Author Topic: Tape on the side of thumb hole? (Read 4674 times)

Jay · « **on:** February 08, 2011, 05:47:31 PM »

Does anyone put tape on the side of the thumb hole in addition to(or instead of) the front/back? It seems like more people would be doing this than I thought because I actually think the thumb size changes more on the sides than the front/back.

Let me know what you guys think on the subject.

Trimman2 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 09, 2011, 03:24:17 AM »

I do it all the time. I have a very flat thumb, 3/4" thick and 1 1/16 wide. Over the years I discovered my thumb shrinks and swells more side to side than front to back. My preference is using white tape, but your's may be different.

Edited by Trimman2 on 2/9/2011 at 5:50 AM

« **Reply #2 on:** February 09, 2011, 04:32:30 AM »

The methods of taping thumb holes are as individual as our thumbs are. There is no single method that would apply for all of us. I suppose that there are thumb holes out there that are way too big, but for me and the thumb mold I use the answer would be NEVER.

Lane Carter, Strike Zone Pro Shops - Salt Lake City, Utah
Brunswick Pro Shop Staff

www.brunswickbowling.com

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer and not of Brunswick Corporation.

Dan Belcher · « **Reply #3 on:** February 09, 2011, 05:55:33 AM »

I use Frankentape, a thin black tape, on the sides and back of my thumbhole because I also have a very flat thumb, and therefore when my thumb swells and I start hanging in the ball, it's the sides of my thumbhole that get tight, not the front and back. I can make really small adjustments with that tape to fine-tune the feel which helps me get the ball off my thumb quickly and cleanly without having to use any grip pressure to hold onto it.

HAMMERDOWN103 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 09, 2011, 06:39:42 AM »

I had some success trying this myself.... Actually have a friend who puts 4-6 pieces of white tape, with a piece of black on top on the back of his thumb hole, and then puts 1 piece of white in the front that covers half the front of his thumb and half of the side of his thumb. Pretty crazy if you ask me.....

The problem with socialism is, you eventually run out of other people's money too...

BigB20 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 09, 2011, 07:37:44 AM »

I always put my tape at about the 7:30 position, kind of at the bottom left side of the thumb hole. It seems to allow my thumb to stay in the ball better for me, but I guess it may be because I have a weird shaped thumb too

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qstick777 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 09, 2011, 08:09:53 AM »

I don't use tape......ever. Can't stand it. I can never get a consistent feel with it. Of course I'm lucky enough that my thumb doesn't change much. I've had balls that I've plugged and re-drilled the thumb because it wasn't right - I'd rather do that than have to monkey around with tape every other shot to get it right.

I do bowl with a guy that uses a ton of tape on the side of his thumb hole. He also uses first aid tape on the side of his thumb. I asked him why, but never really got an answer. I figured it's because that's the way he has always done it (still bowling with 10-15 year old shoes!).

Dan Belcher · « **Reply #7 on:** February 09, 2011, 08:42:34 AM »

...I hate you.

qstick777 wrote on 2/9/2011 9:09 AM:
Of course I'm lucky enough that my thumb doesn't change much.

Jay · « **Reply #8 on:** February 10, 2011, 12:51:12 AM »

I'm not asking if it's okay, I'm just asking if anyone else uses tape there because, well, I do hold some value in things that may be proven to work. Foolish as that may be. Although, you probably hold your opinion about that too.

I guess the people who do this with their thumb hole are usually the ones with a flat thumb. I might give this a try the next time I'm trying to work on relaxing my hand. The hard part seems to be how snug to make the sides vs the front/back.

JohnP · « **Reply #9 on:** February 10, 2011, 08:47:07 AM »

Flat thumbs -- I can't drill ovals on my sidewinder. Instead I drill a round hole and use a Magic Carpet on the backside and white tape on the front side. That's the best alternative I've found. -- JohnP

Brickguy221 · « **Reply #10 on:** February 10, 2011, 09:31:26 AM »

+1.... Same for me John. I've played with Magic Carpet off and on for several years and fighting to get the right fit with tape without Magic Carpet. Constantly add and removing tape every 3 game set. Tried umpteen thumb hole sizes, pitch changes and etc. Finally about 3 months ago I went with the set-up John describes (Magic Carpet in the back and one piece of White Tape in the front) and have been happy every since. I rarely have to ever add another piece of tape any more.

JohnP wrote on 2/10/2011 9:47 AM:
Flat thumbs -- I can't drill ovals on my sidewinder. Instead I drill a round hole and use a Magic Carpet on the backside and white tape on the front side. That's the best alternative I've found. -- JohnP

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

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

Brick

qstick777 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 10, 2011, 10:12:33 AM »

Never had any problems with the few pieces of Magic Carpet that I used. Still, I keep my equipment in the car during league days, and you eventually deal with issues with the adhesive from the temperature changes. My old driller used a sidewinder and was infamous about opening up thumbs just a little too much.

