Control How Your Bowling Grip Feels in Different Environments

How the bowling ball feels in your hand needs to be familiar or second nature in order to have success. Golf and baseball have what is described as the “sweet spot.” When the ball hits the club or bat in the perfect spot, you can feel it and you know it by the result.Bowling’s release works similarly. Experienced bowlers feel or know when the bowling ball comes off of their hand properly and are confident in the result.

Climate affects your hand—from humid to arid locations, your hand will behave differently. It can be clammy or dry and can even swell. Scott Pohl, owner of On Track Pro Shop, explains how different bowling accessories can give you control over the environment that you are bowling with and get you back to a more natural feel with your grip.

Rosin Bags

Are all rosin bags the same? No. If you are experiencing sweaty or clammy hands, dry rosin bags are for you.

If you have dry hands, it will feel like the ball is falling out of your hand. A chalky rosin bag or hand conditioner is used when you have dry hands.

If you use a chalky rosin bag with sweaty or clammy hands, you will only compound the problem, and conversely, if you have dry hands and use a dry rosin bag, that too will compound the problem. It doesn’t hurt to have one of each of these bowling accessories in your bag, just in case.

Protective Tapes

Placing protective tape on your fingers and thumb can prevent skin breaks while giving you increased control over your grip.

Protective tape comes in different colors and textures. The different textures give you more or less grab with your grip, allowing you to maintain the feel you desire when releasing the bowling ball. When you change climates from humid to arid you likely will experience skin breaks. If you’ve ever bowled with a skin break, you know it can draw your focus away from the task at hand.

For more great bowling accessories videos and to learn more about pro shops, check out Bowling Accessories 101 and How to Better Communicate with the Pro Shop from National Bowling Academy expert coaching contributors.