Interchangeable thumbs

[Phonetek]

I've been considering switching over but I'm weighing the pros and cons. The one thing that scares me is that a mechanic came to the counter a few weeks ago with a box containing over 40 of them he found on 3 pairs of lanes.

They were located beneath the ball ramp in the back which is where the ball enters the track under the floor. Not really a place you have to go often as a mechanic but they were chasing down a short in the gutter cap lights. They were an incidental finding.

I was completely blown away by the number of thumb inserts. It seems completely ridiculous to me that they fly out often enough to built up that many. I mean, that's 6 lanes worth and we have a whole of a lot more. I couldn't imagine what he'd find in total throughout the center.

Are these things that bad? Do they wear out quickly? Are people just not snapping them in all the way? What's the deal? This is something new to me because at my previous center, few customers had their own ball let alone interchangeable thumb inserts. Here we have thousands of people per week bowling and few don't have their own ball.

Next question. When they drill that massive hole, is it just drilled in straight and the pitch is adjusted with the insert? Would these eliminate the need for a plugged and redrilled for a pitch change? Those of you who have these, how many spares do you buy of each size in case yours end up under the ball ramp in the back?

[boatman37]

...When they drill that massive hole, is it just drilled in straight and the pitch is adjusted with the insert? Would these eliminate the need for a plugged and redrilled for a pitch change? Those of you who have these, how many spares do you buy of each size in case yours end up under the ball ramp in the back?
I can't answer all of that since I only started using them about 2 years ago but I have never had one come out. I do have 1 that is a little loose but it has stayed in there. The reason I switched was I entered a tournament and bowled 11 games. 2 days later went in to league and my thumb was sticking in every ball so had the PSO drill me up 2 of them, 1 regular size and 1 slightly larger.

As for the pitch, there is some play in them that you can add pitch to the insert. I only know that cause when I recently got the Altered Reality he measured my old ball and said my thumb pitch was off a little so drilled up a new insert that put it back about 1/2 way between where it was and where he said it 'should' be to test it. My thumb is big so he couldn't go much more anyway. I'd imagine if you have a smaller thumb you have a little more room to offset the insert drilling. But according to that PSO you would normally drill the pitch into the ball and leave the insert normal but it is an easier way to test new pitches on your thumb.

[SRB57]

I have wondered about the durability of the switch grip but have not seen anyone break one during league. I personally use the thumb slugs and add tape if needed. I just had a Roto Grip Helios drilled and my PSO suggested maybe going to the switch grip (my thumb is always big when I go to the pro shop for some reason) but am used to the slugs now. Changing the switch grip to my spare ball might take more time to bowl waiting for the ball to come back. Like anything what's best for you. Steve

[boatman37]

My spare ball has a regular thumb but thats cause I got it before I switched over. Mihgt be a good idea to have him change it over too in case I get a case of swollen thumb again

[Phonetek]

I have wondered about the durability of the switch grip but have not seen anyone break one during league. I personally use the thumb slugs and add tape if needed. I just had a Roto Grip Helios drilled and my PSO suggested maybe going to the switch grip (my thumb is always big when I go to the pro shop for some reason) but am used to the slugs now. Changing the switch grip to my spare ball might take more time to bowl waiting for the ball to come back. Like anything what's best for you. Steve

For what it's worth, in the box of grips the only breakage I seen on them was there locking notch. Nothing around the top of the grip where your thumb goes in. I've had a few slugs crack at the top before though.

[SRB57]

For what it's worth, in the box of grips the only breakage I seen on them was there locking notch. Nothing around the top of the grip where your thumb goes in. I've had a few slugs crack at the top before though.

Thank You for the information. I don't see anyone complaining about breakage in my leagues and there are plenty of people using them. Steve

[bowl1820]

I've been considering switching over but I'm weighing the pros and cons.
Unless your going around to multiple tournaments and houses all the time, It's not particularly worth it. If your just at one house or local, use tape to adjust. Because your not going to be switching balls and grips all the time.

Also If you have several balls you'll layout quite bit of money to get them all converted

[boomer]

Unless your going around to multiple tournaments and houses all the time, It's not particularly worth it. If your just at one house or local, use tape to adjust. Because your not going to be switching balls and grips all the time.

Also If you have several balls you'll layout quite bit of money to get them all converted

However, if your thumb swells and shrinks, putting in tape and taking it out can be a PITA.

It's a one-time cost, really. Then no worries about consistency between balls. Drill the plug at standard, put the locking lug in, and you're good to go. No more adjustments. Your thumb travels.

