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Author Topic: Should I Oval my thumb hole?  (Read 2112 times)

Hex017

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Should I Oval my thumb hole?
« on: March 19, 2005, 01:45:29 PM »
I was chatting with Nick last night...complaining about the blisters on my thumb. He offered some help but because I'm clueless I couldn't give him my hand measurements. I keep getting blisters on the sides of my thumb, most on the same side but I already added side pitch and I still rub so I'm not sure. Nick said I probably needed to oval my thumb, have any of you guys done this and has it helped any? I plan on adding some forward pitch to with maybe some reverse on the fingers, need to get this grip problem fixed.
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-If you're not willing to change, you're not willing to improve.

-Life is like a coin, you can spend it any way you want, but you can only spend it once.

-I will forever love this great game, I love the people and the competition, I only wish the best would get the recognition of an ATHLETE that they deserve.
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sdbowler

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Re: Should I Oval my thumb hole?
« Reply #1 on: March 19, 2005, 09:48:50 PM »
I pay extra to have my stuff drilled in Alabama and shipped to me here in South Dakota so that my thumbholes are drilled oval. Well that and many other reasons. Trust me once you have and oval thumbhole done properly of course you will never go back. If you look at your thumb is the shape more of an oval or a circle. If it is more of an oval then yeah you would want to look into it.
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BRUNSWICK
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Hex017

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Re: Should I Oval my thumb hole?
« Reply #2 on: March 19, 2005, 09:51:22 PM »
Well I would have to say oval...I have a bad case of what I call "fat thumb" where your thumb is constantly big and puffs out at the sides....
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-If you're not willing to change, you're not willing to improve.

-Life is like a coin, you can spend it any way you want, but you can only spend it once.

-I will forever love this great game, I love the people and the competition, I only wish the best would get the recognition of an ATHLETE that they deserve.
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sdbowler

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Re: Should I Oval my thumb hole?
« Reply #3 on: March 19, 2005, 09:56:47 PM »
Then yeah oval is the only way to go. Before having oval thumbholes I would always coat my thumb with new skin before starting league. Since going to the oval thumbholes I no longer need to. It provides a more natural feel.
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BRUNSWICK
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pin-chaser

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Re: Should I Oval my thumb hole?
« Reply #4 on: March 20, 2005, 07:34:09 AM »
Unless your thumb is round (which is nearly impossible) than yes... the thumbhole fitting snuggly is paramount as is pitch.
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Hex017

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Re: Should I Oval my thumb hole?
« Reply #5 on: March 20, 2005, 03:49:46 PM »
quote:
Have you looked into trying a oval urethane thumb insert? That may be much easier. I love them, they're great.
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R.I.P. Bill Trelut

You will be missed


Edited on 3/20/2005 1:41 AM




What exactly is different about the urethane thumb insert?
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-If you're not willing to change, you're not willing to improve.

-Life is like a coin, you can spend it any way you want, but you can only spend it once.

-I will forever love this great game, I love the people and the competition, I only wish the best would get the recognition of an ATHLETE that they deserve.
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sdbowler

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Re: Should I Oval my thumb hole?
« Reply #6 on: March 20, 2005, 03:54:08 PM »
A thumb insert is similar to a finger insert. The pilot hole is drilled and the insert is put in. A solid or slug what ever you want to call them, is installed and then has to be redrilled. Everyone has what they like. I have never tried the insert. I have always used the solid and drill out and adjust from there.
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BRUNSWICK
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stanski

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Re: Should I Oval my thumb hole?
« Reply #7 on: March 20, 2005, 04:00:06 PM »
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Hex017

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Re: Should I Oval my thumb hole?
« Reply #8 on: March 20, 2005, 04:03:34 PM »
Now wait this is confusing, I use thumb slugs...they are not oval however. Is that what a thumb insert is? Or is it soft? Sorry but I'm a little lost now.
--------------------
-If you're not willing to change, you're not willing to improve.

