Up until recently, I would have agreed with Precision. Now, I'm not sure if I do or don't. I also don't believe in the Coke Can test. The Coke Can Test is a case for me of "been there, done that." I am going to show here what JohnP said about these  lateral pitches back on 7-30-04 in this same column. Then on 8-8-04, LuckyLefty made a post on checking pitches. LL's pitch checking experiment really works, believe me. It worked for me, it worked for 4 of my friends where I bowl and it worked for lefty50 on this site. I used Johns method to check and establish my thumb reverse and lateral pitch and LL's method for fine tuning the pitches both lateral and forward in both thumb and fingers.

John's lateral check to start:
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I very seldom measure anyone that needs right thumb pitch. Occasionally 0, more frequently 1/8 to 1/4 L. Make a fist in the same manner you would grip the proverbial Coke can. Now try to move your thumb in the R pitch direction (for righties, reverse for lefties). Feel a lot of resistance? Now move it in the L pitch direction. Moves easily, doesn't it. Now put your hand roughly in a bowling grip and try moving the thumb similarly. Same thing? If you miss the lateral pitch on the R side, you can very easily lock the bowler into the ball unless he turns the ball early. I know this, because my grip was that way for over 30 years. When you make the fist, if your thumb falls between the RF and MF, I figure that's 0 pitch. On the MF is 1/8" L, and between the MF and IF is 1/4" L. I very seldom find anyone that needs more than 1/4" L. -- JohnP
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LuckyLefty's Pitch Check for final "Fine Tuning"

Anyway. I still believe best way is probably to do this with an Adjustable ball.

But I sort of took his idea yesterday and followed thru with it, with some of my drilled balls.

Take the ball put your hand in it. Hang it straight down from your bowling shoulder and feel. Turn the ball so that the fingers are forward and the thumb is back. Letting the ball just hang very naturally.

It is amazing how well one can FEEL the pitches and span this way.

For example many people here on this site wonder jeez is my lateral pitch of my thumb correct?. FEEL and this method will tell you very accurately.
In other words if the lateral pitch under palm(right) is NOT enough for your hand for you righthanders one will feel pressure on two spots.

Now these positions are described as though either you are analyzing it holding it or someone looking from behind you is observing this.

IF NOT enough right lateral pitch(for the righty) and the ball hanging straight down from your arm with wrist naturally broken and fingers forward and thumb back. One will feel pressure at the top of the thumbhole at the upper left hand top of the thumb hole. (The bevel corner). One will also feel pressure at the bottom corner of the nail to the right(away from your body).

A slight increase in lateral right is called for in the above case as your thumbhole is not alighned with YOUR anatomy. In this case the thumb is NOT going down the barrell of the thumbhole one is getting rubbing on two surfaces.
The upper corner(bevel corner) and the opposite lower nail corner. This will interfere with consistency AND REVS.

The converse is true also! If one has too much lateral right in drilling your thumbhole for YOUR thumb one will get the opposite effect. Rubbing at the two opposite corners.

The sides to feel rubbing are naturally reversed for left handers.

Also one can feel the properness of the span this way. Rubbing only against the front of the thumbhole with a lot of pressure too long. Rubbing only against the back of the thumbhole then too short.

I tested the above in three iterations of balls I had.
One was 3/32, left(for this leftie), 5/32 left for this leftie, and 7/32.
Which I have been bowling very well with lately thank you. A noticeable feeling of hitting top and opposite bottom was present at the 3/32 setting.
A reduction in pressure at 5/32 and then no pressure at 7/32. Funny this is where I have been bowling my best at.

The following I have not tested to the completion but I will soon!

Also, and I have not followed thru on this one may be able to feel the properness of thumb forward and reverse. The test is the following.

While the ball hangs naturally from bowling shoulder there will be a slight break in the wrist back towards the front of you. Again this test is ALSO done with the fingers forward and thumb back.

If one now rolls the wrist while holding the ball so the the wrist is now straight or slightly cupped.(again with back of the hand (fingers)forward and thumb (back)

Whatever you do, one may feel an increase in pressure againt the surface of the flat of the thumb. I have a feeling this indicates a slight amount of too much reverse. I theorize mine may be about 1/16 too much reverse based on the increase in pressure.

I believe all these tests are probably better off done with an adjustable ball before you drill but if you just want to check a presently drilled ball it is a great way for one to feel it.

For whatever reason the weight of the ball combined with having the ball basically backwards seems to make one very aware of the feel of the ball and the proper angles.

Thanks Smash! and to the rest of you throwers, give it a try you may be amazed at the sensitivity to your grip you gain!

REgards,

Luckylefty




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Retired and bowling on Fixed Income