Bad release or bad fit?

[tokih]

Hello,

I just got my first very own bowling ball. I have been bowling quite a lot every now and then, but always with house balls before this. Not with the plastic ones though, I always try to find someone's old ball with fingertip grip. As one could imagine, they probably have not been the perfect fit, and I have got customed to squeezing the ball. However, getting curve to the ball has not been an issue, thanks to my (presumably) very unorthodox style.

The problem with my new ball, which I only took out for a test drive just today, is that the thumb release does not seem good at all. I can't seem to hold the thumb fairly straight, which may be due to the fact the I have been using house balls for so long. Also, the top-right side of my thumb rubs the socket, making me fear that the ball won't release at all if my fingers get moist, and this affects my courage to go for a decent curve. I consulted the driller between throws and he suggested various tape setups, which only seemed to make things worse. I now suspect that I might just be releasing the thumb too late, only after I have already started to turn the ball with my fingers. Any ideas? I googled this thing called a thumb sock, but also noticed from the comments on that thing that getting one might just be denying my real problem. Ideas?

Edit: Here's a low quality video of the fit. Not sure if you can actually make sense from it, but it's the best I've got at the moment:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8l5nUea4ps

[HunterRunsIt]

I had a problem where I would squeeze the dear life out of the ball, Your ball needs to be drilled to where it fits like a glove. You shouldn't have to squeeze at all or you get some nasty blisters!

[tokih]

I was kinda hoping that the main reason would be somewhere else than in the drilling, as I just had it drilled. To my offense I did not know anything about a perfect fit, so I relied completely on the words of the one who made the drilling. And to be completely honest, the squeezing is not the end of the world for me, although I understand that the core idea of the personalized fitting is to eliminate that. I justify my opinion by repeating that I have got customed to squeezing the ball; what I was mainly after by getting my own ball was to be able to "know" my equipment and not to have to always get to know new acquaintances when I visited a new bowling alley.

[J Anderson]

It looks to me like the span might be too long. Maybe one of the people who actually fit and drill balls for a living will give you some input.

[StormGirl]

It could be a lot of factors. One reason could be your pitch. Another could be a long span like the post above me stated. When you put your thumb in comfortably, your middle and ring finger's first knuckle should rest right in the center of the finger holes.

[bowl1820]

One thing I noticed in the video is the thumb hole looks kinda big.(unless its just the camera angles). If its too big you wont grip it right.

[tokih]

Here are a few pictures of the fit and the grip:

http://www.cs.helsinki.fi/u/treiman/IMAG0023-2.jpghttp://www.cs.helsinki.fi/u/treiman/IMAG0024-2.jpg

And here's a picture of my thumb after yesterday's practice session:

http://www.cs.helsinki.fi/u/treiman/IMAG0027-2.jpg

Somehow I feel like I would benefit from some left pitch, although I am just guessing. No experience there.

[The Mayor]

It's actually hard to check the span with your hand on top of the ball. This isn't the way you hold it when you bowl, and it can put your thumb at an awkward angle. I would say the span looks slightly long, but as bowl said, the thumb hole looks too large. This would be the main reason for you having to squeeze, and your biggest issue. That being said, the blisters you have on your thumb aren't uncommon for anyone who gets their first ball fit and drilled for their hand. It's a new feel and something you have to get comfortable with. That combination of a slightly stretched span and a giant thumb hole is something that needs to be adjusted or you might as well have just stuck with the balls you were using at the lanes.

[vgw]

I agree with everyone else - the thumb hole is way too big which is forcing you to squeeze the ball. Squeezing is a very difficult and bad habit to break and you will just need to practice. You should have the thumb adjusted either by adding tape or having the thumb redone. I am assuming that your form or release may be a contributing factor, but I would focus on the proper fitment first.

[StormGirl]

I'd go for a new thumb slug. If you still feel a bit of rubbing afterwards, get your driller to sand down the area where it bothers you most.

[tokih]

I did some dry runs and I started thinking that my arm is probably not that straight during the swing, generating immediate squeezing. Hard to be sure though with just dry runs, but my arm is a bit sore from the last visit to the alley and it would be not beneficial to go again this soon. I'm not a physician, but the soreness feels like it's the extensor muscles that suffer from my swing. As for my form, to be honest I don't have clue. I'll need to try to capture some video of me bowling the next time I visit the alley.

