Finger Holes

[snappyarcher]

I have another question for all you wise members of bowlingboards.com.

Some of you may have read the other topic/thread that i started. For those who haven't, well my name is Josh and i'm from the Philippines.

I've been bowling in leagues for about 2 or 3 years now. At the start of the year, i got my brand new Infinite Theory and i had it drilled pin up with Mass bias at the 1 to 2 inches right of the thumb hole. Then i got my Storm Domination Nano Solid a few months after but its used already. I noticed that the guy who previously used this, had his finger holes drilled un-evenly. Meaning the Ring finger is slightly higher than the Middle finger. Can anybody explain why he did this? Or what effect does it do to my release? I recently saw someone who had his middle finger hole higher than the ring finger hole. And i saw some pics online where in the thumb hole is a bit to the left of the 2 finger holes.

Hope somebody can explain the differences as long as the advantages of each kind of drilling (not the drilling layout). What are the advantages and disadvantages? And is this better than the regular drilling?

Thanks in advance!

[billf]

Wow, that is so incorrect it's unfathomable. Nobody with normal finger and hand dexterity bowls with their hand anywhere near that position. When the hand is opened and the thumb stretched opposite the fingers (as when holding a bowling ball) most people's span from the base of their thumb to the first knuckle of their two bowling fingers is the same or super close. Most balls drilled as described were done so to correct for a physical issue such as breaking a knuckle and no longer being able to move the knuckle.

[snappyarcher]

Wow, that is so incorrect it's unfathomable. Nobody with normal finger and hand dexterity bowls with their hand anywhere near that position. When the hand is opened and the thumb stretched opposite the fingers (as when holding a bowling ball) most people's span from the base of their thumb to the first knuckle of their two bowling fingers is the same or super close. Most balls drilled as described were done so to correct for a physical issue such as breaking a knuckle and no longer being able to move the knuckle.

So your middle finger hole is higher than your ring finger hole? I didn't change the layout of the guy who used to own the Domi nano. i just adjusted the span by moving the thumb hole. i got my highest score ever using this. but i don't know if this is the correct drilling for my hand. which should be higher? or should it be the same?

[bowl1820]

So your middle finger hole is higher than your ring finger hole? I didn't change the layout of the guy who used to own the Domi nano. i just adjusted the span by moving the thumb hole. i got my highest score ever using this. but i don't know if this is the correct drilling for my hand. which should be higher? or should it be the same?

Just because the the other guy's fingers holes are different than yours, doesn't mean you have to change them.

As long as the span is correct and fits your hand well, you don't have to move the holes.

It doesn't matter if the other guys finger hole was higher or lower, that's what fit his hand. It doesn't mean your has to be that way too.

[billf]

I know some bowlers who have one finger higher than the other but for reaction purposes. Doing so allowed them to create more lift with one of the fingers over the other. All of them also have one problem in common though. After bowling several games their fingers begin to hurt. Most people are able to do the same thing with a properly fitted ball and not have to deal with pain. However, this is bowling and when it comes to layouts and technique, there are no rules about what works for one person having to work for another. If it's comfortable and works for you that is what is most important.

[DanielMareina]

The key to a good drilling isn't whether one side is higher than another. It should fit the span from your thumb to middle finger comfortably, and fit your span from your thumb to your ring finger comfortably. There are many tricky ways to drill a ball, and many reasons to do them. Most of them are a waste of time, and are made for people with too much time on their hands. A well fit ball is the best way to go. Most people have a ring finger span that is 1/8" longer than their middle finger, but not everyone. Mine are very close to the same, but that doesn't make it better than a raised ring finger, it just makes it fit to my hand. If it fits your hand well, isn't to long or short of a span, and doesn't cause irritation to use, leave it alone.

[snappyarcher]

The key to a good drilling isn't whether one side is higher than another. It should fit the span from your thumb to middle finger comfortably, and fit your span from your thumb to your ring finger comfortably. There are many tricky ways to drill a ball, and many reasons to do them. Most of them are a waste of time, and are made for people with too much time on their hands. A well fit ball is the best way to go. Most people have a ring finger span that is 1/8" longer than their middle finger, but not everyone. Mine are very close to the same, but that doesn't make it better than a raised ring finger, it just makes it fit to my hand. If it fits your hand well, isn't to long or short of a span, and doesn't cause irritation to use, leave it alone.

Thank you very much! Now it makes sense to me.

[Tampabaybob]

I have another question for all you wise members of bowlingboards.com.

Some of you may have read the other topic/thread that i started. For those who haven't, well my name is Josh and i'm from the Philippines.

I've been bowling in leagues for about 2 or 3 years now. At the start of the year, i got my brand new Infinite Theory and i had it drilled pin up with Mass bias at the 1 to 2 inches right of the thumb hole. Then i got my Storm Domination Nano Solid a few months after but its used already. I noticed that the guy who previously used this, had his finger holes drilled un-evenly. Meaning the Ring finger is slightly higher than the Middle finger. Can anybody explain why he did this? Or what effect does it do to my release? I recently saw someone who had his middle finger hole higher than the ring finger hole. And i saw some pics online where in the thumb hole is a bit to the left of the 2 finger holes.

Hope somebody can explain the differences as long as the advantages of each kind of drilling (not the drilling layout). What are the advantages and disadvantages? And is this better than the regular drilling?

Thanks in advance!

Snappy....... If the ring finger is further away from the thumb than the middle finger it may be a ball that a left hander owned. If the pin on the ball is to the left of the middle finger it probably was a lefty's ball. Also, the other grip you mentioned about the ring finger being lower than the middle, is called a "Sarge Easter"
grip. It dates back to the sixties and in some cases is used for people that have pain in the ring finger. The ring finger is actually drilled as a semi-fingertip span and the middle finger as a regular fingertip span.

Bob

[bowl1820]

Also, the other grip you mentioned about the ring finger being lower than the middle, is called a "Sarge Easter"grip. It dates back to the sixties and in some cases is used for people that have pain in the ring finger. The ring finger is actually drilled as a semi-fingertip span and the middle finger as a regular fingertip span.
Bob

In a Sarge Easter grip The middle finger is a fingertip grip and the ring finger is a Conventional grip not a semi-fingertip.

[DanielMareina]

Snappy....... If the ring finger is further away from the thumb than the middle finger it may be a ball that a left hander owned. If the pin on the ball is to the left of the middle finger it probably was a lefty's ball. Also, the other grip you mentioned about the ring finger being lower than the middle, is called a "Sarge Easter"
grip. It dates back to the sixties and in some cases is used for people that have pain in the ring finger. The ring finger is actually drilled as a semi-fingertip span and the middle finger as a regular fingertip span.

Bob

Not only is the Sarge Easter a conventional ring finger like our wonderful moderator said, but I don't even understand why the ball would be a lefties if the ring is above the middle. about 80% of the balls I drill (conservative guess) have the ring finger span longer than the middle. That is on right handers and left handers.

If a pro shop driller measures your hand correctly, it doesn't matter what it looks like, it only matters that it fits. I have read many threads that refer to an offset thumb drilling, dropped ring finger drilling, or a semi finger tip drilling. The first one, offest thumb drilling, is basically a visual illusion. The other two should be used at the discretion of a trained professional, and not because someone on a thread say it works better. If you don't feel like your pro shop is drilling your stuff correctly, take it to a different shop and see if they agree with the drilling. they should tell you that for free in an attempt to get your trust and your business in the future.