Author Topic: No-Thumbers Surface? (Read 3594 times)

stussycole · « **on:** August 28, 2007, 12:12:21 AM »

All my teamates in my Tuesday league, also all very good friends, are no-thumbers. This is not going to change as they are there just to have fun and are not very serious bowlers. About halfway through the second game the brooklyns begin. They just cannot keep the ball on the correct side of the headpin. As they are not going to buy a new ball actually drilled for them and their style, is there anything I can do to the surface of their balls to help tame down the backend reactions and overall hook?

Dan Belcher · « **Reply #1 on:** August 28, 2007, 10:00:48 AM »

This is what no-thumbing it gets you a lot of the time! Outside of bringing the surface up to 4000 grit and polishing it to help delay the reaction, there's not a lot they can do but move deeper on the lane and swing it further. If they are bound and determined to throw it no-thumb (not something I recommend), they'd be better off selling their current equipment and buying some cheap less-reactive balls like a Vibe, Tropical Storm, etc. Or they might even have good luck throwing plastic if the lanes are dry enough.

stussycole · « **Reply #2 on:** August 28, 2007, 01:52:07 PM »

2 of the guys are actually throwing Purple Rhino Pros that I took up the 1500 grit, polished with Brunswick polish, and then hit with Delayed Reaction, still the problem persists. I guess I will try to get them to use better geometry or see if I can find a few really cheap Ebay balls.

Anymore suggestions?

Dan Belcher · « **Reply #3 on:** August 28, 2007, 02:20:09 PM »

quote:
put the thumb in the ball

Yep. As I stated before, that's pretty much the only real option. Unfortunately, if they don't want to learn how to bowl that way, you can't make 'em.

VIXIV · « **Reply #4 on:** August 28, 2007, 02:29:47 PM »

quote:
put the thumb in the ball

As someone who used to no thumb, I can confirm. The only way I could consistently get the ball to hit the right side of the pocket was to move in and aim more to the right (like Dan said). Making simple hand adjustments that can be done when you're gripping conventionally can't really be done when you're not using your thumb.

balibowler · « **Reply #5 on:** August 28, 2007, 02:44:26 PM »

put the thumb in the ball is a very ignorant statement. there are countless things you can do to help keep the ball on the right side of the head pin. the first and foremost of course is to learn proper technique. you cant go to the lanes and throw it 10mph and rip on it as hard as you can and actually expect results. try and help them learn to adjust, and keep there ball in heavier volumes of oil longer. a cheaper, less reactive ball is also a good option. if they refuse to buy one, tell them to get an older, perhaps urethane, ball off the rack and use that. there should not be a problem as long as there fingers can fit in the ball, they should be fine. no thumb = can throw almost anyones ball as long as the holes aren't way too small. try and explain to them that they need to develop ball speed, and learn to control the amount of tilt and revrate. 99% of the time, you should be using less than 75-80% of what you can actually put on the ball with no thumb, thats what ive found anyways. power and speed control is the name of the game. 4000 grit and polish might help get the ball down the lane, but it will only make the reaction off the dry stronger. i would suggest 4000 grit finish to help get the ball down the lane, but also make a less drastic flip off the dry. telling them to just completely change is a very dumb thing to do, and it will only make them not listen to you. if someone is willing to accept your help, dont slap them in the face with a big, "your bowling wrong, change completely or quit."

Dan Belcher · « **Reply #6 on:** August 28, 2007, 02:54:19 PM »

The reason I am entirely opposed to most league bowlers trying to bowl no-thumb is because VERY few people can actually be anything resembling accurate doing it. Those people do exist, but they are very few and far between. A lot of people like doing it just because it lets them hook the snot out of the ball, not because it helps them score any better.

balibowler · « **Reply #7 on:** August 28, 2007, 04:54:43 PM »

quote:
The reason I am entirely opposed to most league bowlers trying to bowl no-thumb is because VERY few people can actually be anything resembling accurate doing it. Those people do exist, but they are very few and far between. A lot of people like doing it just because it lets them hook the snot out of the ball, not because it helps them score any better.

