores that help a ball curve and keep the speed up. Most of the information on new balls are for a right handed bowler. I suggest asking around the pro shops to see if any of them are familiar with left handed bowling. Maybe even have them watch you bowl a game so they an make a good recommendation. I have a freeze hybrid with a fingertip grip that was just the set up and ball I needed to get my game back on track. I would imagine that a person from your local pro-shop would be able to make a good recommendation.

As for how I bowl. I have a four step approach, smooth fluid swing, ball starts to move on the second step, keeping my eye on the second mark from the left. I also hold the ball with my hand either on the side or 45 degrees to the side from the bottom. I start with a short first step too. I finish with letting the ball roll out of my hand and my thumb on top like I'm shaking hands. Once the ball passes my mark, I look at the pins.

[martinezsam2495]

Well if u can curve a houseball good then I would assume you will have a hi rev rate when u get a finger tip ball. Bowlingball.com has ratings and is a perfect site to do research they also have a scale rating based on hook potential

yeah I know, but I been doing research and I'm wondering wether if I should get it drilled at a pro shop, or do it as soon as possible?