QUESTION: When was the last time you had your bowling fit checked?

The last time my hand was fitted, was about 3 months ago, when I bought my spare ball from Barks! Spare accuracy has gone up substantially!

One question please. When your fingers and thumb are in the ball, how much space, if any, should I have between my hand and the surface of the ball.

Fit is how you get your average up. Had all my thumbs redrilled a couple of months ago. It cost about as much as a new ball. But it was worth it. Changed slug type, drill type, and zero taper. Bowled 698 tonight with 24 strikes. 💯

Actually good to see these informational videos with CORRECT UP TO DATE info. Good PSO's are so hard to find. Hopefully, PSO's will watch this video. Funny, but not really funny, story. My first bowling ball I walked into a pro shop, the pso told me to put my fingers in his bowling ball. Mind you, he was 6'4" 250-300 lbs and I'm 5'8" 190 lbs. He looked at me hand in the ball and said ok, "I can get you taken care of." Not a mention of pap, span, pitches etc... You can imagine how good that fit was.🤦 At the time I lived in po dunk West Virginia, population 2200. There was only one psi within 2 hours of where I was. Eventually I drove that two hours because my wrist hurt so bad I thought I was going to have to quit bowling, before I really even started. My span was still too long but was usable. I moved to Raliegh, NC where PSO's aren't hard to find. I tried 3 different PSO's, all with glowing recommendations, half a dozen fits and easily $2000 on drilling over 2 years. Finally found an amazing PSO. The second I threw the ball it was magical how perfect it fits. Point being, different PSO's have different experiences and ways of doing things. Just because fit isn't perfect doesn't mean the pso is bad. Just may not be a good PSO for you. Unless of course it's the first variety of PSO I mentioned. He was terrible and lazy. So many people walk in and say, "I want this this and this changed." I have built trust with my PSO to walk in and say, "this is what I'm feeling, what do you think we should do?" Part of building that trust is him watching me throw the ball, each time I think something is off. Sometimes it's a physical game thing and not my fit at all. It takes a good PSO to be able to know the difference.

Another informative tutorial. Well edited. I do appreciate my local pro shop. My family and friends just started bowling this year and our local pro shop has been great. Thank you Will from King Pins. You guys are awesome!

Great idea to have Mark to give his opinion on fit in your proshop. Not sure many shops would do that. Very informative 👏 👌

Amazing video! Mark Buffa, you can really tell you know what you’re doing and this is some of the best fit advice I’ve ever heard.

Grip checked last week. I started having a pain on base of my thumb for last 2 months. My span is way too long and needs reverse pitch in fingers due to inflexibility. This video is SPOT ON!

This is the best video on the topic I have seen in a long time. Bill Taylor and Mo would be proud. Bravo!

Really great video I watch a lot of bowling videos and in my opinion your Chanel is by far my favorite. You give great advice and I love your videos. Thank you so much for all the time effort and energy you put out to make these videos to help all of us

Great video. So, I have only been bowling since late 2019. But the 1st 20 months (including COVID) was spent finding the proper fit FOR ME. Took 3 pro shops to find someone willing to guide, but also listen. Thank you Mike Sarandrea! Only you know and can tell someone how a fit feels on the hand, so find a shop that is willing to work with you. Again, great job JR staff. One day I hope to visit your shop in BC.

This is excellent content Gents. I always learn a lot from Mark.

Updated my fit from scratch last year. So far so good 👌

I had a bad fit for a few years, I started having someone else drill my stuff for me and it’s a world of difference

Great info. Keep up the good work. Thanks

Thanks for this video,loads of safety infos!

Been about 5 years looking at it this summer. You guys do a great job with the channel

Fantastic info. Thanks a lot

very informative ball fit instruction...sure helps in my finger and thumb hole concerns...thanks jr--

Great timing crew! I'm current experiencing fitment issues. Nice tips!

