#59385 - 06/16/0808:15 AMRe: Update on Ball Fit: Please Help
[Re: Amateur]
Lefty
Legend
Registered: 01/30/05
Posts: 1867
A/S/L: 36 / M / Rochester, NY
I use the Vise Hadapatch tape for my thumb along with white tape in the front of the thumb hole and I really don't have any issues staying in or getting out of the ball.
#59391 - 06/16/0810:30 AMRe: Update on Ball Fit: Please Help
[Re: Amateur]
General Pounder
Legend
Registered: 03/28/06
Posts: 1396
A/S/L: 33/M/Tinley Park, IL
KingBlueBadger;
I normally take 600 grit sandpaper and wet sand my thumb. I do it for a minute or 2 and I have never had a problem with the way the back of my thumb feels. I have 1 piece of tape in the front for feel but the back feels like glass (to me anyway).
#59393 - 06/16/0811:11 AMRe: Update on Ball Fit: Please Help
[Re: desertdog71]
CoachJim USBC Silver Coach
Registered: 09/19/06
Posts: 2253
A/S/L: Reston, Virginia USA
Quote:
I think I will consider some forward pitch on both fingers and thumb just to see what its like. My thumb isn't really an issue for me right now, but I think forward pitch may still help some because occasionally I will come out of the ball early.
I also need to shorten the span on my pinky about 1/8 inch because it is slightly stretched on all my equipment. I have also considered going with slightly smaller finger grips after I go forward with the pitch. Right now they are larger than they need to be, although again it doesn't seem to bother me. The span issue on my pinky does bother me since I have a blood blister on my pinky now from all my lift coming off that finger.
Should I keep the 1/4 left in my pitch after I go forward with it? Right now I have 3/8 reverse and 1/4 left in my thumbs. Also does the hole need to be redrilled? I have thumb slugs so can those just be replaced and the new pitch drilled?
Desertdog, since you use the pinky and ring fingers, your grip is going to be different than everyone else's. You are going to have to experiment to figure out the best possible grip measurements. Are you having to bend your thumb in the hole to hang onto it now? If not your pitches might be right for you.
As far as left pitch goes, does your thumb rub on the sides, if not then 1/4 left is fine. By using your pinky and ring fingers the angles of how the ball sits on your hand and how your fingers exit the ball in relation to your thumb are different, so you are going to have to spend some time figuring it out for yourself. Post back how it is working and any problems you have and we will try to help.
#59394 - 06/16/0811:15 AMRe: Update on Ball Fit: Please Help
[Re: infernocal]
CoachJim USBC Silver Coach
Registered: 09/19/06
Posts: 2253
A/S/L: Reston, Virginia USA
Quote:
I followed it, out side of letting the plug dry the most time consuming part is just getting the right fit, but I've never had "bowlers thumb" even with ill fitting balls.
Cal the reason you have not developed bowler's thumb with a bad fit is because you didn't bowl enough games. The guys King bowls with bowl 100+ games a week and a bad fit will cause your thumb to look like a snake that swallowed a mouse. Even a perfectly fit ball will cause swelling to occur over that amount of games, as well as changes in altitude and humidity in traveling to different parts of the country.
#59404 - 06/16/0801:57 PMRe: Update on Ball Fit: Please Help
[Re: CoachJim]
desertdog71
Team USA Hopeful
Registered: 05/23/08
Posts: 400
A/S/L: 36/M/Independence, KS
Originally Posted By: CoachJim
Quote:
I think I will consider some forward pitch on both fingers and thumb just to see what its like. My thumb isn't really an issue for me right now, but I think forward pitch may still help some because occasionally I will come out of the ball early.
I also need to shorten the span on my pinky about 1/8 inch because it is slightly stretched on all my equipment. I have also considered going with slightly smaller finger grips after I go forward with the pitch. Right now they are larger than they need to be, although again it doesn't seem to bother me. The span issue on my pinky does bother me since I have a blood blister on my pinky now from all my lift coming off that finger.
Should I keep the 1/4 left in my pitch after I go forward with it? Right now I have 3/8 reverse and 1/4 left in my thumbs. Also does the hole need to be redrilled? I have thumb slugs so can those just be replaced and the new pitch drilled?
