Author Topic: magic carpet woes: questions, users please reply. :) (Read 1939 times)

DonSVO · « **on:** April 03, 2005, 08:14:39 AM »

well, i have used it in the past but it has been awhile. i decided to give it a try in some new equipment.

the first day, i LOVED the feel. quick, slick, no hang-up. after 4 games, the back of my thumb was a bit red, but i was told to expect it.

the next day i went and bowled quite a few games. the redness was worse and it stung a bit. well, i put a couple pieces of new skin on the back of my thumb and continued to bowl. the pain got worse.

i remove the New Skin and find about 5 popped BB-sized blisters, the whole top of my thumb would move with my finger. pretty much, i turned the whole back of my thumb into a puffy, liquid-filled rugburn! i thought maybe i was knuckling the ball, but the dark red spot was all along the back of my thumb in a perfect shape of the magic carpet. knuckling would leave a distinct blister on the ball of the thumb i would assume.

so, i have to ask: is the hole too tight? i know it was the night in question, because it swelled up pretty good. but, i fear if i use it again i will have a similar reaction.

should i try buzzing the thumbholes and trying to open them up a bit, or should i discard the magic carpet for the second time??? i like the release, without a doubt, but i am not about to wreck my thumb again.
--------------------
funniest thing i have ever read on here:

originally posted by Bjaardker, about if brunswick sells 2nds/blems:

Yeah, they're called Lane #1s....

JUST KIDDING!!!

Edited on 4/3/2005 4:09 PM

Doug Sterner · « **Reply #1 on:** April 03, 2005, 04:24:34 PM »

I am a firm advocate of teh Magic Carpet but then too I have a tendency to squeeze the ball a bit so I use the Vise Thumb Tape on the back of my thumb. I know it seems pretty counter productive but it works for me.

I used to get the red carpet rub for teh first couple of games but I never had a problem other than that.

The only other possible answer I could give you is that the nu skin "bled" into the irritated skin and caused the blisters. I have no other possibilities for you unless your thumbhole is now too tight.

I used to drill my thumbhole 29/32 and oval it a hair to 31.32 across the knuckle. SInce I started using the Carpet I went to a 15/16 thumbhole and relieve it just a skosh at 10 and 5:00 with the center of the carpet sitting around 7:00. Maybe you should try this with an older ball and see what happens.

Anybody else?
--------------------
Doug Sterner
Doug's Pro Shop
Owego, NY
http://dougsproshop@aol.com
www.dougsproshop.net
Although a small elite group, the bond among fellows can never be broken...FOS members rejoice!

stanski · « **Reply #2 on:** April 03, 2005, 04:24:53 PM »

quote:
How much tape did you average in the thumb hole before you took them out and put the carpet in?
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Perfection is NOT attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence...

I would ask the same thing, I keep mine magic carpet tight, but not tight enough that it would ever cause blisters. I love this stuff personally.

You might also want to try the thumbillow.
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stanski

DonSVO · « **Reply #3 on:** April 03, 2005, 04:31:35 PM »

quote:
How much tape did you average in the thumb hole before you took them out and put the carpet in?
--------------------
Perfection is NOT attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence

as i said, both balls are new equipment. so i have no real idea.

the hole wasn't particularly tight, until it started getting really red and swelling. i think that was the death of me. BUT! it started swelling in the first place. so to me that would seem it would happen again.

it basically feels just like a carpetburn. a TON of friction.

--------------------
funniest thing i have ever read on here:

originally posted by Bjaardker, about if brunswick sells 2nds/blems:

Yeah, they're called Lane #1s....

JUST KIDDING!!!

DonSVO · « **Reply #4 on:** April 03, 2005, 04:32:30 PM »

quote:
I would ask the same thing, I keep mine magic carpet tight, but not tight enough that it would ever cause blisters. I love this stuff personally.

You might also want to try the thumbillow.
--------------------
stanski

where can i score this 'thumbillow' at???
--------------------
funniest thing i have ever read on here:

originally posted by Bjaardker, about if brunswick sells 2nds/blems:

Yeah, they're called Lane #1s....

JUST KIDDING!!!

Edited on 4/3/2005 4:33 PM

stanski · « **Reply #5 on:** April 03, 2005, 04:34:10 PM »

do a search on google for "thumbillow bowling" and you should come up with a lot of sites. Heres one that my buddy got some from once:

http://www.300bowl.com/bowling/bowling.mv?page=300/PROD//FG-AC-0005

on edit, you might want to talk to JohnP, he's a pro shop operator and uses the thumbillow.
--------------------
stanski

Edited on 4/3/2005 4:29 PM

DonSVO · « **Reply #6 on:** April 03, 2005, 04:39:03 PM »

quote:
do a search on google for "thumbillow bowling" and you should come up with a lot of sites. Heres one that my buddy got some from once:

http://www.300bowl.com/bowling/bowling.mv?page=300/PROD//FG-AC-0005

on edit, you might want to talk to JohnP, he's a pro shop operator and uses the thumbillow.
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stanski

cool deal, stanski. question: it is interchangable, meaning i can swap it ball-to-ball correct? how does that work?