This is the exact video ive been looking for and needing for years! Excellent video. Watched luis napoles video on the top channels and came here to check it out. Ive never had a fit check since i started bowling 50 yrs ago. Im excited now to get checked out.

I enjoyed this video a lot! A huge part of a bowling game is the fit of a bowling ball, and I think that you managed to explain a big part of it here. It is so personal, and different from player to player, that it makes it extremely hard to get a proper fit without the help of an expert pro shop operator, who has the knowledge, but especially the patience and goodwill, to take the time and find out what a bowler needs. One of your better videos, can't wait for another one on a similar topic! :))

Been working with our top Storm rep lately, and he's in tuned to my needs and his knowledge... facts..stay in the game completely..great job.

As a no thumb two hander I've been experimenting with my pro shop operator to put a small mark near where the base of my thumb would be in my one handed grip. I use this mark to line the ball up the same way on my palm each time. When I was in a coaching session with Mark Baker (when he was in town) we experimented with moving that mark left and right in my palm (but keeping the X covered by my palm) to see if it makes different ball reactions. I'm still learning what that does, but one way did seem to help create more sideroll naturally.

Super informative video once again guys! Been a while since I’ve had a fit check, but being two handed makes it easier. For all the two handers out there, PLEASE apply some form of reverse pitch if you like to dig. Its a complete game changer!

Great content. This is the best ball fitting video out right now! Very informative and really helpful for those looking to dial in the right fit! My feeling is that if the fit is poor or not optimized it leads to pains and strains and lower scores. And in turn people start to experiment with no thumb bowling, due to frustration with not having a proper fit. We need educated and patient Drilling professionals in order to take the game to another level. To me two handed bowling is born of a bad fit and people want to get more rotation and tilt variations more quickly. It will not grow the game as it takes less talent to roll the ball without the thumb. Obviously there are exceptions to this, however I feel this is the trend. Along with having more marketing in the different balls leading to the misconception that its the "ball".

Got my first ball on Wednesday! Hammer effect is awesome 🤩

This is the guy we all want to be our pro shop guy wow the knowledge is unreal

Thank you for this very informative video. I'm just getting back into bowling after a 30-40 year absence. Looking forward to getting fitted for my first ever personal ball.

Jungo & Barks provided me with the best fitment to date & made me realize how bad my other balls were drilled 🙏🙏

Very good info. Most important for the regular bowlers is we do not have the option/money to drill a ball 2,3, or 4 times until it fits good. So, for me the question is: How do you know 'your ProShop' knows what they are doing. I came back to bowling after a 35 yr lay off and of course the ProShop had changed owners. I won't give details but without a doubt my fit/drilling is not correct. And prior to drilling the only thing that was done was a hole size and span length....he did not come over to the lanes to see how I threw a ball, nothing. So now I'm stuck with a $200 investment that is not as good as it could be, I have no confidence that he can make it any better and no idea of where I can go to get things corrected ( i live in a rural area with only one Proshop).

AWESOME VID!!!!

*callus Calais is a city in France. Just helping out.

This video prompted me to get fit last week. Prior to that, my most recent fit check was pre-COVID. My span was too long. Getting one ball plugged and redrilled to check. My PSO didn't tell me how much it was off. But later at home when I checked, the 1st knuckle didn't even reach the finger hole! Will update when I try the new fit next week. I'll take Mark's advice and get fit at least every 18 months

Got fitted in November, alongside my PAP. I figure I'll do it every year at the same time, during my Thanksgiving break, since they local PSO recommends doing it that frequently.

Brilliant!!!

Great vid as always, would be awesome to have mark on the lanes with you guys, to really help visualize the difference between a great and not so great fit. Also what a good and bad layout would do out on the lanes.

wow I think it has been about 3-4 years but have had no problems but should get it looked at.

