Bowling is traditionally done with three fingers: the middle, the ring, and the thumb. However, there are different ways to hold the ball during your release.
- Rotating/twisting how the ball rests in my hand either towards the left or right to adjust how many hooks I can get (adjusting off of a regular throw): Twisting right to left increases, while twisting left to right decreases. I usually use the middle and ring finger of my right hand, but sometimes I use the ring finger and pinky, or even the middle finger of both hands. These different finger placements are useful in opening up what movements I can make if I need to. As default always use the middle and ring but that said I do end up using those other fingers a fair bit. Ring and pinky I primarily use strictly for bowling in the stroker form, standing at the right of the lane. Only used for certain spares, and since my ball has a lot of hooks, using less torque in my hand rotation helps dull it enough. Both middle fingers on the other hand I use much less.
- In order my own to do a personalized version of a 2-handed throw. I only use that type of release if my ball isn't getting enough traction and is falling right off the lane, which would mean I have to adjust what angles I am releasing as well as how the ball will react. For most bowlers and balls there is a thumb hole. When there is this hole it is very clear which way you're supposed to hold the ball straight or upside down, thumb above your other fingers), The same is true for balls without a thumb hole, although it is less visible. One of the things I have learned and stylized to my bowling is bowling with the ball "upside down" at times.
- To do this I flip the ball around and insert the fingers as I would usually but in the now incorrect holes. The reason I do this is because of the way balls are drilled, the axis of rotation, as well as core momentum, are much different if you flip the ball upside down. I do this to generate a lot of hooks while also using a lot less energy to do so, but primarily because it changes the path the ball follows and increases the backend motion of the ball.
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