Edited on 4/3/2005 4:34 PM

Edited on 4/3/2005 4:35 PM

stanski · « **Reply #7 on:** April 03, 2005, 05:27:16 PM »

quote:
quote:
do a search on google for "thumbillow bowling" and you should come up with a lot of sites. Heres one that my buddy got some from once:

http://www.300bowl.com/bowling/bowling.mv?page=300/PROD//FG-AC-0005

on edit, you might want to talk to JohnP, he's a pro shop operator and uses the thumbillow.
--------------------
stanski

cool deal, stanski. question: it is interchangable, meaning i can swap it ball-to-ball correct? how does that work?

Edited on 4/3/2005 4:34 PM

Edited on 4/3/2005 4:35 PM

From what I know, no, it is not interchangeable, it has a sticky backing that goes directly on just like magic carpet. The kit I posted comes with a bunch of crap besides just the thumb tape, I would bet you can find specifics for it some place else.
--------------------
stanski

njbowl · « **Reply #8 on:** April 03, 2005, 07:08:09 PM »

I use double stick picture hangers. You leave the paper on and add 1 layer of tape. The cushioning gives a firm feel but I have never had a blister.
A 12 pack costs $1 and you use two at a time.
If they get even slightly dirty your cost is $.17 per change.
--------------------
A Born again bowler with a mission to bowl 300.

BuckeyBalls · « **Reply #9 on:** April 03, 2005, 09:12:40 PM »

I use Ron's carpet in all my balls. One piece of carpet is equal to 3 pieces of tape. Some users will have to open up their thumbhole to use the carpet. The carpet should be placed 1/4" from the top.

If you are getting blisters, then it is probably too tight. You mentioned you bowled a lot of games with it. Maybe you need to give the carpet a rest till your thumb heals and try later. I bowl three consecutive nights, by the third night I usually have to take the carpet out because my swelling thumb starts hanging up.

Just out of curiosty, stick your thumb in the ball in the morning and see how it feels. Do the same thing in the evening and you should notice a difference...
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I need a mulligan!

Magic Carpet · « **Reply #10 on:** April 03, 2005, 10:47:40 PM »

It sounds to me like the thumb hole is too tight. You will need to open it up a little. Just don't over do it.
One thing about the carpets...your thumb hole can be WAY too tight and you will still clear the ball.
If you feel like your thumb hole MUST be really tight to keep from dropping the ball then you may have too much reverse pitch in the thumb hole.
Ron Clifton
Ron C's Magic Carpet
Bowl4fun.com

JohnP · « **Reply #11 on:** April 03, 2005, 10:53:19 PM »

Re Thumbillow -- the manufacturer claims they are interchangeable, but in actual practice it's a pain to do so. They stick in the hole with two sided tape, so to change one from ball to ball, you have to peel it out of the first ball, remove the tape from the Thumbillow, replace with a new piece of tape and reinsert in the new ball. And it's hard to do all of this without damaging the foam. When they wear out, I do turn them upside down and reinsert them. Your pro shop can get them for you. I use primarily the 3/16" x 1" size. They also come in 1/8" and 1/4" thickness. I purchase mine from Classic Products. I haven't seen them listed on any web site, but I'll bet if you call Buddies they will get one for you. -- JohnP

MI 2 AZ · « **Reply #12 on:** April 03, 2005, 10:58:29 PM »

I think Sawbones and Magic Carpet answered this best for your problem.
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__________________________________

I just want 2C was'zzub.
____________________________________

I am the SGT Schultz of bowling.
"I know nothing! I see nothing! NOTHING!"
________________________________________

Brickguy221 · « **Reply #13 on:** April 04, 2005, 12:51:33 AM »

You can get the Thumbillows at Wild Octopus. You can buy as many as you want in individual sizes and don't have to buy a 4 piece kit that the other Web Site Pro Shops make you buy.

http://www.wildoctopusbowling.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=228
--------------------
Owner of a 129 game bowled with a Brunswick Impulse Zone.

Brickguy221 · « **Reply #14 on:** April 04, 2005, 01:06:02 AM »

DonSVO, in reference to the thumb problem with the Magic Carpet, your hole could be too tight as some here have indicated. Again, you may still be squeezing (knuckling) the ball even though your fit might be correct. I do this. I am a squeezer And I knuckle the ball even on a perfect fit hole. I have done so for 30 years or more and have never been able to break the habit regardless of thumb hole size, thumb hole aids such as Magic Carpet, Thumbillows, etc. I wear thru the skin of my thumb with the Magic Carpet and cause the knuckle to bleed due to my knuckling of the ball, so I am limited to part time use of it. It is however great stuff as long as you don't knuckle the ball. I've tried the tape Doug mentioned and don't like it, but most people I bowl with love that tape. Guess I am "odd man out."

--------------------
Owner of a 129 game bowled with a Brunswick Impulse Zone.

Author Topic: magic carpet woes: questions, users please reply. :) (Read 1939 times)

DonSVO

magic carpet woes: questions, users please reply. :)

Doug Sterner

Re: magic carpet woes: questions, users please reply. :)

stanski

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DonSVO

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DonSVO

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stanski

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DonSVO

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stanski

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njbowl

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BuckeyBalls

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Magic Carpet

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JohnP

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MI 2 AZ

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Brickguy221

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Brickguy221

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