I haven't bowled in about 15 years, but I want to get back into the game while also changing how I throw (formerly 2 handed, want to switch to 1 handed). I'm heading into my local shop next weekend, and the question Jungo asked at 11:54 is exactly what has been going through my mind, since the last ball I had drilled for me would just fall off my thumb on the backswing. I'm planning on having them start with a spare ball and once happy with the layout, have it drilled into a reactive. That way, in case it's wrong, I'm not plugging/drilling a $150 ball just to make sure I'm comfortable.

I just had my hand refitted by a different PSO than the one I've been going to my entire life and they shortened my span a little, added a little more reverse pitch on the thumb and also went a size smaller on the thumb hole and WOW. the ball feels so much better in the hand and there is a lot less stress on my thumb, which I was having a couple of issues with.

Great video. I've been having pain in my right wrist that could be a result of work related issues. Would you consider doing a video on someone transitioning from being a right handed bowler to a left handed bowler due to injury? I would like to know your thought or suggestions.

4:13 - This can't be spoken about enough. I have a spatulate thumb, but I bowled for _decades_ with a round thumb hole. The PSO I used to go to would make the hole snug on the sides and simply remove the extra with a bevel tool. I thought that was all that could be done, so I dealt with it. I don't use tape. I've never used tape. I don't want to use tape. Don't tell me to use tape, because I'm not going to use tape. I went to a new pro shop four years ago where the PSO actually drilled me an oval thumb hole. OMG! Did you ever have a pair of shoes that fit you so well, you forgot you were wearing them? That's what a thumb hole _that actually fits your thumb_ is supposed to feel like. All the blisters and calluses he's talking about, I had a lot of these at various points in my 40 years of bowling when I had a round hole. The last four? Nothing. No calluses, no bruising, not even a dimple and, except for lockdown, I've bowled at least two leagues a week. Even better, I get that perfect fit with no tape. If your thumb isn't round, find a PSO who can drill oval thumb holes. You will not regret it.

This is a very good explanation for those of us who only know what a good fit feels like and how light a properly fit ball feels upon release. I wish I had access to your expertise. I'm right handed who had a serious injury to my right hand when I was 1½ years old. My hand does not open flat, it is the natural shape of a ball sitting in it. My middle finger is bent at my last joint near my finger tip toward my index. Looking down at the top of my knuckles, it also rotates clockwise about ³/¹⁶. This knuckle gets sore and achy inside thus knuckle after 3 games of league. Also my thumb hole is mostly round, not oval. I always thought it should be oval, but I could not get a shop to spend the time to get it or to understand my abnormal hand issues. I've always rolled a finger tip drilled ball. I bowled until my early thirties. Looking back, I started out naturally as a cranker, perhaps to alleviate some of my hand pain issues. I had a side impact in a car accident, with my seat belt and shoulder strap properly worn. Unfortunately, the belt kept my hips locked in, but the shoulder strap allowed my shoulders to violently rotate to the right. I had to stop bowling at that time because my lower back and sciatica hurt all season. 25 years later, my grandson looked at me after I explained I can't bowl because of my accident and post bowl, back issues. He looked at me and asked why I couldn't just learn to bowl another way. 💡 came on. I did learn to become a stroker. That was 24 years ago. Unfortunately this is when my hand issue started to become a real problem. My span was too long at first, and each new shop would tell me the span was too long and reduce it. The last time finally got it, I think. After my 4th Shop fitted my span, I had the middle finger pain issue get worse. I really enjoy bowling, but because of my specific fit issues, I struggle, but vow not to stop until I get it fit for my issues, so I can continue to enjoy this great game. I would love it if you could look at pictures of my hand and make some suggestions, that a local shop could follow, to help me obtain the joy, with reduced pain, of my favorite game. Thank you, Tom

My good friend Mark Buffa!!!!!

