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Author Topic: Help me: use of white tape,black tape, and cork inserts  (Read 4838 times)

Hex017

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Help me: use of white tape,black tape, and cork inserts
« on: February 04, 2005, 06:16:28 AM »
I've been trying to discover the right feel with my thumb for a while now...I was wanting to change the pitches of my thumb but I don't have the money for that right now so I was thinking I could help myself with some items. Can someone explain to me how white and black tape work? How do they affect the shape of your thumb hole and how do they affect your grip (make the grip better or more slick, etc.) Also what exactly is a cork insert and how does it work, and how does it affect your grip? Also do any of these help with hanging on the back of the thumb? I squeeze the ball very badly and I need to do something to ease my grip (when I don't squeeze the ball sometimes falls off my hand, sometimes hangs, and sometimes works fine.) Any help is appreciated.
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-If you're not willing to change, you're not willing to improve.

-Life is like a coin, you can spend it any way you want, but you can only spend it once.

-I will forever love this great game, I love the people and the competition, I only wish the best would get the recognition of an ATHLETE that they deserve.
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a_ak57

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Re: Help me: use of white tape,black tape, and cork inserts
« Reply #1 on: February 04, 2005, 02:18:31 PM »
I don't know about the cork, but black tape is slick.  The white tape is a bit more grippy.  But believe me when i say that they won't do anything compared to a pitch change.  

Putting white tape in the front of the hole (the side towards the fingers) will stretch your span slightly, too, to keep in mind.
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Hex017

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Re: Help me: use of white tape,black tape, and cork inserts
« Reply #2 on: February 04, 2005, 02:23:33 PM »
If any of you are wondering what I'm refering to as a cork insert go to this link and look, this is what I'm talking about. http://www.bowlersparadise.com/shop/accessories/master/master_grip_master_insert.shtml
--------------------
-If you're not willing to change, you're not willing to improve.

-Life is like a coin, you can spend it any way you want, but you can only spend it once.

-I will forever love this great game, I love the people and the competition, I only wish the best would get the recognition of an ATHLETE that they deserve.
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LuckyLefty

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Re: Help me: use of white tape,black tape, and cork inserts
« Reply #3 on: February 04, 2005, 02:28:32 PM »
White tape is for the front of the hole, black tape is for the back of the hole.

Cork inserts are usually used for orifices.  I prefer tape for thumbholes.

REgards,

Luckylefty
PS Just kidding in the yellow dot days I used cork if front of thumb and loved it!
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Hex017

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Re: Help me: use of white tape,black tape, and cork inserts
« Reply #4 on: February 04, 2005, 02:31:51 PM »
What exactly does cork do? Does it allow you to grip better or is it just there to fill space?
--------------------
-If you're not willing to change, you're not willing to improve.

-Life is like a coin, you can spend it any way you want, but you can only spend it once.

-I will forever love this great game, I love the people and the competition, I only wish the best would get the recognition of an ATHLETE that they deserve.
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TheBowlingKid25

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Re: Help me: use of white tape,black tape, and cork inserts
« Reply #5 on: February 04, 2005, 02:34:02 PM »
Ok, obviously if you are having different things happening when you dont grip it, your still griping sometimes even if you dont realize it. Your thumb hole is probably way too big. White tape, is meant for the front of the thumb hole, the pad side of your thumb, and has a good bit of texture to it. Black tape is meant for the back of the hole, its very slick, almost like plastic. I dont know anything about cork. A lot of people use tape in different ways then they are meant for though, some like white tape in the back, some like black tape in the front, etc etc. I personally suggest you try Ron Cliftons Magic Carpet. It goes in the back of the thumbhole, and its almost like the soft side of velcrow. I think that is the best choice for you. BUT, until then, try using some white tape in the front. To learn to not grip it, make the thumb hole very tight on your thumb with tape, I mean, almost as tight that you need to jam your thumb in. Put a lot of easy slide on your thumb, so you dont hang. If you CANT bend your thumb, you can learn what it feels like to keep it straight. Do that for a game or so, then take some of the tape out, and dont use any easy slide. Try to keep your thumb the same as when the hole was really tight. Then, adjust the tape accordingly.
--------------------
....BRUNSWICK!
¡Viva la nación de Brunswick!
Nothing more to be said.
....DEATH BY CHEETOS!!!!
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Hex017

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Re: Help me: use of white tape,black tape, and cork inserts
« Reply #6 on: February 04, 2005, 02:36:28 PM »
quote:
Ok, obviously if you are having different things happening when you dont grip it, your still griping sometimes even if you dont realize it. Your thumb hole is probably way too big. White tape, is meant for the front of the thumb hole, the pad side of your thumb, and has a good bit of texture to it. Black tape is meant for the back of the hole, its very slick, almost like plastic. I dont know anything about cork. A lot of people use tape in different ways then they are meant for though, some like white tape in the back, some like black tape in the front, etc etc. I personally suggest you try Ron Cliftons Magic Carpet. It goes in the back of the thumbhole, and its almost like the soft side of velcrow. I think that is the best choice for you. BUT, until then, try using some white tape in the front. To learn to not grip it, make the thumb hole very tight on your thumb with tape, I mean, almost as tight that you need to jam your thumb in. Put a lot of easy slide on your thumb, so you dont hang. If you CANT bend your thumb, you can learn what it feels like to keep it straight. Do that for a game or so, then take some of the tape out, and dont use any easy slide. Try to keep your thumb the same as when the hole was really tight. Then, adjust the tape accordingly.
--------------------
....BRUNSWICK!
¡Viva la nación de Brunswick!
Nothing more to be said.
....DEATH BY CHEETOS!!!!


Thank you and I'm going to try it very soon. I'm going to go talk to my driller right now and I'm going to buy some tape from him. I'll ask him what cork does. I'm going to try that to I think it will help me learn. I'll tell you what happens.
--------------------
-If you're not willing to change, you're not willing to improve.

-Life is like a coin, you can spend it any way you want, but you can only spend it once.

-I will forever love this great game, I love the people and the competition, I only wish the best would get the recognition of an ATHLETE that they deserve.
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MI 2 AZ

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Re: Help me: use of white tape,black tape, and cork inserts
« Reply #7 on: February 04, 2005, 03:15:26 PM »
Back in the mid-60's when I was first starting to bowl, cork inserts were sold at most bowling center counters and proshops.  They came on a cardboard sheet probably 50 stapled to it.  They were used for thumbholes like we use tape now.  Usually to provide more grip.  Balls back then were rubber or plastic so usually very slick unless you had a very light ball which had more cork in the core (or at least it felt like cork in my old 11 pound ball).  I dont remember seeing anyone using tape until sometime in the late 70's or early 80's and then it was a different type of tape that came on a roll like electrical tape.

Besides the cork, which I did not like, they also had a couple of red rubber ones on each cardboard sheet which were the ones I preferred back then.  I used those in my fingerholes.  I think there were two versions of the corks, one was smooth for the thumb and the other had a ridge or two for the fingerholes.  Ace Mitchell was the name I remember for those cork inserts.



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I just want 2C was'zzub.
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