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General Category => Drilling & Layouts => Topic started by: sunsetlefty on December 26, 2006, 07:06:00 AM

Title: Update: Does changing the thumb pitches affect the span?
Post by: sunsetlefty on December 26, 2006, 07:06:00 AM
The subject says it all. I want to change a young bowler's thumb pitch. Right now it's 1/4 reverse and 1/8 lateral AWAY from the palm. Using the coke bottle test, the lateral appears to be more near 0. I would also like to reduce the reverse to 1/8. His span is 3 7/8 ring finger and 3 3/4 middle  finger cut to cut. Right now the span appears to be correct. If I slug a ball and drill the thumb pitch 1/8 reverse and 0 lateral, will it affect the overall span? Thanks!

Edited on 12/26/2006 4:06 PM

Edited on 1/10/2007 4:49 PM
Title: Re: Update: Does changing the thumb pitches affect the span?
Post by: solid9 on December 26, 2006, 03:39:12 PM

As a general rule forward thumb shortens the span, reverse,makes it longer. Check the thumb web on his hand and you should get a good feeling for what you want. I would suggest going 0 and 0 on a span that short.
Title: Re: Update: Does changing the thumb pitches affect the span?
Post by: Brickguy221 on December 26, 2006, 03:43:17 PM
quote:
As a general rule forward thumb shortens the span, reverse,makes it longer.  



That is correct.......
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Brick
Title: Re: Update: Does changing the thumb pitches affect the span?
Post by: sunsetlefty on December 26, 2006, 05:22:12 PM
Thank you for the replies. In regards to the question 'does he have any problems throwing the ball right now?' the answer is yes, to a degree. Sometimes he has a clean release, other times he appears to be grabbing the ball, other times it appears to fall off of his hand. I think that he has too much reverse (as BrunsRich has stated. And yes, a youth cannot always tell you what is 'wrong' with the grip.)

BrunsRich, would you recommend to start at 0 reverse and 0 lateral (as solid9 suggests), or 0 reverse and leave the lateral at 1/8 away from palm? I could install a 1 1/8 thumb slug and start at 0.

And again, thank all of you for your help!

Title: Re: Update: Does changing the thumb pitches affect the span?
Post by: sunsetlefty on December 26, 2006, 09:22:57 PM
I will take your advice and start with 1/8 reverse. We'll try that for a short while, and then see if we can get the reverse and lateral back to 0 if needed.

Thanks again to B300900 and BrunsRich.
Title: Re: Update: Does changing the thumb pitches affect the span?
Post by: sunsetlefty on January 10, 2007, 07:56:21 AM
I thought that I would provide an update to this thread.

I reduced the youth bowler's span from 1/4 reverse to just under 1/8 reverse. It ended up being right between 0 and 1/8 reverse. I also remeasured the thumb lateral pitch and grip span using recommendations from JohnP (thanks!).The lateral was reduced slightly from 1/8 to closer to 0.  I re-slugged his equipment and incorporated the changes.

It took a few practice sessions to let him get used to the changes, but he now releases the ball much cleaner. Yesterday in JV bowling for his high school his scores were 194, 200, 176 for 570 - high on the team and needless to say much improved in all areas.

Thanks to BrunsRich, Bowling300900, and JohnP for all of the very good advice!
Title: Re: Update: Does changing the thumb pitches affect the span?
Post by: JohnP on January 10, 2007, 10:13:34 AM
I'm glad to hear he's doing will with the changes.  --  JohnP
Title: Re: Update: Does changing the thumb pitches affect the span?
Post by: strikemor on January 14, 2007, 09:57:45 AM
I am curious as to why you had reverse, much less 1/4 reverse, in such a short span.
Title: Re: Update: Does changing the thumb pitches affect the span?
Post by: sunsetlefty on January 14, 2007, 10:59:07 AM
quote:
I am curious as to why you had reverse, much less 1/4 reverse, in such a short span.


I didn't do the original fitting. I noticed the excessive reverse when I checked his span and pitches.
Title: Re: Update: Does changing the thumb pitches affect the span?
Post by: Kinalyx on January 14, 2007, 02:58:26 PM
I will say that even 1/16" of a difference in pitch can be VERY noticable to some people.  Ive recently tried going from 3/8 away to 5/16 away & the first few shots with the new pitch.....lets just say i didnt have such a clean release.

Its getting a little better, but i still cant get as much finger in the new ball.

Shawn
Title: Re: Update: Does changing the thumb pitches affect the span?
Post by: JBracer2 on January 14, 2007, 03:29:33 PM
What are the pitches for a span of 4 1/2 and 4 9/16? Fingers and thumb?
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http://members.bowl.com/FindAMember/memberView.aspx?mp=1369&ms=2612&s=2005-2006

Edited on 1/14/2007 4:28 PM
Title: Re: Update: Does changing the thumb pitches affect the span?
Post by: sunsetlefty on January 14, 2007, 05:07:40 PM
quote:
What are the pitches for a span of 4 1/2 and 4 9/16? Fingers and thumb?
--------------------
http://members.bowl.com/FindAMember/memberView.aspx?mp=1369&ms=2612&s=2005-2006

Edited on 1/14/2007 4:28 PM



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