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Author Topic: no thumb bowlers special set of rules?  (Read 731 times)

chitown

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no thumb bowlers special set of rules?
« on: August 08, 2006, 11:27:26 AM »
I was reading some posts on the PBA site.  The topic in question was in regards to no thumb bowlers.

Is it true that a no thumb bowler can't have more than three holes in a ball?  This would make balance holes illegal for no thumb bowlers.  Is there any truth to this?

I find the above question to be kind of strange.

Could some one give me some insight about the specials rules for no thumb bowlers?
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WSUstroker

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Re: no thumb bowlers special set of rules?
« Reply #1 on: August 08, 2006, 07:49:57 PM »
I believe that the rule is that there cannot be more than 1 hole that doesn't contain fingers or a thumb.  That would make it illegal for someone to throw a ball no thumb if it has a weighthole.
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DanH78

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Re: no thumb bowlers special set of rules?
« Reply #2 on: August 08, 2006, 08:08:42 PM »
quote:
meaning if you throw no-thumb, your thumb has to cover the thumb hole for your entire swing.

that leads me to believe that, based on the USBC rulebook, having a weight hole would be illegal because the drilled thumbhole does not actually have the thumb inserted into it, and you can only have one hole that is not used for gripping.


I don't know about the PBA, but USBC allows for a thumb hole and a weight hole if you bowl no thumb.  Take your thumb out and look how you hold the ball.  Your palm will cover the thumbhole, therefore, it is legal.  The reason for the rule reading how it does is that otherwise you could drill your two finger holes, a "thumbhole" and a weighthole, with the "thumbhole" being no where near where a thumb should be.  This COULD give you some sort of advantage.  But, if you state the thumbhole must be covered it prevents you from in effect having two weightholes
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Jorge300

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Re: no thumb bowlers special set of rules?
« Reply #3 on: August 08, 2006, 08:36:28 PM »
My understanding of the rule was one hole not having a finger or thumb inserted, but I think it has to be larger then a certain diameter too. Because you can have a weight hole on the side of the ball and "vent" holes next to each finger holes if they are small. I had a friend who tried thumbless for a while to get more turn, now this is dated, but he had a Rhino Pro dilled with only the finger and no thumbhole so he could have a weighthole. But some of the others may know more about the rule then I, it may just be covered as someone has suggested.
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Jorge300

Crankenstein300

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Re: no thumb bowlers special set of rules?
« Reply #4 on: August 08, 2006, 09:31:26 PM »
I agree with Dan. I used to bowl no thumb and had a thumbhole and weightholes in my balls. I drilled the thumb for my usual span for shooting spares as well as making it easier to get the ball balanced. When I palmed the ball, I covered the thumbhole, and the way I interpreted the rules, this was considered a gripping hole and thus I could use a balance hole as well. Only had one guy ever question it in the 5+ years I did it and the league secretary sided with me.
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BrianCRX90

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Re: no thumb bowlers special set of rules?
« Reply #5 on: August 08, 2006, 10:38:04 PM »
You can too have a thumbhole in the PBA. Mike Miller did it. Also, you don't have to have your hand "covering" the holes. The holes drilled must be for your fingers of your hand ONLY. In other words, you can have up to 5 holes drilled if you want for every finger and if you only choose to put say your ring finger in the ball and throw it that is legal. Also on that note, former PBA and current PBA senior Gary Dickenson used to take out his ring finger for 10 pins and that is perfectly legal.
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Stan

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Re: no thumb bowlers special set of rules?
« Reply #6 on: August 08, 2006, 10:44:37 PM »
You can have 5 gripping holes for fingers and thumb, 5 vent holes for each finger and thumb hole and 1 mill hole and 1 balance hole.
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stanski

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Re: no thumb bowlers special set of rules?
« Reply #7 on: August 08, 2006, 10:46:46 PM »
"covering the holes" is a vague term, but you must actually cover it. Therefore, if you take your middle out for spares, it must be completely covered if you also have a weighthole.

As long as the palm covers the thumbhole, its legal. So, in effect, you can have 2 weightholes, but one is going to have to be inside the area of your palm.
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Hogsharley

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Re: no thumb bowlers special set of rules?
« Reply #8 on: August 08, 2006, 11:07:07 PM »
USBC states you can have five holes for gripping purposes. To me that means that yes, you would have to be able to place your fingers inside the holes and no, you don't actually have to use all of them in your grip or release.

P.S. USBC rules are usually vague. How do you think Mushtare got his rings.
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