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Author Topic: sweaty thumb hole  (Read 11857 times)

rdw

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sweaty thumb hole
« on: August 04, 2013, 06:49:23 PM »
Any advice for a sweaty thumb hole?  I've tried tapping it with one of those grip bags and it helps a little.  My next thought would be to tap it with a puff ball since more powder flows out of those but it gets messy.

Someone has suggested those old forrest rosen bags but those really get messy.

thanks in advance
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J_Mac

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Re: sweaty thumb hole
« Reply #1 on: August 04, 2013, 07:12:19 PM »
Antiperspirant spray...
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charlest

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Re: sweaty thumb hole
« Reply #2 on: August 04, 2013, 07:15:38 PM »
I find thumb holes get tacky when it's very humid and my thumb seems to retan more of that tackiness.

While a rosin bag does help, yes, it can get very messy. More often I find roughing up the inner surface of the thumb hole with a piece of sandpaper  (maybe 150 - 280 grit) to roughen up the smoothed inner surface where my thumb rubs. Don't sand it smooth; just lightly to roughen it up. It seems to make it less tacky and therefore less sticky.

It might also help to rub alcohol on your thumb's surface to remove the tackiness from your skin.
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Impending Doom

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Re: sweaty thumb hole
« Reply #3 on: August 04, 2013, 09:22:39 PM »
Is this a permanent issue, or just seasonal?
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rdw

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Re: sweaty thumb hole
« Reply #4 on: August 04, 2013, 09:33:13 PM »
It's not really seasonal, when I get nervous, (as in tournaments ) my palms sweat a lot.  It's not much of a problem if I'm just by myself practicing.  Sanding my thumbhole is not much of an option, since my thumb swells a lot, at some point, most of thumbhole is lined with tape.  If it wasn't so thick, I would consider using only white tape for texture, but it's so thick sometimes I'm caught between pieces of tape for the right fit.  I know the black tape (in the back is kind of slippery).

For the poster who suggested I use anti-perspirant spray, I'm assuming I would spray my thumb before I bowl?

thanks to all for your suggestions.
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sevenpin63

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Re: sweaty thumb hole
« Reply #5 on: August 04, 2013, 09:36:27 PM »
I only experience this in the Summer months, but I guess it would depend on what part of the country your in.

RDW try a portable fan for your thumb, I use one for myself in the summer months. Go to Walmart and get yourself one of those portable fans that hang around your neck. It takes two double A batteries and its small enough to fit your bag. It works wonders for me. ;)
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DukeHarding

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Re: sweaty thumb hole
« Reply #6 on: August 04, 2013, 09:59:10 PM »
Master Control Grip works well....

http://compare.ebay.com/like/120650916150?_lwgsi=y&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar

Rub it on your hands before bowling...no sweat.
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charlest

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Re: sweaty thumb hole
« Reply #7 on: August 05, 2013, 06:47:44 AM »
Quote from: rdw on August 04, 2013, 09:33:13 PM
... Sanding my thumbhole is not much of an option, since my thumb swells a lot, at some point, most of thumbhole is lined with tape.  If it wasn't so thick, I would consider using only white tape for texture, but it's so thick sometimes I'm caught between pieces of tape for the right fit.  ...

I didn't suggest sanding so much it would change the size. Just swipe or two to change the texture and remove the tackiness.

If you  must use that much tape, I'd suggest you have a serious thumb problem: it sounds as if it's not drilled or sized properly for your thumb. If you have pieces all around the nside of the hole, it may not even be shaped correctly.

No one's thumb swells and shrinks more than mine does during the course of bowling, summer or winter. I may add or remove 1 - 2 pieces during a 3 game block. In a 5- 8 games block, that could happen 2 or 3 times and the number of pieces will grow to 3 - 4 pieces. But this is just in the front of the thumb hole, not all around.
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Stan

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Re: sweaty thumb hole
« Reply #8 on: August 05, 2013, 08:56:06 AM »
Do you use a thumb slug ?  If so, is it urethane or vinyl ?