All in all this all feels a bit frustrating, as the move to my very own ball was supposed to be a key step towards really improving my game. At best, my average with old fingertip house balls has only been around 150-155 for 6 games, and my record for one game is just above 200. This might all be only due to the fact that I've got customed to squeezing and perhaps throwing with a bent swing, kind of "forcing" the ball. Some coaching would definitely not hurt, but I do not know where to begin searching for a decent coach.

[StormGirl]

If your arms are sore, it could be that the ball is too heavy for you. You should be able to swing the ball freely without any trouble. If you don't think this is the case, then a sore arm can come from squeezing the ball and/or not keeping your arm straight. When you're at the approach, try to hold the ball with your arm extended, then swing and release the ball. I used to have a problem with a bent elbow as well, and this exercise really helped me keep my arm straight throughout my swing.

[tokih]

I'm not sure whether I do not have enough muscle strength or if it's my swing that's affecting the feel I get. I tend to have a rather low swing - at the back my arm does not reach my shoulder. About after going past my right foot, the weight seems to shift to my thumb and the wrist is no longer in a right position. I'm am I fairly mid-sized man however, weighing about 190 lbs. The way the swing feels, I can't imagine a drop of 1 lbs would make it feel THAT much different. Maybe I should head to the local gym and start doing some forearm and wrist exercises?

By the way, my ex-regular elbow bend has probably been something like that of Jason Belmonte. And I'm no two-hander.. :)

[bowl1820]

Looking at the picture of your thumb, where those sores are is another sign of a possible too large thumbhole and/or a too long span.

I'm guessing from the looks of the picture. That the ball originally had a shorter span and that they just plugged and moved the finger holes(the white plug material i see) and left the original thumb hole?

If its the span you could try adding some more bevel, this will shorten the span a little. Which my let you relax your grip and hold your thumb straighter.

[tokih]

Looking at the picture of your thumb, where those sores are is another sign of a possible too large thumbhole and/or a too long span.

I'm guessing from the looks of the picture. That the ball originally had a shorter span and that they just plugged and moved the finger holes(the white plug material i see) and left the original thumb hole?

If its the span you could try adding some more bevel, this will shorten the span a little. Which my let you relax your grip and hold your thumb straighter.

The driller measured up all my fingers. Is it possible that the he filled out the thumb hole and made a larger hole right at the same spot after measuring my fit? I bought the ball used, he filled up the holes on last friday and I was up doing the measurements on monday and then got the ball. Looking back at it now - having more knowledge - the whole measuring process seemed like he was in a rush though...

[StormGirl]

Unfortunately, a lot of times ball drillers are not that knowledgeable. Especially if it's your first ball, they have nothing to go by. It'll take a lot of drilling to get that near perfect fit. If I was in your position, I would probably plug the thumb hole, and search around for a well known ball driller in your area.

[The Mayor]

As bowl said, I have a feeling that he left the original thumb hole in the ball and just plugged the fingers and stretched the span (too far).

[tokih]

Went bowling after a decent break and I was amazed how good the ball felt. I haven't had any modifications made to it after the original post and I wasn't using any tape. Sure, my game scores were practically nothing yesterday, but I did not have a single throw where my thumb would feel awkward at the release. The downside is that I, myself, think that this was because I got used to bowling with my ball without a straight-arm swing. Be that as it may, my hand did not hurt at all after the one hour I spent bowling. I seem to have a fair amount of lift in my style, and the swing isn't the most easy one to control my aiming. However, like I said: yesterday restored my faith in the game!

[ffemtreed]

Went bowling after a decent break and I was amazed how good the ball felt. I haven't had any modifications made to it after the original post and I wasn't using any tape. Sure, my game scores were practically nothing yesterday, but I did not have a single throw where my thumb would feel awkward at the release. The downside is that I, myself, think that this was because I got used to bowling with my ball without a straight-arm swing. Be that as it may, my hand did not hurt at all after the one hour I spent bowling. I seem to have a fair amount of lift in my style, and the swing isn't the most easy one to control my aiming. However, like I said: yesterday restored my faith in the game!

go get your ball redrilled by a different driller. Just because you feel it come off you hand right doesn't mean its right. You probably have to have a death grip on that ball with the current drilling.

#1 span is too long
#2 thumbhole is way too big
#3 I would bet dollars to donuts you have way too much reverse thumb pitch to accommodate the large span.

You are learning to fit yourself to the ball instead of getting the ball to fit you. Bowling all those times with house balls has taught yourself how to adjust. If you want to get more consistent bowling get a correct ball fit.