BallReviews
General Category => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: xiek376 on October 15, 2013, 01:33:28 PM
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Hi all,
Just got back into bowling after a 15 year hiatus. Loving the new ball technology! I've been having some issues with thumb swelling. Ball felt great the first time I rolled it. Thumb started swelling and sticking about halfway through first league night and developed a blister halfway through the 3rd game. Brought it in to my proshop and had it opened up a little. Now, it feels too big at first and I have to squeeze like crazy to hold on during my backswing. By the 2nd game, my thumb has swelled enough so that it feels fine. Problem is, if I put tape in for the first game, it's too tight. Any suggestions? Are the new interchangable thumb inserts I've heard about the way to go?
Last week, I threw a 183 (1st game, had to squeeze) followed by a 255 and 237 when my thumb swelled and the fit was good. Thanks for your help!
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Personally, I'd tell you to add tape when you need it and then take it out after 6-7 frames. If you live in colder climates your hand will be smaller and the 'swell' when it warms up. The interchangeable thumbs might help to rectify the problem if you don't want to use tape. You can have a couple of different size for your thumbhole. If you drill the interchangeable with the size you have now and don't drill another a different size--you will still have the same problem. Hope this helps.
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What is the pitch in your thumbhole? If you haven't bowled in a while you're going to have to build some natural callouses back up, but you shouldn't be having this many problems. I'm guessing you have too much reverse in your thumbhole and are gripping because of it. Where was the blister at?
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I agree with both previous posts. The switch grip or it thumbs would be a good choice if you don't feel it's a pitch issue. Just make sure you get 1 for before swelling and 1 for after swelling. Tape is also another option. The only problem with tape is it can leave residue that can be hard to get out at times.
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use black tape, it's thinner
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I agree with Gizmo here, you more than likely have a pitch issue that is causing you to grip the ball which accelerates your thumb swelling up. Determining where the blisters happen can tell you a lot about what's really happening. I used to get tons of blisters on the back of my thumb knuckle and on the inside base of my thumb from gripping the ball too much. I had a driller suggest throwing in some reverse pitch to get out of the ball cleaner and it completely eliminated this issue. I did end up having to go with a tighter thumb hole to prevent me from squeezing to hold onto it but since I wasn't gripping, my thumb swelled much slower and it eliminated the blisters. Either way you may want do some investigating here before putting a "bandaid" (sorry for the pun) on the situation by using multiple thumb hole sizes.
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Thanks all. I really don't know what the pitch is for my thumb. My knowledge level of drilling is non-existant and I completely depend on the pro shop for that type of stuff. I'm going to bring it in and see if he has any ideas, maybe he'll want to evaluate the pitch.
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The blister was on the outside side of my thumb right at the knuckle. That is where he opened it up a little bit for me.
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Ok, whatever the cause, it sounds like you're gripping the ball. I bought a 500 count roll of white tape about 3 or 4 years ago because my thumb size would change several times throughout the night. However, after I changed my thumb pitch to 0, I don't need it anymore. Take a look at your thumb, I'll bet it's angled back, or away from your palm. People used to think that reverse would help you get out of the ball easier, but all it really does is make you grip harder throughout the whole swing, and when you're gripping harder, it makes it harder to let the ball go too. Try keeping your thumb straight, and if you find that you aren't able to hang onto the ball without gripping, you most likely have too much reverse pitch in your thumb.
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Thanks! I'll take a look when I get home.
To make my ignorance obvious, I thought the comment about black tape being thinner was a joke! After looking a little online, it turns out that's typically true?! If the pitch ends up being ok, maybe I could look at going that route.
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Lmao about the black tape . . yeah it's typically thinner, but I know that Ebonite brand black tape is thicker to make it close to the same thickness as white tape, because the complaint was that you'd only have to use a couple pieces of white tape, but if you wanted to use black tape you'd use a whole packet. And I'm not saying that 0 pitch is right for everybody, just happens to be right for me, and your span length has a lot to do with it too. If you could find out your drill specs that would be super helpful, but shops are really reluctant to give them out, the reason being that they either think you're going to start getting your stuff drilled elsewhere, or take that sheet to another driller to pick the fit apart . .
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Gizmo is correct I have an long thumb and uses 0 with an 5 - 5 1/8 inch span it took me some time to get use to it I was squeezing the ball badly.
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My proshop owner seems like a pretty good/experienced guy. I'll try to get his thoughts as well.
I'm wondering if it might be partially or fully my swing as well. It sounds like if I'm laid out correctly, I shouldn't be squeezing which is causing my thumb to swell. I suppose it could be that I was laid out correctly but was still squeezing. I've never really had any formal coaching or had anyone critique my swing, so I'm sure there's some flaws.
Anyways, thanks again for everyone's help. I'll let you know what I find out. If my pitch looks ok, I may try some smooth tape on the back of the thumb hole or try some of this ron c magic carpet stuff I read about by doing a search on here.
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You will tend to notice as your skill level increases, the hole size will decrease. The better your fundamentals the more you will relax your hand and squeeze less.
Make sure when you put the tape in the hole to fill the gap where it feels loose. Notice the angle that your thumb goes into the ball and make sure you put the tape in at the same angle. If you put the tape in straight across the front or back it will probably be hitting the sides of your thumb when it's in the hole making it feel tighter side to side and still loose front to back. I've never heard of anyone saying that one piece of tape made the ball go from too loose to too tight unless the ball was hanging on the side of your thumb and you put the tape in this area.
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Once you're comfortable with your thumb pitch and you begin to bowl more, don't be alarmed if your thumb swells. It's natural. Some touring pros allow room for up to 5 white pieces. When I'm bowling 20-25 games a week, I'll be from 0 pieces to 4 pieces. I don't have any reverse in my thumb, and I don't get blisters. It's just a function of weather, water retention, and use.
Work with your proshop guy and good luck.
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Hmm?
As you get better your hole size will decrease! Hmmmmm?
I believe ones thumb is their thumb! An absolute I am finding for myself, is that getting the width of the thumb correct is an absolute. (I have an oval shaped thumb like many!).
Purchasing an old time AMF grip measuring device I believe has helped me quite a bit. I found my real time side to side everyday measurement. I then add tape or something to adjust from front to back the snugness of the hole.
For about a year I was a little snug on the side and my arm was pulled in front of my face various different amounts. Even though that is a modern trend, (ala Ryan Cimonelli), it didn't work for me!
Once I got that spec nailed! I have been following through my old school way and the hot old timers at my center have come over and commented on the dramatic improvement.
Recently had a 1 Brooklyn only night in a center that is known for a fast crossover on the left with any error.
From Bill Taylor's book. Updated to today.
A properly fitting thumbhole, with proper pitch and bevel! Priceless!
Regards,
Luckylefty
All of a sudden I have gone from a
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Yes, your thumb is your thumb. But bad bowlers want a large hole they can grab ahold of and as you get better and you learn to grab less and relax your hand you will need a tighter hole. So yes, as skill level increases hole size decreases.
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I'd have to agree with this. He's not saying it's a hard and fast rule, just a very very common trend.
Yes, your thumb is your thumb. But bad bowlers want a large hole they can grab ahold of and as you get better and you learn to grab less and relax your hand you will need a tighter hole. So yes, as skill level increases hole size decreases.