Bowling Injury???

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empedocles
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Bowling Injury???

Post by empedocles »

I hope this is the right forum for this question, and I will also try to be as concise as I can, though I am frustrated and perplexed by what I'm going to describe ....

A little background. I was an elite youth bowler and briefly a PBA member in the 1980s. I drifted away from the game in my early 20s, after I started, for no apparent reason, to experience a huge decline in my rev rate and axis rotation. Because it ties into the concern at hand, I should mention that I was fitted for my first fingertip layout at 9 or 10 years old, and bowled thousands of games while wildly overspanned, like most of us were back then. Ultimately, the knuckles on my bowling fingers began to swell; they remain swollen and ugly-looking to this day.

Fast forward to this year, when I took up the game again after basically a 25 year hiatus. What I noticed at once was that I simply had no feeling whatsoever of the ball being on my fingers. Well, that and the fact that I was throwing absolute marshmallows, somehow leaving 5 pins even with these nuclear bowling balls ... At first, I chalked this up to rust and physical game issues. But I have now had two highly regarded coaches tell me that my execution is outstanding, except for release problems that they both frankly admitted they could not explain or solve. They suggested I try a wrist support, which I've done, to no avail.

Then last week in my scratch league, a buddy of mine and an elite bowler in his own right mentioned that he thought my fingers "just looked wrong" coming out of the ball, and asked if he could take a look at my hand. He did a quick and dirty test of the strength in my fingers, both on my bowling and non-bowling hand, and told me that the fingers on my non-bowling hand were easily TWICE as strong as my bowling hand fingers. He said it was like the difference between a man and a three year old. I have since had two other bowlers do this test with me, and report the same impression.

I admit to being bewildered. I am not in any pain whatsoever, and I don't recall my fingers ever hurting as a youngster or teenager, though that was a long time ago. Common sense would suggest that if my fingers were damaged, they would hurt. On the other hand, there is this lack of strength, plus the lack of any feeling of fingers in the ball, plus my now appallingly weak shot, to serve as evidence that there is a physical problem.

So I guess my question is twofold:

A) Is it possible to cause permanent damage to one's fingers, such that they can simply no longer apply adequate lift to the ball?
B) Assuming for the sake of discussion that my fingers are damaged, are there any devices on the market, or perhaps grip adjustments, that might allow me to make the best of the situation and at least get out of the ball decently?

Any and all help appreciated.
JMerrell
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Re: Bowling Injury???

Post by JMerrell »

Welcome to the site.
empedocles wrote:So I guess my question is twofold:
A) Is it possible to cause permanent damage to one's fingers, such that they can simply no longer apply adequate lift to the ball? Best evaluated by a visit to perhaps a physical therapists.
B) Assuming for the sake of discussion that my fingers are damaged, are there any devices on the market, or perhaps grip adjustments, that might allow me to make the best of the situation and at least get out of the ball decently? Where are you located ? It sounds as though a visit to a qualified pro shop is in order.
Any and all help appreciated.
Moved to Coaching Discussion forum, where you will be able to reply.
-JMerrell
"Simplify the Motion.....Maximize the Results"
empedocles
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Re: Bowling Injury???

Post by empedocles »

Jim

Thanks for the response. I plan to see my doctor as soon as possible. Maybe he can refer me to a specialist who can put this issue to rest for me.

I live in the Norfolk VA area and the pro shop guy I see is a well regarded driller and coach as well as a good player in the PBA South Region. He is of the opinion that a bowler is going to come out of the ball pretty much the same no matter how you lay out his grip. I don't know that I agree with him but we have tried thumb ptiches ranging from zero to 1/2 reverse and have moved my spans by 1/8 on both fingers. None of the changes have heabout lped. I have thought about trying reverse finger ptiches but my driller is opposed to this.


Maybe I should post a video of my game? It might help for you to see what all this looks like in action. I am grabbing at the ball worse than I can even describe and the movement has stumped everyone who has seen it. I think its a result of trying to make the ball do something but I am honestly out of theories.
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snick
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Re: Bowling Injury???

Post by snick »

I recently went to 1/4" reverse and CLT lateral pitches on my fingers, and this has resulted in the most comfortable fit I have ever had.
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kart300
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Re: Bowling Injury???

Post by kart300 »

Hi there,
I sent you a pm with the suggestion of "Steelfingers.com", maybe others would like to comment.

As for your ball driller......there is absolutely nothing wrong with reverse pitches on both fingers. In fact I would go further and suggest trying a little forward in the thumb and with a relaxed span use reverse in the fingers. Its all about flexibility and span.
I measure and fit bowlers for a relaxed grip and have been doing it for years.

You do not need forward pitches in the fingers to get "lift" on the ball, possibly the wrong way to be delivering a ball in the current oil and reactive era. When urethane was the best it needed lots of lift!!

Oh and if your thumb is not perfectly round, get your ball driller to make your thumb oval.

Sound like going back to basics with a good proshop might help.
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Re: Bowling Injury???

Post by magoo »

I would suggest a grip analysis done by Mo. When he isn't on the road he's in Richmond. Well worth the drive.
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kajmk
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Re: Bowling Injury???

Post by kajmk »

My feeling is that you should seek proper medical analysis. Find out what cause of the anomaly is and deal with it appropriately.
If you have ever read medical text, it will become immediately apparent that diagnosis is not an easy endeavor.
Deal with the most important leg of the problem first, YOUR WELFARE,
then worry about the bowling.

Your Health is primary, your bowling is not even a close second.

Take care.

Please do keep us posted.
May all beings everywhere be happy and free,
and may the thoughts, words, and actions of my own life
contribute in some way to that happiness
and to that freedom for all.

John
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