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Author Topic: Thumb pitch  (Read 13671 times)

TDC57

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Thumb pitch
« on: December 18, 2015, 02:55:35 PM »
I am going to the Vise-IT system in my four main bowling balls. As I look forward to getting the work done, I've been thinking about my thumb pitches. I'm a lefty with spans of 4 3/4 on my ring finger and 4 5/8 on the middle finger. I currently have 1/4 reverse and 0 lateral. I know everyone has their own feelings on forward or reverse pitch. I used a ball the other day that had a span far shorter than mine and had pitches that were 1/8 reverse and 1/8 right. I had no problems throwing that ball. It made me start to wonder if I should make some changes in my stuff. Is going to 1/8 reverse in my ball which has a considerably longer span than the ball I tried the other day, a safe amount for my span and what would I expect if I went to side pitch other than zero? I would appreciate any advice!!
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Aloarjr810

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Re: Thumb pitch
« Reply #1 on: December 18, 2015, 04:39:32 PM »
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TDC57

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Re: Thumb pitch
« Reply #2 on: December 18, 2015, 06:58:03 PM »
I printed out the overlay and and have found my lateral pitch at 1/8. Now to decide what I should have for forward or reverse?
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Strapper_Squared

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Re: Thumb pitch
« Reply #3 on: December 18, 2015, 07:31:31 PM »
I had a similar question a few weeks back.  Someone responded with a link to an article (I'll try to find it).  The guidance was to make sure spans were in the safe zone and your thumb hole was snug.  Then put your hand in the ball, and let it hang down at your side.  With proper pitch, you should have no (or minimal) pressure with your thumb to keep the ball on your hand.  The idea is that statically, it should stay on to your thumb with minimal effort, but when you swing the extra forcewill allow it to clear your thumb.  This way you can use minimal grip pressure.  Guidance was to make small adjustments in pitch until you find what works.

I drilled up a ball and went from 1/16th reverse to 1/16th forward pitch.  It feels really comfortable and I have been throwing it better than I can remember.

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Strapper_Squared

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Re: Thumb pitch
« Reply #4 on: December 18, 2015, 07:39:46 PM »
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JohnP

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Re: Thumb pitch
« Reply #5 on: December 18, 2015, 08:10:11 PM »
For those spans and a "typical" hand I'd start with 5/16 reverse.  But all hands are different, that's why I seldom respond to requests for thumb pitch suggestions.  --  JohnP
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WOWZERS

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Re: Thumb pitch
« Reply #6 on: December 18, 2015, 09:15:24 PM »
I just shortened my span by an 1/8 and removed the left 1/8 lateral from my thumb so I no have ZERO lateral. I also have ZERO forward/reverse. Very comfortable and sometimes I think I need more forward in the ball as I do exit early sometimes just enough that I know I missed it.
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lefty50

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Re: Thumb pitch
« Reply #7 on: December 19, 2015, 01:12:07 AM »
I wasn't going to comment, but being almost at the end of changing everything you're doing right now, and for the same reason (to get setup before I go back to using the IT), I should pass along what I've learned. I'm also a lefty, and started with the same specs as you on most of my equipment, except I had 1/8 left lateral. I'm down now to 4-3/8 and 4-1/4, and have gone from a max reverse of 1/4 to zero forward now and zero lateral.  The ball feels MUCH better in my hand, but I'm throwing it lousy. I've also developed a really bad callous and split skin on the inside of my thumb. I actually printed this PDF tonight and it pointed straight to 1/8 rt lateral (remember, I've been 1/8 left with no problems, and now zero with a callous). 2 minutes ago, I picked up the can again and now it's pointing straight to zero... Sigh. It's not the same in repeated testing, and it's still not where I was when I know I had no split skin for years...
There are a few things to pass along....
1. The can is a guide, not confirmed, and don't be surprised if you change lateral and get a callous, like I have. In that respect, I've progressed backwards, no doubt about it.
2. In my case, I've dropped 1/4 on span, and it's too much.
3. Here's the strangest one... I started with 61/64 thumb. Now I'm using 15/16 and it's too large. I don't know what others will say, but I'm convinced that I was bending the thumb, therefore needing more room in the thumb hole. As I fix span and pitch, at least for me, I have to change thumb size.

