Hey SilentTuba, nice to hear of your progress. when you work out that 7 pin let me know!!! i've only recently joined a leauge and that is my HATE pin, although i am getting a few more each week with practice...Cheers and good bowling...

Silent, if you are putting in 6 pieces of tape, you might need to have the thumb re-drilled a bit smaller. In the middle of the winter you will need more most likely.

Thanks for the words of encouragement Upriser...I'll work out that pin eventually (I hope :P)

Cal...I talked to the guy at the Pro Shop about a plug and redrill or a thumb slug, and he suggested to try the tape first, since it's cheaper. I do plan on buying a new ball soon, and I'll make sure the thumb on that one is the right size, and not too big, like my current one. After that, I'm still undecided whether to keep my current ball as my spare ball (in which case, I'll likely have it plugged/slugged and redrilled), or to get a plastic ball for spares.

Well trying the tape first lets you know. If it only took three pieces of tape it would be a different story, but six is telling you that the hole is a bit too large. Now you have something to work with when you go back to have anything done. Since you had to put that much tape in, I would suggest putting a couple of pieces on the back side of the hole and get some black tape and put it on as the top layer. That much tape in the front of the thumb hole will make your span a little longer by close to a quarter of an inch and also change the pitch of the thumb some.