Thumb Problems!

[poflobo]

I am posting this in response to a chat I had with Strike Domination about his thumb problems. Maybe it can help others as well.
I am double-jointed (very loose joints) and my thumb has never really fit any ball I have ever owned. As you can see, my thumb is 90 degrees off in relation to the fingers.
137
In this picture, I am trying to show how the thumb pivots or twists in the hole as I grip the ball. Because of this I am actually holding onto the ball with the side of the thumb. Dry hands (as I have) only compound the problem resulting in a dropped ball. Gripping the ball tighter just destroys your release.
138
I found this product called Gator Tape in the pro shop and decided to try it out. It has a very bumpy surface to hold onto the thumb. But what you probably can’t see is that it is slick enough to slip and allow a good release.
139
The arrow on the left is where I marked the top center of my thumb while I was gripping the ball. I transferred the arrow to the opposite side of the hole where the Gator Tape will be placed.
140
Center the tape far enough down from top of hole to allow easy insertion of thumb.
141

[poflobo]

As you can see, the tape in my thumb hole is at the 2 o’clock position. Yes, my thumb pivots that much! Your placement probably won’t be that extreme. Hope this helps you get your thumb problems under control. Let me know if I wasn’t clear about any part of this.
142

[Strike Domination]

2 o'clock position(or about there) is normal for placing tape for the front of the thumb, so I'm not sure exactly what you're implying about the position of it by saying your thumb pivots that much.

[bowl1820]

I agree with with Strike D. the 2 o’clock position is about the normal position.

Here's mine the same place. Now I use a oval thumb insert also.
http://www.bowlingboards.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=143&stc=1&d=1254323312

[gparks]

My thumb is very wide but flat,all my early bowling years were spent sanding then more sanding,till i got it right.now with the oval thumb inserts have solved all my problems.my proshop guy just leaves the insert in un glued and i put my hand in it and he marks the angle and then glues it in BAM done. i no longer have that constant worry of hanging up or dropping.and as said above NO MORE SQUEEZING :) . it has been a blessing

now if i could just hit my mark maybe i could break into the 200's:cool:

[poflobo]

HMMM. Seems I've noticed most of the guys that use tape have it mostly in the 12 to about 1 o'clock position, I get comments all the time wondering why my tape is placed so much farther around in the hole than theirs is.

In the picture below, the mark is where my callus is on my thumb. When I grip the ball, the mark is pointing towards my middle finger.
144
This is the part of the thumb that is exerting the most pressure in the thumb hole for me. The pad of my thumb has very little grip because of this, but the Gator Tape kinda fills up the gap, restores grip to the pad and eases the pressure on side of thumb.No more death grip.

It would be easier to see if I had a clear bowling ball!:D

[bowl1820]

HMMM. Seems I've noticed most of the guys that use tape have it mostly in the 12 to about 1 o'clock position, I get comments all the time wondering why my tape is placed so much farther around in the hole than theirs is.

In the picture below, the mark is where my callus is on my thumb. When I grip the ball, the mark is pointing towards my middle finger.
144
This is the part of the thumb that is exerting the most pressure in the thumb hole for me. The pad of my thumb has very little grip because of this, but the Gator Tape kinda fills up the gap, restores grip to the pad and eases the pressure on side of thumb.No more death grip.

It would be easier to see if I had a clear bowling ball!:D

A callus in that spot usually indicates Excessive Right Pitch and/or The hole is too small or a round hole is drilled and it should be a Oval.

Also when you say the tape"kinda of fills the gap" that to me says right there, you need to change to a oval hole. That would allow the pad of the thumb to grip the ball.

[Strike Domination]

I have some rubbing in about the same spot, and I have 1/4 away and an oval. I think it's because my thumb doesn't stay stationery once gravity comes into play, it "leans" toward 11-12 o'clock. It's almost like I don't have enough grip but the only way to make it not do that is some gripping aid(i.e rosin) and a relatively tight thumb hole. Then I'll hang.

[poflobo]

I have some rubbing in about the same spot, and I have 1/4 away and an oval. I think it's because my thumb doesn't stay stationery once gravity comes into play, it "leans" toward 11-12 o'clock. It's almost like I don't have enough grip but the only way to make it not do that is some gripping aid(i.e rosin) and a relatively tight thumb hole. Then I'll hang.

Yep! that's exactly what I'm talking about and I know HANG well.:eek:

My callus used to be bigger and thicker. The insert actually made it harder to hold onto the ball (too smooth). Used all kinds of stuff for a better grip.

The Gator Tape allows me to hold the ball without squeezing and good release by relaxing the thumb. It fills the void and the "lean" is less felt. I now have no need for any other grip products.

I honestly think it is the biggest reason my scores have increased.