QuestionI need suggestions for relief of the pain of the ring and middle fingers during delivery of the ball. I throw a back up ball and I have arthritis in my fingers. Someone mentioned to me to have a ball drilled with a pinky hole to relieve the pressure is that a true statement and how will that help or any other suggestions you may have, I do not want to give up the game.
Answer
www.TrueBowlerAdjustme
Angela, I sincerely hate to hear that any bowler is bowling in pain. Especially, when it is at the point where you are considering leaving the game. From my heart, I've bowled in pain since age 40. I know my limit is four games with consistency, but I still push it to seven or eight sometimes. What I learned over twenty years of bowling is the idea I heard somewhere that you don't run from the storms of life, you learn how to dance in the rain.
Personally, I averaged 220 for about three years, then an injury took it's toll on my wrist. I realized I could not continue to throw the ball as I had, like the pros do on TV, working the inside of the ball. I had to dial it back - "a lot." My 220, quickly turned to 170's. Eventually I got back to 200's, but never 220. That said, I had to learn a new way to deliver the ball and a new release.
I knew the pitfalls of bowling "all out" as many bowlers do overtime. Every style has slight risk involved, even down to suitcasing the ball.
Since I don't know when you turn the ball in your swing/delivery, I can only think that it would be very early in your swing, well before your ankle. This torque or turn, if it is occurring there, puts hellava lot of spin on the ball. Just as if a cranker, or high rev bowler might do.
If that is not the case, you could possibly have a ball that is too heavy or has become to heavy for you. Health wise, as in my case, mother nature, or father time, may be requesting you to go to a lighter ball, or learn a new technique, such as the conventional way to deliver the ball.
Lastly, what if it is just a simple matter of adjusting your bowling ball fit? Sure, you may have had the same fit for years, but what if you have changed. What if on the last visit when you got a new ball, they may have missed the mark on your previous good fit? Say, they zigged, when they should have zagged on a pitch, or span length. I mentioned this last, however checking the fit is the first thing you want to check.
I will say it a thousand times, I wish you were here in Las Vegas. We would get you squared away, so we could rule out that the ball is not harming you.
In summary Angela, get your span checked out. If your fit/span is okay, consider where you are making the ball spin in your delivery and see if you can learn to delay the spin later in the swing so that your release is past your ankle somewhat. If all else fails, learning to dance in the rain, may mean that you would be better served by learning to deliver the ball in the more traditional way, from the right/"correct" side of the lane for you, depending if you are right or left handed. Bowling truly turned out to be the cat's meow for me! I pray that something I presented will get you started on the right track to pain free bowling. Take care, rest those fingers every chance you get.
Remember, to heal, you have to stop injuring, the injury. (hugs)
-Coach Gary Oatis
Las Vegas, NV.
www.TrueBowlerAdjustments.com (It's a great bowling book!)
