RLD strikes again. LOL.

I think a long thumb is considered at over 2 1/2 inches, and I guess a short would be around 2 or maybe 1 3/4. My thumb is approaching three inches.

Admin recommends searching through recent posts before posting new ones. I was thinking of changing my handle to "Grave Digger" since it seems that I like to bring posts back from the grave. My thumb is about 2 1/4 inches long and I'm trying to figure out a suitable pitch based on my 4 3/8 X 4 7/16 span. Based on the chart it should be 1/16 reverse and 1/4 away (since the grip test reveals that my thumb is pointing towards my index finger).

I'm at 4 1/8" and 4" in span I believe and 1/4" forward, still gotta squeeze a bit but luckily sornesss doesn't happen anymore so I'm kinda close to where I should be I guess. If I completely relx my hand the ball falls off after the push away, but if I press the thumb back it wants to stay on my hand but sometimes falls off.

Amature, if the ball is slipping off your thumb at the beginning of the swing it is telling you to go more forward. Bill Taylor's book also mentions that his chart is just for starters, you should go forward until your thumb hangs up then back off 1/16". This book has been around since the 70s, so going forward with the thumb has been trade secret for many years.

RLD, my span is the same as yours, my thumb is around 2" and I am at 1/2" forward. Keep searching I think you might find the post that Al Gore started the internet off with

CoachJim, I plan on trying more forward pretty soon with one of my balls which is at 0 and needs to be changed anyways. I'm considering going straight to 1/2" forward considering how fast the ball wants to come off my hand, I may even need more, but more than 3/4" and I may need the assistance of something more than just white tape. And during my swing, should I be pushing my thumb against the back of the hole or should the ball stay on my hand either way?

The ball is supposed to come off your hand quickly. This motion is very impportant for over all timing and release effectivity. Especially with today's faster lane conditions, you want to get that ball off your hand and onto the lane as quickly as possible. No more lofting down the lane, no more hitting up on the ball.

Though I understand the desired result of Jim's forward pitch ideas, its not a magic bullet. It can also be a detriment if you already have a fairly clean release, when there might be other issues you have not identified. Unfortunately we've benefited in this with plugs and redrills and further and further. All, I think, looking for the magic bullet.

I would just like to caution that this concept is not a magic bullet. That if you are over gripping the ball this will get you to not do so (or you will go down the lane with the ball). Kind of a "or die trying" system. Perhaps for many the grip issue is not so much a pitch problem as a technique issue. You just need to stop over gripping the ball period. And don't need to drill and redrill your ball to learn this. But the idea of absolutely no grip pressure at all I think is a myth. There has to be some grip pressure, even if its minimal.

If you do the forward pitch increments, and sucessfully stop over gripping the ball, then the next step (IMO) is usually to start backing off on the forward pitch so that you can get out of the ball cleaner and cleaner without over gripping the ball.

Erin

If you push your thumb deep into the hole and then let it back off the edge of the hole should lock onto the base of your thumb, if it doesn't, you may need less bevel. I don't understand what exactly you mean by push the thumb against the back of the hole. Think of it like this, imagine you have a bird by it's legs, you don't want to dig your nails into the birds legs so hold it by the pads of your fingers and thumb. If you touch the pad of your thumb to the pad of your fingers, you will notice that your thumb is straight unless you have monkey thumb or some deformity. Next touch the pads together with minimal pressure so you don't break the bird's legs, this is how much pressure you need to use, and the position of the thumb.

I'm not looking for some "magic bullet", but if the ball feels at all like it is slipping, then you will bend the thumb to hang onto the ball then you will be required to let the ball go at the right point to make a good shot, some people are talented enough to do this at the right point every time, the rest of us will need to have the ball come off on it's own, and if your thumb is bent, this will never happen. The ones who are talented enough to do this don't seem to understand why everyone else can't simply let the ball go.

I had to dig this topic out, because I had my balls re-slugged due to weight loss. Because I have yet to find any helpful drillers near my area, I tried the shop in Sea Bowl. When I got my balls back, he completely changed the span by squaring it out. In addition, there were sand lines around the thumb hole as a result of trying to smoothen it out. To think they're IBPSIA certified.

If the span is incorrect, they should fix it for free.

Jim, what I meant my pushing my thumb back was to the point that the nail is touching the back of the hole, I suppose to make sure I'm not squeezing. All this time I've been assuming no grip pressure. I would say I've been applying more than minimal still, but I haven't quite figured out how to make that lock effect work, which might require less bevel like you say. Is there a certain feel I should have when it locks?