Desertdog, since you use the pinky and ring fingers, your grip is going to be different than everyone else's. You are going to have to experiment to figure out the best possible grip measurements. Are you having to bend your thumb in the hole to hang onto it now? If not your pitches might be right for you.
As far as left pitch goes, does your thumb rub on the sides, if not then 1/4 left is fine. By using your pinky and ring fingers the angles of how the ball sits on your hand and how your fingers exit the ball in relation to your thumb are different, so you are going to have to spend some time figuring it out for yourself. Post back how it is working and any problems you have and we will try to help.
I have almost no problems with my thumbs, except occasionally I will come out early but I never use tape, and I bet a piece of tape every now and then will fix that. I don't grip the ball, it just sits there on my thumb although I do have some bevel because the webbing of my thumb will hurt otherwise.
I was more thinking about finger pitches that would take a little off the ball when I release it.
_________________________
Recovering Hookaholic: 18.783MPH at 486RPM In my bag 16# Brunswick Red Zone (length and arc) 16# Brunswick Attitude II (Shark monster) 16# Brunswick Power Groove Reactive (skid/flip) 16# Brunswick Groove Urethane (doesn't hook) 16# Brunswick Target Zone HGS 298 HSS 802
#59409 - 06/16/0806:00 PMRe: Update on Ball Fit: Please Help
[Re: desertdog71]
CoachJim USBC Silver Coach
Registered: 09/19/06
Posts: 2253
A/S/L: Reston, Virginia USA
Quote:
I have almost no problems with my thumbs, except occasionally I will come out early but I never use tape, and I bet a piece of tape every now and then will fix that. I don't grip the ball, it just sits there on my thumb although I do have some bevel because the webbing of my thumb will hurt otherwise.
I was more thinking about finger pitches that would take a little off the ball when I release it.
DD you can experiment with a ball you don't use and see if a shorter pinky span helps you release the ball cleaner, it may or may not, you will have to try and see how you like it.
Yeah, you guys on the last got it, it is stricly just a slicker and more comfortable feel. You can go as snug as ya want and still slip out super easy. I have had an awful lot of problems over injuries which I have a lot of I guess you'd say brain sending signals to the limbs sort of thing. It is some thing about the texture of the wizard plug that gives a feel you'd just have to try. It is a few minutes more on the timing of drilling plugging and redrilling. But it is worth it. I would class me as one having a very severe release problem . This did stop it but it would primarily be for ease of release. Eddie
_________________________
I bowl with SASBA Senior All Star Bowling Assoc. SW And SE. I also like to deepsea fish and I raise Reg. Quarter Horses and build Hand made Saddles.
#59432 - 06/17/0802:14 AMRe: Update on Ball Fit: Please Help
[Re: KingBlueBadger]
Amateur
Regional Pro Hopeful
Registered: 05/03/08
Posts: 528
A/S/L: 19/M/Tacoma, WA
Do you want to put the ball on the spinner if you sand your thumb with sandpaper? Also do you use water? I might consider doing this just for a slightly smoother feel. That way when I go more forward in my thumb hole, if I would normally hang, this will probably counter act it a little. Thoughts?
Thumbs on dedicated bowlers are a "work in progress". You can have your thumb exacticated. A mold is taken of your "favorite" thumb hole and then replicated at will for any new ball.
My thumb exactication has a piece of white grip tape built into it. I like the feel if the grip tape. If I had more reverse pitch or smoother thumb hole, then I have problems holding onto the ball.
Plus I have to add that my thumb looks like a normal thumb. No blisters, no calluses, no weird shapes.
#59438 - 06/17/0805:45 AMRe: Update on Ball Fit: Please Help
[Re: Atochabsh]
Amateur
Regional Pro Hopeful
Registered: 05/03/08
Posts: 528
A/S/L: 19/M/Tacoma, WA
Yeah, my driller has mentioned getting my thumb exacticated to get the "perfect" fit. However, that will not always work because of swelling. My bowling thumb is kinda thick and wide compared to my other one, but not like some others I've seen. I can't see when my thumb actually swells, but it's basically swollen everyday until I've put my thumb in a thumb hole for a while or a certain amount of times.
Therefore, I think, if I didn't use easy slide, that I'd start with hardly any tape and add some as I bowl. I wish I could just stop my thumb from being swollen and I wouldn't have any problems, because after a certain point during bowling, my thumb doesn't change size anymore.
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