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Author Topic: Pinky finger hole  (Read 3898 times)

Bowlin for Beer

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Pinky finger hole
« on: August 07, 2009, 03:34:41 PM »
Anybody ever used an extra finger hole for their little finger ?
I've got a lot of pain in my middle finger knuckle because I put very little pressure on my ring finger during release-all the pressure is on my middle finger.  Would the pinky finger hole help me take more pressure off my middle finger ?  and, does the extra hole make it easier to increase axis rotation ?

Thanks.
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dougb

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Re: Pinky finger hole
« Reply #1 on: August 08, 2009, 12:14:01 AM »
I used one on a ball I borrowed for a few days.  It does take pressure off the other fingers.  I also found it very comfortable.  Of course, if you tuck your pinky or keep it snug against your ring finger for higher revs then this doesn't help.
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Uncle Crusty

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Re: Pinky finger hole
« Reply #2 on: August 08, 2009, 12:30:38 AM »
Send JessN16 a PM. I'm almost positive he uses a pinky hole, and if I remember correctly, he initially started doing it because of an injury. So he'd probably be the guy to talk to.
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BrunsMike

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Re: Pinky finger hole
« Reply #3 on: August 08, 2009, 12:36:01 AM »
I've seen a few guys with this pinky hole, most of the guys I know with this use it as an injury bandage so to speak. It helps to releive pressure from either the middle finger or ring finger. You might want to have your ring finger hole plugged and relocated some to equal out the pressure between the 2 fingers, this would be my 1st plan of attack and my initial thoughts on why your having middle finger pain like you are.
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Edited on 8/8/2009 0:39 AM
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Mike Zadler

JohnP

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Re: Pinky finger hole
« Reply #4 on: August 08, 2009, 11:25:01 AM »
Have a good fitter check your finger flexibility.  Odds are your MF joint is stiff, so you need more reverse pitch on it.  Do you feel your MF nail hitting the back of its hole, but not your RF nail?  --  JohnP
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Bowlin for Beer

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Re: Pinky finger hole
« Reply #5 on: August 08, 2009, 02:21:45 PM »
Thanks everyone.

JohnP, I changed my pitches to 3/8ths reverse recently.  But, I still feel like all the weight of the ball shifts to my middle finger at the release.  At the bottom of the swing I feel the weight on both fingers initially, but then as my thumb starts to clear its all on the middle finger.
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Bowlin for Beer

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Re: Pinky finger hole
« Reply #6 on: August 08, 2009, 02:22:47 PM »
Forgot to add, I've developed a painful cyst on the middle knuckle of the middle finger.
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JessN16

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Re: Pinky finger hole
« Reply #7 on: August 08, 2009, 05:47:47 PM »
I use a pinky hole in all my stuff. I started by accident (bought a used ball with one in it, and just kept it) but as I've gone along I've found it to be great for helping with wrist tendinitis.

Not only do you distribute the weight more evenly across the hand, it also increases the lateral stability of the ball. It can't wobble left or right in your hand as easily as it would otherwise.

I don't have a problem with my hand clearing the ball or anything like that. It is similar to tucking the pinky but I think it offers even a touch more control.

A quick how-to-drill: Get a quarter scale/Pro-Sect, position it directly at the center point between the two fingers, then drill a hole 20 degrees down from the ring finger and leave a 1/2-inch gap (or "bridge) between the ring and the pinky holes. Remember to pitch away at the same pitch you used for the ring finger and then add reverse pitch 1/8 to 1/4 from what you drill the ring (i.e., if you drill the ring with 1/4 forward, you'll drill the pinky at 0). This won't work for everyone but it's a good starting point.

Jess
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JohnP

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Re: Pinky finger hole
« Reply #8 on: August 08, 2009, 09:31:58 PM »
quote:
JohnP, I changed my pitches to 3/8ths reverse recently. But, I still feel like all the weight of the ball shifts to my middle finger at the release. At the bottom of the swing I feel the weight on both fingers initially, but then as my thumb starts to clear its all on the middle finger.


3/8 reverse might not be enough.  My RF joint is very stiff and I use 3/4 reverse on it.  When you check your spans by putting your thumb in its hole and laying your fingers across their holes does the leading edge of the finger hole fall half way between the two finger joints (plus or minus 1/8") for each finger?  If not your MF span might be too long.  --  JohnP

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