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Author Topic: Reminder: Tape in thumb replacement.  (Read 2411 times)

charlest

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Reminder: Tape in thumb replacement.
« on: January 03, 2004, 08:12:41 PM »
Just a reminder to change that white tape in your thumb hole about once a month. It catches all the oil and grease from your thumb and turns a nasty yellow color. That yellow is the indicator that it's absorbing oil. You may think your thumb is dry, bit it ain't. Tape is cheap; a washout left because the ball slipped may be expensive.
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scotts33

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Re: Reminder: Tape in thumb replacement.
« Reply #1 on: January 04, 2004, 11:30:40 AM »
I use a Magic Carpet in the back of my thumb hole and nothing in front.  MC users need to change their carpets every 100 or so games also.  Carpet loops do compress over time.  Best $2 bowling investment I ever made.

Good tip charlest.

Scott
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Scott

seadrive

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Re: Reminder: Tape in thumb replacement.
« Reply #2 on: January 04, 2004, 11:38:38 AM »
Huh?  If you never have to add/remove tape in the thumbhole during a match, why is it there at all?

I start out with two or three pieces of tape, and remove a piece or two as my thumb swells. So the tape is always fresh.
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charlest

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Re: Reminder: Tape in thumb replacement.
« Reply #3 on: January 04, 2004, 01:09:36 PM »
quote:
Huh?  If you never have to add/remove tape in the thumbhole during a match, why is it there at all?


Seadrive,

what is this in response to? I don't see any backwards reference quote.
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seadrive

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Re: Reminder: Tape in thumb replacement.
« Reply #4 on: January 04, 2004, 01:17:50 PM »
charlest,

You're reminding people to change the tape in their balls every month, because the tape gets dirty and oily.  I'm saying that I don't understand why the tape is there, if you never have to add or remove any during a match.

The purpose of tape is to maintain the proper, snug fit, as your thumb changes size.  Some people seem to be blessed, in that their fingers don't swell or contract while they bowl, but even they may have to adjust the size of the thumbhole from one week to the next, due to temperature and humidity changes.

So, if the tape in your thumbhole is getting yellow because you never need to add or remove tape, then why is it there?  Why don't you just have the hole drilled slightly smaller?
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seadrive
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Jeffrevs

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Re: Reminder: Tape in thumb replacement.
« Reply #5 on: January 04, 2004, 01:25:57 PM »
funny, charlest, I just changed the tape in my moms ball yesterday right before league.....it was yellow and rolling at the top as well. Her sister put it in and was too close to the top of the hole.

Anyhow....great tip........

For me, I'm lucky,...I'm never used tape, and currently, King of the Mill has my thumbhole the PERFECT oval size that fits like a custom made suit !
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Strider

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Re: Reminder: Tape in thumb replacement.
« Reply #6 on: January 04, 2004, 01:36:33 PM »
I'm with Vinny.  My stuff is drilled to need one piece of white tape in the summer.  I like to have a better grip surface than the urethane slug, plus I like to have something to remove if my thumb is swollen for some reason.  During the winter, I'm at 2-3 white and 1-2 black.  Also, like Charles said, it's good to replace it once in a while just to make sure you maintain a good grip.
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Strider

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Re: Reminder: Tape in thumb replacement.
« Reply #7 on: January 04, 2004, 01:46:25 PM »
I really wish the Magic Carpets weren't so hard on my thumb.  I had the smoothest release using them.
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scotts33

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Re: Reminder: Tape in thumb replacement.
« Reply #8 on: January 04, 2004, 02:01:32 PM »
'Bones--Yes, I do believe you can get a longer duration of use than say 100 games out of a carpet.  I change them to clean out my thumb hole completely with a light use of acetone.  I like the feel of the slug rather than tape on the front of the thumb hole.  I also do believe the carpet loops do compress after long use so to me there is a different fit.

