Author Topic: Thumb problems (Read 1605 times)

Splitz · « **on:** March 29, 2004, 08:38:34 AM »

I have been blessed with a thumb that changes sizes often. One night I can be bowling comfortably with 7 pieces of tape in the ball and two nights later all the tape is out and the ball is hanging up. Some nights I actually add tape as the night goes on and others find me sanding the slug to help me get out of the ball during the last game.

If anyone else has found a way to keep the thumb size from changing that much, I am open to suggestions. All I know is that it is a real problem to keep a consistant shot when sometimes the ball comes off clean and other times the ball hangs up to the point I over turn the ball before it leaves my hand.

Rev-less · « **Reply #1 on:** March 30, 2004, 12:56:21 AM »

I would second The Author's suggestion on checking your thumb pitches. I made a few big changes to my pitches/span recently (on the recommendation of Pin-Chaser), and experienced very good results (will describe on a seperate topic).

Are you wearing a wristguard? If you are, make sure that its not strapped too tightly. Doing this will make your thumb swell alot.

hotwire13 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 30, 2004, 01:21:28 AM »

i think the material could be a big problem...i switched over to urethane a few months ago - it never changes size compared to teh vinyl i used to have...i have lessened teh strain on my thumb when going thru my backswing, and as a result my thumb doesnt swell as much and my release is much more comfortable. the vinyl always used to change sizes. one option may be to try a custon thumb slug...get it made a little loose, put some tape in, and then work with that...my driller can make them out of a urethane substance, and they should never change size. and like revless said, if u are wearing a wrist guard, that could definitely be your problem. and try some ez slide in between shots(wipe off before preparing for next shot) to keep your thumb smooth and dry. that helps me during the summer when my thumb grows.
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Erik Olsen - e13ez85@hotmail.com

tenpinspro · « **Reply #3 on:** March 30, 2004, 06:07:18 AM »

Hey Splitz,

Do you work with your hands a lot? Meaning carpenter, mechanic, electrician and so on. From my experience, people who work with their hands physically more then others tend to have quite of a bit of fluctuation in their hands. If not, refer back to what the Author has suggested.

cgilyeat · « **Reply #4 on:** March 30, 2004, 09:02:39 AM »

Another option that might work is an oval thumbhole. My thumb used to change size, though not near as much as yours, until I went to an oval thumbhole.

LuckyLefty · « **Reply #5 on:** March 30, 2004, 09:14:06 AM »

If one was truly blessed it would not be the thumb that changed like that!

REgards,

Luckylefty

JohnP · « **Reply #6 on:** March 30, 2004, 11:58:04 AM »

Splitz -- Ask your ball driller about the Thumbillow. It is a thumb insert (like tape) that has a foam backing that compresses/expands as your thumb size changes. They come in various widths and thicknesses, but I usually use a 1" wide by 3/16" thick. I oversize the thumb hole by 1/16" and add the Thumbillow, works great. I have them in all my balls and have used them on a lot of customer's balls also. Ron's Magic Carpet works in much the same way, but my customers seem to prefer the Thumbillow (I have not yet tried the Magic Carpet myself.) Good luck -- JohnP

Splitz · « **Reply #7 on:** March 30, 2004, 11:47:25 PM »

Thanks for the suggestions. I just had all my equipment changed about 8 monthes ago to slightly shorter spans and the pitches have been adjusted by an excellent pro shop operator. The thumb and fingers both have reverse pitch because they are not very flexible which makes the ball fit very comfortably.I don't wear a wrist device. The thumb hole is an oval urethane slug. I tried a product that was a layer of sponge with a super slick plastic on top that contacted the back of the thumb. It worked for about a game and a half and then my thumb was too large to get past the product, which was a nightmare to remove from the hole so I could continue bowling. Maybe it is just a problem that will continue to haunt me. The pro shop guy mentioned that people like me with blood pressure medication sometimes have that problem along with the construction trade type people.

pin-chaser · « **Reply #8 on:** March 31, 2004, 12:32:39 AM »

A certian amount of swelling is to be expected with change of temperature, attitude and humditiy. Certainly a range of two or three pieces of white tape can be normal. However, more than that, then the grip, size of thumbhole and pitches should be re-examined. If you are experiencing fluctuations of more than that in a single night then you should have a different proshop professional look into it. There maybe nothing wrong, there may be. It cant hurt to get a second opinion.
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Getting all the pins I can.

mrbowlingnut · « **Reply #9 on:** March 31, 2004, 12:42:40 AM »

On nights when you are swollen take a tissue or napkin and jam your thumb into the thumb hole for about ten seconds. This trick was taught to me by pro shop guys it sounds crazy but works great and the thumb usually stays down in size for at least 4 or 5 frames more and then repeat again. I have used this trick about 4 times and it works great also a slight amount of chap stick will make you come out very fast so try this one is practice but it probably 10 times slicker than ez slide is.

JohnP · « **Reply #10 on:** March 31, 2004, 10:32:34 AM »

Splitz -- The product you tried sounds like the Thumbillow. But to be successful with it on a "variable size" thumb, you have to oversize the thumb hole. If you couldn't get your thumb in after a few games, the hole was not sized large enough. If you liked the feel when it was working right, try it again - you might have to oversize the hole by 1/8 inch and use a 1/4 inch Thumbillow. -- JohnP

Author Topic: Thumb problems (Read 1605 times)

Splitz

Thumb problems

Rev-less

Re: Thumb problems

hotwire13

Re: Thumb problems

tenpinspro

Re: Thumb problems

cgilyeat

Re: Thumb problems

LuckyLefty

Re: Thumb problems

JohnP

Re: Thumb problems

Splitz

Re: Thumb problems

pin-chaser

Re: Thumb problems

mrbowlingnut

Re: Thumb problems

JohnP

Re: Thumb problems