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Author Topic: First appearance of grips & thumb slugs  (Read 2631 times)

JPbowling151

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First appearance of grips & thumb slugs
« on: July 07, 2013, 10:18:33 PM »
Does anyone know when finger grips and thumb slugs/sleeves started being used in bowling balls? I noticed what looked like finger grips in Earl Anthony's ball in an old telecast from 1981, but I don't recall seeing a thumb slug/sleeve being used until the 90's. Just feeding my curiosity of the evolution of the sport. Thanks!
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Gizmo823

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Re: First appearance of grips & thumb slugs
« Reply #1 on: July 08, 2013, 07:41:44 AM »
I would say whenever resin came out, that slugs weren't far behind.  Grips were earlier, but I'd say your time frame is about right.  I don't think there was really a need for a slug before resin came out. 
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bass

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Re: First appearance of grips & thumb slugs
« Reply #2 on: July 08, 2013, 08:29:18 AM »
Back in the days of hard rubber bowling balls.
Some people didn't like the textured feel of the core material.
So they would drill the thumb hole oversized then use plug material to fill the hole.
Then redrill the thumb hole to the proper size.
Thus creating the first thumb slug.
Not sure when the practice started but it has been around for quite some time.
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kotm

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Re: First appearance of grips & thumb slugs
« Reply #3 on: July 08, 2013, 09:47:51 AM »
contour power grips date back to the 70's.  before then you could cut, shape and glue in old pieces of garden hose in finger holes.  in thumbs you would run superglue down the sides to seal the core and sand it smooth... or use lip balm...
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Gizmo823

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Re: First appearance of grips & thumb slugs
« Reply #4 on: July 08, 2013, 10:21:31 AM »
I stand corrected.  That's really interesting though, didn't know they used to do that. 
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Juggernaut

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Re: First appearance of grips & thumb slugs
« Reply #5 on: July 08, 2013, 01:20:38 PM »
Quote from: kotm on July 08, 2013, 09:47:51 AM
contour power grips date back to the 70's.  before then you could cut, shape and glue in old pieces of garden hose in finger holes.  in thumbs you would run superglue down the sides to seal the core and sand it smooth... or use lip balm...

 Had an older model LT-48 that I did this with. Had to sand the sides of the thumbhole every two weeks for a while to keep it smooth and slick. Finally got it to the point it stopped changing, but it took a WHILE.

 Those old "cork" composite cores were tough to contend with until you got them "broken in".

 Friend of mine did the oversize drill/plug/redrill thing, and it worked great for him.
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raiderh20boy

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Re: First appearance of grips & thumb slugs
« Reply #6 on: July 08, 2013, 06:04:59 PM »
If remember correct, and its been almost 40 years, first time I saw the finger inserts on the tour was Ernie Schlegel :) Man, that was a long time ago!!!!!!!!!!!!
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