Bowling aid

Abstract

A system for enhancing ball control by a bowler when swinging and releasing a bowling ball, and corresponding method of formation, are disclosed. A rigid sleeve is placed over the thumb of the bowler. The rigid sleeve is dimensioned and configured to fit in close cooperation with and slide readily along a thumbhole of the bowling ball, and to grip and be retained on the thumb. The thumb and rigid sleeve are inserted in the thumbhole. The bowling ball is then swung and released, while retaining the rigid sleeve on the thumb. The interior of the rigid sleeve may be coated with a tacky substance or may have installed thereon a shimming material. When swinging and releasing the bowling ball, the thumb and rigid sleeve may be withdrawn from the thumbhole prior to fingers being withdrawn from the finger holes. Ends of the rigid sleeve may be rounded to eliminate sharp edges.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62 / 133,663, filed Mar. 16, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to the bowling arts, and more specifically to advances in ball control in the bowling arts.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Bowling requires bowlers to hold a bowling ball, to accelerate the bowling ball towards a distant array of bowling pins by swinging the bowling ball, and to release the accelerated bowling ball in the direction of the pins. Success of each throw of the bowling ball requires that the bowling ball be carefully aimed at a pocket of the array, or towards specific pins, where some pins have already been knocked down. Bowling balls have sufficient weight so that maneuvering the bowling ball during release entails a number of problems. One problem is that the ball mus...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005]The exterior of the rigid sleeve has low friction characteristics, so that the rigid sleeve slides along the thumbhole without significant resistance as the thumb and rigid sleeve pull away from the bowling ball during release.

[0006]Optionally, internal frictional characteristics of the rigid sleeve may be increased by use of a solid lining, such as a natural or synthetic rubber sheath which contacts the interior of the rigid sleeve, or by a tacky substance coating the interior of the rigid sleeve. A solid lining may also be used to improve fit of the thumb to the interior of the rigid sleeve.

[0007]Use of the rigid sleeve, with or without frictional enhancement of the interior surface, overcomes the manual effort of grasping a bowling ball without such a rigid sleeve. Also, the thumb is protected from abrasion, pinching, and other causes of injury to the thumb. More specifically, the sleeve eliminates injured thumb knuckles, sides, and webbing of the thumb. Elimination of effort and injury free the bowler from distractions which otherwise tend to distort the ideal motion of the hand when releasing the bowling ball from manual grasp. This improves the ability of a bowler to control the ball, at a conscious level, a subconscious level, or both. Ball accuracy, ball speed and revolution rate, and h...

Problems solved by technology

Bowling balls have sufficient weight so that maneuvering the bowling ball during release entails a number of problems.

One problem is that the ball must be grasped with sufficient force to maintain manual control.

Even if these obje...

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