Thumb blisters

[Amyers]

I have been having problems with blisters right above the knuckle on the right nail side of my thumb. I have tried pitch changes, slugs, and varying amounts of tape to help with this.

It's affecting my bowling guys I am trying to decide what leagues I want to bowl this fall based on how much I can tolerate because of this.

I have even pretty much quit practicing just bowling my leagues because of this.

This isn't a sometimes problem it every time I bowl by the second or third game it's blistered there. I bowled my VBT games today I had intended the first game to be practice I had to use it and throw the ball thumbless (both gutters) when I was on a string of 4 strikes in a row because it had ruptured.

I have attached a picture here of the blister. If you've seen something similar and have some advice let me know



http://imageshack.com/a/img742/1777/Kcx3pA.jpg

[bowl1820]

Closest match I think would be this:
http://www.jayhawkbowling.com/Pro_s_Corner/Fitting_Tips/fig10.jpg
Causes:

Excessive Right Pitch
Hole Too Small

[Shaneshu87]

a friend of mine had this issue, two things, take a few weeks off between your summer league and fall league let you skin heal, then check this out

http://bowling-thumb-sock.com/

this is what my buddy used and still uses and swears by them. i have personally never used them since i have never really had any issue with my thumb. worth a shot they're relatively cheap.

[Amyers]

Closest match I think would be this:
http://www.jayhawkbowling.com/Pro_s_Corner/Fitting_Tips/fig10.jpg
Causes:

Excessive Right Pitch
Hole Too Small


The right pitch was our second thought we adjusted it back left and ended up with this.

https://imageshack.com/i/ew6BBRflj

It was like it was shaving layers off the right side directly on the side in the middle of the knuckle. That was actually worse the blistering on the top did stop but we had to move it halfway back to the right but the blistering on top came back. I'm really at wits end with this. If anything the thumb was loose on the euphoria and I kept it a little tighter with tape but I've tried it with no tape and it loose still does it.

[Amyers]

a friend of mine had this issue, two things, take a few weeks off between your summer league and fall league let you skin heal, then check this out

http://bowling-thumb-sock.com/

this is what my buddy used and still uses and swears by them. i have personally never used them since i have never really had any issue with my thumb. worth a shot they're relatively cheap.

I've thought about that and I actually tried the turbo skin protective tape you put over your thumb and I still had problems with it. Might give it a shot but I really hate to go to that extreme.

[bowl1820]

The right pitch was our second thought we adjusted it back left and ended up with this.

https://imageshack.com/i/ew6BBRflj

It was like it was shaving layers off the right side directly on the side in the middle of the knuckle. That was actually worse the blistering on the top did stop but we had to move it halfway back to the right but the blistering on top came back. I'm really at wits end with this. If anything the thumb was loose on the euphoria and I kept it a little tighter with tape but I've tried it with no tape and it loose still does it.

Additional info blistering on top of thumb and thumb was loose .

That changes it to this:
http://www.jayhawkbowling.com/Pro_s_Corner/Fitting_Tips/fig5.jpg

Excessive Reverse Pitch
Span Too Short or Too Long
Hole Too Big


besides the lateral pitch adjustment you might have to change span and fwd/rev pitch.

Also if your not already using one, you should go to a oval hole. either a insert or have the hole milled.


If you know your spec's check and see how your thumb pitch match's with the coke can test.

(depending on your hand size you may have to use a slightly smaller can)

http://s5.postimg.org/jhqf54fyf/Lateral_thumbpitch.jpg

Lateral pitches found with a standard sized beverage can.
For a right hander, negative is left and positive is right pitch.
For a left hander, negative is right and positive is left pitch.
The proper lateral pitch in the image shown is 0

[Amyers]

Additional info blistering on top of thumb and thumb was loose .

That changes it to this:
http://www.jayhawkbowling.com/Pro_s_Corner/Fitting_Tips/fig5.jpg

Excessive Reverse Pitch
Span Too Short or Too Long
Hole Too Big


besides the lateral pitch adjustment you might have to change span and fwd/rev pitch.

