Author Topic: Thumb Hole Pitches (Read 3083 times)

Jim12387 · « **on:** January 11, 2005, 07:23:27 AM »

I have pitches of 1/8th forward and No Lateral Pitch. I am left handed. My thumb is swelling up alot, and I am hanging in the ball too long, which is ruining the roll I once had. I am coming around the side of the ball too much, and it feels impossible to put my hand in the same position as before with these pitches. Can anyone recommend pitches for me to stop the swelling and not keep my thumb in the ball as long as before? I would appreciate a recommendation. Currently, I was thinking about switching to No forward/back pitches and 1/8th to the right. P.S. I AM LEFT HANDED.

READ MY SECOND POST BELOW FOR UPDATED INFO BEFORE YOU ANSWER.

Edited on 1/11/2005 10:06 PM

Jim12387 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 11, 2005, 04:22:52 PM »

I do use tape, and expand the thumb to keep at least 5 pieces in there so if it swells I take them out. However, I still need advice on which pitches I should use.

Lane1Redneck · « **Reply #2 on:** January 11, 2005, 05:40:14 PM »

I'm also a lefty, in my Slay/R my driller put in 1/8th pitch left for me to get around the ball more, and 1/8th reverse to get out of it cleaner..
have to say it's working for me...

GOOD LUCK
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Looks Like a Telefunken U-47

Jeff

sammy the sage · « **Reply #3 on:** January 11, 2005, 06:08:15 PM »

I will disagree here: the least amount of bevel you can get away w/the better!

makes for cleaner release; helps eliminate squeezing under pressure! Duke throws his razor sharp...bit extreme I'll admit...

once you start beveling...it's almost impossible to get the same "feel" from ball to ball....which one needs to compete at a high level.

far as thumb pitch itself...have played with 1/8under to 3/16 away...
would suggest...you go back to 0/0 and 0/0 lateral...and use thumb slugs...very easy to re-place...might even get two cheap balls drilled up identical and put 2 mildly different pitches in them and go from there... goood luck

Hamburglar · « **Reply #4 on:** January 11, 2005, 06:23:48 PM »

quote:
Just remember that pitches don't effect swelling

I wouldn't agree with that. Some people need more (or less) pitch due to flexibility (or lack thereof) of fingers/thumb. Before I changed the pitch in my thumb, it would swell up something terrible after only a couple of games. We tried making the hole larger and that didn't help, so we tried the pitch. After changing my thumb pitch (3/8 reverse), I can bowl all day and my thumb doesn't swell any. It comes out of the ball much cleaner and in part has allowed me to increase my revs due to the ball staying on my fingers longer and the size of my thumbhole is now smaller than it originally was.

But that was for me...others can have a different result...
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That which doesn't kill you will only make you stronger, that which doesn't make you stronger is a waste of time!

sammy the sage · « **Reply #5 on:** January 11, 2005, 07:10:05 PM »

Regarding thumb..bevels..I'll admit to being wrong...i.e..dead-eye wrong...WRW's bevels his thumb more than any body I've ever seen...up to a 1 inch track laid in his ball...

In reality...there's more than one way to skin a cat...just as there's more than one way to roll a ball.

Ps...aspirin before you bowl will help keep the swelling down...however something is definitely wrong..might consider go to the pba web site and searching all past thumb discussions...some pretty good thoughts there.

Jim12387 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 11, 2005, 09:02:53 PM »

I once had a pitch of 1/8th reverse and 1/8th left. I am left handed. My roll was excellent, but my thumb was swelling. I then switched to 1/8th forward and NO lateral pitch. The swelling and blisters did not go down, and my roll got worse, I now come around the side of the ball, because the forward pitch keeps my thumb in the ball longer. I'm not sure if it helps, but if you look at your thumb by putting your hand palm down on a table, it would have a swelling on the knuckle on the right side. I have an oval in my hole to compensate for my, "Ace of Spades" looking thumb. I also don't put tape on the part that is swelling. I put the tape at 10:00 and 4:00, so that it doesn't touch the swollen part, which is between 6:00 - 8:00, and between 12:00 - 2:00. I already said this, but I am left handed. I want to eliminate the swelling, and have a clean release. I heard that a reverse pitch will produce a cleaner release, but what should I use to keep my hand from going around the side of the ball? I know it's alot to ask, but what should I do? Thank you for all of the previous answers given by the other posters. I appreciate it.

