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Author Topic: Sore thumb from pitch change?  (Read 2430 times)

EboHammer4ever

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Sore thumb from pitch change?
« on: September 04, 2008, 07:07:15 AM »
Hello gurus.  Wanted to get your opinion on this.  I recently over the summer changed my thumb pitch from 1/8th reverse and 1/8th left lateral to just an 1/8th left lateral after having problems hanging up in the ball toward the end of league and in a tournament a bowled at. I came back and plugged my thumbs and made this change.  Now I practiced on a off this summer and subbed in the PBA X league and it felt better and I could get out of my stuff cleaner.  Now, a couple of my balls felt a little long, so I shortened my span by a 1/16th in each figure and they feel great and I get out of them fine and get good rotation.  But recently over the past 2 weeks of league, by the start of the third game, my first knuckle (where your thumb meets your palm) has become sore and it lasts till the middle of the next day.  Now I had to put a couple pieces of tape in my thumb last night as it got smaller as the night went on and I sort of like a little looser thumb hole as to avoid grabbing it.  My question is, should I try a little reverse, like a 1/16th and see if the pain goes away or try a little more tape?  My spare ball has my old pitch and it doesn't seem to bother me when I throw that (only threw it once last night).  I drill my own equipment and have the Bill Taylor pitch guide and it shows that for my span, I don't need any reverse.  I'm going to try the 1/16th reverse and see how that feels but I thought I would ask you guys.  

Sorry for being long-winded.

Roto4ever
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Dan Belcher

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Re: Sore thumb from pitch change?
« Reply #1 on: September 04, 2008, 03:43:07 PM »
quote:
I sort of like a little looser thumb hole as to avoid grabbing it.
I don't really have an answer for the main issue right now, but I do have to question this point.  A looser thumb hole causes me to grab it.  A snug thumbhole eliminates the need to grab to hold onto the ball.

And the Bill Taylor guides are just starting points.  Every hand is different.  Don't worry about having to deviate a little from what he says.
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JohnP

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Re: Sore thumb from pitch change?
« Reply #2 on: September 04, 2008, 10:05:39 PM »
Try a little more bevel on the area of the thumb hole that's causing the pain.  --  JohnP
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Guined

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Re: Sore thumb from pitch change?
« Reply #3 on: September 05, 2008, 12:39:32 PM »
I agree with Dan, a loose thumb hole will make you squeeze the ball. This can cause you to hang up. Also there are several things that help determine what your pitches should be. Span, flexibilty, thumb length, moisture in the thumb.

Your original problem may be that you didn't have enough reverse. So, what is your span?
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EboHammer4ever

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Re: Sore thumb from pitch change?
« Reply #4 on: September 05, 2008, 12:48:45 PM »
4 3/8" in my ring finger, 4 5/16" in my middle.  when I took out the 1/8th reverse I originally had, I shortened my ring finger to 4 5/16".  It feels good to me.  Just hurts after a while on the top of my thumb.
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Pinbuster

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Re: Sore thumb from pitch change?
« Reply #5 on: September 05, 2008, 01:46:40 PM »
I agree with JohnP.

If the pain is on the palm side then it is most likely a bevel issue. The edge of the hole is probably digging into the nerve.

Use a bevel knife, file, sander something and just round the edge a little where the base of the thumb makes contact.
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Gazoo

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Re: Sore thumb from pitch change?
« Reply #6 on: September 05, 2008, 02:15:39 PM »
Path of least resistance. Bevel first, 1/16 reverse second. Which is probably where you should be unless you have a very flexible thumb. But as others have stated, these are just guides and very subjective.
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EboHammer4ever

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Re: Sore thumb from pitch change?
« Reply #7 on: September 05, 2008, 02:33:36 PM »
No the pain is on the outside of the knuckle so it anything it would touch the backside of my thumb hole.  I don't it is a bevel issue cause I've always put bevel on the front side of my thumb hole.  Just has me puzzled.
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Gazoo

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Re: Sore thumb from pitch change?
« Reply #8 on: September 05, 2008, 02:49:30 PM »
Going from 1/8 reverse to zero doesn't seem like but can be which is why making pitch adjustments should be done in small increments. 1/16 reverse could be money. Trial and error is what makes this a very interesting sport.
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pin-chaser

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Re: Sore thumb from pitch change?
« Reply #9 on: September 05, 2008, 09:58:40 PM »
Most thumbs are flexible enough to absorb this small amount of difference. However, if you were already at your extreme than to much to just that too much. While reading your post I began to think the issue was thumb hole size is too big... most people dont bowl as much over the summer and the thumb tends to reduce in size.

Without seeing how your hand fits in the ball its hard to tell for sure one way or the other. However, I can tell you that one day everything was fine with me and the next I have pain in my hand, elbow and shoulder. It turns out I have developed a medical condition in my joints. Which by the way has caused me to shorten my span and change my pitches to produce less "squeezing".

The bottom line, make the changes now. Dont wait. Pain is not good and unnecessary.
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Sawuser

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Re: Sore thumb from pitch change?
« Reply #10 on: September 06, 2008, 05:07:20 PM »
I may be off base here, but it seems to me if you are hanging up in the ball you shouldn't take away the reverse. That is unless you are knuckling it to hang on. Also, going from 1/8 reverse to zero doesn't seem like enough to cause that problem. Another thing, your span is kind of short & the pitch guides should be close for you unless you have a short hand & are actually stretched. With your thumb in the ball where do the finger joints line up in relation to the holes? That's the key to a proper span, but of course if you drill your own equipment you probably know that already.
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EboHammer4ever

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Re: Sore thumb from pitch change?
« Reply #11 on: October 09, 2008, 08:53:12 AM »
I drilled a new thumb insert, I use the Griploc INterchangable system, and went back to close to my old pitches, 1/16th reverse and a 1/16th left lateral and it felt better and I have no problem getting out of the ball, but the pain is still there.  I think I might have to take a little move bevel near my nerve on the palm side of my thumb, but do you think I might have developed arthritis or tendinitis in my thumb?  I have been bowling for over 20 years.  Just wondering.

Roto4ever
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