Going from Thumb to No Thumb

[magpi17]

I'm thinking of going to No Thumb bowling, my main question is if I just throw 1 of my current balls with my thumb out would this give me a starting PAP.

[EricHartwell]

Yes.
If you are to bowl any competition/sanctioned bowling you will need to plug the thumb hole.

[magpi17]

Thanks Eric, yeah I just want to get a PAP then I can plug a ball up and try it.

[EricHartwell]

Good plan!

[TonyPR]

Layouts and PAP are not going to be very important when changing to no thumb one handed. My suggestion as a coach who coaches plenty of two handed youth and a fairly good one handed no thumb adult, would be to go down 1 or 2 lbs and work on technique. Put the pin 1-1.5” above the RF on a mild symm like an IQ Tour. Pitch fingers 3/4 to 1” reverse, conventional, no inserts. You want to learn to release the ball early with some tilt, hence the grip I recommend. When learning to bowl without a thumb you will often have negative tilt, this is cured by focusing on rolling the ball into the lane and keeping the ballside shoulder behind and down. Should feel like you are releasing before the foul line on the approach, you will not actually be doing that, it will “feel” like that.

I have had plenty of success teaching this method and using this grip on 4 members of Jr Team Puerto Rico. One of them won an SYC.

When you get better your release will stabilize and you can then take your PAP and layout an arsenal. If you take your PAP now and start working on your game, your PAP and tilt will change a few times.