Author Topic: thumb pitch ? (Read 2146 times)

roborob676 · « **on:** August 07, 2007, 08:27:21 AM »

Iam trying to figure out why every ball I get drilled feels different. Most seem to hang up on my thumb. could this be a thumb pitch problem? I use two different pro shops in my area, they have the same specs on my span,but its still hit and miss on how they come off my hand.. Is there a particular pitch I should specify?

justdale · « **Reply #1 on:** August 07, 2007, 04:34:45 PM »

without seeing your hand it would be a mistake to offer any pitch that might be good for you, but if you do go to 2 different shops perhaps you need to ask both of them.

JohnP · « **Reply #2 on:** August 07, 2007, 10:25:13 PM »

Common causes of thumb hanging:

1. Bowler "knuckling" his thumb
2. Hole size too small
3. Incorrect span
4. Insufficient bevel
5. Incorrect pitches

Your problem could be any combination of these. Probably the most common is knuckling the thumb. -- JohnP

qstick777 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 08, 2007, 12:09:00 AM »

JohnP pretty much hit it on the head.

I had the same problem.

Some other questions:

Does the same person drill your stuff at both shops?
Do you use a thumb slug?

One of my local shops has a couple of different employees - they always pull the specs off of a ball in my bag. Unfortunately, different people can read spans and pitches differently. I have stuff that varies as much as 1/8" in lateral pitches. Spans can be off by 1/8" or more. I think I've had stuff drilled by at least 4 people in that shop and might have 2 balls that are drilled identical!

If not using a thumb slug, thumb holes can feel different based on thickness of coverstock, filler material, etc.

I would hope that one of the shops would be able to fix the problem if you let them know what problems you are experiencing. You might be better off if you have them rip up your existing spec card and have them remeasure your hand. There's also the chance that your hand has changed - flexibility may have changed, or your span may have grown (or shrunk).
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hammermike2000 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 08, 2007, 12:12:08 AM »

Wow. Spans off by 1/8? That's ridiculous. The most I could see feasible is 1/32. Have they/are they going to fix them for you?
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BOWL N.C. TOUGH SHOTS TOUR

qstick777 · « **Reply #5 on:** August 08, 2007, 12:27:44 AM »

quote:
Wow. Spans off by 1/8? That's ridiculous. The most I could see feasible is 1/32. Have they/are they going to fix them for you?
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BOWL N.C. TOUGH SHOTS TOUR

I moved to a different shop and got remeasured. That shop uses only one driller - he does that so that the measuring and drilling is always accurate.

On top of that I bought my own equipment and have been drilling my own stuff. I may go back and plug and re-drill some of the balls (most were used and I'm a ball junkie so not a big deal! I'm still looking for the magic ball that will get me that 300! ). Seriously, I've just been buying a lot of stuff to see what matches up with me, but I've found it's hard to be consistent when nothing is drilled the same. I have lateral pitches that go from 1/8" left up to 5/16" left - 3/16" left seems to be where I should be (although I've experimented with 0 and some right on my recent stuff).

Spans have been 3 13/16" to 4 1/16" even though 3 7/8" to 3 15/16" is where I should be. I guess my fingers are flexible enough to get away with it! Span hasn't really bothered me as much as the thumb laterals - always wondered why I had to come around a couple of balls to get out cleanly and always blamed myself (trying to crank, over thinking my release, trying too many things, etc).

Drilling for myself I can see how some of the things are off - whether the marking pencil is sharp or dull, do you drill to inside of line or outside and stuff like that. At least when I'm drilling I know that I'm doing it consistently and if I screw up I'm the one to blame!
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hammermike2000 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 08, 2007, 01:03:47 AM »

quote:
whether the marking pencil is sharp or dull, do you drill to inside of line or outside and stuff like that

Do you have a scribe? It makes a much smaller line, the only downside being that you obviously can't remark it as easy as using a wax pencil.

I find when I use a wax pencil, even if it is sharpened, I have to remember how much or how little of the line to take out with the drill bit to make it as accurate as possible. That way you won't be off by any measurable distance.
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BOWL N.C. TOUGH SHOTS TOUR

qstick777 · « **Reply #7 on:** August 08, 2007, 03:41:04 PM »

quote:
quote:
whether the marking pencil is sharp or dull, do you drill to inside of line or outside and stuff like that

Do you have a scribe? It makes a much smaller line, the only downside being that you obviously can't remark it as easy as using a wax pencil.

I find when I use a wax pencil, even if it is sharpened, I have to remember how much or how little of the line to take out with the drill bit to make it as accurate as possible. That way you won't be off by any measurable distance.
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BOWL N.C. TOUGH SHOTS TOUR

Not yet. I'm still working on the layout skills. I already do enough "erasing" and remarking, so I'd better stick with the pencil for now!

I'm only drilling for myself - no need (or desire) to drill for anybody else. For now I'm consistent enough - or should I say at least I'm not any worse than my previously drilled stuff!
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EboHammer4ever · « **Reply #8 on:** August 10, 2007, 10:35:29 AM »

What I do is layout a ball using my marking pencil and then after I drill the thumb, I layout the fingers again to make sure they are correct and then I will just scribe the cut for the fingers only. By using a scribe, you can hit that cut line pretty accurately. Also, I sharp pencil is key.

Another issue to think about is the condition of your press and the sharpness and straightness of your bits. Does your press tend to wobble or do your bits take out a little bit more then they say they do. Little things like that which come with experience helps out in the end. Plus, getting into a routine when you drill makes your drilling more accurate every time.

I consider myself to be very accurate because I am an engineer in my real job and that translates to my part time hobby of ball driller. I like to think myself as a Xerox machine. Bring me a ball and I can can almost perfectly match that span. This all comes from experience which is key.

But definitely, I would stay with one driller.

LuckyLefty · « **Reply #9 on:** August 10, 2007, 10:46:25 AM »

Even if everything is the same...Bevel can make an incredible difference in feel.

Stick with one driller to get the closest you can to the same final feel!

REgards,

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

Author Topic: thumb pitch ? (Read 2146 times)

roborob676

thumb pitch ?

justdale

Re: thumb pitch ?

JohnP

Re: thumb pitch ?

qstick777

Re: thumb pitch ?

hammermike2000

Re: thumb pitch ?

qstick777

Re: thumb pitch ?

hammermike2000

Re: thumb pitch ?

qstick777

Re: thumb pitch ?

EboHammer4ever

Re: thumb pitch ?

LuckyLefty

Re: thumb pitch ?