I actually got my grip checked a week or so ago. I tried sarge Easter grip due to some pain I was having in the first joint of my ring finger, which prompted my grip check three years ago. I used it for almost a week now and I like the feel of it.

never been fitted! new to bowling going to get a ball fitted tonight. looking for info good video

Came out of 5 year bowling retirement 3 weeks ago. Had to start completely over. I need to work on making thumb hole tighter. Always kinking thumb to hang on.

Good info. Any fit suggestions for when after a few frames the ball just falls off your thumb, even with tape?

The callous on the inside of my thumb has been there since I was 15 (35 years). I took twenty years off in the middle and it never went away. I beat the hell out of my thumb in my teenage years.

Been looking at going back to league bowling after 10 years not playing regularly. Last ball I had drilled was a good 12-13 years ago and I want to get a new ball done to start out fresh with all of the ball technology changes to include lane oiling patterns. Every ball I had from starting bowling at 3-4 years old to the last one I have are all conventionally drilled. How hard is it to switch from conventional drilled to finger tip based? Looking for some opinions here to decide how to have a new ball drilled.

I love vacus and think experimenting is important. I used an old ball to try out a lot of things like vacu fits and stuff. I've mostly been changing insert sizes on top of that and I've even tried adding a quarter inch span and settled on 1/8 since it is a nice middle ground that has a lot of versatility to me. My pro shop has even gotten to where they don't charge me for all my inserts or other things I'm doing because I'm in so much lol. Thumb shape and size is one of the last things I am working on right now since I like a piece of tape or two for texture but if I'm layering 4 or 5 pieces it's off by a fair bit and that's not so good. I even got a set of high grit sandpaper to try finish in the thumb hole because too low eats up my skin since it's sensitive but too high it just sticks too much haha

Cool to see you guys together. Get Rambo Ray on be of your shows. Thanks 2 fits since I returned to bowling in 2019. RH 4 1/4 middle 4 3/8 ring; now 4 1/2 middle and ring.

Another great video guys! I really appreciate your knowledge and reaction videos. I’ve been having some wrist pain issues lately, I actually do find my self gripping the ball. Would fixing that help with my wrist pain?

When I bought my ball in 1993. 😁 (I am actually looking at getting a new ball, because I recently started bowling again and it just doesn’t feel right. It was a cheap ball, so if I buy a new one I won’t shed a lot of tears over it.)

I haven’t had my bowling fit checked in about 2-3 years. It would be nice to be able to throw more revs but I’m physically unable to. It’s okay though I try to make the best with what I have

Cool video talk to tech bowling Jr pro shop

I've only had my ball fit checked the day I got it drilled... ten plus years ago. Brunswick Slingshot black and silver pearl. Feels kinda odd playing with now that I've started bowling again. I've also lost 160 lbs, so that might be why it feels different.

Last year, some issue with outside of thumb bump- hurts, now using tape

Had thumb stick 4 weeks ago pulled everything all the way up arm thumb swollen badly for weeks. Had to change everything after. Lesson, don't make do get it checked early and often

Two months ago changed my span 3/16 for my ring and 1/4 on my middle finger because I grew lol

I am just getting back in to bowling because of my grandsons. My ball from the past feels like it is going to tear my knuckle off of my thumb on release. I had the local pro shop look at it and he opened it up a little but not enough.

I found out my favorite ball is band from usbc league phaze 4 and trend 2 what a good ball to use at the usbc league

I just went through a fit change, a shorter span feels and fits better, however, my hand is more meaty on my palm around my thumb and it caused callouses under my thumb and palm. Loved the feel and additional rev rate but had to go back to a longer span😢. Thought about trying reverse in the pitch in thumb hole but my gut feeling said to just go back to a longer span with shortening my middle finger a little. Thoughts?

IBSIA method works for the majority of bowlers but their technique really doesn't take into account how to fit for people with odd thumb hinges. It just works because their method will just happen to work for the majority of people and then you can fudge the fit with a lot of bevel. In my opinion bevel should be for comfort, but almost all operators use it to get people out of the thumb when they hang up because of improper span and pitches. Been bowling for 35 years, flown around the country, and I've yet to find an operator that can look a my hand and drill me a ball that I can get out of.