I usually recommend urethane for folks with a moist thumb.  It smoother and the thumb releases much easier.

If you so not use a thumb slug, I know years ago, we use to coat the inside of the hole with clear nail polish.  The polish filled in all the crevices within the hole and made it much smoother.

Another idea is to tap a bit of easy slide onto you thumb and then wipe it off with a towel.  Now if you do not wipe it off, your ball will come flying off you hand so try this in practice first.

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Buckwild

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Re: sweaty thumb hole
« Reply #9 on: August 05, 2013, 09:31:24 AM »
Quote from: DukeHarding on August 04, 2013, 09:59:10 PM
Master Control Grip works well....

http://compare.ebay.com/like/120650916150?_lwgsi=y&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar

Rub it on your hands before bowling...no sweat.

Does it make your hands tacky after applying it?
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MI 2 AZ

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Re: sweaty thumb hole
« Reply #10 on: August 06, 2013, 01:34:56 AM »
Would a bowling thumb sock help?  I know they are mostly used to help get out of a ball easier - not sure if the sweat would be a problem with that.

http://www.bowling-thumb-sock.com/Product_Specs.php


Stan, I remember that bit about the clear nail polish.  When I went through an old bowling bag recently, I found a bottle of clear nail polish and a dried up tube of Carpenter's Court Plaster. 
« Last Edit: August 06, 2013, 01:40:36 AM by MI 2 AZ »
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Stan

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Re: sweaty thumb hole
« Reply #11 on: August 06, 2013, 07:45:04 AM »
MI 2 AZ, we used the nail polish mostly on LT48's (original one).  Remember how coarse the inside of the hole was ?
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rdw

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Re: sweaty thumb hole
« Reply #12 on: August 27, 2013, 12:26:07 AM »
Hi Guys,

thanks for all your replies, I had sweeper today, so I knew I would be a little nervous.  I applied anti-perspirant stick to my entire thumb ( I wear a wrist device) so no need to chalk up the palm anymore, 45 minutes before I bowled.  Didn't help much, maybe less sweaty than normal. Tried the grip bag, and finally settled on really using the puff ball a lot.  Using the puff ball I was able to keep my thumb dry enough.  I just powder up in the back before the shot.  If it's really bad, I'll tap the thumbhole before I bowl.

I have a tournament next week, If I can get one, I'll try the portable fan next, hopefully I'll use the puff ball less as it does leave quite a pile in the back.  Couldn't respond sooner since it's not a problem with practice.

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mswitz88

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Re: sweaty thumb hole
« Reply #13 on: August 27, 2013, 08:04:33 AM »
Quote from: Stan on August 05, 2013, 08:56:06 AM
Another idea is to tap a bit of easy slide onto you thumb and then wipe it off with a towel.  Now if you do not wipe it off, your ball will come flying off you hand so try this in practice first.
+1 on the easy slide. For the longest time I never even knew this stuff was for your shoes because I used it exclusively for a sticking thumb. It does help when you have a lot of sweat going on. But I agree with Charlest though, if your thumb hole has that much tape in it, you've got some thumb problems. You should look into switch grips or something and have a couple sizes predrilled to fit your thumb when it swells. If not I'd take a serious look into your thumb fitment with your proshop operator. I used to have all kinds of fit problems and issues getting out of the ball and I ended up adding 1/8" reverse pitch to the thumb and making a more ovalled hole and it completely cured my issues and allowed me to get a tighter fit without having to worry about whether I was going to be able to get out of the ball.
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MI 2 AZ

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Re: sweaty thumb hole
« Reply #14 on: August 27, 2013, 04:04:24 PM »
The best remedies that have been mentioned are probably washing your hands between games, using isopropyl alcohol on your thumb, trying various powders like baby powder, corn starch or baking soda to see which works best.

I think you mentioned that it is the pressure that causes you to perspire more.  Maybe you need to work on your mental game to relieve some of that pressure?  Sounds like you are putting unnecessary mental pressure on yourself.

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