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Author Topic: Alternative to white bowlers tape needed, help?  (Read 5774 times)

star

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Alternative to white bowlers tape needed, help?
« on: February 07, 2020, 04:43:52 PM »
Does anyone have an alternative to textured white thumb tape?

I had an old 500 roll of Ebonite 1 inch and it was fantastic , lasted years. You could reposition it and it tore down well to make thinner strips. However it has run out. I purchased a roll of Brunswick and the glue is totally different. I like 4 or 5 pieces in the back of my thumb for feel.

It’s ok if you get it spot on first time but you cannot reposition it and you definitely cannot tear it to make thin strips as it will not stick down. I’ve tried a few other makes and they all seem the same, unreliable.

I’d love to try “the bowlers tape” silver but unfortunately no one in the UK stocks it and importing it is beyond my budget, in excess of £100 including shipping and tax. I can get through 20 pieces in about month so smaller packs are useless.

Does anyone know a 3M tape or some other type of non bowling tape that is equivalent to the texture of the white? Something similar that I have to cut would be better as I like to add pieces of varying sizes to improve feel.

Any ideas would be much appreciated.
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Mayhem

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Re: Alternative to white bowlers tape needed, help?
« Reply #1 on: February 08, 2020, 07:14:26 AM »
I loved the old bowlers tape. Havent found a replacement for it but the closest thing to it is the powerhouse brand. Its not really sticky but you can move it around
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BallReviews-Removed0385

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Re: Alternative to white bowlers tape needed, help?
« Reply #2 on: February 08, 2020, 11:11:52 AM »

I use the silver "real bowlers tape" made by Mongoose.  It's a better feel for me and more durable.  The 500 piece roll lasts me about 2 years. 

Vise also has several very good options, but are more expensive.

« Last Edit: February 08, 2020, 05:10:41 PM by notclay »
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St. Croix

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Re: Alternative to white bowlers tape needed, help?
« Reply #3 on: February 08, 2020, 01:28:46 PM »
Textured white tape did not work for me. I suggest Ebonite Ultra-Grip Tape which has a smooth surface. This tape is thicker than most thumb hole tape and stays in place very well. The tape comes in a variety of widths. I prefer the 1" width. The tape is for the thumb pad, so it goes in the thumb hole at 1 o'clock or so. The tape is durable, so a package of 30 pieces should last a long time.
« Last Edit: February 08, 2020, 01:30:33 PM by St. Croix »
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star

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Re: Alternative to white bowlers tape needed, help?
« Reply #4 on: February 09, 2020, 01:49:18 AM »
Thanks for the replies.

Quote from: Mayhem on February 08, 2020, 07:14:26 AM
I loved the old bowlers tape. Havent found a replacement for it but the closest thing to it is the powerhouse brand. Its not really sticky but you can move it around

I have tried it and it’s quite good but I cannot tear it in strips and get it to stick in place like I could with the older brand that I had.

Quote from: notclay on February 08, 2020, 11:11:52 AM

I use the silver "real bowlers tape" made by Mongoose.  It's a better feel for me and more durable.  The 500 piece roll lasts me about 2 years. 



That’s the one one I meant, “real bowlers tape” not “the bowlers tape”. Mixed them up.
No one stocks them in the UK and like I said it’s over £100 to import them for me including tax and shipping and that is out of my budget. They do appear to be the best though.

Quote from: St. Croix on February 08, 2020, 01:28:46 PM
Textured white tape did not work for me. I suggest Ebonite Ultra-Grip Tape which has a smooth surface. This tape is thicker than most thumb hole tape and stays in place very well. The tape comes in a variety of widths. I prefer the 1" width. The tape is for the thumb pad, so it goes in the thumb hole at 1 o'clock or so. The tape is durable, so a package of 30 pieces should last a long time.

I use about 5 pieces of tape in each thumb hole due to the fact that when I bowl my thumb shrinks 2 to 3 pieces of tape during a long block. I don’t grip the ball at all and the fluid just drains from my thumb. Don’t know why I just have a strange metabolism.

Does anyone else use something that is not intended for bowling but does the same thing? A roll that you can cut tape to desired size would be ideal but does it exist?
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Specs. 430rpm,18mph off hand. 11-12deg Tilt, 50-60 deg Rotation. PAP 5 1/4 by 3/4 up.
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Larry Matthews “The Bowling Professor”
Sawbones.
Thong Princess.
Thanks for the FUN times.

MI 2 AZ

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Re: Alternative to white bowlers tape needed, help?
« Reply #5 on: February 09, 2020, 02:13:40 PM »
Not for use as a gripping tape (place it on the back side of the thumb hole), but it does take up the space of about 4-5 pieces of tape and flexes to allow for your thumb size changing. 

http://www.bowl4fun.com/magiccarpet/magiccarpet.htm
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MI 2 AZ

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Re: Alternative to white bowlers tape needed, help?
« Reply #6 on: February 09, 2020, 02:18:29 PM »
Quote from: St. Croix on February 08, 2020, 01:28:46 PM
Textured white tape did not work for me. I suggest Ebonite Ultra-Grip Tape which has a smooth surface. This tape is thicker than most thumb hole tape and stays in place very well. The tape comes in a variety of widths. I prefer the 1" width. The tape is for the thumb pad, so it goes in the thumb hole at 1 o'clock or so. The tape is durable, so a package of 30 pieces should last a long time.

