Author Topic: Forward pitch...looking for help. (Read 5051 times)

Hex017 · « **on:** June 17, 2006, 02:57:35 PM »

After working with my coach for a while we both figured out that my grip was not right. So I went to my driller, had my span shortened on everything and went from 1/16th reverse(I think?) to 1/8 forward in the thumb. It felt really good at first, so I had it done to everything. After bowling over 20 games this weekend though my thumb has given me some problems. I'm having some trouble getting out of the ball cleanly, I do spin the ball to a degree, and I tend to rub on the left side of my thumb exiting the ball(left, nail side up). Also, my thumb has started to blister and become really sore(20 games is not a lot for me btw), the ball feels like razors while hanging onto it. Maybe I should just have everything beveled a lot and sanded out, or maybe I should back off to 0 in the thumb? The only thing I do want to note is I left my plastic ball with the reverse and now I basically drop it, so I do see the effects of the forward pitch. Anyway, what do you think I should do?
--------------------
-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.

-90 percent of the game is half mental
-Yogi Berra

Hex017 · « **Reply #1 on:** June 18, 2006, 01:30:28 AM »

I was definently grabbing it some by the end, all the rubbing and the "razor" like feel of the hole was very uncomfortable. I think I do have the death grip, which is why I want to change. Do you think a good amount of beveling can get rid of that razor like feel?

And I will take the advice about maybe notching the hole where the rubbing is.
--------------------
-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.

-90 percent of the game is half mental
-Yogi Berra

Strider · « **Reply #2 on:** June 18, 2006, 11:18:03 AM »

Work on sanding and/or beveling little by little. Once you go too far, you'll be dropping again. If you're knuckling, it sounds like the hole is too big. Get the thumb hole the right size with tape, then start beveling the problem areas. I know if I throw a bunch of games, my thumb shrinks. I have to add tape or I'll start squeezing the ball and have problems such as you describe. If everything feels good when you start, then worse as you go, maybe your thumb shrinks also and you haven't recognized it?
--------------------
Penn State Proud

Ron Clifton's Bowling Tip Archive

Hex017 · « **Reply #3 on:** June 18, 2006, 01:22:31 PM »

I don't think I knuckle the ball, I do have a knot on the back of my thumb from when I was younger but I don't tear or rub on the back anymore really, never any pain there. I can honestly say though that I don't think I've ever had a ball truely fit my hand correctly, which I why I am trying the changes now mid-summer, and looking for advice.
--------------------
-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.

-90 percent of the game is half mental
-Yogi Berra

TheDude · « **Reply #4 on:** June 18, 2006, 01:32:02 PM »

I've gone from your typical reverse of 1/4 and one driller even previously wanted me to use as much as 1/2.

The changes to my grip from where i was to where i am now have been pretty extreme. I've gone from long spans at nearly 5 inches to less than 4 1/2.

I am probably throwing the ball the best i ever have, and i'm using a span of 4 1/4 cut to cut. I went from using one type of insert to no inserts back to inserts.

I've gone from no bevel to lots of it.

Change is always possible. Just remember where you came from.
--------------------
Timothy @Juniors Pro-Shop
Staff Writer 7-10 Split Magazine,EGO Communications
Montreal, Quebec.

Hex017 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 24, 2006, 05:41:25 PM »

Ok so...my adventures with this forward pitch, here we go. I was actually wrong from the start, the thumb hole originally had 1/8 reverse in the thumb, with 1/4 to the right(to stop the blisters on the bottom right part of my thumb(bottom right, nail side up)). Went to 1/8 forward, no side pitch, out of 3 balls I did it to, only one came off my hand well, yet that ball blisters the bottom right part of my thumb. THE THING IS, my ball roll is excellent with the one ball I can get off my thumb with the 1/8 forward. I just couldn't deal with the blisters. So I went back to 1/16 reverse in the thumb, 3/16 pitch to the right, and ovaled the thumb hole for a more "custom" feel. Right back to the crappy ball roll, and the ball is not comfortable.

So I'm thinking I may go back to 1/8 forward, yet add 1/4 right and see what happens, but I have a good feeling I will hang/drag. I did purchase some 2000 grit sandpaper to sand the thumb out after I have a ball drilled, maybe that will allow me to get out without hanging. I'm starting to run out of ideas, any advice/help would be GREATLY appreciated.
--------------------
-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.

-90 percent of the game is half mental
-Yogi Berra

LuckyLefty · « **Reply #6 on:** June 24, 2006, 06:03:47 PM »

Definitely you needed the right pitch...keep that that will prevent the side blister on tip! 1/8 or 3/16 is probably fine.

Now as to the amount or lack of forward...try splitting the difference.
Go 0 forward reverse or 1/16 forward and then learn the Mo Pinel method of beveling.

Middle finger ONLY in ball...move thumb in and out. Bevel with bevel knife only on left side corner ifthere is any hang of thumb. Now once correct.

RIng finger ONLY in thumb! Now move thumb in and out and if any hang bevel under front of flat of thumb. Once clean in and out ...stop. Take some sandpaper(usually 100 or 80 grit for hand sanding of thumb holes) and smooth very gently....and sand between the possibly different amounts of bevel on the front and side!!!

Ahhhhh butter!

Now you've got it!

REgards,

Luckylefty
--------------------
Open the door...see what's possible...and just walk right on through...that's how easy success feels..

Edited on 6/24/2006 6:03 PM

TheDude · « **Reply #7 on:** June 24, 2006, 07:22:14 PM »

Lefty what problems are you having with side and forward?

what is your present side pitching and forward? please clairfy

--------------------
Timothy @Juniors Pro-Shop
Staff Writer 7-10 Split Magazine,EGO Communications
Montreal, Quebec.

