As I mentioned in a post the other day, I've just started practicing again after an extended time off from bowling.  I was practicing last night and had something come up I've never experienced--my thumb was releasing the ball but the top of my thumb hole would not let go of my thumb.  My hands seemed to be dry.  I had some wiggle in my thumbhole so I tried snugging it up with some tape, I tried less tape, I tried no tape, I tried my bigger thumb insert, no good, so at that point I was very confident it wasn't a thumb swelling issue.  I went and cleaned my hands really well and cleaned out the thumb holes with alcohol, still nothing.  My best guess is that it's from the change in weather (it was getting ready to rain) and the center was really warm.  The only other thing I could think to do is put tape on my thumb, but I'm currently out.  What would you guys have done, and do you agree it was probably an environmental issue or did I miss something?  It was...embarassing to say the least.

As I mentioned in a post the other day, I've just started practicing again after an extended time off from bowling.  I was practicing last night and had something come up I've never experienced--my thumb was releasing the ball but the top of my thumb hole would not let go of my thumb.  My hands seemed to be dry.  I had some wiggle in my thumbhole so I tried snugging it up with some tape, I tried less tape, I tried no tape, I tried my bigger thumb insert, no good, so at that point I was very confident it wasn't a thumb swelling issue.  I went and cleaned my hands really well and cleaned out the thumb holes with alcohol, still nothing.  My best guess is that it's from the change in weather (it was getting ready to rain) and the center was really warm.  The only other thing I could think to do is put tape on my thumb, but I'm currently out.  What would you guys have done, and do you agree it was probably an environmental issue or did I miss something?  It was...embarassing to say the least.

Has your thumb hole changed since you returned? I mean did the pro shop remeasure you from scratch.?

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by "the top of my thumb hole would not let go of my thumb. " Is that where you felt pressure on the base of your thumb when you tried to release the ball?

Often the driller does do beveling at the top of the thumb until you tell him something is wrong. Removing small area with sandpaper where your thumb's skin rubs as it exists the ball is often helpful as a final tuning of the thumb hole. Sometimes it is even essential. I have some loose skin in the webbing between my thumb and my index finger; so, I need to remove some material at the side of the thumb hole where that skin rubs.

If might be best if you need to do something similar that yo do it yourself with a piece of 100 grit sandpaper. If you do it your self, you can stop more easily than if someone else does it.

If it was humid due to an impending rain storm, that could have been the issue.

Thanks guys.

Did you have a callus at the base of your thumb (palm side) before you took time off?  Calluses are less likely to grab vs normal skin.  Also, when you bowl regularly your hand tends to stay slightly swollen from all the repetitive use.  The time off changes that and it could just take a little more time to get back where you were.  Those subtle changes can alter things just enough to cause the grabbing.  I've went thru a similar issue after a long layoff and that was something my PSO told me to keep in mind.  Hope that helps.  Best of luck.

I keep a couple small strips of foam backed sandpaper in my bag.  It's easy to grip with a finger if you need to bevel or make a small adjustment.