AboutWarren Friedl Expertise 20 Years Pro Shop Owner/Operator, 17 Years Bowling Center Operator (Manager/General Manager), Certified Coach since National Bowling Council and YABA days. Also Dick Ritger and USA Bowling Bronze certified. International Bowling Pro Shop and Instructors Association (IBPSIA) Charter member, IBPSIA Certified, IBPSIA "On Lanes" Certified, 2 Time Member of the IBPSIA Board of Directors and Past Secretary/Treasurer, Small Shop columnist "Pro Shop Operator" Magazine, contributor to "Bowlers Journal International" magazine, editor of IBPSIA NET NEWS weekly e-newsletter, editor of "The Bowling Tree" blog and webmaster of www.revbowl.com.
Experience 20 Years operating Revolutions Pro Shops in 2nd Largest bowling ball market in the country, Chicagoland.
17 Years in Center operations as Marketing Director, Asst. Manager or General Manager, becoming GM in every Center I worked.
Organizations American Bowling Congress/USBC Member since 1976, bowling 50 years.
International Bowling Pro Shop and Instructors Association (IBPSIA) Charter and continuing member (18 years), 2 time member of IBPSIA Board of Directors, former Secretary/Treasurer.
US Bowling Coaches Association (Bronze Coach)
Bowling Writers Association of America (BWAA)
Publications “Bowlers Journal International” and “Pro Shop Operator” Magazines.
Chicago Bowler, Windy City Bowling News, Centennial Lanes.com, The Bowling Tree Blog, IBPSIA.com and IBPSIA Net News (e-newsletter).
Education/Credentials IBPSIA Technically Certified. Multiple Seminars from AMF, Brunswick, Columbia, Circle, Ebonite, Hammer, Mo-Rich, Storm, Track, Dexter, Etonic, and others. Kaploe and Davis Bowling Marketing training.
Certified with the Young America Bowling Alliance (YABA) and the National Bowling Council (NBC) as a coach in 1982. Other coaching credentials include: Dick Ritger Level One, Dick Ritger Coaching Coaches, and USA Bowling Bronze Level.
Awards and Honors Created and executed Promotions highlighted in Bowlers Journal Magazine and included in the “150 Promotions for Bowling Centers” organized by the Bowling Proprietors Association of America (BPAA).
First Pro Shop featured in Bowling Industry magazine, for customer service and merchandising, October 1996.
Identified “One of the best ball fitters in the country” by then Track, Inc. President Del Warren, September 2005.
Tournament Promotions lead to top performance in center, or for center hosted events including: Chicago City Championships, US Open Qualifiers, Amateur Bowlers Tour.
Past/Present Clients Presenter at the IBPSIA National Convention.
Presenter at Bowling Proprietors Association Management School
I just switched from a middle fingered grip to a fingertip ball with plugs. I used to average around 175 with just the one finger (somehow I made it work). I decided I wanted to improve my game, as well as maintain some sort of consistency. I purchased a ball and had it drilled by a former pro bowler at a pro shop. He also gave me a free lesson in throwing the ball the proper way. After the first horrendous game, I ended up bowling close to 200, but my thumb kept getting stuck in the hole and by the end of the series, my thumb was too swollen. The pro indicated that I was not supposed to grip with my thumb, but to push my thumb (nail side) up into the wall of the hole so that it would not get stuck. I found that whenever I did this, I would drop the ball on my backswing. I am beginning to think that the thumb hole is too small, but I'm just an amateur. Since the switch, I actually dread bowling now, and instead just use two fingers in the plugs and am back up to my 180ish average.
My question is: How does one properly throw a fingertip ball with a hook that doesn't involve the thumb popping out every time, and the ball launching halfway down the lane? I see people at the lanes bringing the ball back almost to their shoulders, and hurling the thing, but I can't hold onto it, and if I do, the thumb gets stuck.
Thanks for your help.
Answer Dacus,
Give yourself some time to unlearn the muscle memory that caused you to grip your bowling ball too much.
The swelling is from the bent thumb rubbing on the sides of the thumb hole. You were used to grabbing the ball and releasing it late. The ball is letting go of you and it feels like it is coming off to soon. When in fact, the ball is rolling off and out of your hand, not UP, OUT and down.
Try rolling the ball at home. In a non-threatening environment, where you just swing and allow he ball to let go of you, you'll get a better feel for what the ball needs to do. Roll it into a pile of pillows or couch cushions or the couch. You'll find with less effort the ball will come off the same place (driven by gravity and momentum).
The driller wants you to roll well. Contact him and confide that you're struggling a little and he may work with you some more.
Thanks for the question. Keep me informed if things don't improve.
