Wasn't sure if this should go here or in the "Pro Shop" forum. Anyway...

I often hear it said that you shouldn't have to grip the ball if it fits your hand correctly. Does that mean you shouldn't have to squeeze TIGHTLY, or you should have to squeeze AT ALL? Honestly, I'm not clear on this.

During my swing, the ball definitely feels like it's gonna fall off my hand unless I squeeze at least a bit. But if I put one piece of tape in the front of the thumb hole, then it's a hair too tight--the thumb hangs up on release, sending the ball off target. So I don't think it's a case of the thumb hole being too big.

I just want to know what sort of feel I should expect from a well-fitting ball. FWIW, the fitting and drilling was done by a qualified professional and I use conventional grip.

PS: My question was inspired by a particularly ghastly practice session I had today (I couldn't hit for s**t!) and two possible factors just came to mind:

The ball was a bit cold from sitting in my car.

The whole tempo of my delivery is still terrible; it doesn't feel like my footwork and swing are matching up.

Could either of these explain why the ball just didn't feel like it fit today?

I can't tell you anything about the thumb, but I always store my bowling balls at room tempurature. For me there's a big difference in 'feel' with a cold ball/cold hands.

Temperature can affect the size of your fingers and thumb. Cold will shrink them.

But, delivery, footwork and swing are very different.

To answer your question; I hardly notice my ball on my hand while bowling. My hand and arm are generally very relaxed.

We have to remember that Dave is using a conventional drilled ball. I think its harder to just let the ball hold on to the hand has the finger holes need to be a little larger to be able to get the fingers in easily, and then for them to be able to exit the ball without injury at release. I could be wrong but a little gripping might be needed with a conventional span.

Yep, conventional grip is all I've ever used. Even in my league days, I was never "advanced" enough to go to fingertip.

Your explanation makes perfect sense to me. I could be wrong, but as I visualize it, the fingertip layout would tend to make the hand "hang on to" the ball more readily without deliberate gripping action on the bowler's part.

All you need to be advanced enough to do is ask for a finger tip drilling, I have taught people who have never bowled before to bowl with a fingertip ball and they were tossing 150s in no time, there is no "Big Boy's Club" that includes a fingertip drilling. Go back to your Pro Shop and have your ball plugged and redrilled fingertip before you hurt your physical game even more.

Just wondering: if conventional grip leads to bad technique, then why is it most often recommended for beginners?

Beginners at a young age wouldn't have the strength for a fingertip, and should avoid any possible injury to fingers and hand.

Beginners at a later age rarely have a conventional grip.

But, that is what House balls are, so that is how they start.

Hmmm... If it's true that fingertip is more likely to cause hand injury (even if only marginally so), then I'd probably better stick with conventional. I play guitar and I also work with my hands, and my ability to perform those tasks ranks higher than being able to score well in bowling.

FWIW, my hand/wrist/arm usually doesn't hurt even after several games. But my legs... that's a different story!