I've been trying to figure out how the ball is supposed to feel on my hand when bowling.  Now I've bowled for a couple of years w/a fingertip ball, and I've gotten used to only being able to bowl about 3 games before my hand either gets tired, or my thumb gets raw.

I'm a righty who bowls around 14-17 mph (depending on conditions and whether strike or spare ball).

Here's what I'd like to ask -- if I hold the ball in a position that is comfortable for my thumb (which is drilled too large), then the ball rests on my palm in a half circle running along the base of all 4 fingers and then to the thumbpad.  The lower left part of my palm never comes in contact w/the ball.  All fine and dandy, but I don't feel like I have a great deal of control during my swing -- feels like it's wobbling in my hand.  However, if I hold the ball with my palm in full contact w/the ball surface -- my thumb is pressed signifigantly against the side of the thumbhole, thereby rubbing a nice rosy blister.

Is the palm supposed to be in full contact w/the ball surface, and I need to have my thumb pitched (for example) 3/8 left and 3/8 forward, or just tighten the snot out of the thumbhole and use the first finger and pinky to steady the ball in the swing/release.

Thanks for any insight -- and if I'm not being clear, ask questions and I'll try to explain better.

I agree that the fit is not right, and I recognize that there is no way to accurately diagnose what isn't right about the fit online.  What I am looking for is a good description of how a ball _should_ fit in a bowlers hand.  I've watched the tour pros, I've watched demos, and once my tax money comes back -- I'll be trying to schedule a lesson with a coach (Magic Carpet) to talk about it as well.  But until that point in time, my concern is whether I should be expecting the ball to sit on a line at the base of my fingers and the thumbhold should just be tighter, or whether the ball should be full in the palm which would mean that my thumbhole should be moved about an inch to the left and then have left and forward pitch added to it.

And as my guy is only one of two drillers in the area, my options are a little limited as far as second opinions.