I eventually bought my own work out tools and did them myself.....eventually buying my own drilling equipment. I can't drill ovals either (not sure than any of the local shops drill ovals).

I've played with making thumb molds with some success. Worst case for me, I know that I need to drill a slightly smaller hole and then spend a little bit of time working out the sides.

Brickguy221 wrote on 2/10/2011 10:31 AM:

+1.... Same for me John. I've played with Magic Carpet off and on for several years and fighting to get the right fit with tape without Magic Carpet. Constantly add and removing tape every 3 game set. Tried umpteen thumb hole sizes, pitch changes and etc. Finally about 3 months ago I went with the set-up John describes (Magic Carpet in the back and one piece of White Tape in the front) and have been happy every since. I rarely have to ever add another piece of tape any more.

JohnP wrote on 2/10/2011 9:47 AM:
Flat thumbs -- I can't drill ovals on my sidewinder. Instead I drill a round hole and use a Magic Carpet on the backside and white tape on the front side. That's the best alternative I've found. -- JohnP

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

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

Brick

Brickguy221 · « **Reply #12 on:** February 10, 2011, 11:48:45 AM »

Mike Austin excels with the best of them when it comes to making oval holes. He drills a small hole and then slowly works the sides out with a drill bit. However some drillers try to cut the sides too fast and the hole ends up not being ovaled even from top to bottom .... ends up ovaled but tapered from top to bottom on the sides.

qstick777 wrote on 2/10/2011 11:12 AM:

Never had any problems with the few pieces of Magic Carpet that I used. Still, I keep my equipment in the car during league days, and you eventually deal with issues with the adhesive from the temperature changes. My old driller used a sidewinder and was infamous about opening up thumbs just a little too much.

I eventually bought my own work out tools and did them myself.....eventually buying my own drilling equipment. I can't drill ovals either (not sure than any of the local shops drill ovals).

I've played with making thumb molds with some success. Worst case for me, I know that I need to drill a slightly smaller hole and then spend a little bit of time working out the sides.

Brickguy221 wrote on 2/10/2011 10:31 AM:

+1.... Same for me John. I've played with Magic Carpet off and on for several years and fighting to get the right fit with tape without Magic Carpet. Constantly add and removing tape every 3 game set. Tried umpteen thumb hole sizes, pitch changes and etc. Finally about 3 months ago I went with the set-up John describes (Magic Carpet in the back and one piece of White Tape in the front) and have been happy every since. I rarely have to ever add another piece of tape any more.

JohnP wrote on 2/10/2011 9:47 AM:

Flat thumbs -- I can't drill ovals on my sidewinder. Instead I drill a round hole and use a Magic Carpet on the backside and white tape on the front side. That's the best alternative I've found. -- JohnP

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

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

Brick

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

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

Brick

Jay · « **Reply #13 on:** February 12, 2011, 02:04:12 AM »

Brickguy, by tapered do you mean it would be wider at either the top or bottom compared to the other? I've definitely had a few thumb holes that were like that but I'm not sure if it was the oval itself or if it was the driller not working out the hole evenly after the drilling.

Can anyone verify that if you use enough tape in your thumb hole the bottom eventually becomes too small compared to the top(because of how tape is usually placed in the hole)?

Brickguy221 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 12, 2011, 08:59:09 AM »

Wider at the top. It can be caused by driving the drill bit too fast down into the hole when ovaling the sides, can also be caused by play in cheap drills or worn drills, and can becaused by the way driller uses the sander on the thumb hole after drilling.

Jay wrote on 2/12/2011 3:04 AM:
Brickguy, by tapered do you mean it would be wider at either the top or bottom compared to the other? I've definitely had a few thumb holes that were like that but I'm not sure if it was the oval itself or if it was the driller not working out the hole evenly after the drilling.

Can anyone verify that if you use enough tape in your thumb hole the bottom eventually becomes too small compared to the top(because of how tape is usually placed in the hole)?

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

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

Brick

Author Topic: Tape on the side of thumb hole? (Read 4674 times)

Jay

Tape on the side of thumb hole?

Trimman2

Re: Tape on the side of thumb hole?

Re: Tape on the side of thumb hole?

Dan Belcher

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HAMMERDOWN103

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BigB20

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qstick777

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Dan Belcher

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Jay

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JohnP

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Brickguy221

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qstick777

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Brickguy221

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Jay

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Brickguy221

Re: Tape on the side of thumb hole?