Alright...I'm 24, just finished my first league season after graduating college.  After not bowling for the last 3 years of college, I finished with a 216 avg.  With that said, I've got one question before I start buying my arsenal for next season.

I've only thrown with the standard rubber fingertip grips since I started bowl my senior year of high school.  I'm right-handed and throw 16# equipment and fall into the stroker category, who's always struggling to get a little bit more into the ball.

Now on TV, I see a large number of pros from softies like Norm Duke, to power guys like Tommy Jones (jesus is he good), throwing equipment with sharp drilled finger holes with no rubber grips.  I'm assuming that despite the lack of grips, they're still putting only the first digit of their fingers into the ball.

Alright...here's the question.  What are the pros/cons of that fingertip style?  Do you lose/gain control?  Can you get revs on the ball easier than with the rubber grips?  Is your release cleaner?

I'm open to all suggestions.  Let me know what you think.  Should I stay with the grips?  Or give the new style a try?

Thanks

James

Some bowlers use no finger grips and very sharp edged holes. They claim it gives them better control. Personally, I like the grips with the lifts as it gives me a little more "feel". However, my biggest reason is that if your fingers swell you can jam them in the grips easier and bowl without as much pain. Also, you can use grips a size too large, put thin pieces of card stock between the back side of the  hole to make them fit, removing the card stock when your fingers swell.

And, you can purchase finger grips on the Internet for about $2.00 each if you buy a quantity of them. They are very easy to install and glue in!
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Never take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.

The other thing about the sharp edged hole is some people feel it helps them to not grab the ball at release as grabbing a sharp edged hole hurts.
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I went back to no grips about 5 years ago and the feel and wear and tear on my fingers are reduced. I do have them drill semi fingertip. I put my fingers in a little less than half way between the joints. This gives me a more relaxed grip and slightly more revs.
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