Edited on 1/11/2005 10:05 PM

sammy the sage · « **Reply #7 on:** January 12, 2005, 04:32:01 AM »

there's an old driller's saying: pitch it towards the pain...will eliminate or at least modify it.

charlest · « **Reply #8 on:** January 12, 2005, 05:44:09 AM »

quote:
I once had a pitch of 1/8th reverse and 1/8th left. I am left handed. My roll was excellent, but my thumb was swelling. I then switched to 1/8th forward and NO lateral pitch. The swelling and blisters did not go down, and my roll got worse, I now come around the side of the ball, because the forward pitch keeps my thumb in the ball longer.

Jim,

1. When you change forward and reverse thumb pitches, you MUST also alter the span. YOU MUST! You did not indicate that you did; so, I must assume you did not.

2. If you go from reverse to forward pitch, you must shorten your span. Otherwise, it will not only feel different (as you are saying it does), it will put pressure(s) elsewhere, which you are also indicating is happening.

3. Talk to userid: LuckyLefty on this website. He is an expert in the theories behind some of this fitting. BUT you should really contact a good pro shop/driller. Someone must see your hand and examine it in person to give good starting points for pitches and spans. This is not really something that should be done via typing.

Good luck.

Leftyhi-trak · « **Reply #9 on:** January 12, 2005, 07:26:13 AM »

You scare me too much. I have the same shape thumb as you. I thought i was the only weird one here. When did you do the pitch change? When did the roll change? immediately or after a little time? Your calus or spot of swelling would mean you are still a squeezer. I would agree with some stating you should check your span and pitching back towards the palm would also help stay under the ball instead of coming around it. Also how snug is your thumb upon placing it into the ball? Ron Cliftons "magic carpet" helps with squeezing and is a good aid for some. I have been fighting exact fit in my equipment for the last two years and have yet to get a great feel consistantly due to my funky thumb.

Jim12387 · « **Reply #10 on:** January 12, 2005, 12:38:29 PM »

Leftyhitrak, I changed the pitch to stop my thumb from swelling, but it didn't work. The roll changed a little while after my pitch change - about a couple weeks. My thumb fits fine, it just swells up, I believe it might be because I changed the pitches without changing the span.

quote:
You scare me too much. I have the same shape thumb as you. I thought i was the only weird one here. When did you do the pitch change? When did the roll change? immediately or after a little time? Your calus or spot of swelling would mean you are still a squeezer. I would agree with some stating you should check your span and pitching back towards the palm would also help stay under the ball instead of coming around it. Also how snug is your thumb upon placing it into the ball? Ron Cliftons "magic carpet" helps with squeezing and is a good aid for some. I have been fighting exact fit in my equipment for the last two years and have yet to get a great feel consistantly due to my funky thumb.

DukeHarding · « **Reply #11 on:** January 12, 2005, 12:41:08 PM »

Jim12387,

Without seeing the exact positions of your calluses, areas of swelling, it's hard to tell why you are not coming clean out of the thumb. Could be: span, to long, to short; thumb pitches: to much, to little; finger pitches: to much, to little; timing problems: late, early; muscled swing . . . or a combination of these factors.

I'm a lefty, and these are my specs:

Ring finger: 4.625"; 1/8 reverse, lateral 1/2 left
Middle Finger: 4.75"; 1/8 reverse, lateral 1/8 right

Thumb: 0 lateral, 1/4 reverse; 1" oval thumb sleeve.
I use an oversize sleeve, so I can actually tape left lateral pitch into the thumb, by positioning tape to the leftside of the thumb (looking at the back of your hand.)

It will take a bit of experimenting, but that's what practice is about.

Also: My span is short by about 1/8" intentionally. I use white textured tape on the pad side of the thumb, when my hand shrinks. Normally, if your thumb or fingers shrink, your span has shrunk...time to remove the white tape from front of hole.

If you over-tape the back of your thumb hole, this can cause you to "claw" the grip, which will make you squeeze, stay in the ball too long, topping the ball a bit, and callous up on the inside of your thumb joint.

If you suffer from intermittent foot speed, you will suffer from inconsistent thumb release, do to unintentional "braking" of the thumb release with the inside portion of your thumb.

Just some thoughts....

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Duke Harding

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I'd Rather be Lucky than Good.

Author Topic: Thumb Hole Pitches (Read 3083 times)

Jim12387

Thumb Hole Pitches

Jim12387

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Lane1Redneck

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sammy the sage

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Hamburglar

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sammy the sage

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Jim12387

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sammy the sage

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charlest

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Leftyhi-trak

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Jim12387

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DukeHarding

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