Expert: - 7/28/2009

Question
i see most of the pro bowlers with the finger tips staggered. does this help with rotation or grip or does it help reduce pressure on the wrist and forearm maybe all the above? thank you for answering this question  warren.

Answer
Pete,
Different bowlers have different grips. Flexibility, length of the fingers, clamminess, etc. all play a part in how a grip feels and performs (or how the grip looks). The spans create more ease of swing and delivery. There is no magic grip, just the grip that works best for you.

A dropped ring finger or the radical "Sarge Easter" grip (where middle finger has normal fingertip length and ring finger is drilled to a conventional length, with finger inserted to the second knuckle) all bring something to how a ball is rolled. Some years ago, Robert Smith or "Maximum Bob" learned to control his rev rate with the latter grip. By cutting down his revs, Smith matched up better on conditions he struggled with.

Thanks for the question. Bowl well.