To Tape or Not to tape... That is the question!

[okfoz]

The purpose of this thread is to get opinions and reasons why you use or do not use tape.

This is my personal experience:
I recently had some lessons, (it was a Ritger Bowling Camp) and one of the things they tried to get me to do was to use thumb tape in the hole of my bowling balls to "improve my release"

First I previously never used tape successfully, but with some practice I got it to work for me reasonably well, I was using the white tape on my thumb pad, and was having marginal results... Finally I got tired taping, and trying to get comfortable with it and I just removed all of the tape from my balls (all 6 of them).

The reason for the tape (they told me) was so I did not have to "squeeze the ball so hard" to keep it on my hand, and it improves my release. NOTE: I do use use the quick grips thumb inserts to adjust the size of my thumb holes as needed.

Here is what I found...
Practice Averages Before Tape: 213.9
Using Tape 194.86
NOT Using Tape any more: 213.04

So obviously Tape does not seem to work for me, but I really want other people's opinions and reasons why or why not you use tape.

Thanks

John

[ep1977]

I use black tape on the back of my thumb hole sometimes but not always. I prefer to not use it.

[Amyers]

I'm a fan of tape. Part of this depends on how variable your thumb size is and how tight you want your thumb hole to be most bowlers do not use a tight enough thumbhole for proper release mechanics. You can mimic some of this with Interchangeable thumb holes but tape still allows for greater precision of fit than just changing your thumb insert allows. My question was this just something taught in the class or was it a conversation directed at you from a coach? If your adding tape where it doesn't need to be it's not going to improve your bowling so if it was a general comment maybe that wasn't an issue you had and your making a proper fitting thumb fit improperly. If it was directed at you obviously the coach seen something there just adding tape won't correct a gripping problem if that's an issue that you have you not only have to add the tape but correct the gripping problem if you grip with a tighter thumb hole it just makes the overall problem worse and you have the worst of both worlds.

[fordman1]

Before I retired I worked in a Stamping plant that had a lot of oil and dirt. You had to was your hands constantly with harsh soap.
In the winter your thump would be much thinner than in the summer. Before the fancy precut tape I used Duct tape in the back of my thumb hole 5-6 pieces. In the summer none and it was tight. It is amazing when I hear people talk about no tape at all.

[baker]

I have all my thumb holes drilled larger to accommodate tape. I actually use the soft side of 1/2 inch velcro underneath a couple pieces of white tape in the front of my thumb hole. This allows for a bit of swelling and shrinking while keeping a tight fit and adds a bit of an oval to the thumb hole.

I don't know if I'd ever recommend this, since it can mess with your span by adding the equivalent of 6-8 pieces of white tape to the front of your thumb hole, but it was just what I needed to accommodate my thumb shape and provide a clean, consistent release.

[ChuckR]

I never used tape until this summer. I was sliding the thumb and hurting the fingers as well as dropping the ball and scaring other people. My hand does NOT swell but does sweat a bit. Add oil and wiping the thumb didn't help. Suggestion was Tape and it worked. In fact I even proved to myself it was working when one of my balls had the tape come out without me knowing it. Result was same old problem. I use STORM BOWLERS TAPE.

[djp1080]

If you're squeezing the ball at all, all of your arm muscles tighten up and you'll muscle the ball on each and every shot. Try to squeeze a stress ball or something and watch what happens with your forearm muscles.
The manufacturers make the black and white tape a certain length. The videos on the use of tape tell you to place the tape about 1/4" down from the top of the hole. This is fine if all you need is to fit your thumb or fingers due to shrinkage; however, it doesn't help if your squeezing the ball IMHO. You should probably try to fill in that gap at the end of your thumb so that the thumb hole feels like it fits properly all the way down to the end of your thumb.
None of the tape I put the front of the thumb hole (pad side) goes up to the top of the hole. Usually it will be from about 1/2" to 3/4" down from the top. I'll cut the white tape into 1/4 and 1/2 and full sizes after cutting off the rounded end. I place the smaller pieces on top of a full piece to form a layered effect to fill in that end of thumb gap. It keeps me from knuckling and grabbing at the ball for a much cleaner release.
On the back side I decided to use clear urethane type tape for it's slick properties which helps for a cleaner release. If your thumb slug is nice and smooth, you probably don't need that. I use it as insurance. :)
Hope this helps...