If that is the black tape, I agree it is much thicker than other black tapes but that seems in my case to have caused a problem. 

Because of it's thickness it is very stiff and tends to want to pop loose during bowling.  I may have had a bad roll (500 piece) but everyone I gave some to had the same issue - it did not want to stick in the thumb hole.  Too stiff or not enough adhesive?

I gave up on using it and purchased some other brand of black tape which is much thinner but at least stays in the thumb hole.
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MI 2 AZ

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Re: Alternative to white bowlers tape needed, help?
« Reply #7 on: February 09, 2020, 02:28:55 PM »
Quote from: star on February 09, 2020, 01:49:18 AM

I use about 5 pieces of tape in each thumb hole due to the fact that when I bowl my thumb shrinks 2 to 3 pieces of tape during a long block. I don’t grip the ball at all and the fluid just drains from my thumb. Don’t know why I just have a strange metabolism.

Does anyone else use something that is not intended for bowling but does the same thing? A roll that you can cut tape to desired size would be ideal but does it exist?

Magic Carpet to allow for the shrinking.

Years ago before all of the bowling tapes came out, we used to use smooth black electrical tape for the back of the thumb hole and for the front, we used Johnson & Johnson white first aid bandage tape.  That may not be as grippy as the current white bowling tape but it should be easily tearable.  Just don't leave it in the thumb hole for a very long period of time (depending on how moist your thumb or environment is) as the adhesive will get very gummy when you have to remove a piece.

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rackattack

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Re: Alternative to white bowlers tape needed, help?
« Reply #8 on: February 12, 2020, 07:29:02 AM »
I have a large roll of the tubogrip style (blue) thumb hole tape. I'd be happy to send you some.Description is on their web site. This is the tape that goes in the thumb hole. No charge.
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Bowler19525

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Re: Alternative to white bowlers tape needed, help?
« Reply #9 on: February 12, 2020, 07:50:24 AM »
Quote from: star on February 09, 2020, 01:49:18 AM

That’s the one one I meant, “real bowlers tape” not “the bowlers tape”. Mixed them up.
No one stocks them in the UK and like I said it’s over £100 to import them for me including tax and shipping and that is out of my budget. They do appear to be the best though.


This seller on eBay has the Real Bowlers Tape and ships to the UK.  Price and shipping seems reasonable?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Real-Bowlers-Tape-1-inch-Silver-Bowling-Texture-Tape-100-Piece-Roll-Brand-New-/163634051745?&shqty=1&isGTR=1#shId

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star

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Re: Alternative to white bowlers tape needed, help?
« Reply #10 on: February 12, 2020, 08:05:43 AM »
Quote from: Bowler19525 on February 12, 2020, 07:50:24 AM
Quote from: star on February 09, 2020, 01:49:18 AM

That’s the one one I meant, “real bowlers tape” not “the bowlers tape”. Mixed them up.
No one stocks them in the UK and like I said it’s over £100 to import them for me including tax and shipping and that is out of my budget. They do appear to be the best though.


This seller on eBay has the Real Bowlers Tape and ships to the UK.  Price and shipping seems reasonable?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Real-Bowlers-Tape-1-inch-Silver-Bowling-Texture-Tape-100-Piece-Roll-Brand-New-/163634051745?&shqty=1&isGTR=1#shId



Works out about £30 for 100 tapes, shipping is more than the price of the tapes. The £100 I quoted was for a reel of 500. 100 tapes will last me only about 6 weeks or so and it would work out very expensive.

I do have a friend who is going to the US later this year and I can ship them to his hotel so I can finally get them at the normal $59 (£45) that you guys get them for. May be my best option.
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Happy go lucky bowler from the UK.
Specs. 430rpm,18mph off hand. 11-12deg Tilt, 50-60 deg Rotation. PAP 5 1/4 by 3/4 up.
                   R.I.P.
Mo Pinel. The Guru.
Larry Matthews “The Bowling Professor”
Sawbones.
Thong Princess.
Thanks for the FUN times.

St. Croix

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Re: Alternative to white bowlers tape needed, help?
« Reply #11 on: February 12, 2020, 12:51:58 PM »
Quote from: MI 2 AZ on February 09, 2020, 02:18:29 PM
Quote from: St. Croix on February 08, 2020, 01:28:46 PM
Textured white tape did not work for me. I suggest Ebonite Ultra-Grip Tape which has a smooth surface. This tape is thicker than most thumb hole tape and stays in place very well. The tape comes in a variety of widths. I prefer the 1" width. The tape is for the thumb pad, so it goes in the thumb hole at 1 o'clock or so. The tape is durable, so a package of 30 pieces should last a long time.

If that is the black tape, I agree it is much thicker than other black tapes but that seems in my case to have caused a problem. 

Because of it's thickness it is very stiff and tends to want to pop loose during bowling.  I may have had a bad roll (500 piece) but everyone I gave some to had the same issue - it did not want to stick in the thumb hole.  Too stiff or not enough adhesive?

I gave up on using it and purchased some other brand of black tape which is much thinner but at least stays in the thumb hole.

Yes, the Ebonite black tape that I described is very stiff. I have had good luck with it staying in place. My tape is the pre-cut kind. It could be that the adhesive on the tape rolls is not as good as the pre-cut pieces.
« Last Edit: February 12, 2020, 02:01:17 PM by St. Croix »
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