well, im not saying you dont have your own views. i also could agree, MOST no thumbers you see on friday night leagues are just people that go 1 time a week, to have fun. but whats the problem with that? if they bowl with no thumb, why try and make them change? its just easier for you or anyone else to beat them... they just go to see the ball hook with out any real skill. those are the "just for fun bowlers." they want to go bowling and see the ball hook and have fun. let em have there fun. you know who youre better than, and who's better than you. and, needless to say(but ill say it anyways knowing some of the people on this site), im only talking about the jokers that just mess around. there are plenty of no thumbers that i would never want to meet on the lanes unless i was on top of my game... i personally am a no thumb 2 hander. im not the most accurate bowler i can be at this point in my 2 handed carrier, but ive not been at it for that long either(used to be one handed). but i will say that im more accurate than 80% of the 1 handers in the area. its all about standards really. if your comparing the local no thumb just for fun guys to pba pros of course its laughable. but then again, 90% of league bowlers are in that same laughable boat... its funny to hear everyone talk about how inaccurate one person is, then you see them throw the ball, or their video and just have to laugh... now im not talking about you specifically, just most of the people that talk like there pros and spray it just as bad as the next guy.

Edited on 8/28/2007 5:01 PM

VIXIV · « **Reply #8 on:** August 28, 2007, 05:13:35 PM »

I get what you're saying, bali. I just suggested using a conventional grip vs. no thumb grip since it's worked for me. Whatever stussy's friends end up up doing is fine as long as they're comfortable with it and it works for them. I was just putting in my .02

LuckyLefty · « **Reply #9 on:** August 28, 2007, 05:36:02 PM »

Bowled with a guy that did either!

When it was oily he no thumbed when it was dryer he thumbed. Naturally the ball hooked more...no thumb.

He was fantastic and accurate at both.

I've seen a ton of sets north of 750 from this guy in tournies...both ways!

REgards,

Luckylefty
--------------------
Open the door...see what's possible...and just walk right on through...that's how easy success feels..

stussycole · « **Reply #10 on:** August 29, 2007, 01:54:03 PM »

Well last night went pretty well. I brought a Blue Rhino Pro for one of the guys and it worked great. The ball smoothed out his overall reaction and he had his second best night ever. As a bonus I get a Purple Rhino Pro in trade for a ball I've only thrown about 4 frames since I got it. One of the other guys, in addition to his Purple Rhino, has a Track Havoc. I took that to 1200 sanded and had him move in even more. The combination of a surface that burns off some energy and doesn't over-react to the dry plus a more forgiving line to the pocket helped him also.

Another thing I has found helpful is to encourage them to use my plastic spare ball. As long as they are reasonably accurate their spare percentage is much better than when they throw their strike ball. As a team we bowled our best series ever 703, 706, 698, for a 2107. We are moving in the right direction. If anyone has anymore suggestions please let me know. Thanks!

LuckyLefty · « **Reply #11 on:** September 12, 2007, 10:00:48 AM »

Not bad for bowling for 2 weeks in their life!

REgards,

Luckylefty
--------------------
Open the door...see what's possible...and just walk right on through...that's how easy success feels..

sriddle · « **Reply #12 on:** September 12, 2007, 06:46:58 PM »

i just finished my first league this summer and bowl no thumb. i'm pretty consistent with my throw and hitting the pocket in the same spot. around midseason my ball seemed to be carrying and breaking just after the pocket. since then i've slowed my throw down to adjust and that works. but i was wondering if resurfacing the ball would help get the early snap that it used to?

Author Topic: No-Thumbers Surface? (Read 3594 times)

stussycole

No-Thumbers Surface?

Dan Belcher

Re: No-Thumbers Surface?

stussycole

Re: No-Thumbers Surface?

Dan Belcher

Re: No-Thumbers Surface?

VIXIV

Re: No-Thumbers Surface?

balibowler

Re: No-Thumbers Surface?

Dan Belcher

Re: No-Thumbers Surface?

balibowler

Re: No-Thumbers Surface?

VIXIV

Re: No-Thumbers Surface?

LuckyLefty

Re: No-Thumbers Surface?

stussycole

Re: No-Thumbers Surface?

LuckyLefty

Re: No-Thumbers Surface?

sriddle

Re: No-Thumbers Surface?