Is there a MAGIC Thumb Pitch?

[MICHAEL]

I have really never experimented with thumb pitch,,, is that something that can make a huge difference? Thinking about having mine checked, and the plugging one of my older balls, and have it redrilled using a different pitch.

[RobLV1]

No, there is only the thumb pitchs that works for you, both forward and reverse, laterally.

[Amyers]

Are you having issues getting out of the ball cleanly? I have had to have mine adjusted quite a few times you don't need to have the ball plugged just drill out the old slug put a new one in and re-drill it. The main effect of thumb pitches is to adjust how long your thumb stays in the ball so unless your getting out too fast or too slow I wouldn't mess with it.

[bowl1820]

I have really never experimented with thumb pitch,,, is that something that can make a huge difference? Thinking about having mine checked, and the plugging one of my older balls, and have it redrilled using a different pitch.


Is there a MAGIC Thumb Pitch? No, Like Rob said there only the ones that works for you.

[Mudpuppy]

Yes there is - the one that works

[MICHAEL]

OK,,,OK,,,,OK ICE get's it! But that is like eating soup with your fingers all your life, and it works, but then someone shows you form civilization what a spoon is! What if the pitch someone has been using WORKS, for them, but their game is very marginal. Maybe their rev's are very average due to the thumb staying in even a mico-second longer then it should!

Could small adjustments make a huge difference, since most drillers, don't take the time to REALLY study the dynamics of the ball leaving the hand of the bowler, and thus they do the same old LAYOUT over and OVER,,, and the bowler thinks its the ball, when in reality its the timing related to the pitch of the thumb, and how the ball exits the hand.

Can't a SMALL amount of difference in Pitch make a HUGE difference in accuracy, speed, and revs!?

[Amyers]

OK,,,OK,,,,OK ICE get's it! But that is like eating soup with your fingers all your life, and it works, but then someone shows you form civilization what a spoon is! What if the pitch someone has been using WORKS, for them, but their game is very marginal. Maybe their rev's are very average due to the thumb staying in even a mico-second longer then it should!

Could small adjustments make a huge difference, since most drillers, don't take the time to REALLY study the dynamics of the ball leaving the hand of the bowler, and thus they do the same old LAYOUT over and OVER,,, and the bowler thinks its the ball, when in reality its the timing related to the pitch of the thumb, and how the ball exits the hand.

Can't a SMALL amount of difference in Pitch make a HUGE difference in accuracy, speed, and revs!?

It depends if your thumb is exiting significantly early or late then it could make a sizable difference but if your expecting it to be a cure for other problems in your game adjusting the thumb pitch won't work.

When we first drilled my Euphoria it was the first new ball I had in about 20 years. My pro-shop guy watched me throw about ten shots before telling me to come back over that I was getting out of the ball way too early. Just my experience is incorrect thumb pitch is pretty easy to detect and if it was a big problem your guy would have noticed it or you would feel it. If your sticking in the thumb the big question becomes is it pitch or are you gripping. I struggled with that a bunch and still do it some but I'm making progress there.

[MICHAEL]

Is there a MAGIC Thumb Pitch? No, Like Rob said there only the ones that works for you.


HOW do you know what works for you if you DON'T Experiment :rolleyes: How many bowlers actually try different pitch's,,,, and I am not talking huge jumps, but rather minor change in the pitch! My question is should bowlers that have problems getting that 200 average, maybe experiment with different layouts, along with a host of other things! ( I know get a coach! I know many coaches, and coached bowlers that don't have, and may never have that 200 plus average. Can mechanical problems lay at the heart of many problems very average bowlers have. By mechanical I mean ball not drilled to TRULY suit their game.

Take a deep Breath Rob,,,, YES I think Coaching is One important tool along with many others that can get a bowler to a higher level. But first you have to be coachable,,, take Aslan for instances!

I am going to ask you STREIGHT out Rob: CAN you Get Aslan to the level of a 200 average bowler! If so does the bank in Switzerland have enough money to cover the cost that would entail????:D

IS PITCH OF A THUMB HOLE WORTH EXPERIMENT WITH IS MY QUESTION....

Could it be that his thumb pitch is what's keeping him from making that GIANT leap toward the 220 level??

Do many bowlers take the time to FINE TUNE the pitch, not just settle for one that seems to work?

[MICHAEL]

No, there is only the thumb pitchs that works for you, both forward and reverse, laterally.

ok,,, 180 degrees,,, let's call it reverse and forward.... between 0 and 180 you have many degrees of possibility, can't there be a PERFECT pitch that opens up a whole new world of bowling for the average bowler? who is to say that making only a few degrees of change would not make a huge difference:confused:.

