Expert: - 1/19/2008

Question
Reply to last inquiry- distance from thumb hole to finger holes is 3". finger creases lie at top edge of finger holes.oil ring is 1" from 5 o'clock of thumb hole and 1" from 3 o'clock of finger holes about 1/4" wide all around ball right side of holes

Answer
Ann, Thanks for keeping at this. Your 3 inch span means you have short fingers and thumb. Creases at the top of the holes, means the grip is a little short. Your gripping, so some times you back the ball up (the track positions you mentioned are right of your grip, unless of course you're left handed then oops, never mind, or we're talking about the thumbhole at 12 o'clock and fingers at 6 o'clock, and you are rolling on the right side of the holes). When you hold the ball, do your knuckles have "dents" as you bowl? Do you swell to any degree?

I'd strongly suggest the adjustments of pitch and grip length, discussed before. With my current understanding of what your dealing with to roll the ball, you can still benefit from your 11lb ball. But, not being able to control the ball, fatiguing, and the frustration of feeling the ball isn't going where you want it to is maddening.

Many bowlers, using house balls, try to manufacturer control, by opting for the lightest ball they can get their fingers (almost) into.

A properly fit ball, can and should just hang in your hand. Allowing momentum and gravity to dictate where the ball "lets go of you", adds tremendously to control by having you do LESS. It is a VERY difficult concept to get your head around, but a ball that fits, won't be one you can stick your hand into then pull your hand out of. A ball needs to roll out/off your hand and the angles and feel is dramatically different from one you can pull out of. I have had bowlers swear that the ball won't come off, yet when swung with a relaxed, unmuscled delivery the ball rolls off precisely where the angle of the thumbhole allows the ball to fall away. Not having to trigger the release by unclenching your hand, embraces momentum and gravity. Two forces that will NEVER change. They influence your delivery contributing to your consistency.

A lighter ball with a bad fit will not help as much as your (currently) not so reliable 11lber, fitting well. A well fit ball will demand so much less from you that in no time the ball will feel lighter (because you don't have to work so hard). Remember your objective is to knock over 34.7 pounds (or more) of pins, not so easy when the ball is lighter.

So check out adjusting the fit of the ball, with an International Bowling Pro Shops and Instructors Association (IBPSIA) pro shop operator, if you have one near by. Let me know how you do. Good Bowling.