Author Topic: Finger pitch in BTM article (Read 5743 times)

JS · « **on:** April 12, 2006, 03:46:46 PM »

I just received my March BTM yesterday (I have slow postal service!) and was reading the Senior Spotlight article. In it the author talks about a customer that had little flexibility in their ring finger (about 30 degrees) and they had a fingertip ball with NO forward pitch and he said no wonder it hurt.

Isn't this opposite of what you would do with inflexible fingers? Wouldn't you want to put inflexible fingers into reverse pitch?

LuckyLefty · « **Reply #1 on:** April 12, 2006, 11:58:54 PM »

Had to be a misprint...yes...reverse pitch makes sense.

REgards,

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

da Shiv · « **Reply #2 on:** April 13, 2006, 09:52:12 AM »

I noticed that too...but it was at 1:30 in the morning so I thought maybe I misread it. I have inflexible fingers (at the last knuckle) and I definitely need reverse pitch. This is not conjecture--I have tried forward pitch and it caused pain.

Shiv
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Listening to the monotonous staccato of rain on my desk top

Bluff · « **Reply #3 on:** April 14, 2006, 01:48:12 PM »

finger pitch goes opposite of thumb No his right!!
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Honestly I got a lot of balls. No NOT BOWLING BALLS! Bowling with 99.99% Luck and 0.01 % skill!!

mrbowlingnut · « **Reply #4 on:** April 14, 2006, 02:03:30 PM »

quote:
finger pitch goes opposite of thumb No his right!!
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Honestly I got a lot of balls. No NOT BOWLING BALLS! Bowling with 99.99% Luck and 0.01 % skill!!

It was a misprint it needs to say reverse, i use 1/2 reverse in both fingers might be going to 5/8 reverse sometime before next season.

debs130 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 14, 2006, 04:31:09 PM »

I too have inflexible fingers. We tried 3/8 reverse in both fingers (from zero) and 1/16 forward (from 1/8 reverse) in the thumb. I experienced shooting pain in both fingers. We then tried 1/4 reverse in the fingers and zero pitch in the thumb, and I still experienced pain.

We tried this experiment because my driller thought I was squeezing the ball too much with reverse thumb pitch and I have an unsightly bump on my middle finger, so when we went forward with the thumb pitch, we also went reverse with the fingers at the same time. I've never experienced discomfort with zero finger pitch but thought I'd give reverse a try.

Now my driller wants me to see someone else for a second opinion because he's not sure what to do with me. I suppose not everyone is a textbook case.

Debbie

On Edit: I read the same article in BTM and didn't think it was a misprint because I experienced the same pain with reverse finger pitch. I must admit that it confused me, however, because it's contrary to what ball drillers have been telling me.

Edited on 4/14/2006 4:33 PM

JS · « **Reply #6 on:** April 14, 2006, 08:14:34 PM »

debs130,

I have experienced the same as you. My fingers are very inflexible and whenever a pro shop operator takes a look at my hands the first thing they want to do is put me at reverse in the fingers. Every time I tried this I experienced pain and then I go back to my 1/8th forward and everything is ok. Not textbook but it works.

JS · « **Reply #7 on:** April 14, 2006, 10:08:00 PM »

That's what I see when I use reverse in the fingers; earlier roll and decreased backend. When I go back to forward in the fingers I get more length and a stronger backend.

ThongPrincess · « **Reply #8 on:** April 14, 2006, 10:52:48 PM »

Several years ago I went to forward pitch in the thumb. On the advice of Magic Carpet, I went to more forward.

No one ever told me I should have my finger pitches checked until 2 weeks ago. I went from 1/8 forward to zero in the middle finger and liked it. Both fingers were at 0.

I decided to experiment with moving the middle finger another 1/8, to 1/8 reverse. I shot one of my higher games of the season with it 243. It results in a more relaxed and smoother release. I am now having all the finger pitches changed.

