Expert: - 8/25/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hello,
I went to a pro shop and had my ball plugged and redrilled. I told him that I have some tendon issues on the joint closest to my fingertip on the middle finger and that I was wanting the finger holes pitched to take off some of the pressure. He said he could do that and sounded like he knew what he was talking about and told me it would be done in 30 min. 30 min later I go back and get my ball. I noticed that the finger holes didn't really go down at a slant but more straight down but I didn't say anything because 1.He was pretty short with me, 2. It felt different and I just wasn't sure , 3. there were like five people waiting so they could get their balls worked on and I didn't want to sound like a dummy. I was wondering what you would do in my situation and if you had an pictures of bowling balls with pitched holes. I guess what I am wanting is the ball to be drilled so that when I put my fingers in it the fingertip joint doesn't bend so much. Am I using the right terms or am I dead wrong?

Thanks
Jason

ANSWER: Jason,
Have you rolled the ball is the pressure reduced?
What it looks like, small adjustments are not easy to see.
Thanks for the question. Let me know what happened when you rolled it?

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Yes I have rolled it, and it seems like the pressure is reduced but not by much. Not sure what you meant by "What it looks like, small adjustments are not easy to see"? That you can't tell if the bowling ball holes are pitched by looking at it? If I took a picture could you tell me if the holes were pitched at all?I guess I thought the finger holes would go forward and down into the ball not straight down. Is there another way to take off some pressure off my middle finger?

Thanks for your help and quick response.
Jason

ANSWER: JASON,
The amount of pitch is not very obvious. If a little has helped encourage the driller to pitch it away more. I've done as much as 1 inch plus. Many guys do small increments. Many times too small to be much effect.

Look at your finger. If the finger doesn't bend much a 1/8 or 3/16 adjustment isn't going to help much. The adjustment may need to be 1/2 or 3/4. The way to measure pitches is with a Jonell Pitch Gauge or the like. You can't tell much with the naked eye.

The adjustment is away from the thumb not towards it. Forward pitch angles the finger holes inward. To relieve pressure they must angle away. Thanks for the follow up keep me informed.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hey,
Sorry to keep bothering you with this but not sure what you meant by "Look at your finger. if the finger doesn't bend much a 1/8 or 3/16 adjustment isn't going to help much". Right now when I put my fingertips in the ball they are bending too much. Also, my fingertips are kinda weird instead of going straight up they bend backwards a bit. Could that be part of my problem? Can an adjustment be made with out the driller having to plug the wholes and start over? Also I have been doing some looking and saw a support product called steelfingers do you know anything about it and if it would help take off some pressure?

Sorry for being a pain.
Thanks again
Jason

Answer
Jason,
The only way for me to get a good idea of what is going on is to see a picture or video of your hand in the ball. Place your fingers in the holes place your thumb in and have someone take a picture or video the whole thing . Seeing your hand in the ball from the side will give me an idea of how much your fingers need to accommodate your spans.

If your still unsure call me at the store tomorrow after 5 central time (708) 479-6777. Thanks.