Higher track bowlers have a more difficult time keeping the track off the thumb. Lower pin placements usually lower your track bow tie. I'm a lower track bowler and never have a problem with pins around my middle finger, either above or below. I have a guy I do ball work for that tracks high and when he tries to use my stuff that's drilled pin above or below middle finger, he always hits the thumb hole. I tell him to try to get his hand off the side more and the track moves down off the thumb, but he has to make an effort to do so. Is the ball over-flaring? What is your pap? When I place the pin around my middle finger it's about a 4-1/2" pin to pap and my friend that uses my stuff has a pap of 5-5/8" over and so the same ball for him ends up being over 6" pin to pap. I try to keep his pins no further left than the center of the grip center line, which ends up being around 5-1/2" pin to pap. Your driller needs or should know you pap and the safe zone to keep your pins. I would say a lower weight hole may help, but I think the layout is the main cause! Just my $.02, Bruce