About a year and a half ago when I got my first bowling ball

I'm still experimenting with mine, but as of now, I have something that's workable.

Great information. Unfortunately for me, according to this video I've never had a good fitting bowling ball.

Sorting out fitment... a ball is going to have to be a test platform - no way around it. Choose a cheaper/older one to sacrifice. Make each change, and maybe bowl 20 games with it over a few weeks to see. Getting the span/pitch combo that works and doesn't make the hand complain is the primary goal. I went through two major landmarks. First was a span just a little too long for the pitch. It seemed ok in the shop but... somewhere early in game 3, and the tendons in my fingers complained from stretch. Had to do something. Solution? For me, it was about 1/16 span reduction plus more reverse finger pitch [1/4 and 3/8 if I remember]. Second was the thumb [I used switch grips at the time]. I observed going past 3 games was annoying regardless of which grip used, or tape - thumb chafing on the side was an issue arising from side pitch/pressure during release. [Thumb was comfortable just holding the ball]. That problem made me try something new: "offset ring finger". Personally, I like to call it an offset thumb, because that's how I lay it out: [for my hand] I draw a line hinging away from the midline starting at where it meets the line under fingerholes + 12 degrees. That offset maps centerline where thumbhole is measured to and drilled. Side pitch now being reduced, no more problems - bowl a half dozen games and the side of my thumb [primarily near nail bed] quit being an issue. We all have different hand sizes, so I won't ever say 12 is "it" - some might use 14, others 8. Short/wide hands need a bigger relief, long/narrow hands need less, if going this route.

Span was just readjusted. Thumb felt good until league started and the ball was trying to keep my thumb. Should I open thumb hole a little more?

Have you ever drilled for someone with a vert inflexible thumb? I fail to bend my thumb at the base at all. If i want to hold something between thumb and fingers i have to move the whole area below the base of the thumb. I tried forward pitch and i cannot release the ball at all that way, i always hang up in it. Been playing reverse because of that my whole life, but i feel i can never completely relax my hand inside, cause i'ts not sticking 100% to the thumb because of the reverse

I have a serious question. What do you think about having something called dupytrens contracture with your hand and need your fit possibly changed frequently and having to plug and drill bowling balls continuously? Or not changed at all because your proshop or proshops near you mess with and find all different axis pap rotation and all there all getting different things.

Last time was last December by Mr Frank Buffa. Everything bowling wise got better once i got the right fit!

When you said you went “a little more forward” in your thumb, what was the final measurement? What is your overall span?

I get the callus/blister on the out side of my thumb. Would squeezing the ball to much cause that? The squeeze is an old habbit I'm still struggling with.

When you said you have your thing’s fit a little more forward, are you still in a reverse pitch or is it actually forward? I just got my thumb done with an interchangeable but my PSO has it at a 5/16th reverse when I had a 1/4 reverse before. Feels like I have to grab on both. Worse now.

i have the finger tip inserts in my ball, watching your video when i put my thumb all the way in my joint is really close to the bottom of the hole, not even close to the middle , i have asked before at my local shop and they say its fine. . Is there a way to correct this this fit

i got my first ball a couple months ago, and what i notice is 2 things: first- the finger grips fit well the first game, but by the second game my fingers swell and i can no longer fit them properly. how do i remedy that? second- it seems as if the thumb hole is too loose. what can i do to make it a bit tighter?

Say ? You said at the end your finger doesn’t bend. Question for you. My ring finger at the 1st knuckle doesn’t bend. At All. Broke it in high school & had surgery. Two pins inserted. Been struggling getting a good fit Was wondering ur thoughts

I been bowling with no thumb. I been told I will have more control and my Ave will go up with my thumb or become a two handed bowler. Not really trying to bowl two handed. Was also told I can use my thumb but half way. So my thumb but to the 1st joint. Any help or advise.

