two finger vs 3 finger dry lanes help

[y2p1988]

To start off I am new to bowling .. average is around 155 highest game bowled is 190.  I currently only use two fingers to bowl with a Brunswick strike king ball.  The question i have is would it be useful to start bowling with traditional three fingers .  I have no pain or anything with two fingers but I am running into trouble with super dry lanes .  On a oiled lane I bowl a 155 average but on a dry lane my game completely falls apart .  I'm wondering if my two finger technique is making it to hard to control ball speed and rotation .  Is bowling terrible on dryer lanes a sign of this?  Or are super dry lanes just more difficult using my specific ball.  Any thoughts would help.  Keep in mind im only a weekend bowler

[D Pat]

Hey y2p,

First off, everyone has a specific lane condition that they prefer or that their game is best suited for. Often two-finger or two-handed bowlers will prefer oilier lanes due to their higher rev rate causing the ball to hook more - especially if their speed isn't very high.

With that being said, a 155 average is a great start, but you still have much room to improve. At this point it's not so much that your game "won't match up" to a specific lane condition, but rather that you need some experience to see how you can best conquer a variety of lane conditions from oily to dry.

I would recommend getting a couple lessons from your local coach in order to help you improve your physical game and give you advice on how to play the lane across a variety of conditions. Alternatively, if you know any good bowlers at the local alley it never hurts to ask them for a few pointers .

I bet you will find your game improves not only on dry lanes, but on all lane conditions!

[Jesse James]

All of what Pat said above is correct. You are using the right ball, in my opinion for a drier lane shot......however you did not stipulate what two fingers in the ball that you use!

[y2p1988]

The two fingers are the ring and middle finger.  I have no pain or issues while leaving my thumb out but I am wondering if more speed could be attained with a 3 finger technique and wether that would be worth completly changing my throw.

[Jesse James]

So you're a no-thumber! I was a no-thumber for an entire season after I had an automobile repair accident. Tried to chop the tip of my thumb off, accidently, when I put it into the spinning fan behind the radiator!

Any way, I believe you can generate more speed throwing with two fingers, rather than three. The most difficult part is changing your angle of attack, so that you can strike more. This calls for playing the lanes differently than you are used to. It also requires you to alter the surface of your ball to accommodate the new angles that you play. Hope this helps.

It was quite an adjustment for me also, but it was very enlightening as well.

[Azaelv]

Exactly the same happened to me, pretty much you described me lol and let me share with you what I decided.

I went to 3 fingers, why? consistency, with 2 fingers my highest game in 1 year that I played like that was 257, but as I was capable of a 250, 230 I could throw 120 because the timing you give the ball on you backswing and some other stuff isnt the same as with 3 fingers. I've been bowling with 3 fingers for the last 2 and a half months and I already bowled 240, 231 as my 2 highest games and there is plenty of room to improve! I feel alot more consistency in my shots and my physical game is way better, so I'll tell you what my coach said (former wichita state champion) either you go 2 hands or 3 fingers.

2 hands more power: more trouble with drier lanes or lofting plus you need a tremendous physical game
3 fingers: more consistency and less effort to your arm. I was using 14 with 2 fingers and now with 3 I barelly feel the ball's weight.

Hope this helps!