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Author Topic: Is It Just Me?  (Read 1514 times)

10 In The Pit

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Is It Just Me?
« on: June 18, 2003, 01:22:52 PM »
I've been tinkering around with my grip some lately, and I've come across something that seems to go against the grain of everything that I've heard before.  I've found that if I put my fingers in the grips first, then sink the thumb, then refit the fingers into the grips, I get more revs on the ball and better ball control.  Although I've had my spans/pitches checked several times, it always seems like my fingers tend to pull partially out of the grips when I fully insert the thumb (I am running lift tips, so I've actually got 1/4" forward finger pitch when you add the lift tips in).  By refitting the fingertips after putting the thumb completely into the ball, I'm getting a better reaction.

Obviously one would immediately think that my spans are stretched, although I really don't think so.  And this refitting the fingers after the thumb goes against all that I've been told.  Am I the only one who is finding this method to be advantageous?  I've only been tinkering with this fingers last method for a couple of weeks, but it seems to work better, and I can keep the fingers seated in the grips better this way.

 

10 In The Pit

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Re: Is It Just Me?
« Reply #1 on: June 19, 2003, 05:37:51 AM »
Yep Justin, when I put my fingertips in first, then roll the thumb into the ball, I wind up pulling the fingertips partially out of the grips.  If I get the thumb seated first, then put the fingertips down into the grips, I find that I can get the fingertips fully into the grips up to the first joint.....if I seat the thumb last, the fingertips ride up out of the grips somewhat.

I've been fighting this problem for years, and a couple of weeks back, I decided "what the heck"......so I tried seating the fingertips, seating the thumb, then reseating the fingertips, and I got instant improvement from it, as well as the fingertips finally fully seated.  I started waffling back and forth between the two methods, and tonight, I decided to go with the fingers last method.....I rolled my first clean set in over 6 months (711 with no opens).

charlest

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Re: Is It Just Me?
« Reply #2 on: June 19, 2003, 07:53:52 AM »
10,

This sounds very much like your span is far too long or that 1/4" forward pitch inserts need to be changed to 0 pitch grips (that will make it feel like you've shortened your grip span.) I do not believe putting your thumb fully into the ball should ever drag your fingers out of the ball. If you have to use those pitched grips, either have the finger holes pitched backwards by that same 1/4" or have the span shortened appropriately.

Edited on 6/19/2003 9:00 AM
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cosmo

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Re: Is It Just Me?
« Reply #3 on: June 19, 2003, 08:12:32 AM »
One of the pros on TV this year - I think Tommy Jones - used the thumb-in-first and then fingers method of gripping the ball. Randy P pointed it out and gave an explantion as to why, but I don't remember it at this time. After seeing it, I tried it, no way could I do it with current pitches & span.


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