[B00T]

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I bowl without my thumb 100% of the time, am I at a horrible disadvantage?

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No. I meant it takes awhile to get used to doing, whereas if you had some prior experience doing it, agianist someone who hasnt, you would be a strong favorite. As it stands, I think bowling without a thumb would be an advantage vs bowlers who do use a thumb.

Obviously you cannot be as accurate without your thumb than with it, but there would become a point in time where the extra revolutions and subsequent pin action would give you an edge compensating for your less accurate throws.

All the rage these days are pros and avid bowlers dropping down from a 16lb ball to a 15lb. They insist they can get more revs on the ball and it still hits and finishes as hard. I personally still use 16 because I lose accuracy throwing a 15lb ball too hard.

There is a guy in my league who is averaging around 220, and does not use a thumb. I personally tried it and I injured my shoulder in doing so. I have had enough success doing what I have been doing, so I just stuck with it.

I think the lanes make no difference whether they are dry or soaked throwing a ball like that. Assuming you are righty, you can just keep moving both your target and your feet to the left. You can put the ball down over the 2nd arrow on the left and have it go to the right gutter and have it come back.

If that is impractical or too difficult to do consistently (which I think it is), you can either:

1. Get a new ball that hooks less, or more importantly a ball that you can get more length on. Pearlized balls get more length than dull coverstocks. All the balls I use are pearlized.

2. Put your ball in the polishing machine that all bowling centers have. This will give you more length also. (Length meaning the longer your ball will go down the lane before it starts to hook: how far it skids before it flips).

Does the bowling alley you bowl in have a pro shop? If there is someone on-site who drills balls, ask him to watch you bowl, and he'll have an idea how to drill your ball that better suits your needs. Depending on the pin placement relative to your finger holes (the pin is that solid colored dot that should be near your fingerholes) it can make the ball do different things. If it is below your finger holes the ball will react differently than if it is above.

Just ask the local guy in the pro-shop or ask a younger kid working the desk. The younger kids would be more liberal in their reccomendations. Someone will refer you to a coach, or a guy who knows how to drill balls. I've probably tried 5-6 different guys until I trusted someone who understands how to drill balls in general, and understands my style.