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Author Topic: Offset thumb  (Read 10585 times)

lefty50

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Offset thumb
« on: January 03, 2008, 04:38:16 PM »
For many years I have tried to explain to drillers that my ball doesn't feel like it lays in my hand. It sits on the bridge of my palm. The driller reaction has always been "oh it doesn't look too bad..." I've always felt I should offset the thumb, but I keep hearing that I'm crazy.

Tonight, I just saw Jeff Carter's page where he's done exactly that for an inflexible hand, similar to my own problem (except I'm left handed...)
Drill experts, talk to me. Why can't I get a driller to do this for me? Is it common or uncommon? How far could/should I move it and what effect on distance and pitches? I truly believe this could be the doorway to better scores and would appreciate serious feedback on this topic please.
Thanks in advance
L50.
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hhsbowler

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Re: Offset thumb
« Reply #1 on: January 04, 2008, 12:44:37 AM »
What is your span?  You probably already have some offset in your grip, if your ring finger span is longer than the middle fingers span.  

If you don't feel the ball lay on the hand it could also a problem in your lateral pitches.  I added some left latteral to my grip and it feels like ball is resting on my palm.  I am a righty by the way.
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azguy

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Re: Offset thumb
« Reply #2 on: January 04, 2008, 04:56:31 AM »
JMO, but if you ask/tell your driller you want an off set thumb, it should have happened. Most of my customers have off set thumbs, many don't, depends on the bowler, amount of flexibility you have and , for me, what it is you the customer wants.

JMO
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bluerrpilot

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Re: Offset thumb
« Reply #3 on: January 04, 2008, 08:27:36 AM »
You could be in for some serious debating here. There are alot of people that do not beleive in an offset thumb or say that there really isnt an offset its just a span variation that creates an offset. Im going to agree with azguy, if you asked for something specific, then you should have gotten it. You might want to look for a different driller and see what he says.
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azus

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Re: Offset thumb
« Reply #4 on: January 04, 2008, 08:37:53 AM »
Ive had a pdf on the offset thumb, or Y-grip. Ive also thought about offset thumb, but that was a year or two ago..
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Strapper_Squared

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Re: Offset thumb
« Reply #5 on: January 04, 2008, 08:51:33 AM »
^^ Agreed.  Ultimately, you are the one footing the bill, so if you want to try something, your driller should cater to your request.  With that being said, if you offset your thumb to the right (being a lefty), you are essentially lengthening your ring finger span.

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lefty50

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Re: Offset thumb
« Reply #6 on: January 04, 2008, 02:09:07 PM »
Guys, this is all great discussion, but a bit off topic. Let me come back around to the original question and summarize what I'm after.

1. How many people actually use an offset thumb?
2. Will the offset actually help the ball lay in my palm better when it now lays on the bridge at the base of my fingers?
3. What type of pitch/span changes can I estimate without a Jayhwak or full fitting adjustable ball to measure with?
Thanks
L50
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azguy

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Re: Offset thumb
« Reply #7 on: January 04, 2008, 02:18:15 PM »
1. I do and approximately 24 of my customers do.

2. For me, yes it feels better

3. Without being remeasured, would not attempt to say, because that's just like telling you your span without measuring you, can't be done successfully.

JMO
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sdbowler

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Re: Offset thumb
« Reply #8 on: January 04, 2008, 02:26:49 PM »
I have been using the "clt" layout for a couple years and would not go back. My hand feels more relaxed in the ball and I feel to come out of the ball cleaner. I have talked to a few different pro shop operators that have no idea of how to do this.
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vilecanards

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Re: Offset thumb
« Reply #9 on: January 04, 2008, 02:33:44 PM »
What is a "clt" layout?
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Gazoo

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Re: Offset thumb
« Reply #10 on: January 04, 2008, 02:38:36 PM »
Maybe Jeff could chime in here and tell us if his thumb is offset or more of and illusion and why he does it.
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sdbowler

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Re: Offset thumb
« Reply #11 on: January 04, 2008, 02:56:21 PM »
quote:
What is a "clt" layout?
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Basicly an offset thumb.
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Borincano

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Re: Offset thumb
« Reply #12 on: January 04, 2008, 03:19:03 PM »
This is what I found that describes how the thumb offset is layed out.
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Here's how the centerline shift layout is done.