I bowl mostly at one center (somewhat as a protest - love MY independent center, hate Bowlmor) and I think it's one of the best investments I've made. I don't think it's upped my average or made me hook more or whatever. . . it just means I have an insert that fits my thumb . . . period. Actually TWO inserts - one for big days and one for small days, LOL

[Ryster]

I see many people that have the interchangeable thumbs and still use a ton of tape in them. I always wonder why they went that route if they still have to constantly tweak the tape...

[Phonetek]

The other reason I asked about this which I forgot to mention. A while back I had a slug replaced and the PSO asked if it was the third or fourth slug I've had put in the ball? I told him the one he replaced was the original.

I wondered why he asked and he said when he was pounding the new one in that the core was loose. He could feel it clunking around while pounding in the new slug. He said that's typical of a multi slug ball. Hammering in slugs in can cause it. Basically letting me know the ball will crack eventually from it.

I figured it sounds safer for the ball to not have slugs pounded in.

[Ryster]

I have heard of cores separating due to age of a ball and related use [years of use], temperature extremes, or just general failure of materials/poor curing. Have never heard that hammering in thumb slugs would cause a core to separate. When you think of the abuse a bowling ball goes through, getting a thumb slug hammered in to it would seem pretty tame.

[Phonetek]

True but also the slug goes down inside pretty deep. I assume the drill penetrates the core. Therefore the vibration from the pounding is directly on the core itself.

Like the 6th grade science experiment where we had to find a way to drop eggs off the roof without them breaking. I cut open a Nerf football and placed it inside. My egg did not break. Now pound something directing into the ball. Splat! What I'm saying is most of the abuse is absorbed by the cover. (Aside from aging & temp)

[Ryster]

Right, but the slug doesn't touch the core until it hits the bottom of the thumbhole. The hammering is displacing the air pressure in the space between the bottom of the slug and the bottom of the thumbhole as it is going in through the filler material. I guess displacing that pressure could put forces on the core, but it is still hard to believe it would be enough to separate the core itself.

[Phonetek]

When you say "separate" do you mean the core separating from the filter material (hence rattling around) or do you mean the core itself physically breaking?

[Phonetek]

This brings up another question. What if you bowl with a ball like this? As far as performance, is it just going to hit like a marshmallow or is going to do some whacky stuff down the lane? Or neither, it's just at higher risk of cracking?

[Ryster]

Core separating from the filler is what I think of when I hear "core separation".

I have seen people throw balls where this has happened. They sound like a 6lb house ball when they hit the pins. Some balls will actually wobble going down the lane.

[Phonetek]

Core separating from the filler is what I think of when I hear "core separation".

I have seen people throw balls where this has happened. They sound like a 6lb house ball when they hit the pins. Some balls will actually wobble going down the lane.

Hmm... Interesting. The ball my PSO was talking about still works just fine for now. Well when I threw it last anyway. It's been about 6 months since I've thrown it though. I'll have to give it a try one of these days and pay close attention. It's a 16# so it may be a while before I try it.

[classygranny]

I have the interchangeable thumbs. I have two in each size...normal, smaller (winter) and a larger. I like to have one in my spare ball so I don't have to change between shots. I think this cuts down on the wear factor. I've lost 1 in the back that was never found, 1 was found within the week, and 1 was found immediately, and 1 came out going down the lane. All at the same house. If I lose one, I always ask immediately for it to be looked for. I've used them for over 6 years. I now try and check that it is in tight before every shot - made it part of my pre-shot routine. If they get to loose, you can put a piece of tape in the thumbhole and it will tighten the IT - most people don't realize this, and that might be a reason for loss. None of mine have broken. I've seen some break when they are dropped on the floor.

[Phonetek]

Ah okay, now we're getting somewhere. So the loosen up? It's it the snap lock thing on the insert itself that wears out or what it locks on to inside the hole?

[classygranny]

Ah okay, now we're getting somewhere. So the loosen up? It's it the snap lock thing on the insert itself that wears out or what it locks on to inside the hole?

It just get looser in the hole. When you first get them they are really tight to twist in the hole - there's even a tool to take them in and out, if needed. As time goes by and you insert them many times a week for weeks and weeks or years, they are easier to twist. Then sometimes they just work themselves loose from throwing the ball. Thus, my "checking" for tightness each time. My spare ball has become very loose and probably need a piece of tape added. I have not had the locking inserts break or wear down, but I guess they could wear a bit and make it loose as well.

[boatman37]

My one is a little loose but it was loose the day he installed it. That ball was already drilled with a regular thumb and I had him put the switch grip in it. My others were all drilled with the switch grip and they are all pretty tight. But yeah, JR Raymond has a youtube video talking about loose inserts. Just a small piece of thumb tape around the insert near the bottom. If it's still too loose move the tape up towards the top more as he said the are slightly 'cone' shaped.