Expert: Russ King - 6/12/2006

Question
hi russ: got your answer regarding ball fitting for a finger tip. Just to clarify my original question. I know that a fingertip is to the first crease. (I have been told) if you measure to this crease for the span length it will produce much strain on the fingers because essentially as you bend your fingers the span actually shortens. To allow for this some say measure to 1/2 way between the 1st and second joint. this is to allow for the bend (and subsequent shortening) of the span. I have worked this to my grip and my thumb now comes out straight and clean. When I tried the other way (measure right to the crease) the span feels stretched. I have to bend my thumb to not only get it in but out as well. I then tried more reverse on the fingers and this did not help. It is only when I measured to the middle of the 2 joints that the grip feels very confortable. Again thanks for your time and response...

Answer
You allways measure short of the crease.Fingertip does NOT mean measure to the crease.It just means put your fingers into your 1st crease.The 3 pencil rule allows for this shortening of the span.I started bowling in my 2nd year with a stretched grip(1976). Even that grip did not measure to the 1st joint.It was about 3/16 short of it.
I think you missunderstood where to measure.