Bowling Ball Gripping Pressure

bowlingball.com, Originally Posted: 10/5/2014; Updated: 8/27/2022

When we refer to gripping pressure for those of you new to the game or changing your drilling from conventional to a fingertip grip, we refer to the amount of finger and thumb gripping pressure you apply on the ball when beginning your approach.
The consensus with pro shop professionals has been for many years to recommend a very light gripping pressure when you hold the ball in your stance position and when you swing the ball while taking your approach.
It is mostly a universal belief among pro shops that squeezing your ball too hard while walking and swinging the ball is not the best technique to get consistent and effective releases of your bowling ball.
A light gripping pressure which is maintained through the entire swing cycle is the operative method most every pro shop operator recommends when drilling bowling balls for new customers, particularly when the ball fits your hand properly.
There are variations of proper gripping pressure all of which can work well depending on the given bowler.
If you are a physically strong person with a strong hand, then gripping your ball lightly is the best course of action so your release is not inhibited in any way by overly squeezing your ball.
If you are a weak handed person physically, however, coaches might recommend to squeeze the ball much harder than you presently do to avoid dropping the ball behind the foul line and so you can propel the ball with sufficient ball speed over the foul line consistently.
It is also recommended to use slightly greater gripping pressure with your fingers than with your thumb.
A quick thumb release can help you attain a reasonable measure of revs on your ball and not retard the release which can cause you to hang onto the ball too long and loft the ball over the foul line too far as to make the ball bounce excessively and produce an inconsistent skid distance coupled with an unpredictable ball reaction.

Experimentation is necessary when you drill a new ball and certainly when you switch from a conventional grip to a fingertip grip so you develop a proper release technique to help you attain greater accuracy with a greater rev rate.
It is always best to use the services of your pro shop professional or your experienced bowling instructor to help you develop an effective delivery technique.
Part of a good delivery technique is the correct amount of gripping pressure used based on your style of bowling.
If you have any questions about your gripping technique, ask your pro shop professional to help you learn to properly insert your fingers and thumb into your bowling ball and how much gripping pressure to apply to develop an effective release.