BallReviews
General Category => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: xrayjay on March 20, 2015, 12:17:56 PM
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When I lived and worked in Washington state, I had a job that required a lot of traveling to different parts of washington. I met a lot of interesting people who bowled at different houses - I would stop by an alley along my route and have lunch at these places and made many friends. I made friends with one guy whose nickname was "mountain" and kinda reminded me of Steve Cook, lefty 6'6" mini Shaq. He was a heavy equipment mechanic who had thumb issues while bowling.
Anyway, he said he didn't like using slide powder since he has dry hands. He had issues with his thumb being stuck or too tight. But what he used to solve this issue, was Chapstick. He would not show anyone what he did. He would apply chapstick on the side of his thumb while his hand was in his pocket.
I've never heard of anyone before or after meeting him using chapstick. but it worked for him. not so sure if it's legal though......
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I'm not sure why chapstick on your thumb wouldn't be legal, but I bowled with a guy for years and he also used chapstick on his thumb!
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I've carried a tube of Chapstick in my bag since the '80s. If my thumb swells, just apply a little to each side and can clear out of the ball very easy.
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A friend used Chapstick on his thumb years ago. Back then I had thumb problems too. So I tried it, just a little on the back of my thumb: the ball fell off in the upswing of the backswing. Very embarrassing; never tried it again. I guess I didn't have that much of a thumb problem, back then.
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Someone told me they use Perparation H when their thumb swells. I didn't even want to ask for more details on application, lol.
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Wow, this is an old school 1980's trick?, and a common one too. He made it sound like it wasn't legal by the way he explained it to me. (This was about 10 years ago when I met this man.)
besides Chapstick and perparation H lol, I wonder what others use for bowling. either way, it seems like it's a messy thumb hole using these products. interesting though..
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In case of skin splitting, I carry super glue with me. Apply to area that's split, hold together, let dry.
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Back in the 80's I too used chapstick, then I found a pro shop who figured it that a thumb hole should not be round but oval..........problem solved. Bowled with an old timer back then who was a manual labor guy who would have problems with a sticky thumb and he would use the plastic wrapper from his cigarette package and ease his thumb in and out of the hole until the swelling subsided. Old timers also would use cigarette ashes to aid this slip factor in the holes of those old rubber/urethane balls.
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These aren't really weird, just tips or quick fixes that bowlers have used in the past.
Besides the Chapstick, some bowlers have used soapstone for both their thumb and slide shoe. Others who have encountered swollen thumb have used a handkerchief or a rolled up dollar bill, wrapping it around the thumb and then inserting into the thumb hole to force liquid out of the thumb.
For a slightly loose thumb hole, some bowlers will blow into the thumb hole before placing the thumb into it. Moisture from their breath will help hold onto the ball.
To hold tape onto skin, use Compound Tincture of Benzoin.
To get more slide, you can use teflon discs to make slide pucks for your sliding shoe.
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I blow into my thumbhole, but more out of habit than anything else.
These aren't really weird, just tips or quick fixes that bowlers have used in the past.
Besides the Chapstick, some bowlers have used soapstone for both their thumb and slide shoe. Others who have encountered swollen thumb have used a handkerchief or a rolled up dollar bill, wrapping it around the thumb and then inserting into the thumb hole to force liquid out of the thumb.
For a slightly loose thumb hole, some bowlers will blow into the thumb hole before placing the thumb into it. Moisture from their breath will help hold onto the ball.
To hold tape onto skin, use Compound Tincture of Benzoin.
To get more slide, you can use teflon discs to make slide pucks for your sliding shoe.
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I use Compound Tincture of Benzoin for my thumb tape because it just doesn't stick to my skin.
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I second the super glue thing, although mine is not from cracked skin. Mine is for open wounds lol. I work with my hands and gloves are usually not possible. I frequently have blisters, cuts, and gouges on my hands that would either hurt too badly to bowl or that would bust open and bleed everywhere if I tried bowling. I just fill them in with superglue, and it is solid enough to not cause my sores to hurt or bleed. It generally breaks up and falls out in two days.
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If it's warm and my thumb is somewhat swollen and tacky, I will put super glue on the sides and there are no more problems!
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I have seen a few that look and act like Joe Cocker at the foul line
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Used to carry a regular lead pencil with me. Back before there were interchangeable soles, I used it to "slick up" the sole of my slide shoe on sticky approaches by coloring in the slide sole with it.
Used the soapstone thing as well. Used a pocketknife to scrape off some shavings, then rub it on the offending spot like powder. VERY effective!
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How about the bowler who wipes the lane oil off with his hands.
how about the bowler who kisses the ball.
or the one who throws the ball up in the air a few times be for he gets ready
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The guy that locks his same fingers to rub on his slide foot sole before every shot. Even if it is a 9 game block and he has walked the entire center 5 times
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DP3,
Kind of strange, but proves germaphobes are scared for nothing as obviously there isn't as much bad stuff out there as you think!!!!!
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When people throw a bad shot and have to imitate a lefty (or righty) when the ball goes Brooklyn.
As far as the chapstick thing, they sell small canisters of chapstick like substance that can be used for sticking thumbs. Personally I use a small bag of baby powder and I use it religiously.
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I've bowled in the same league with a guy who talks or stares to his hand right after he throws a bad shot.
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If your ball fits correctly you won't need ChapStick or powder. The hole will be sized so you can use two or three pieces of tape when you start bowling and remove them as your thumb swells. -- JohnP
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My 83 year-old teammate uses Chapstick on his thumb as well.
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Anyone mention miller?
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Talking to your hand or self doesn't seem that weird. I know I talk to myself after bowling while looking at my hand. And I've always seen people using chapstick. I do however have a guy damn near break dance after every shot. I find that extremely weird lol.
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Guy I know sucks his thumb wile bowling to keep it moist right before he puts it in the ball I don't bowl on his team but I never give him 5. Not out of being mean, I don't want the sucked thumb!