Author Topic: Thumb tape (Read 3153 times)

bowler 801 · « **on:** November 28, 2011, 10:48:18 PM »

Need a few suggestions on a problem i'm sure other bowlers face: If my thumb hole already has a peice of white tape in it ( on the back of the hole ) and i add another piece on top of that piece then the hole becomes too tight where my thumb sticks getting out of the ball, so my question is if anybody has experienced this and what they did to solve this problem to where the thumb hole is tighter but yet not restrictive to where a quality release can be done

Curly · « **Reply #1 on:** November 29, 2011, 07:00:45 AM »

Try cutting the strips into smaller pieces? Full pieces restrict MY release, for sure. I layer two 1/2"x1/2" squares and place them where my thumb pad touches the hole. :-)

FOS

dizzyfugu · « **Reply #2 on:** November 29, 2011, 07:07:04 AM »

Maybe "staging" pieces of tape helps - not putting them directly onto each other for a block of tape, but rather like a stair, so that the tape becomes gradually thicker and you avoid a high "rim".

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Strider · « **Reply #3 on:** November 29, 2011, 07:12:44 AM »

There's no right or wrong way to put in tape, but it's more common to put white tape for grip in the front of the hole and black tape in the back of the hole. The black tape is very thin, so fine tuning your grip is easier.

Ron Clifton's Bowling Tip Archive

ImBackInTheGame · « **Reply #4 on:** November 29, 2011, 09:04:56 AM »

Yes, try black tape. White is typically thick and rough for adding grip to the front of the thumb. Try one piece of white tape in the back and then a piece of black on top of that.

dmonroe814 · « **Reply #5 on:** November 29, 2011, 09:05:34 AM »

May I also suggest opening up the thumbhole a little larger so it will fit 2 pieces of tape.

As your thumb swells, you can take out a piece, or add another piece when your thumb shrinks.

Brickguy221 · « **Reply #6 on:** November 29, 2011, 09:54:59 AM »

+1 ... I second the black tape. Valentinos Franken tape is black and ultra thin and is made specifically for a problem such as yours. Here is a link to his tape as well as his other products also.

http://www.valentinobowling.com/shoppingcart/categories/Franken-Tape/

ImBackInTheGame wrote on 11/29/2011 10:04 AM:Yes, try black tape. White is typically thick and rough for adding grip to the front of the thumb. Try one piece of white tape in the back and then a piece of black on top of that.

**********************************************************************

"Whenever I feel the urge to exercise I lie down until the feeling passes away."

Brick

ken1 · « **Reply #7 on:** November 29, 2011, 09:58:08 AM »

I had a ton of problems finding the right fit and then I tried magic carpet in my thumbhole. It keeps my thumb very snug but allows it to come out without hanging up.

ImBackInTheGame · « **Reply #8 on:** November 29, 2011, 10:02:56 AM »

Yes, magic carpet is great stuff. Very unique. I've simulated the carpet with using velcro (the softer loop side not the hook). It works similar but is more rough on the thumb.

ken1 wrote on 11/29/2011 10:58 AM: I had a ton of problems finding the right fit and then I tried magic carpet in my thumbhole. It keeps my thumb very snug but allows it to come out without hanging up.

Brickguy221 · « **Reply #9 on:** November 29, 2011, 10:14:06 AM »

I too use the Magic Carpet. Since I squeeze the ball slightly and was always adding tape and taking tape out and still hanging once in a while due to my slightly squeezing, I started using the Magic Carpet a little over a year ago and have had no hanging problems since. As for velcro, a few people use it, but most people like myself have found it to be too harsh and opt for the Magic Carpet.

ken1 wrote on 11/29/2011 10:58 AM:I had a ton of problems finding the right fit and then I tried magic carpet in my thumbhole. It keeps my thumb very snug but allows it to come out without hanging up.

**********************************************************************

"Whenever I feel the urge to exercise I lie down until the feeling passes away."

Brick

TheBowlingKid25 · « **Reply #10 on:** November 29, 2011, 10:21:45 AM »

I just don't use white tape anymore. I use the thin black tape on the front of my thumb hole. With that, I can fine tune a much more precise fit, and I don't hang in the ball. (The white tape always makes me hang up because it's "grippy", the black tape is perfectly smooth just like the slug in your ball)

I'm Dann.
....DEATH BY CHEETOS!!!! (I don't think anybody remembers what this means)

Goof1073 · « **Reply #11 on:** November 29, 2011, 10:33:48 AM »

Two other options not yet brought up:

1) Utilize one of the many thumb tape products out there that you apply directly to you thumb; I find that I'm able to get that tighter feel, yet still get out of the ball clean.

2) Try to find some of the old neon thumb tape; it's thinner than the white tape and has less texture. I utilize some of this for finer adjustments sometimes.

-Chris: DJ's Pro Shop : Auburn, MA

ImBackInTheGame · « **Reply #12 on:** November 29, 2011, 10:35:58 AM »

Tape "should" go in the back (knuckle) side of the thumb hole. Putting it in the front (palm) side changes your span ever so slightly. But whatever works...

TheBowlingKid25 wrote on 11/29/2011 11:21 AM:I just don't use white tape anymore. I use the thin black tape on the front of my thumb hole. With that, I can fine tune a much more precise fit, and I don't hang in the ball. (The white tape always makes me hang up because it's "grippy", the black tape is perfectly smooth just like the slug in your ball)

I'm Dann.
....DEATH BY CHEETOS!!!! (I don't think anybody remembers what this means)

ImBackInTheGame · « **Reply #13 on:** November 29, 2011, 10:38:52 AM »

I use the purple Turbo thumb protection tape. It's in between the beige and mint as far as roughness/thickness goes. I love it. I can bowl all day and not have any issues with my thumb and it really does give you a nice clean release.

Goof1073 wrote on 11/29/2011 11:33 AM: Two other options not yet brought up:

1) Utilize one of the many thumb tape products out there that you apply directly to you thumb; I find that I'm able to get that tighter feel, yet still get out of the ball clean.
2) Try to find some of the old neon thumb tape; it's thinner than the white tape and has less texture. I utilize some of this for finer adjustments sometimes.

-Chris: DJ's Pro Shop : Auburn, MA

Smash49 · « **Reply #14 on:** November 30, 2011, 08:47:11 PM »

White tape has a texture and goes in the front of the hole. Black tape goes in the back because it is smooth. I typically drill my equipment to have just 1 piece of white tape in the front for feel nothing else. Working out a thumb hole is an art in many cases. Very few ball drillers do it for their customers and some do not do it correctly. Thus you have bad fitting thumbs. I see a lot of wrong pitches and oversized thumbs so that people can just get out of the ball.

Smash49

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Author Topic: Thumb tape (Read 3153 times)

bowler 801

Thumb tape

Curly

Re: Thumb tape

dizzyfugu

Re: Thumb tape

Strider

Re: Thumb tape

ImBackInTheGame

Re: Thumb tape

dmonroe814

Re: Thumb tape

Brickguy221

Re: Thumb tape

ken1

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ImBackInTheGame

Re: Thumb tape

Brickguy221

Re: Thumb tape

TheBowlingKid25

Re: Thumb tape

Goof1073

Re: Thumb tape

ImBackInTheGame

Re: Thumb tape

ImBackInTheGame

Re: Thumb tape

Smash49

Re: Thumb tape