-Life is like a coin, you can spend it any way you want, but you can only spend it once.

-I will forever love this great game, I love the people and the competition, I only wish the best would get the recognition of an ATHLETE that they deserve.
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stanski

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Re: Should I Oval my thumb hole?
« Reply #9 on: March 20, 2005, 04:13:25 PM »
quote:
Now wait this is confusing, I use thumb slugs...they are not oval however. Is that what a thumb insert is? Or is it soft? Sorry but I'm a little lost now.
--------------------
-If you're not willing to change, you're not willing to improve.

-Life is like a coin, you can spend it any way you want, but you can only spend it once.

-I will forever love this great game, I love the people and the competition, I only wish the best would get the recognition of an ATHLETE that they deserve.


A thumb slug is just that, a slug that has to be drilled out. Oval inserts are pre-drilled from the factory and you just have to "insert" them into the hole.
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stanski
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crankncrash

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Re: Should I Oval my thumb hole?
« Reply #10 on: March 20, 2005, 04:44:51 PM »
Just get to a real pro shop and have an oval thumb drilled up for you.  I got 2 balls drilled this winter at a new shop, after having 3 others redrilled to try to help my thumb.  I was astonished at the difference. Now I am a bit of an extreme, my thumb is nearly as wide as it is round, but I was able to get a thumb cirumf. that was 6 sizes smaller, yes 6!  Now that is a difference, and the real benefit, I don't have to be real stretched out to get a clean release and NO blisters. I am currently selling all of my stuff besides those 2 and its not because I love the reactions, rather that the other stuff all has one thumb plug or more b/c I couldn't get comfortable with a round thumb so we kept guessing on what would work.  Go and pay whatever it takes, no lie once its done you will never go back.
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Goof1073

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Re: Should I Oval my thumb hole?
« Reply #11 on: March 20, 2005, 05:07:44 PM »
Geez...don't get those pre-made sleeves!  I tried them in the past and just don't like the feel that the vinyl materials gives.  Urethane thumb slugs just feel so much better.  That and the pre-made sleeves don't even fit the contour of a persons thumb 100%, are hard to work out and beveling is a pain!!
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-Chris: DJ's Pro Shop : Auburn, MA
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stanski

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Re: Should I Oval my thumb hole?
« Reply #12 on: March 20, 2005, 05:33:15 PM »
quote:
The shop where I go has urethane oval thumb inserts... at least I think they're oval.
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R.I.P. Bill Trelut

You will be missed


Same with the one I go to
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stanski
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Hex017

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Re: Should I Oval my thumb hole?
« Reply #13 on: March 20, 2005, 08:47:41 PM »
Sorry I was gone for the day, I live in IL, right by O'fallon and get my stuff drilled at a small personal owned shopped. The guy is good from what I know, just aged and a little stubborn. So everyone thinks I should just ask him to let me try a urethane oval thumb insert? On tuesday I'll have all my measurements so maybe you guys will actually be able to tell me something. I would get my stuff drilled at O'fallons shop, if the prices weren't outrageous. Thanks for all the inputs, I'll let you know what happens, feel free to give me some more advice, I can never have enough
--------------------
-If you're not willing to change, you're not willing to improve.

-Life is like a coin, you can spend it any way you want, but you can only spend it once.

-I will forever love this great game, I love the people and the competition, I only wish the best would get the recognition of an ATHLETE that they deserve.
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crankncrash

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Re: Should I Oval my thumb hole?
« Reply #14 on: March 20, 2005, 09:20:04 PM »
I don't know a thing about O'fallons, but do yourself the service of getting drilled there once if they have the better technology. Take the measurements or the ball to another place and let them duplicate it.  Even if it costs more now, get the good fit.  I can't tell you how much its really worth.  Its sounds to me like your current driller is a little behind the times, go get a good fit and bowl happily ever after.
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