[RobLV1]

I am very lucky that my thumb rarely swells or shrinks, my thumb holes are very easy to drill, and my driller is also my best friend and golfing partner, so every one of my bowling balls is EXACTLY the same. I have one piece of tape in each ball I own, but it's more for the feel on the pad of my thumb than for size. With that being said, if my thumb did change size frequently, I would definitely use thumb inserts and I would make sure to have them in sufficient quantities that I could readily change them without ever running short.

[Sche3067]

i have some older balls where the pro shop opened up the hole so i try to match the feel of my thumb in my primary ball. Someone posted a video about tape in the thumbhole, it has helped me understand how to do it better.

[zacks]

I never use tape. All of my thumb holes are tight to my thumb and my thumb doesn't really swell much. My hand will sweat, so when that happens, or in the rare case my thumb is swelling, I put some powder on my hand and my problems are solved.

[NewToBowling]

I use tape in the thumb hole and on thumb. I really can't bowl without it. For weeks now I haven't had to adjust my tape but I know over time I will have to either remove or add tape as my thumb does swell up on occasion.

[mc_runner]

I'm also lucky in that my thumb doesn't swell at all. I have a nice fit in all my balls - if it did swell I'd definitely be using tape to get the feel and fit right

[okfoz]

The taping suggestion was directed to the class in general, then they went and showed us how to do it individually, the coach took time to help me with it, but now that I am here, and he is 500 miles away, I am struggling using it now. I gave it a good month of usage, so it was not immediately I just gave up on it..

For the most part I never thought I had a release issue, unless the ball started sticking on my thumb (interestingly my Thumb swells more in the winter than the summer, since going to the switch grips, have not had the problem)

Like I said, my scores seriously suffered. I just wish I could get used to it, I understand the concept and the reasoning behind it tho...

John

[Amyers]

The taping suggestion was directed to the class in general, then they went and showed us how to do it individually, the coach took time to help me with it, but now that I am here, and he is 500 miles away, I am struggling using it now. I gave it a good month of usage, so it was not immediately I just gave up on it..

For the most part I never thought I had a release issue, unless the ball started sticking on my thumb (interestingly my ball swells more in the winter than the summer, since going to the switch grips, have not had the problem)

Like I said, my scores seriously suffered. I just wish I could get used to it, I understand the concept and the reasoning behind it tho...

John

Sounds like to me you were fixing a problem you don't really have. That's the problem with general information. Tape can be a good thing and I would encourage you next time that the ball feels a little lose grab a piece and put it in you may discover that you can customize your fit more than you though possible but if you try adding something you don't need it just causes problems as you discovered. Most people have at least some thumb size changes at least seasonally. Mines a lot I typically need 2-3 pieces more of tape in the winter than I do the summer.

[foreverincamo]

When I get my thumb and fingers to fit in the ball correctly, the ball holds me. Upon release I snap my hand out of the ball. It doesn't even feel like I'm holding anything. Hand feels super soft and relaxed. The more I have to expend energy holding onto the ball, the less my rev rate.

[okfoz]

Thank you for all of the comments, I appreciate them. It gives me something else to think about. I know that sometimes I have something going on, where I just want to pull it left for no apparent reason at all, I wonder if it has to do with my release, and not relaxing my hand...

John

[billf]

Thank you for all of the comments, I appreciate them. It gives me something else to think about. I know that sometimes I have something going on, where I just want to pull it left for no apparent reason at all, I wonder if it has to do with my release, and not relaxing my hand...

John



Odds are yes

[billf]

I use Turbo thumb protection tape obviously on my thumb. I use the Purple for a quick release. I have Turbo switch grips and will use tape in them as needed. Also, I probably have one of the tightest thumbholes you will see. My thumb shrinks during bowling so I actually use an old Vise IT to jam my thumb into before bowling.

[Tony]

I find with most ball's I have a little tape in the thumb to get a good fit, I am thinking of trying the thumb tape sometime too. I have had and do have a ball where the thumb is nearly perfect and usually doesn't need tape. I have only slight swelling but in the winter when it's really cold the fit is a little too loose until I get warmed up, even with tape I'll have to blow into the thumb hole for the first few frames so I can hold into the ball.

[jab5325]

I generally don't like using tape, but have recently been using the Hada Patch. I like the feel of it and think it helps with my roll. It's still too early in the season to determine if there's a real difference. Like an idiot, I didn't bowl all summer and only have 18 games in so far this fall.

[AlexNC]

I have IT thumbs in a few different sizes, but I still fine tune with tape. At a minimum, I like the white tape on the pad side because I like the feel, but I also use black on the nail side as needed. I used to use VISE hada tape on my thumb, but after getting a pitch change and switching to oval thumbs, I find I no longer need or want it.