Also if your not already using one, you should go to a oval hole. either a insert or have the hole milled.


If you know your spec's check and see how your thumb pitch match's with the coke can test.

(depending on your hand size you may have to use a slightly smaller can)

http://s5.postimg.org/jhqf54fyf/Lateral_thumbpitch.jpg

Lateral pitches found with a standard sized beverage can.
For a right hander, negative is left and positive is right pitch.
For a left hander, negative is right and positive is left pitch.
The proper lateral pitch in the image shown is 0

Bowl first your picture didn't post.

I did start with reverse pitch on the thumb but we've changed it twice. Now 1/4 forward. Do you think I should try and go even more forward?

We did adjust the span a little longer but that didn't seem to make any difference.

I've firmed the thumb up with tape to the point that if I had it any tighter the ball wouldn't come off.

The oval thumb was my next idea. We used that on the asylum when we drilled it the only difference I can see is that it is moving the blister about 1/8 of an inch towards the center of my thumb.

I'm really at a loss. I've never heard of anyone having this hard of a time getting fitted. Thanks for all the advice I appreciate it.

[fortheloveofbowling]

Have you tried the vise skin patches? They come in several different degrees of roughness and really work stopping blisters.

[bowl1820]

Bowl first your picture didn't post.
They're showing here, try reloading the page. hold down the shift key and click the browser reload.


I did start with reverse pitch on the thumb but we've changed it twice. Now 1/4 forward. Do you think I should try and go even more forward?
No, not at the moment.


We did adjust the span a little longer but that didn't seem to make any difference.

When you went to forward pitch you should have shortened the span not made it longer.

Thumb linear pitches are based initially on the span and adjusted from there for flex, length etc. Usually the longer the span, the more reverse thumb pitch is used.



( A lot of bowlers have their span too stretched and/or to much reverse. )

You can see how close your span is by placing your thumb in the hole. then laying your fingers across the holes. the half way point between the first and second joint should be at the edge of the hole.
http://s5.postimg.org/60yijdbyf/fit_Bowling_Ball_Parts.gif



I've firmed the thumb up with tape to the point that if I had it any tighter the ball wouldn't come off.


The oval thumb was my next idea. We used that on the asylum when we drilled it the only difference I can see is that it is moving the blister about 1/8 of an inch towards the center of my thumb.

Given if you have the 1/4 forward in this, I'd say the span is off (Most likely too long.)


I'm really at a loss. I've never heard of anyone having this hard of a time getting fitted. Thanks for all the advice I appreciate it.

If possible I think you should try another pro shop and get your grip refit.

These are only suggestions It's hard to diagnose a fit problem online, you really need to be able to manipulate the hand etc.

[Amyers]

They're showing here, try reloading the page. hold down the shift key and click the browser reload.


No, not at the moment.



When you went to forward pitch you should have shortened the span not made it longer.

Thumb linear pitches are based initially on the span and adjusted from there for flex, length etc. Usually the longer the span, the more reverse thumb pitch is used.



( A lot of bowlers have their span too stretched and/or to much reverse. )

You can see how close your span is by placing your thumb in the hole. then laying your fingers across the holes. the half way point between the first and second joint should be at the edge of the hole.
http://s5.postimg.org/60yijdbyf/fit_Bowling_Ball_Parts.gif






Given if you have the 1/4 forward in this, I'd say the span is off (Most likely too long.)



If possible I think you should try another pro shop and get your grip refit.

These are only suggestions It's hard to diagnose a fit problem online, you really need to be able to manipulate the hand etc.

Thanks bowl1820 that was the next step I was going to take was go to another proshop. I hate to do it because the guy has been really good to me but at the end of the day it's got to work. Thanks for all the info. I'll update this after talking to the other proshop here.

