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Author Topic: Thumb Pitch Survey?  (Read 5125 times)

MI 2 AZ

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Thumb Pitch Survey?
« on: July 06, 2005, 03:08:10 PM »
I recently switched my thumb pitch to forward.  One of the local balldrillers (not mine) who overheard me talking to a teammate said that forward pitch is the reason for spinning the ball and that only one professional bowler used forward pitch.  He said that in his 20 years of drilling he had never drilled forward for anyone.

I had been using zero for the last year and just had one ball drilled 1/2 positive.  No problems for me in getting out of the ball.

So that got me curious.  What do most of you use - forward, zero, or reverse thumb pitch (as read on a pitch gauge)?

Edited Subject.

Edited to add pitch gauge and zero.
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Edited on 7/7/2005 9:17 PM

Edited on 7/14/2005 1:06 AM
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a_ak57

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Re: Thumb Pitch Survey?
« Reply #1 on: July 06, 2005, 11:14:04 PM »
Starting this season, I'm using forward pitch.

And it's a good thing he's not your driller, he doesn't seem to know what he's talking about....

And actually, the common idea now is that you should keep adding more forward until you hang up, and then go back to the amount you were at last (just before you start hanging up)...
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Ragnar

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Re: Thumb Pitch Survey?
« Reply #2 on: July 07, 2005, 01:23:27 PM »
quote:


And actually, the common idea now is that you should keep adding more forward until you hang up, and then go back to the amount you were at last (just before you start hanging up)...


I started at 1/2 away (reverse) some time back.  Working towards positive; just recently drilled my first ball up with zero.  Still no hang so I'm going to forward 1/8 next.  My old driller drilled a spare ball with the pitches reversed so it had 1/2 forward.  I hung in that so I don't think I'll go that far.
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Brickguy221

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Re: Thumb Pitch Survey?
« Reply #3 on: July 07, 2005, 02:27:04 PM »
quote:
I started at 1/2 away (reverse) some time back. Working towards positive; just recently drilled my first ball up with zero.  


Rags, how much did you have to reduce your span to accomadate this 1/2" pitch change?
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KDawg77

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Re: Thumb Pitch Survey?
« Reply #4 on: July 07, 2005, 02:28:51 PM »
0 lateral and 1/8 reverse. I've never had a thumb problem since. Well, until the local ER gave me a chamical burn from their shoddy wound care.
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LuckyLefty

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Re: Thumb Pitch Survey?
« Reply #5 on: July 07, 2005, 02:36:27 PM »
As many know the amount of forward/reverse is related to span length.

1/2 reverse for a 5 inch span is more forward in feel tha a 1/4 reverse for a 4 1/4 span!

I like it as always.  Fitting by survey!

REgards,

Luckylefty
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Smash49

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Re: Thumb Pitch Survey?
« Reply #6 on: July 07, 2005, 03:20:01 PM »
Maxine Nable comes to mind for forward thumb pitch.  After the last ladies tour stop in Dallas we got a bunch of balls into the shop.  I have small hands and I tried one of hers.  I like to have never got it of my hand.  I'm using 0/0 right now and at one time I had an 1 1/2 /0 reverse in the thumb due to an injury.  I loved the extreme reverse and shot very well with it.  Age does make changes in the body and I went to 0/0.

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MI 2 AZ

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Re: Thumb Pitch Survey?
« Reply #7 on: July 07, 2005, 09:12:00 PM »
Ok, not counting myself, the results so far:

RVS - 2

Zero - 2

FWD - 3


Not what I would expect knowing that for many years it was suggested to use reverse on most spans.  Recently the trend seems to be to go forward as Andy stated.  But I guess on this site with more knowledgeable bowlers than you would find in most house leagues, that may be why RVS is in the minority so far or it could be that not enough replies have been gathered yet.  
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Bowljr300

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Re: Thumb Pitch Survey?
« Reply #8 on: July 07, 2005, 09:26:10 PM »
I've drilled balls for many years and I have drilled many balls with forward pitch  on the thumb.  Span and flexibility dictate forward and reverse pitches.
That said, you can influence a bowlers release with specific pitch changes.

Small grips require less reverse.  For example, I have some male customers whose finger tip span is but 3 7/8 and 3 15/16.  This person uses forward pitch on the thumb, as otherwise, with such a small span, the use of reverse would cause him to lose the ball and possibly squeeze.
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charlesrob

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Re: Thumb Pitch Survey?
« Reply #9 on: July 07, 2005, 09:40:09 PM »
3/8" reverse for me  span  5" & 5 1/8"
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pin-chaser

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Re: Thumb Pitch Survey?
« Reply #10 on: July 07, 2005, 10:02:14 PM »
Bill Taylor's theory maintains that a certian degree (in verticle pitches (forward/reverse)) in the thumb hole is required to produce a free armswing and a clean consistant release. These pitches are based on the span length and the further your hand goes around the ball the more toward the reverse you need to go. Of course this is a starting point but should be exteremly close.

You can not determine the proper pitch until you have the proper span (or relatively close). Many additional factors have to be taken into account, such as thumb length, mositure, fexlibility ...etc.  

Pitches are not a mystical or magical solution based on others results. Your span and pitches are completely individual just as you height, weight, color of your hair.

Find a reputable well endorsed pro shop operator, even if that means you have to drive 100's of miles. A proper fit is crutial to your development. Dont keep spending 100's of dollars on bowling balls without investing in the key that will make the most of the money you are investing.
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novawagonmaster

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Re: Thumb Pitch Survey?
« Reply #11 on: July 07, 2005, 10:14:47 PM »
Started at 3/8 reverse.
Moved in 1/8 incrents towards zero...
Now all balls in the arsenal are at zero and feeling fine.

I will move into the forward range after a while (just got to zero last week, so I will give the driller a break...never asked him, but I bet he gets tired of seeing my balls).

ON EDIT: I did not laugh when I typed it, but I roared when I read it just now...Oh well, I guess he'll just have to TELL ME if he gets tired of seeing my balls!
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Edited on 7/7/2005 10:10 PM
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TTforshort

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Re: Thumb Pitch Survey?
« Reply #12 on: July 07, 2005, 10:16:20 PM »
Span is 4 5/8 and 4 3/4. The thumb is 3/8 reverse and 1/4 left. I have an odd thumb. It is shaped like a banana when relaxed. It makes it hard to get out of the ball.

TT
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TheDude

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Re: Thumb Pitch Survey?
« Reply #13 on: July 07, 2005, 11:07:40 PM »
4 1/2 by 4 9/16 and 3/16 forward and 1/8 right lateral. been using it for 10 months and it works well for me. the change was sparked by me by switching to no inserts as well to relax my hand more.


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Nollster

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Re: Thumb Pitch Survey?
« Reply #14 on: July 08, 2005, 07:01:17 AM »
Another student of the "Ron Clifton School of Forward Pitch" here.  I went to 3/8" forward in all my balls except for my TA which is 1/2" forward.  I've loosened my grip pressure so much that anything 0" or reverse just falls off my hand....
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