While I practiced yesterday, I noticed the man on the pair next to me. He was using 4 balls, 3 of which he threw at 12 mph and one he threw at 15. After I finished, I approached him and asked him if the red(15 mph)ball was lighter. He said no, it's just that it fits better...the other ones are more loose in the thumb. I asked him if he wanted tape and here was his reply: "Oh, no. I've got tape. Those balls are for me to use in league. In the fall my thumb swells and they'll fit me perfectly. I only use 3 pieces of tape. I average 220 in my league and I don't want to mess that up."

Bowlers...gotta love em;)

I'm the opposite, my thumb usually shrinks with cooler weather.

Yeah, besides the ball fit he sounded superstitious for sure....

Yep bowlers and athlete's in general can be fickle and superstitious.

I have to tap up my thumbholes not too different depending on the season. I still probably use more tap than I probably need to, but I'm Norm Duke-like in that regard. If it doesn't feel right I probably won't throw it right.

From what you describe, I am willing to bet he averages 220 only when he wants to, I'm not saying anything, but I've never heard of anyone's hand swelling in the winter other than from bowling a ton of games. I think if he's getting beat too badly, out comes the red ball that fits better.

In my experience, most people that average 220, DONT PRACTICE.

Lol, now that you mention it the few bowlers in my area that have an average that high don't practice, but they do bowl lots of tournaments and are in more then one league.

Just curious about a 220 ave bowler who doesn't practise!! I guess their approach and delivery skills are that well intrenched in them making it easy to repeat, yet sure they must have worked reasonably hard at their game when their average was lower to eventually reach such a high ave ..

Probably just bowling the extra league a week or local tournaments keep their ave where its at..

Yup, that's about right looseleftie. I practice maybe once every other week. Overall my mechanics are embedded in me. Occasionally I stray away and develop a bad habit but I usually am able to fix it very quickly myself.

Thanks for the laugh.