Bottom line, I've screwed around too much, but I learned a lot, and now need to drill a few more slugs to test final changes, because I'm a bit worse off than when I started. I can't believe how much more comfortable the ball feels though, and I'm  confident I'll be happy with the results in the end. Be ready for some frustration and learn when to stop screwing around with it.... That's what I failed to do.
« Last Edit: December 19, 2015, 01:17:09 AM by lefty50 »
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itsallaboutme

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Re: Thumb pitch
« Reply #8 on: December 19, 2015, 07:29:19 AM »
Find something you can get out of that doesn't tear up your hand.  Don't make it difficult.  Nobody has ever become the second coming of Walter Ray by changing their thumb pitch an eighth of an inch.

As for the can, it's a starting point.  If you're already an established bowler real world use applies more than the can.
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JustRico

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Re: Thumb pitch
« Reply #9 on: December 19, 2015, 10:00:50 AM »
 Next maybe you can do surgery on yourself as well...
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lefty50

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Re: Thumb pitch
« Reply #10 on: December 19, 2015, 10:05:19 AM »
Rico, I thought you were just a bad memory by now... Rats. I enjoyed the learning experience, learned a lot. Here's the secret though. The way you learn that an 1/8th doesn't matter is to try moving it an 1/8th... Go figure... Actually doing something, trying it to learn... Amazing.
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JustRico

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Re: Thumb pitch
« Reply #11 on: December 19, 2015, 10:11:40 AM »
Asking technical questions on a social media forum is like doing surgery on yourself...go see a qualified pro shop operator...this is how bad grips occur...you ask enough opinions and you'll get them...no one had any idea on what his proper span should be nor accompanying gripping angles...

Lefty50 you're an idiot and I truly give two s**ts of your feelings or opinions...I am glad I annoy you...
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MI 2 AZ

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Re: Thumb pitch
« Reply #12 on: December 19, 2015, 11:49:21 AM »
You have to remember that there are more bad drillers out there than most people realize.  Otherwise, why so many bad fits on bowlers?  I can testify that I have seen over a dozen different drillers and only 3 of them were any good.  That means in my experience, 75% of the drillers I had were bad.  You would be surprised how many bowlers around here have balls that are not drilled correctly. 

I know a bowler who had balls drilled that were up to 1/2 inch too long and that was done by at least five different drillers who all measured him incorrectly.  It wasn't until his last driller watched him bowl and asked him why he wasn't putting his thumb all the way into the ball that they found out his spans were way too long.

So finding a good driller is not as easy as just walking into your local proshop for some of us.  And, for most bowlers, we tend to believe the guy drilling the ball who measures us (it is called a proshop, so he has to be a professional, right?) and says that is the correct fit for us, until we gain enough experience or read posts on the internet to learn that maybe, just maybe, our fit is not correct.
« Last Edit: December 19, 2015, 11:53:23 AM by MI 2 AZ »
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JustRico

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Re: Thumb pitch
« Reply #13 on: December 19, 2015, 12:37:46 PM »
I won't disagree with there is a plethora of unqualified ball drillers but by your logic bowlers should request advise from bowlers, that may or may not understand what's right or wrong for their games, transpire this info and then take back to their unqualified ball driller in hopes they can and will translate said info...if they didn't get it right the first time chances are they won't any other time thus you're also assuming they will do it in the first place or not have a bad disposition abt it...too many variables
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ITZPS

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Re: Thumb pitch
« Reply #14 on: December 19, 2015, 02:03:08 PM »
You can get a good look at a T-Bone steak by sticking your head up a bull's ass, but wouldn't you rather take the butcher's word for it?  Could just take it to someone who knows what they're doing and avoid all the trial and error . .

Quote from: lefty50 on December 19, 2015, 10:05:19 AM
Rico, I thought you were just a bad memory by now... Rats. I enjoyed the learning experience, learned a lot. Here's the secret though. The way you learn that an 1/8th doesn't matter is to try moving it an 1/8th... Go figure... Actually doing something, trying it to learn... Amazing.
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