I'm reaching.   For a solution to a problem that I'm having regarding the feel of the ball during the delivery.  Original post was focusing on thumb bevel as possible culprit, but have a different theory now.

Had a ball copied that had a SUPPOSED perfect drilling.  At least I thought so last year.  But that drilling was actually an accidental tweak made by a driller two years ago, and for some reason this year, I don't feel the same about it.

Pulled out an older drilling, that predates that "tweak" and it seemed much more comfortable.  Not talking scores here....just the feeling one gets as you are delivering the ball.  Feeling of confidence that you have full control of it.

So...  I noticed that it APPEARS that the older ball's ring finger is lower.  Is about even with the middle finger, whereas the ball that was modeled after the "tweaked one" (it was supposed to have been an exact copy of the drilling on the older ball) has a slightly higher ring finger.  By about 3/8"  to 1/2".

My question is....  what is the effect of moving the ring finger up or down.  Is it my imagination, or could the higher location cause a certain type of problem?

Not talking about the ball's tracking or reaction on the lane.  Just the effect on the feel of the ball as you are delivering it.

Am planning to have my driller adjust 3 balls and put the ring finger where it is on the older ball, but interested in any feedback here beforehand, if possible.

Well put Rico....The most I have ever used on anyone is 1/4" difference and even that is VERY seldom....

If the span is not right, adjusting pitches is nothing more than a bandage...get the span right FIRST

I'm just praying that my ball driller is in today and available, and that hopefully the shop is not too terribly busy.  The ring finger on the more recently drilled balls is definitely out of sync with the rest of them. 

On the older drilling, both my fingers go in to the first joint and the pads are flat against the inside of the hole. On the recent stuff, if you are gripping the ball it feels normal (hence my not noticing it all this time), but if you loosely put your hand into the ball without applying any pressure, the ring finger's last joint is not resting on the edge of the hole, and the pad of that finger is not touching the inside of the hole.

It's a small enough difference, that when conciously holding the ball in preparation for delivery, all seems ok, but if my release is a fraction of a second too early or late, the ball is sliding off my thumb too early or too late.

And again....  I want to emphasize this is not the current driller's fault.  He closed a shop location that was more convenient for me, so I started patronizing the pro shop that took his place at that location, and at first things were ok, but that Pro Shop made a slight tweak to the drilling (without my realizing it).

For whatever reason, I must have adjusted to the change and had some breakout games and decided I liked the modified drilling.   But ever since then, I have been having all kinds of consistency issues.  Then had knee surgery this summer, and for awhile attributed the problems to my mechanics being off.

That could still be part of my problem.  But I think the ring finger span is the main issue and that my recovery from the surgery made me more patient than I would have been otherwise with the bad bowling, knowing I was not in mid-season form.  Now....with some hindsight, seems more like I have been bowling with just my thumb, middle finger, and a portion of my ring finger for the last year or so.

And lately I have been getting some discomfort/pain behind my thumb, and in front of my wrist.  Probably related to the ring-finger span being off too.

Thanks.

I'm kind of bummed out at all the time and money wasted over the last 2 years, but at least I [THINK] I have solved the mystery now.  Will find out for sure this afternoon.

Even if my mechanics are off from the norm or unconventional, nothing throws my game off more than a poor fitting ball.  Not just the physical problems it presents, but I become obsessed with getting it fixed, instead of making my shots.

I'll post back when I've had the problem corrected.

Well...  connected with my driller, and am mostly relieved, but still have some trepidation about my decision to "fix" the balls.

I brought in a ball with his original drilling for comparison, and while therewas a 1/16" difference in the ring finger's span (original being narrower, of course), the pitches in both fingers slightly was off too. I don't remember the specifics, but I believe the newer drilling had zero pitch in the middle finger and forward pitch in the ring finger.  The original had slight away pitch in both. And it also had ovalled finger holes.

My knowledge is spotty, but I think the away pitch helps with gripping the ball?

Anyway....  I wanted the pitch corrected, but the driller recomended that I also re-slug the thumbs and he also wants to oval the the finger holes. The slugging of the thumb, he says, is important if I want the balls to exactly match the original, because that's the way he does it (he slugs the ball first and then does the fingers). Other than the additional cost of another slug, I'm not that concerned about that, but tossing it in here just cause I'm curious if consensus agrees that's necessary.

My main quandry is about the ovalling.  I like the feel of the ovalling, but I don;t like being tied to this driller, since I don't think that many other drillers do that. Even though I bring him most of my business (and just bought a ball from him), I don't like the idea of having a sort of "dedicated" kind of drilling, that can't be replicated easily.

Then again....  that drilling works for me, and the current problem has it's roots in me buying a ball from someone else (years ago) and telling him to skip the ovalling.  I have had several balls since then without the ovalling that I have bowled great games with, and have had hot streaks as well.  But it's that drilling that first changed the pitches, leading to my current problem.

So...   in a way....  I would prefer to change ONLY the pitches and see if that solves the problem (and it would maintain my ability to have any driller replicate the drilling on another ball----even though I would likely stay with the same driller anyway). But I also would like the problem solved quickly and completely, and returning to the original drilling would do that.

The shop is closed today, but I have been alternatively considering calling tomorrow and telling them to wait and not proceed, and then I ask myself....why live with this uncertainty and having to constantly re-evaluate my equipment fittings?

And there was the issue of the soreness or strain that was developing between my thumb and wrist lately. On Saturday I bowled 13-14 games with my old ball, and the scores were not remarkable (yes.... I know it was just practice, but I still keep score), but the ball felt good.  The shots were consistent and crisp and I didn't have to worry about dropping or yanking the ball.

In other words, the grip on the ball became automatic ----  like it should be (unless you are purposefully experimenting with a different delivery or strategic change).

I THINK I've just reminded myself of why I should go ahead with the full return to the original drilling (which dates back to 2006), but interested in any feedback pro or con so I can tame the "voices in my head".

Thanks.