Hi guys,

I've been having problems with my thumbhole these past 2 weeks. I just started experimenting with bowler's tape. I used to grip my ball slightly during my shot but a friend told me that I should avoid doing it and use tape instead.

I tried it in practice and focused on not gripping my ball and it went off cleanly (I noticed an increase in revs also). However, during these past 2 league nights, I begin to get stuck on the ball by the start of the 2nd game. When I removed a tape, I started to drop the ball early. I put one back on and it was an on/off thing. Sometimes I got stuck, and sometimes I didn't. All of a sudden I was busy thinking about my thumb issues and lost focus on the game.

What do you normally do to have that consistent thumb exit?

Having had this same problem let me suggest two things, try changing the pitch of the hole away from the center of the ball and try using a piece of Magic Carpet opposite your thumb nail. These two things plus some white tape, one piece, opposite the Magic Carpet and you should find an improvement. Remember to press your thumb nail into the Magic Carpet. Good luck.

Sounds like a thumb pitch issue, if the thumb is tight with tape and you are still slipping causing you to grip the ball and stick and make your thumb swell causing you to remove tape, then you might want to try going 1/8" to 1/4" more forward with your thumb pitch so the ball will not slip off your thumb. All it takes is for a slight feeling that the ball will slip and your subconscious will grab the ball and your thumb will hang.

Coach Jim, I noticed with my new equipment just today at practice that my thumb has to be slightly bent to clear the hole. is that and indication my pitch may be off as well?

To me, that sounds like it could be a slightly stretched span.

Ok thanks Cg I will have my pro take a look at it next Saturday, I think as I progress I am noticing things more and more probably going to drive you guys and my pro up the wall lol.

Sorry about jumping your thread stone.

No problem Rocket.

Not really sure if there's a Magic Carpet around here. But I'll try looking. I read somewhere that I could also try putting velcro in my thumb (the soft part) but I haven't heard anyone actually use it so I'm not ready to try it yet.

I just came from the Pro Shop and the guy just tried to widen the hole judging from the callus that he saw on my left hand thumb (callus is on the left side of the knuckle if I make a thumb's up sign). But to me it looks like he's just guessing. Will try the ball on my next practice, however, I'm seriously considering going to another shop and have them take a look at the it.

I'd probably have a friend check my timing and release too, just in case I've developed some bad habits.

Thanks guys!

Magic Carpet has to be ordered from Ron Clifton's website, www.bowl4fun.com . There are other products out there that go in the thumb hole that are made out of different material that pro shops may carry but I don't know how they compare to the Magic Carpet.

Now for the callus, where you describe it being at sounds like you bend the thumb to hold on to the ball so opening the hole up some will only make it worse if that is what you are doing. You could need more forward pitch to allow the ball to hold on to your hand itself, of course you want to make sure your span is correct. You might also need a little lateral pitch(side to side).

I used to have issues with my thumb from time to time. I used the Magic Carpet tape, and the black tape in the ball and still had issues. Recently I started to use the tape that you apply directly to the back of the thumb and my problems have pretty much gone away. I love this tape. It comes in three colors, beige, purple, and green, each color being slightly different in texture and thickness. The biege is the smoothest, purple is medium, and the green is the courser of the three offering more friction.
Example: I'll use the biege when the center is warm, or my thumb is swollen from the heat and I need a nice clean release.

I'll use the green tape when its pretty cold outside, and my thumb is thinner and I need a little more texture for a surer grip.
The purple when I need something in between.
It works great for me.

My thumb is a mess. I found this red colored tape that I put over my entire thumb and it has worked wonders. It is not sticky and gives just the right tightness. The problem I have is my thumb is callused and it tends to swell up as the night goes on. I have learned over time how to use tape effectively.