No thumb one hand bowling - Drilling, Pitches and Grips

Some thoughts on how to drill a ball for a one hand, no thumb bowler.
Don't just use whatever drilling your pro-shop guy gives you. Standard pitches and grips are at best a starting point if bowling with your thumb. It has nothing to do with the most comfortable feel when bowling without your thumb.
This video covers:
Different ways to put fingers in without thumb
Forward and Lateral pitches
Putting in grips and what I think is the most comfortable way to do it.

[@Darkshark420]

You're my only source for videos of this exact style. Please keep making more of these, they are great and informative.

[@sebastianroque4799]

Honestly i bowl like this and theres no tips of anything on youtube im glad i found this guy keep it up please

[@peepe3]

Just wanted to thank you for taking the time to make these videos. They are very helpful

[@nothumbbowler1802]

Thanks you. Overall I've been surprised at positive response from people, and it does motivate me to make more content.

[@chriswinton]

great tips!

[@jimwipperfurth8274]

IBPSIA offers beginner and master fitting classes. Their organization instructors are highly experienced.

[@nothumbbowler1802]

Everything in my video is based on my own personal experimentation. And should be taken as such.

[@Xtrememunkie]

Thank you Saul

[@deejayft8218]

I accidentally threw a reverse, & it looked great, perfect strike, it felt easier to get the ball further right (right handed) of the lane.

[@mikesmobiledetailingllc8775]

Man this is great advice. I’m buying a new ball tonight and wanted make sure I get the right drilling. Thank you!

[@icywalrus4906]

Interesting info. Im pretty new to bowling, 1 hand no thumb feels the most consistent and comfortable for me. Got my first ball, bought a used ball to learn the game - got the pro shop to plug the thumb and had the 2 fingers regripped how i thought would be good for me. Now after about a month i think similar to what youve mentioned that id prefer more than just finger tips in the ball, i may just pull the grips out and use the 2 fingers conventional for now until i can find a grip strategy to get down to 1.5 or second knuckle. I wonder if a more circular grip will hit the market like what you made with the tape.

[@nothumbbowler1802]

Some very new bowlers may not know this. The pro-shop may have given you pitched grips. If you take the grips out and flip them upside down, they are oval and not pitched. You could try that gong to second joint. If the oval grips are still too tight, can try going up a size. I like grips as loose as possible, without it slipping out of my hand. Tight grips will constrict arm swing and cause a lot of problems, which you don't realize are coming from fingers being too tight. Going to buddies pro shop or bowlerx and ordering your own bevel knife and glue, can save you a lot of time and aggravation over going into pro-shp for everything. Changing grips is easy, but it's best to have a bevel knife to take off excess glue that remains. I wish they make circular grips for going to second joint.But try using larger sized oval grips first. That should get you down to 2cd joint.

[@joshhowk7567]

What weight do all of you bowl one hand no thumb? Just starting out, and have been struggling with heavier balls.

[@nothumbbowler1802]

I have 35 minutes done of a new video about ball weight and what ball to start out with. I keep on saying I'll have it out in a week or two, but I"m very close now. I have balls in all weights from 12 - 16 lbs. In my opinion the best ball weight is what you are most comfortable with. There is zero benefit in using a ball that is too heavy. Please watch Art of Bowling videos on ball weight. The ball weights that work best for me are 12 and 13 lbs. 14 lbs is OK. 15 or 16 is for practice drills only. I'll also post videos in future with ball weight comparisons to show people how little it matters.

[@nothumbbowler1802]

I have since unlisted this video, but here is link to shot of 12 lb ball. kzbin.info/www/bejne/p5bOco2Al9aVnNk

[@seansadek9809]

Do you think most pro shop know how to do the forward pitch

[@nothumbbowler1802]

It should be ball drilling 101. Anyone who can't do it, doesn't know how to drill bowling balls.

[@benjammin2827]

What’s your high score with one hand thumbless bowling?