Strider--Did you open up your thumb hole slightly to allow use of carpets?  My regular size thumb hole when I used tape had to be enlarged slightly.

Scott

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Scott

laner7pin

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Re: Reminder: Tape in thumb replacement.
« Reply #9 on: January 04, 2004, 02:04:39 PM »
I usually throw 3 pieces on my thumbhole, and over the course of a night, will either leave it, or add a piece if my thumb doesnt swell. Especially in winter, my thumb swells half as much as in summer, so at times, I am able to get away with 2 pieces of tape. But as far as changing, I usually change about once a month as well, depending on how much I use a ball. If I use it non-stop for a couple of weeks, I change it. The yellow color is telling me its dirty and possibly soaking up sweat as well (I tend to have really clammy hands). If I dont change it out, or add anohter piece, I start to drop the ball somewhat and dont get that good feel. But great tip for anybody who is either starting to use tape, or someone who does but doesnt change it out....and possibly feeling a new ball is in order because "I cant get a good feel in it and its not hooking", or something to that effect.
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seadrive

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Re: Reminder: Tape in thumb replacement.
« Reply #10 on: January 04, 2004, 02:17:41 PM »
quote:
I really wish the Magic Carpets weren't so hard on my thumb.  I had the smoothest release using them.

Strider, assuming you did enlarge the thumbhole before inserting the MC, you might want to try using the soft part of Velcro "Sticky Back" tape sets.  They provide some (not all) of the benefits of Magic Carpets, and are much softer and easier on the skin.

They're 3 1/2" long, so I cut them in half, and round off the corners.  They're not as good as Magic Carpets, but if your skin is sensitive, they're better than nothing, IMHO.
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Debina

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Re: Reminder: Tape in thumb replacement.
« Reply #11 on: January 04, 2004, 02:19:54 PM »
I find the Magic Carpets just a bit rough when I first install them, too. But I wouldn't dream of throwing without them! To alleviate the discomfort for the first few games, I take a small strip of the Hypafix tape and apply it from mid-nail to the base of my thumb. This helps stop the abrasion that a new Magic Carpet can cause.

Deb
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Strider

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Re: Reminder: Tape in thumb replacement.
« Reply #12 on: January 04, 2004, 03:12:53 PM »
I did try the Carpets in the winter and on a ball that had a loose thumb to begin with.  I think part of the problem was that since the hole didn't feel rigid, I was bending my thumb.  I do have some HypaFix and ABS tape, I might have to try it again.  I still have one piece of MC left.  I'm not sure I have a ball with a loose enough thumb anymore though.
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MI 2 AZ

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Re: Reminder: Tape in thumb replacement.
« Reply #13 on: January 04, 2004, 04:48:57 PM »
Here is the website for Magic Carpets:

http://www.bowl4fun.com/magiccarpet/magiccarpet.htm


If you ask Ron by email, he will send you a sample or two to try.
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charlest

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Re: Reminder: Tape in thumb replacement.
« Reply #14 on: January 04, 2004, 05:38:06 PM »
quote:
charlest,

You're reminding people to change the tape in their balls every month, because the tape gets dirty and oily.  I'm saying that I don't understand why the tape is there, if you never have to add or remove any during a match.

The purpose of tape is to maintain the proper, snug fit, as your thumb changes size.  Some people seem to be blessed, in that their fingers don't swell or contract while they bowl, but even they may have to adjust the size of the thumbhole from one week to the next, due to temperature and humidity changes.

So, if the tape in your thumbhole is getting yellow because you never need to add or remove tape, then why is it there?  Why don't you just have the hole drilled slightly smaller?
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seadrive
Cogito ergo bowl


Seadrive,

I don't recall ever saying that my own thumb never shrinks or swells. It does, a lot. Changes in humidity must also affect it, the thumb insert and the ball, I guess. I know in the early morning I can't get my thumb into any of my thumb holes; late at night, it's swimming.

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