Not sure what the terminology is but what is best? A finger drilled for the first knuckle or the second knuckle

Are some of the storms in bowling balls so bad from USBC tournaments

Does this really apply for two handers is there anything different I should be doing ??

Do they make shrimp paste scented boiling balls

What do I do if I have one foot 1.2 inches short wish is my right leg so am not able to walk in blanched and my left leg is still the one I sided with and my ball is not the way I what it to be my pro shop did not drill the ball the way I would like

I had my fit checked when i drilled the hyraod hybrid about a month ago. Question for you guys, do you have any tourney 3 ball bags and any sst boa's? They are really hard to come by in california. Please let me know, thank you and have a good day!

Great video! I went reverse pitch and shortened my span about 4 months back.. I thought I was super comfortable before, but the change has been unreal. Also congrats on your bowling at classic!!

The top joint on my middle finger is inflamed and sore all the time from bowling.

It's been at least 10 years since I actually bowled in League cuz of family money etc I want to get back in it but I felt my grip wasn't right to help me get to the next level The problem I was having was when I would stick my fingers in the ball when I reached back to put in my thumb I felt like my fingers were coming a little out of the ball to meet the grip but at the time the pro shop was a good pro shop but I don't think I had anybody to really help me as I needed so I feel it was a wrong spand what's your opinion

? On the YoYo release, I hear alot of people say the release should come off like a yo-yo but I always see everyone release up not down like a yo-yo. Can you do a video on with slow mo releases.

What about drilling a ball 2-3 times just to test fit?

It’s probably not the right idea, but I actually switched to two handed because i felt like it had a lot less tear on my hands and fingers by removing the thumb hole and using more of my body to bowl

hello, I have balls that I used one-handed before. Now I've decided to take two hands. I filled it and want to drill again. should i use the old angles? I write the balls and old measurements below. can you suggest me? 900 global the break (40*3 3/4*25) morich seek&destroy (70*3 3/8*40) brunswick diamond back (55*4 1/4*40) Hammer Razyr (60*4 3/4*45) While one hand was pap 5 1/2 left 1 up, I measured two hands pap 5 15/16 left 1 3/16 down with the ball I pierced yesterday.. whoever I ask, he tells me to follow you. The people I asked were also two-handed players. One person didn't say it would be better if you pierced these balls at these angles. i have an old drill and i will drill the balls there is no proshop where i am. Please I would be glad if you can help.

Last time was about 5 months ago and I just gave up no pro shop can't fit me in a ball. I bowl with my pinky finger I don't use my birdie finger my ring finger and pinky in the hole I went through 8 pro shops like I said I gave up

When I went to interchangeable thumb holes, I started to tear skin on the top of my thumb on one hole, and not on the other, and I didn’t have this problem until this hole, I probably need to buy a new one to make sure it’s fit right but idk what’s wrong with my hole

i've had two fits, by two different "pro" shop opps here in the UK, and they've both been terrible, thumb hurts like heck, even when saying it, they didn't do anything to make it better. very discouraging especially since here in the UK there isn't a billion pro shops next to eachother. edit: forgot to add, because of it being so discouraging that two "pro shops" can't seem to actually get the thumb-hole right/comfortable, i'm gonna learn how to 2hand bowl and eliminate the problem of the pro shop.

Ok I have a good question is I bowl with my pinky finger and ring finger I never use my birdie finger and I had problems with my fitting about 14 years and I went to 7 pro shops gave up. They all look laugh at me but I think my pinky hole needs to be further down but they never do that can you tell me why look at your hand and look how far your pinky finger is down

Calais....

Is it odd that I don’t get any calluses?

Just started bowling after 10 yrs off. I'm starting to have pain in middle and ring finger after a few games and stays for a few day after. Dropped down to 15 lbs from 16 and it didn't seem to help.