1. Draw the centerline and midline of the persons grip on a ball that fits them very well.

2. Place persons thumb in the ball so that their fingers lay across the finger holes.

3. Take a pencil and draw a line from the center of the finger holes toward the grip midline between your fingers following the angle of the fingers.
You are looking for the angle that the fingers are in reference to their thumb.

4. Now you must take the dimensions form the center point to the two points of the triangle youhave created. These dimensions are what you will use to set up the new ball to be drilled with a CLT Drilling.

5. Create the same lines using the dimensions off the other ball. Also draw a line perpendicularto the new finger centerline. That will help you rotate the grips to the proper angle. The angled line that you have created will be you centerline for drilling the finger holes.

There is many different ways people set up the ball to be drilled. Some drill thumb first others drill fingers first. It doesn’t matter
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6. The angled line that you have created by drawing between the fingers becomes the new centerline for drilling the fingers. Rotate the ball so that the new centerline is straight up anddown when the ball is in the jig. Set your pitches, line-up the bit to your lines and punch the hole.

7. Repeat step 6. For the other finger.

8. Rotate grips to be parallel to the line you drew in step 5.

This grip will help the hand lay a little flatter on the ball and to most people it feels more comfortable
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This is what one person said:

Ok, I have to interject into this topic...
I'm currently running through Ebonite's Powerhouse Pro Shop Training class, taught by Jeff Ussery. Just yesterday, we went over spans, pitches and such, and he stressed that there is no such thing as an 'offset thumb hole'.

See, when you drill a new thumb hole, you just shifted your center line, as well as your mid line. The center line is the line that passes through the middle of the bridge and the center of the thumb hole. Therefore, if you have a ball already drilled, find the center line, then plug and move the thumb hole to the left (or right), you now have a NEW center line, NOT an 'offset thumb hole'. Yes, the hole is now shifted to a different spot, but all that you have done is change the full span for the two fingers.

A center line is a center line, no if's, and's or but's. To say that this isn't true is to pretty much tell Ebonite that they are wrong.
Just thought I might interject my current studies.
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Edited on 1/4/2008 4:34 PM
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JPratt

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Re: Offset thumb
« Reply #13 on: January 04, 2008, 09:59:56 PM »
quote:

Any type grip, the collier, the Y grip, etc. they are able to be duplicated in a 'T' grip. The pitches can be duplicated.


Ric, first I want to thank you for all your posting as I have learned a lot from your posts over the last few months.  

If any ball was brought in to me I would be able to duplicate it.  That's easy.  But what if you were in the situation that the original poster was talking about.  How would you create the hand being more flush on the ball without offsetting the thumb?  I've only been drilling a short time, but so far my experience has been if there is no preset way for the hand to go in the ball, then the offset does not exist.  For example, you drill 3 round holes and then offset the thumb 1/2".  It really doesn't matter that you did because the holes are round and you can put your fingers and thumb in anyway you would like.  Now take the same 1/2" offset but the person uses oval grips and an oval thumb.  There hand is forced into the ball a certain way otherwise they won't come out of it properly.  It can also force more of the palm unto the ball (which I think is what the OP is trying to do).  So if you're still reading, my question is how could you duplicate the second example without an offset thumb?


Edited on 1/4/2008 11:00 PM

Edited on 1/4/2008 11:01 PM
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T-GOD

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Re: Offset thumb
« Reply #14 on: January 04, 2008, 11:46:23 PM »
BrunsRicOH is correct on this. =:^D
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