[Amyers]

Have you tried the vise skin patches? They come in several different degrees of roughness and really work stopping blisters.

I tried the Turbo skin protectant tape which I think are the same as the vise patches except the patches are pre cut. It did seem to lessen the problem a little still did it but it was really hot in our alley a/c hasn't been working right (some better now) and I couldn't keep the tape on it would come unstuck once I got hot. If I can't find another solution I will try this again now that it has cooled off in there.

[striker12]

amyers my thumb dose the same thing just in different spots on the inside of my thumb I have blistered in 2 spots because of being out of tape and I use vise skin protection tape grey/black but since I have put the tape on It has not blistered but then the other side of my thumb blisters too once and awhile depending on the humity so all I do is take another pieace of tape and cut it in half.

and I use that half of tape on the other side makes my release alittle slippery but it also tightens up my thumb hole to counter it so it dose not just fall off my hand but after a few throws I get use to it.

but with tape comes different colours and each is different I have only used vise because that's all are proshop had I use to use red after 1 time with red it was a lot slippery then the grey/black and I also still blistered under the tape with the red so you should go with the grey/black one for now.


another thing that could be causing this is your thumb is turning in the thumb hole on your swing or before the push away I use to do this and with putting tape on my thumb it was helped me from not blistern as much and at the same time learning to not have my thumb turn in the thumb hole

[Blacksox1]

Good luck Amyers, nagging pain will hurt your scores. I hope you find a solution.

[mrbean]

i used to have thumb callus at the same spot as yours, which i figured that my thumb hole was too loose and i had to grip the ball with my thumb therefore causing that callus.
therefore i tightened my thumbhole with tape and the gripping went away, that callous has become significantly smaller now. u might wannt check snugness of your thumbhole.

[rv driver]

Mine used to blister and then callous on the underside of the thumb (pad side), midway between the knuckles. Haven't had that problem with the new ball. Keeping fingers crossed.

[BlueTalon]

I tried the Turbo skin protectant tape which I think are the same as the vise patches except the patches are pre cut. It did seem to lessen the problem a little still did it but it was really hot in our alley a/c hasn't been working right (some better now) and I couldn't keep the tape on it would come unstuck once I got hot.
When I was in the Marines, I used a tape on my elbows when shooting in the prone position (lying down face down) to keep them from rubbing raw on the dirt. It worked wonderfully -- and the adhesive was strong enough that it wasn't going to come off unless you actually tried to take it off (and even then it wanted to keep on sticking), and it didn't matter how much I sweated. I vaguely remember it being called Tuff Skin, but when I tried to google it, nothing came up like what I used.

About a month ago, I started bowling again after not bowling for almost 15 years. I've been bowling once a week, 5 games. Last week, I bowled 7 games, and got a big blister at the base of my thumb. Just today, I saw a roll of tape on bowlingball.com (http://www.bowlingball.com/products/bowling-accessories/bowlingballcom/10024/Protecting-Tape-Beige-Roll-MEGA-DEAL.html) that looks like it could be the same stuff I used in the Marines, so I'm getting it. (They've got a 2-for-1 deal going right now, FYI.) I'm also getting a thumb protector.

I suspect that a part of your problem is the fit of the ball, and I think you are wise for going to another pro shop for a second opinion. But with regards to the tape, if it's the same stuff I used in the Marines, you can use it and not worry about it falling off in hot sweaty conditions.

http://c3333154.r54.cf0.rackcdn.com/bowlingball-com/bowling-accessories/300/protecting-tape-beige-roll-31012.jpg

[Blomer]

I get blisters on the outside of my thumb, assuming it rubs against the ball. It's a newer ball so hoping it will loosen a bit. But currently I either use thumb tape or lip gloss and rub it in the area. Both have worked. If the hole doesn't loosen I will get it drilled,larger. This occurred with my other ball when I first got it. The thumb plug seemed to mold to my thumb and stop getting blisters. If that makes sense. Hoping for the same with the Optimus.