Wrist pain

Question
I am an above average bowler (approx 195-200 ave) and have been doing alot more open bowling with my son recently,  and have recently purchased a new 15 lb ball (replacing a 10 yr old 16 lb ball) while working out of town.   The grip is comfortable but I am noticing pain in my wrist when I am bowling.   

I don't know if it is just some tendonitis that I keep aggravating because I continue to bowl 4-5 times/week or if it is a problem with my grip.   I brought the ball into the local pro shop and he told me the span is up to 3/8" too short. Like I said, the grip is comfortable and I don't feel like I am gripping the ball any different than I have in the past.

Answer
Tom,
You may have been gripping the ball a lot in the past but with pitches and spans that didn't require as much effort as currently. It sounds like your gripping too much.

The spans and pitches of the grip make up 80% of the fit "formula," with spans being short, both pitches and hole sizes must help support/control the ball from falling off prematurely. It sounds like the other pieces of the formula aren't enough to keep the ball from falling out of your hand. You are gripping it.

So many bowlers start out experiencing what a ball feels like by using house balls and they don't fit anybody because they are designed to fit EVERYBODY. The hole sizes, spans and neutral pitches demand that a user grip and subsequently, need to, release the ball.

Your bowling ball should literally just hang in your hand, when positioned at your side with a relaxed hand/wrist/arm. If the ball falls out of your hand, it doesn't fit optimally. You can live with all kinds of grip variations, especially if you've built your style around a particular feel and fit.

An optimal fit will allow gravity and momentum to trigger the ball to "let go of you." If you have never experienced this concept it is SPECTACULAR, makes the sport so much easier! But not every ball driller/fitter has been exposed to this idea, knows how to do it, nor cares to learn (cause what they know works for THEM). So, I'd recommend a variation between the old fit and the new fit (3/8 anything, short or long is HUGE in a ball fit).

Or if possible get a great fit.

Good luck and good bowling. Thanks for the question.