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Author Topic: Why such a big difference in fitment?  (Read 3993 times)

900DJ

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Why such a big difference in fitment?
« on: September 03, 2012, 08:13:27 PM »
Been bowling for years with a 5" span 3/8 reverse and 3/8 toward palm pitches.  Never really came out of the ball clean, but gave it no thought.  Until recently when I started having some pain in my hand and arm, I went for a different opinion on my fitment.  So I came out with a 4.5" span 3/8 reverse and 1/8 away from palm pitches.  Seems to be quite a difference?   My release is cleaner now with less pain, but my revs have decreased some, which is no big deal.  Anyone else ever had such a drastic difference in fitments?  Makes me wonder! ???

 

Long Gone Daddy

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Re: Why such a big difference in fitment?
« Reply #1 on: September 03, 2012, 10:04:55 PM »
Bowling for years?  Joints stiffen, hand not as flexible anymore.  Pain while bowling is the biggest indicator that your hand had/has changed.  You probably have been heading to your new fit for quite some time but never bothered to have your hand fitted until you experienced pain.  We all do it and it happens to all of us. 
Long Gone also posts the honest truth which is why i respect him. He posts these things knowing some may not like it.

Mainzer

Russell

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Re: Why such a big difference in fitment?
« Reply #2 on: September 03, 2012, 10:35:42 PM »
Long Gone is right, now the span wouldn't go along with this, but there are just different philosophies on how the hand should sit in the ball.  Similar to different philosophies on how to throw the bowling ball properly, or swing a golf club properly, etc.  I tell customers all of the time if you go to 10 different shops you would get 10 different fits.  None of those fits is "wrong"....each has just a different idea of what "right" is.

Glad you're bowling pain free!

Pinbuster

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Re: Why such a big difference in fitment?
« Reply #3 on: September 04, 2012, 08:14:20 AM »
No way in a 5 year span would joint flexibility reduce a span by 1/2 inch.

I'm reasonably sure his span was too long. You can get away with a long span for sometime but it eventually will start causing you pain.

Most fit a ball with your hand on top of the ball. In that position the stretched span feels good. And then because you end up burning your finger tips you think that burns means you are getting lots on the ball.

But in reality the more relaxed fingertip fit allows you more versatility in your release and generally gives you a cleaner release. Cleaner releases are more consistent and I believe more powerfull.

Odds are you got a shop that set you up with a relaxed fit.

Long Gone Daddy

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Re: Why such a big difference in fitment?
« Reply #4 on: September 04, 2012, 08:28:35 AM »
Unless you are a doctor, I don't believe that you are qualified to make the statement about joint flexibilty regression in five years time.  Everybody is different.

Other than that, I agree with your post. Stretched spans were all the rage some time ago and the OP may have had his ball fitted during that time.

No way in a 5 year span wtheould joint flexibility reduce a span by 1/2 inch.

I'm reasonably sure his span was too long. You can get away with a long span for sometime but it eventually will start causing you pain.

Most fit a ball with your hand on top of the ball. In that position the stretched span feels good. And then because you end up burning your finger tips you think that burns means you are getting lots on the ball.

But in reality the more relaxed fingertip fit allows you more versatility in your release and generally gives you a cleaner release. Cleaner releases are more consistent and I believe more powerfull.

Odds are you got a shop that set you up with a relaxed fit.
Long Gone also posts the honest truth which is why i respect him. He posts these things knowing some may not like it.

Mainzer

LuckyLefty

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Re: Why such a big difference in fitment?
« Reply #5 on: September 04, 2012, 11:26:32 AM »
Never heard of such a difference and both being "correct" at the time.

Not clean out of a ball can be many things, othen pitches and bevel and of course the proper span should be present before all of those other adjustments are make.

Regards,

Luckylefty
PS I see hangy releases from all variations of span, Too short, Too long and just right!
It takes Courage to have Faith, and Faith to have Courage.

James M. McCurley, New Orleans, Louisiana

900DJ

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Re: Why such a big difference in fitment?
« Reply #6 on: September 04, 2012, 08:27:06 PM »
First drillings the crease in the first finger joint barely came to the bottom of the hole.  Now the bottom of the hole is between the two finger joints.

LuckyLefty

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Re: Why such a big difference in fitment?
« Reply #7 on: September 05, 2012, 10:23:03 PM »
Based on that, it sounds like the first drilling was not correct and the second is correct.

REgards,

Luckylefty
It takes Courage to have Faith, and Faith to have Courage.

James M. McCurley, New Orleans, Louisiana

Pinbuster

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Re: Why such a big difference in fitment?
« Reply #8 on: September 06, 2012, 08:58:16 AM »
The answer is that there are many philosophies on how a ball should fit.

Many drillers use what has worked for them. That maybe a relaxed fit, stretched fit, large holes, small holes, lots/little of reverse/forward/side pitches in the thumb, lots/little of reverse/forward/side pitches in the fingers.

Each person has their own physiology requiring a unique fit.

Many shops lack the experience and equipment needed to find correct fits without a lot of experimentation.

Smash49

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Re: Why such a big difference in fitment?
« Reply #9 on: September 06, 2012, 04:13:29 PM »
I personally do not believe there is any reason for pitch toward the palm.  Away will speed up release.  Toward the palm makes most people hang and incorrect reverse make them drop the ball.  With a 4 1/2 span 3/8 reverse unless you have a long thumb, double jointed or something like that 3/8 is still a lot.  Some drillers drill fingers at 0 and 3/8 left and right lateral also.  90% of bowlers fingers will not bend 90 degrees so there is no reason for that either.  All that does is pull the thumb up out of the hole that is releasing early anyway.  It does not create revs on a bowling ball. 

Smash49
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Impending Doom

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Re: Why such a big difference in fitment?
« Reply #10 on: September 06, 2012, 04:33:42 PM »
Pitch towards the palm in the fingers or the thumb?

If you mean fingers, I totally agree. If you mean thumb, I totally disagree. Right now, I am at 4-3/16 with 3/8 reverse in the fingers, and could probably go more. I've been 1/4 forward in the thumb for about 10 years.

Smash49

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Re: Why such a big difference in fitment?
« Reply #11 on: September 06, 2012, 06:04:23 PM »
If you are right handed and you pitch your thumb towards your ring finger or right lateral I see zero need.  Reverse in the fingers I see a need 98% of the time.  The longer your span the more reverse is normally needed.  There is a difference between someone with a 4 inch span and 0 pitch and someone with a 5 inch span with 0 pitch.  You can substitute reverse 3/8's for 0 or any other number if you like. 3/8 reverse pitch is not the same for a 4 inch span as it is for a 5 inch span.  The angle to the center of the balls core is completely different.

Smash49
Top 100 Coaches by Bowler's Journal International 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012!  Outstanding Coach in the state of Texas by Bowler's Journal International 2006.
IBPSIA Certified Pro Shop Technician
SLSM Designs Bowling Accessories.
www.bowlersslidesock.com