Hex017 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 24, 2006, 09:03:35 PM »

quote:
Definitely you needed the right pitch...keep that that will prevent the side blister on tip! 1/8 or 3/16 is probably fine.

Now as to the amount or lack of forward...try splitting the difference.
Go 0 forward reverse or 1/16 forward and then learn the Mo Pinel method of beveling.

Middle finger ONLY in ball...move thumb in and out. Bevel with bevel knife only on left side corner ifthere is any hang of thumb. Now once correct.

RIng finger ONLY in thumb! Now move thumb in and out and if any hang bevel under front of flat of thumb. Once clean in and out ...stop. Take some sandpaper(usually 100 or 80 grit for hand sanding of thumb holes) and smooth very gently....and sand between the possibly different amounts of bevel on the front and side!!!

Ahhhhh butter!

Now you've got it!

REgards,

Luckylefty
--------------------
Open the door...see what's possible...and just walk right on through...that's how easy success feels..

Edited on 6/24/2006 6:03 PM

I really like the feel of the 1/8 forward I currently have, its just odd that I had 2 balls I simply could not get out of with that 1/8, yet I have one that comes off very well, and allows me to stay under the ball very well. Even though my driller claimed they were all "the same". I think I will definently give this beveling technique a try, any in depth articles on this? Mo knows his stuff.
--------------------
-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.

-90 percent of the game is half mental
-Yogi Berra

LuckyLefty · « **Reply #9 on:** June 25, 2006, 12:47:18 AM »

You just got it from the only person I've seen write it down!

ME!

REgards,

Luckylefty
PS..BUT I must give credit where credit due! I just wrote it...he thought it and taught it!
PPS Dude...I think you were asking HEX...but not sure?
--------------------
Open the door...see what's possible...and just walk right on through...that's how easy success feels..

TheDude · « **Reply #10 on:** June 25, 2006, 08:49:24 AM »

oops yeah i ment hex, i need to stop reading this stuff at 4 am.
--------------------
Timothy @Juniors Pro-Shop
Staff Writer 7-10 Split Magazine,EGO Communications
Montreal, Quebec.

Hex017 · « **Reply #11 on:** June 25, 2006, 12:58:06 PM »

Sorry I didn't clarify, currently I have one ball that is 1/8 forward, nothing to either side, and I have another ball that is 1/16 reverse, with 3/16 to the right, thumb hole is ovaled.

The ball with the reverse I "drop at my toe" and do nothing but spin it, however I dont blister, the ball with the forward comes off my hand MUCH better,much more roll, however it gives my blisters on the bottom right part of my thumb(bottom right, nail side up).

So honestly, I dont have any one ball that fits right now, although I prefer the ball with the forward pitch much more.
--------------------
-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.

-90 percent of the game is half mental
-Yogi Berra

LuckyLefty · « **Reply #12 on:** June 25, 2006, 03:30:43 PM »

I picked up on all of that and gave you what I thought might be a helpful answer in My reply.

REgards,

Luckylefty
PS slight forward or 0....continue with right pitch to eliminate blister at tip/side of thumb. Proper bevel.
--------------------
Open the door...see what's possible...and just walk right on through...that's how easy success feels..

Hex017 · « **Reply #13 on:** June 28, 2006, 12:39:43 PM »

Thanks for all the reponses so far everyone. Anyway, what I've done now is took a ball and stuck with the 1/8 forward, however, I went with 3/16 lateral to the right to help with the thumb irritation. Went out and threw the ball for about 3-4 games last night and threw my current good rolling ball(even though it does hurt after a while) and compared them.

Things that I notcied.

1. My new ball feels like razors again, so I'm going to have it beveled, and possibly sanded, even though there really isn't much hang except for in the front( you do all realize I spin the ball a tad with my wrist but it really is not enought to promote a lot of hang).

2. Comparing the two balls, the 0 lateral ball roll is much stronger off my hand which frustrates me. Today when I return to the shop and have the hole smoothed out hopefully that will allow my thumb a cleaner exit and better ball roll.

3. THis is a question for you guys. In the two balls I use different gripping materials, in my silver streak(0 lateral, good rolling ball) I use white vise oval grips in the fingers and a white thumb slug(not sure what brand). In my blaze(ball with the 1/8 forward and the 3/16 right) I use yellow vise oval grips but no thumb slug, the hole is just epoxy. Do you think that this could have something to do with the inconsistancies?
--------------------
-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.

-90 percent of the game is half mental
-Yogi Berra

Hex017 · « **Reply #14 on:** June 29, 2006, 11:08:50 PM »

Going to a new driller tomorrow...we'll see 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.

-90 percent of the game is half mental
-Yogi Berra

Author Topic: Forward pitch...looking for help. (Read 5051 times)

Hex017

Forward pitch...looking for help.

Hex017

Re: Forward pitch...looking for help.

Strider

Re: Forward pitch...looking for help.

Hex017

Re: Forward pitch...looking for help.

TheDude

Re: Forward pitch...looking for help.

Hex017

Re: Forward pitch...looking for help.

LuckyLefty

Re: Forward pitch...looking for help.

TheDude

Re: Forward pitch...looking for help.

Hex017

Re: Forward pitch...looking for help.

LuckyLefty

Re: Forward pitch...looking for help.

TheDude

Re: Forward pitch...looking for help.

Hex017

Re: Forward pitch...looking for help.

LuckyLefty

Re: Forward pitch...looking for help.

Hex017

Re: Forward pitch...looking for help.

Hex017

Re: Forward pitch...looking for help.