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"I cannot change the direction of the wind but I can adjust my sails to reach my destination." Jimmy Dean

charlest · « **Reply #9 on:** April 15, 2006, 04:38:24 AM »

I just read the last several replies about finger pitches. No one has yet mentioned this but are your drillers changing the spans that must go along with changes in finger and thumb pitches??? That can make a world of difference. I just don't know if they are or aren't. More reverse requires wider span; less reverse or forward requires shorter spans.
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"None are so blind as those who will not see."

da Shiv · « **Reply #10 on:** April 15, 2006, 10:15:11 AM »

Reading Deadbait's post makes me realize that I was not really precise with my language in my earlier post. The problem with the last knuckle on my two bowling fingers is not inflexibility, it is arthritis. They are the only two knuckles on any of my fingers that have arthritis, and it is very likely because of having improperly drilled bowling balls for years before I discovered BTM, attended their Superschool, and found out that not everyone who operates a "pro" shop knows what they are doing. I now have a top notch ball driller. It is possible that I could have used forward pitch in the fingers at one time, if my span and various other pitches had been correct, but now that the knuckles are damaged, they require reverse pitch. I have experimented with pitches a bit, and my knuckles make their requirement for reverse quite clear anytime they are given anything else.

Shiv
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Listening to the monotonous staccato of rain on my desk top

debs130 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 15, 2006, 11:56:10 AM »

Charlest,

To answer your question regarding changing the span: Yes, my span was widened a small amount when the pitches were changed.

Debbie

a_ak57 · « **Reply #12 on:** April 15, 2006, 01:51:38 PM »

quote:
I hate to burst all these bubbles, but no one has "flexibility" in the last joint of their fingers. Most all of us are lucky to have 45 degrees. Just keep in mind that as the ball is delivered the ball will fall onto the fingers as the thumb exits. The fallacy of "away" pitch in the fingers only does one thing, less time to impart any lift or rotation with the fingers. If that is the goal, go for it. BUT, don't use away pitch for comfort or "feel". That means nothing. Drilling enough "away" pitch in the fingers to "feel good" will only do one thing, early roll, early hook, no backend.

Don't make generalizations. Why? Because I've had severe finger pain while I bowl. Not from ripping on the ball either, because I would still feel pain when I would throw my revless spare shot. Tried softening my release, didn't do much of anything. So I went to my driller, and he fitted me with some reverse pitch in my fingers. Low and behold, it allowed me to release pain free. I was going to have to quit bowling because I was close to permanent injury, but the pitch has allowed me to continue bowling. And I'm not just crazy, I didn't change my release at the same time thereby relieving the pain. How do I know this? Because after I used the new pitched balls and stopped feeling pain, I wondered what would happen if I threw the old stuff. Guess what, it hurt like you know what. Tried the new pitch again, didn't feel anything. And I haven't lost any revs or anything. Only difference in my release is that it's far more consistent, since I'm not worried about pain anymore and can feel free to release the ball.

Your statement may be true for some people, but to make a blanket statement telling people that changing finger pitch to add reverse does nothing for anyone and is a silly myth, is simply false. Otherwise, I'd like for you to explain what caused the change, since I haven't altered my release at all. Same roll on the ball and everything.
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- Andy

ThongPrincess · « **Reply #13 on:** April 15, 2006, 11:18:29 PM »

I haven't had my span changed. If I recall correctly, my span was a bit stretched from the start. All I can verify is the release is more relaxed and more comfortable.
--------------------
"I cannot change the direction of the wind but I can adjust my sails to reach my destination." Jimmy Dean

mrbowlingnut · « **Reply #14 on:** April 16, 2006, 12:01:16 AM »

I went from 4 1/2 to 4 5/16 and from 0 finger pitch too 1/2 reverse, i guess i am against all logic for these post. I have far better roll cant overhit a ball but still hit the crap out of it, have great ball reaction and dont have a blood blister under my fingernails anymore from pitches and spans. I felt locked in the ball with the correct span but with my knuckle up span from Billy Hall helping/coaching me its all bread and butter now. If you have seen bolwers map at 1/60 th frame like i have with Bill Hall on his computer you will realize that alot of pros use knuckle up spans. This includes WRW,Duke,Wiseman,Ozio and more of Bill's past students, with longer blocks of bowling this a preferred way of comfort.

Author Topic: Finger pitch in BTM article (Read 5743 times)

JS

Finger pitch in BTM article

LuckyLefty

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da Shiv

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Bluff

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mrbowlingnut

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debs130

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JS

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JS

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ThongPrincess

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charlest

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da Shiv

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debs130

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a_ak57

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ThongPrincess

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mrbowlingnut

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