pcalco511
04-26-2012, 11:10 PM
I have a great question? I think you all are going to have to put your thinking caps on for this one....lol Anyway, the Bates, Curval and Flat grips drilling methods. I recently heard about these and was wondering if someone could explain them in detail and how each one would effect a bowling ball and what type of bowler deficiencies it would correct? Thanks so much to all. If I'm in the wrong place for this question I'm sorry just tell me where to go to ask. Thanks
bowl1820
04-26-2012, 11:42 PM
The Bates and Curval and Flat grips were drilling methods done by Ebonite in the 1940's and featured types of curved And flat finger and thumb holes.
These are old time technology for conventional ball grips, there were also fitting balls and ball drilling jigs designed for these. Also promotional items like balls which had bates grip and curval on them.
The Bates Grip was designed by Sulley J. Bates back in the 1940's. The main feature was that the finger and thumb holes had flat sided holes for gripping the ball.
What the Bates Grip basically did was to allow the fingers and thumb spread out in the holes. Today this is what we use oval holes for.
The Curval grip was when the finger holes were drilled, inside the hole at a certain depth the holes would curve under the grip.
Another method trying to improve a bowlers grip on the ball. It would be similar to using forward pitch in today's grips.
If you can find it there's a 1952 educational movie called "better bowling-how its done" that's shows about them. I don't know where it can be found though.
You can see the bates grip here
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/2485471.pdf
Want another old one the Ned Day Grip! Ned Day was the first one to use the three finger grip like we use today. Brunswick advertised the Mineralite ball with it.
http://bowlinghistory.wordpress.com/2011/01/09/ned-day-grip-1939/