I have many (far too many) SwitchGrips. I got another one this week to try a new pitch. I brought in my HCF which is only 2-3 weeks old. The SwitchGrip locks in so tight it can only be unlocked with the tool, not by hand. My PSO says he's seen that on everyone over the last few weeks. Upon examination, the SwitchGrip inner structure appears to be noticeably wider than what I have, and can't be turned by hand because the tips are too tight. Hope that makes sense.

Never seen this happen with any other SwitchGrip, anywhere, but at least in my PSO shop, it's been 100% for the last few weeks.

Any design changes/compatibility issues going on? I can't use them this way if I need the tool to get it out. I'll either file it down and take my chances or switch to IT.

Anyone seen this issue?

I have seen this recently, my self. Yet they seem to loosen up rather fast and become sloppy IMO. I had a customer ask for a new inner last night as I was drilling their new ball. It was tight as heck for weeks and required the tool to turn it. Now she can turn it with ease by hand. I locked said thumb into her new DV8 Turmoil Solid last night and it was fairly snug. Could it be more of the outter wearing? I don’t know. It’s really frustrating though, I’ve had several inners come loose on customers and fall out. They were all very tight to start and, within weeks, become sloppy. I am trying the Ultimate thumb now. I like the set up so far.

Update: I should have added that the inner slid down just fine initially, and locked ok, but couldn't unlock without a tool. Yet all my other inners went in fine.

Here's something stranger. I was prepping for Nats this weekend and on a whim tried the inner because I hated to leave it behind. It fits fine now, both in the ball it locked up in (a HCF) and 5 others I tried. Weird..... I've seen and fought the swelling problem, this was completely different, like maybe some extra plastic on the tabs.... Maybe there was, I didn't see it, and it broke away.....

I've also never heard of the problem before a couple months ago, I drilled many Turbo systems for people and the problem was always the ball swelling but never the tabs at the bottom since they strengthened them.  No idea why now but the plastic seems to be wearing down super fast. 

Have been using SwitchGrips for years with no issues. Just had 3 balls done a couple weeks ago to use for practice this summer and have same issue in that they are now incredibly loose and lost one inner the other day in the pit or underlay as it came back missing and didnt come out on the lane. Hope this isn't an ongoing issue as I have a number of outers as my thumb has been an issue lately.