BallReviews

General Category => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: brwnbear1950 on January 24, 2015, 01:32:46 PM

Title: drilling a pinky hole in the ball
Post by: brwnbear1950 on January 24, 2015, 01:32:46 PM
What are the advantages  and disadvantages of drilling a pinky hole in a ball.  and does adding an index finger hole move track higher and cut down on revs
Title: Re: drilling a pinky hole in the ball
Post by: Ratt_bowling on January 24, 2015, 01:55:03 PM
For me , having a pinky hole was just more comfortable.  The way I was holding the ball to start my fingers on off hand were laying on top of pinky.  I drilled the hole so I could tuck it in and avoid the overlap. 

Another guy I know does it because he has arthritis and it lets him grip the ball better/easier.
Title: Re: drilling a pinky hole in the ball
Post by: seventen7ten on January 08, 2018, 12:30:47 AM
The pinky hole made it easier to hold onto the ball and took some of the pressure off of my arthritic fingers. The index finger hole raised my track a bit. I didn't measure the revs, but the ball went longer before hooking.
Title: Re: drilling a pinky hole in the ball
Post by: Bowl_Freak on January 08, 2018, 08:35:07 AM
For me, the pinkie hole was for comfort. Now it did affect my roll, i could get around the side alot more instead of behind ball so take that into consideration but you dont always have to use the hole.
Title: Re: drilling a pinky hole in the ball
Post by: AlonzoHarris on January 08, 2018, 09:27:54 AM
For me, the pinkie hole was for comfort. Now it did affect my roll, i could get around the side alot more instead of behind ball so take that into consideration but you dont always have to use the hole.

You don't always have to use the hole if you don't have an x-hole in the ball. Note you can't have two empty holes.
Title: Re: drilling a pinky hole in the ball
Post by: Bowl_Freak on January 08, 2018, 09:41:12 AM
So i wonder then if Tom Daugherty is exempt from that. He has a thumb hole, but doesn't use it always, and an xtra hole. So if thats the case, his ball is illegal?
Title: Re: drilling a pinky hole in the ball
Post by: SVstar34 on January 08, 2018, 09:46:52 AM
So i wonder then if Tom Daugherty is exempt from that. He has a thumb hole, but doesn't use it always, and an xtra hole. So if thats the case, his ball is illegal?

He uses his thumb all of the time. There's a handful of guys who are considered "no-thumb" because of their release but they actually use their thumb as a stabilizer. Even some two handed bowlers use their thumb, I believe Wesley Low is one example if I remember correctly
Title: Re: drilling a pinky hole in the ball
Post by: Bowl_Freak on January 08, 2018, 09:58:31 AM
Ive never seen Tom use his thumb in the thumb hole other than his spare ball.
Title: Re: drilling a pinky hole in the ball
Post by: Bowl_Freak on January 08, 2018, 10:01:06 AM
According to the USBC website, no mention of any 'stabilizer' thumb use.

Holes or indentations for gripping purposes shall not exceed five and shall be limited to one for each finger and one for the thumb, all for the same hand.  The player is not required to use all finger holes in any specific delivery, but they must be able to demonstrate, with the same hand, that each gripping hole can be simultaneously used for gripping purposes. Any thumb hole that is not used for gripping purposes during the delivery would be classified as a balance hole.
Title: Re: drilling a pinky hole in the ball
Post by: BowlingforSoup on January 08, 2018, 10:19:43 AM
Tom uses his thumb on spares thats how he can use weight holes.You must be able to demonstrate you are able to use thumb hole.
Title: Re: drilling a pinky hole in the ball
Post by: AlonzoHarris on January 08, 2018, 10:19:54 AM
According to the USBC website, no mention of any 'stabilizer' thumb use.

Holes or indentations for gripping purposes shall not exceed five and shall be limited to one for each finger and one for the thumb, all for the same hand.  The player is not required to use all finger holes in any specific delivery, but they must be able to demonstrate, with the same hand, that each gripping hole can be simultaneously used for gripping purposes. Any thumb hole that is not used for gripping purposes during the delivery would be classified as a balance hole.

Interesting - I stand corrected.
Title: Re: drilling a pinky hole in the ball
Post by: Bowl_Freak on January 08, 2018, 10:23:35 AM
Tom uses his thumb on spares thats how he can use weight holes.You must be able to demonstrate you are able to use thumb hole.

I am talking about his strike ball, first ball. I know the only time he uses his thumb would be a spare ball which wouldn't require a weight hole.
Title: Re: drilling a pinky hole in the ball
Post by: JohnP on January 08, 2018, 03:57:03 PM
I don't know Tom, but from what I've read he's what's known as a "half-thumb full roller".  He only inserts his thumb to the first joint, so it looks like he's not using it at all.  --  JohnP
Title: Re: drilling a pinky hole in the ball
Post by: Mbosco on January 08, 2018, 04:19:30 PM
We can end the debate here.  Not only does he not use his thumb, he VERY DISTINCTLY does not use his thumb.  Every telecast I've ever seen him on he held the ball just like this clip.  Maybe you guys are thinking of Tom Smallwood?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wDwRLdcuo0
Title: Re: drilling a pinky hole in the ball
Post by: Bowl_Freak on January 08, 2018, 05:20:06 PM
JohnP- Smallwood is a full-roller and half-thumber.
Daugherty- 2finger no thumb just like the video shows. Curious if any of Daugherty's
                 equipment has weight holes.
Title: Re: drilling a pinky hole in the ball
Post by: JohnP on January 09, 2018, 12:03:24 PM
Yes, I was talking about Tom Smallwood, you're absolutely right about Tom Daugherty.  SABE*.  --  JohnP

 (*senior adult brain explosion)
Title: Re: drilling a pinky hole in the ball
Post by: johns811 on January 09, 2018, 03:01:35 PM
I did this last year, if you need a little help holding the ball, it helps. I have tennis elbow pain and it was helpful.