I recommend getting a coach and address the issue now. No sense in creating more bad habits that will take longer to to fix once they become "muscle memory."

humm. i would try the tape thing also. slick tape mite help. see if you can put black tape in hole and maybe tape on the thumb. i hope you find the problem and i hope it dont get ya down too bad. good luck!

Well, my latest driller is a USBC silver coach. He is the one that drilled the ball and was trying to help me with the issue. He is also the one that said this is a first for him in over 9,000 balls drilled...

But, I am supposed to see him again Saturday, so we will see how that goes.

Yea, I'll give that a try. I know the thumbsaver helps too. I think the tape would probably work similarly.

If I had to put money on it, I'd bet you're squeezing the ball. You said you don't know how it's supposed to feel. It's supposed to feel like you're not trying to hang on to the ball at all. If you're trying to hang on in any way shape or form, it's to much. If you keep your hand dead-fish releaxed and the ball falls of when you swing it, then you know it's either to loose or you need more forward pitch.

i'd bet on squeezing the thumb too. i used to squeeze the thumb too even though i could have sworn it was relaxed. try this: when you go up to the approach purposely squeeze with your fingers a little bit and make sure the weight of the ball is on your fingers. you'll notice it being taken off the thumb and you'll immediately realize if you're gripping the thumb. throw the ball while squeezing the fingers like this for awhile until you train your thumb.

this worked for me tremendously and since i've relaxed the thumb i have to start moving to more forward in thumb pitch cause i come out so fast!

also, do u use a urethane thumb slug? if not, try that. that will let you release very fast!

bryfree, head to this link: http://www.bowl4fun.com/ron/tip20.htm

Stand next to your couch (or something soft) with your bowling ball in your hand, so the ball is over the couch. Straighten your wrist like the 2nd picture. Completely relax your hand, keeping your wrist straight. What happens? If the ball comes off, you're grabbing it.

Thanks for all the info guys. I will see what happens tomorrow when I meet with the coach/driller again.

yup good idea bryfree. the coach should be able to help. i know mine did. mike is my coach and driller all in one its a good thing when they're both. i'm glad mine is. he can watch and see whats wrong and can fix anything thats wrong with me and ball. good luck with it and i hope you get it figured out. try the tape with the thumbsaver if anything else just to see if it helps but let your coach try first. :thumbs:

Reminds me of what my girl just went through getting her first finger tip ball. No matter what she did she couldnt get her thumb out of the ball upon release. The Pro Shop that drills all of my stuff drilled hers up and I was there to watch so I'm sure fit was good. It ended up being her grabbing the ball.....big time. It left her frustrated to no end because she didnt know what it was suppos to feel like she only knew what she saw me and thers do. I got some help from a few female bowlers I know and they got her to get out of the ball the way you are suppose to and that's all it was, technique.

This may not be the case for you but it sounded similar with your non exiting thumb issues.