[@nothumbbowler1802]

300

[@benjammin2827]

@@nothumbbowler1802 do know what ball I should use for a thumbless no hand beginner. My high score is 161 but I don’t know what ball to get

[@benjammin2827]

Do u know

[@nothumbbowler1802]

I don't really know enough about your game to say (not that I'm a pro-shop guy, staffer or anything like that), but here is some general advice, that new people should consider: The longer you bowl this way, the more your muscle will develop. If you're a big guy with large hands, this may not matter - but if not, consider starting out with a lighter ball, 12 - 13 pounds and then move up later. Let the muscle develop so you avoid injury. The biggest struggle starting out other than accuracy is speed. You should already have a high enough rev rate - therefore something controllable. Since you are just developing your game now, there is a good chance your release and thus distance to PAP will change. So I'll go against much online advice and say don't worry too much that. But ball driller should try to get it sort of right. Layout really don't matter much - unless it is terrible off and you end up with something like a 6 or 1 in pin to pap. Then the ball won't flare, and with a high rev rate and low speed - will created terrible carry down - even if reactive. Track flare - I would caution against a very low flaring ball. So while a Tropical Surge or Thrill may seem ideal - you risk a non-flare carry down disaster reaction. Looking over more entry level balls, something like Ebonite Puma or 900 Global Burner has a higher differential. The higher the differential. the more flare. A differential of .025 or less is low flare. If the ball differential is over .03, it will flare unless some really weird layout is on it. If starting out with 12 or 13 pounds - avoid Hustle line - at those weights - Hustle core will not flare and will be a total nightmare. Use a weight that you feel comfortable with and don't have to strain. The idea that a heavier ball hits harder is a misconception (see book Bowling Beyond Basics for the physics). Long term, a ball that is too light may cause control issues. Probably best just play around with house balls first to figure out what weight is best.

[@benjammin2827]

@@nothumbbowler1802 Thank you so much!

[@Jivuls]

What’s your arsenal? :)

[@nothumbbowler1802]

Right now, mostly using Motiv Pride, Covert Tank. Cherry Vibe. And I have an old Super Natural for dry lanes.

[@Jivuls]

@@nothumbbowler1802 thank you my guy!

[@retrowolfe9972]

Im thinking of going back to no grips. Im a no thumb bowler and I swear ever since ai switched to grips nothing feels right even if my games are decent...

[@nothumbbowler1802]

Whatever works for you. I tried no grips my first year no thumb, but like 2 - 3 weeks. Wasn't that bad. Don't know how much I'd like it if I tried now.

[@retrowolfe9972]

@@nothumbbowler1802 I tried no grips today on a ball I needed stronger lay out for anyway. Honestly didn't seem to hurt or enhance my game much. A little more comfy to me but maybe I just havent found the right grip yet....

[@JeredSteilen]

Why would you not use a thumb? Just way better and more consistent

[@nothumbbowler1802]

I've bowled with my thumb for 40 years b/f making switch. Thumb is not better and not more consistent for me.

[@TheGeniusHaileyPerlstein]

You’re wrong. When you are an advanced bowler or even not, you ask the pro to measure your PAP. This is the positive axis point. This is how the ball comes off your hand. It tells them how to lay it out so that you do have it done correctly. Sorry but facts.

[@nothumbbowler1802]

If someone is very new, and just learning how to bowl without their thumb, they may do all that work to get their PAP measured... And then 1 month later their PAP is in a different place. Over the course of my first year bowling thumbless, my PAP moved around a lot. One ball, meticulously drilled to have pin 2 inches from PAP, 2 months later had pin exactly on the PAP. It had to be redrilled. If someone never had their own ball drilled, then there is no way their PAP can even be measured. Of course once someone has some basics down the PAP has to be measured.

[@TheGeniusHaileyPerlstein]

@@nothumbbowler1802 your experience is not everyone’s experience. Usually a person PAP doesn’t change that much even over a long period of time. It is not common for it to change A lot within weeks. I don’t think you understand that. I work in a pro shop and measure peoples PAPs and drill bowling balls. It isn’t common no matter 2 handed, 1handed with thumb or no thumb, the PAP doesn’t change a whole lot. I wouldn’t say you are totally credible for saying that.

[@giojackson2394]

i also work in a pro shop and i’ve had quite a few customers have their PAP change; sometimes they change up their release and it feels more comfortable or sometimes injuries happen and something changes! just like you’re saying, everyone has different experiences and that’s what this person is saying in their video too! they keep saying “whatever works for you” because as you probably already know, bowling is very unique to each person because of their capabilities :)

[@TheGeniusHaileyPerlstein]

@@giojackson2394 well said!

[@nothumbbowler1802]

@@TheGeniusHaileyPerlstein This is the one comment that I can never forget about. I have to ask. If someone is buying their first ball, how do you measure their PAP?