Expert: Warren Friedl, Pro Shop Owner/Operator, - 5/24/2009

Question
I have a 41/2 middle finger span and a 45/8 ring finger span, what pitches would be good for me? (I want foward pitch in my thumb)

Answer
Tim,
It doesn't work that way. Your flexibility, length of digits, texture and moistness (or lack of), etc. all play a part in what might work best.

How long have you been bowling? How old are you? How long are your fingers? Are your fingers and thumb "beat up" by your current fit (callouses, bruising, pain)? Is your hand moist or dry when you bowl (do you manage it -rosin or dry bag, towel, air blower, etc.)? How big is your thumb hole (snug or do you grip a little)?

Lateral pitches help with release, so to talk only about span and pitch leaves out, what do you do to the ball?

Is it possible to talk with or write to the person fitting you? To determine what's going on with you and your current fit? Why do you want a thumb hole with forward pitch? And, just to make sure, forward pitch means the thumb hole is angled towards the fingers/grip center (please see attached graphic).

Thanks for the question. Sorry, it is more complicated than you may have thought. Hope to hear back from you.