Switching Delivery

[Graham Ginsberg]

This question is really a small variation. but since the rule book is silent on this specific situation, I thought I'd see what others think.

I have a bowler who had an injury in the off season, so started the season with a new average using her left hand. Her original thoughts were that she would bowl the whole season that way, but as the season has progressed, she feels she might be able to bowl with her right hand again.

The operative part of this is "might". I told her that we would need the approval of the board for her to start using her right hand again (in keeping with rule 118e and the associated Q&A) and I could really do not that between practise and start of the game. Actually rule 118e doesn't really cover this situation specifically, although it does implicitly. The wording assumes the injury occurs mid season and the switch and switch back both occur during the season. The intent is clear, although I am not sure why.

My concern and question is if the bowler switches to her right hand and starts a new average using last years average. What happens if she finds after one or two games or weeks, that she can't handle it. I assume we would have to get the board approval to revert to her left hand.

Alternatively and depending upon when she switches back to her right hand, I know this is a new average, but what happens to other rules dealing with players towards season's end. I am thinking of rules covering when new bowlers can be added to a team roster and how many games they need to have to bowl playoffs as well as rules governing eligibility for prizes. Clearly high average (this will not be an issue anyway) has to be based on a minimum number of games, but other awards the minimum games are to ensure the bowler has paid a reasonable share of the prize money as much as any other consideration.

Is she considered a new bowler for purposes of the year end rules? My instinct is to say no and I know I can get the captains to agree to letting her bowl anyway.

What do others think?

Thanks for your input.

[Lance Rasmussen]

If you don't have any rules pertaining to position rounds or rolloffs, they I believe you must allow any bowler to come in. If you are not specific that a bowler must have X# of games from one hand (or worded as a current average in this league based on a minimum of X# of games) then that may allow her to bowl as well.

Regarding hand switch. You can only make the transition back to the hand you started from once in a league (if I remember correctly). So you could start (regardless if it's your natural hand) with left hand. Then switch (with approval) to the other hand, then switch back. At that point, I don't believe you can alternate again.

I don't believe you need board approval to switch back after an injury. Only to do the initial switch.


That is something you may want to clarify with the national rules staff in terms of continued switching.

[Patrick Lajko]

If this bowler doesn't know if she "can handle it" - has she ever thought of practicing with her other hand to see if she can handle it?
Seems bowling is about the only "sport" where you show up for competition each week without ever thinking of practicing during the rest of the week.

[Graham Ginsberg]

If you don't have any rules pertaining to position rounds or rolloffs, they I believe you must allow any bowler to come in. If you are not specific that a bowler must have X# of games from one hand (or worded as a current average in this league based on a minimum of X# of games) then that may allow her to bowl as well.

Regarding hand switch. You can only make the transition back to the hand you started from once in a league (if I remember correctly). So you could start (regardless if it's your natural hand) with left hand. Then switch (with approval) to the other hand, then switch back. At that point, I don't believe you can alternate again.

I don't believe you need board approval to switch back after an injury. Only to do the initial switch.


That is something you may want to clarify with the national rules staff in terms of continued switching.


Thanks for responding Lance.

Thinking about it you are right in that the rule and Q/A talks about two switches, with the assumption that the first is due to injury and the second is to revert. So if two switches are "allowed" it shouldn't matter why. As you can see in my response to Patrick, I am advising the bowler to practise and make sure she can handle three games before trying it in league, so a second "switch back" should not be needed.

And yes, according to the Q/A you do need permission to switch back.

[Graham Ginsberg]

If this bowler doesn't know if she "can handle it" - has she ever thought of practicing with her other hand to see if she can handle it?
Seems bowling is about the only "sport" where you show up for competition each week without ever thinking of practicing during the rest of the week.

I have advised the bowler to try bowling three games in practise, rather than just a few frames of practise on game night. But obviously I cannot insist upon it. Ultimately it is her decision and we have to live with the fallout.

[Mike Masek]

If she reverts, you have to treat her as a new bowler would be treated as far as awards (league, local and USBC) - do you have some way of keeping track of which is which, since they are technically 2 different people with the same name?

Patrick hit the nail on the head - why waste everyone else’s time when all she has to do is throw a few games - league night is not the time to practice - it isn't fair to her teammates either. It's like someone saying I might join your league, but then I might not. It's not out of line to ask her to be considerate and do this prior to league night - besides, she really won't be able to tell after just a few shadow balls.

[Graham Ginsberg]

This is now a two month old question. The bowler has reverted to using her normal hand with no further problems. I already had her set up as a new bowler for this year with L and R suffixes added to her new and old names to make the distinction. As of the week she started, I used her old entry, which automatically meant that her last years average as a righty was used for the first three weeks - all went well.

As for the method in which she came back - with or with out sufficient practise. That is not a rules issue. As in any sport that is a personal decision, in some cases made with the assistance and guidance of a trainer, coach or doctor. Even in professional sports players are occassionally allowed back by the team before they are fully recovered and injure themselves again shortly after. You really can't expect much more from almost the lowest level of amateur competition.