My question in this thread is this: might it not behoove a bowler to experiment with his driller in reagards to not JUST GETTING OUT OF THE BALL, but fine tuning that Pitch. Like adjusting a carburetor on a car,,, sure it can run if its to rich, or lean,,, but when you find that perfect ration, its GREAT!

[Amyers]

This is just my personal experience but 9/10 when I think I have a ball problem I actually have an undiagnosed ME Problem. the options are actually more limited than you think 15,30 forward/ Zero / 15,30 reverse. So you generally have 5 options on thumb pitch. Now you can adjust left right also but the only times I have seen people mess with that is blistering or hand pain issues. May have other reasons also that just all I have seen.

What pitch are you using now Ice

[Mike White]

I have really never experimented with thumb pitch,,, is that something that can make a huge difference? Thinking about having mine checked, and the plugging one of my older balls, and have it redrilled using a different pitch.

The "correctness" of the thumb pitch is no where near as important as the correctness of how you throw the ball.

Take for example, I think his name is Jason. You've said he can throw anyone's ball as long as he can get his hand in it.

Clearly for him, the thumb size (once large enough), and pitches are not important.

Most people I've seen with thumb problems, are really problems with their wrist.

If you allow your wrist to collapse on the back swing, you have to help support the weight of the ball with your thumb.

Your choices at that point, are to either squeeze the hell out of the ball between your fingers and thumb, or to try and hook your thumb into the thumb hole.

Neither of those choices are acceptable.

Take a coffee cup, place your two fingers on the bottom of the cup, and your thumb on the rim.

The weight of the cup is supported by your fingers, the thumb only stops the cup from rotating off the fingers.

Your goal is to not spill the cup until the release.

If you let your wrist break down, you spill the cup at the bottom.

if you turn your thumb down (to the left, for right handers) you spill the cup.

Your release is just a slight reduction in pressure of the thumb off the rim, and allow the cup to tumble forward.

[Aslan]

Most people I've seen with thumb problems, are really problems with their wrist.

If you allow your wrist to collapse on the back swing, you have to help support the weight of the ball with your thumb.

Your choices at that point, are to either squeeze the hell out of the ball between your fingers and thumb, or to try and hook your thumb into the thumb hole.

I'm struggling with this BIG TIME right now. I'm trying not to "pinch" but it requires the thumb hole to be very tight since my wrist actually DOES collapse during the swing.

I've tried to swing with an uncollapsed wrist...but at ball weights over 9lbs...I need the thumb or I either can't support the ball or it hurts my writst like crazy.

I'm getting better at staying behind the ball...at least 1/4 to 1/3 anyways. But staying "under" the ball is seemingly not possible.

[Mike White]

I'm struggling with this BIG TIME right now. I'm trying not to "pinch" but it requires the thumb hole to be very tight since my wrist actually DOES collapse during the swing.

I've tried to swing with an uncollapsed wrist...but at ball weights over 9lbs...I need the thumb or I either can't support the ball or it hurts my writst like crazy.

I'm getting better at staying behind the ball...at least 1/4 to 1/3 anyways. But staying "under" the ball is seemingly not possible.

In my opinion it would be better to go with as light a ball as needed to develop a good release, then over time increase the ball weight when you can maintain the good release.

By using heavy balls to reduce deflection caused by the weak release, you're stuck in an endless cycle.

[Aslan]

In my opinion it would be better to go with as light a ball as needed to develop a good release, then over time increase the ball weight when you can maintain the good release.

By using heavy balls to reduce deflection caused by the weak release, you're stuck in an endless cycle.

I agree; but throwing a 9lb ball is a bit drastic and probably counterproductive.

There must be some way to throw a 14-16lb ball where my hand isn't beneath it. I know you have a more underneath kind of release and the thumbless guys are more underneath the ball...but most of the pros nowadays are "behind" not necessarily "beneath". It's tough...because you're right...I try to battle one limitation...then end up needing to compensate by battling a new limitation.

Working with Rob, I have transitioned from a speed dominant player where I'm "trying" to rev up the ball...to a lower speed bowler where I'm rolling it (not tossing it) and letting "the ball do the work". But...tradeoffs tradeoffs tradeoffs. I gain accuracy, better timing...I lose power and any ability to play inside. I become more consistent and a better spare shooter...but I strike less and have to make more spares than before. Before I was a 165 average bowler...now I'm a 166 average bowler. Didn't make me worse...made me more consistent...but didn't really make me "better"...just consistently the same.

We'll see. This new release is going to take some time to learn/master. I can't expect to master it in less than a week.

[Blomer]

Interesting post. I've been wondering I I should have my slug taken out, replace re drilled. Thinking it may be to large as I have to grab the ball more. League starts tonight so I'll see. I think if I get it tighter I will be able to throw it better.