Thumb blisters

[Amyers]

I have been having problems with blisters right above the knuckle on the right nail side of my thumb. I have tried pitch changes, slugs, and varying amounts of tape to help with this.

It's affecting my bowling guys I am trying to decide what leagues I want to bowl this fall based on how much I can tolerate because of this.

I have even pretty much quit practicing just bowling my leagues because of this.

This isn't a sometimes problem it every time I bowl by the second or third game it's blistered there. I bowled my VBT games today I had intended the first game to be practice I had to use it and throw the ball thumbless (both gutters) when I was on a string of 4 strikes in a row because it had ruptured.

I have attached a picture here of the blister. If you've seen something similar and have some advice let me know



http://imageshack.com/a/img742/1777/Kcx3pA.jpg

[bowl1820]

Closest match I think would be this:

Causes:

• Excessive Right Pitch
• Hole Too Small

[Shaneshu87]

a friend of mine had this issue, two things, take a few weeks off between your summer league and fall league let you skin heal, then check this out

http://bowling-thumb-sock.com/

this is what my buddy used and still uses and swears by them. i have personally never used them since i have never really had any issue with my thumb. worth a shot they're relatively cheap.

[Amyers]

Closest match I think would be this:

Causes:

• Excessive Right Pitch
• Hole Too Small

The right pitch was our second thought we adjusted it back left and ended up with this.

https://imageshack.com/i/ew6BBRflj

It was like it was shaving layers off the right side directly on the side in the middle of the knuckle. That was actually worse the blistering on the top did stop but we had to move it halfway back to the right but the blistering on top came back. I'm really at wits end with this. If anything the thumb was loose on the euphoria and I kept it a little tighter with tape but I've tried it with no tape and it loose still does it.

[Amyers]

a friend of mine had this issue, two things, take a few weeks off between your summer league and fall league let you skin heal, then check this out

http://bowling-thumb-sock.com/

this is what my buddy used and still uses and swears by them. i have personally never used them since i have never really had any issue with my thumb. worth a shot they're relatively cheap.

I've thought about that and I actually tried the turbo skin protective tape you put over your thumb and I still had problems with it. Might give it a shot but I really hate to go to that extreme.

[bowl1820]

The right pitch was our second thought we adjusted it back left and ended up with this.

https://imageshack.com/i/ew6BBRflj

It was like it was shaving layers off the right side directly on the side in the middle of the knuckle. That was actually worse the blistering on the top did stop but we had to move it halfway back to the right but the blistering on top came back. I'm really at wits end with this. If anything the thumb was loose on the euphoria and I kept it a little tighter with tape but I've tried it with no tape and it loose still does it.

Additional info blistering on top of thumb and thumb was loose .

That changes it to this:

• Excessive Reverse Pitch
• Span Too Short or Too Long
• Hole Too Big

besides the lateral pitch adjustment you might have to change span and fwd/rev pitch.

Also if your not already using one, you should go to a oval hole. either a insert or have the hole milled.


If you know your spec's check and see how your thumb pitch match's with the coke can test.

(depending on your hand size you may have to use a slightly smaller can)



Lateral pitches found with a standard sized beverage can.
For a right hander, negative is left and positive is right pitch.
For a left hander, negative is right and positive is left pitch.
The proper lateral pitch in the image shown is 0

[Amyers]

Additional info blistering on top of thumb and thumb was loose .

That changes it to this:

• Excessive Reverse Pitch
• Span Too Short or Too Long
• Hole Too Big

besides the lateral pitch adjustment you might have to change span and fwd/rev pitch.

Also if your not already using one, you should go to a oval hole. either a insert or have the hole milled.


If you know your spec's check and see how your thumb pitch match's with the coke can test.

(depending on your hand size you may have to use a slightly smaller can)



Lateral pitches found with a standard sized beverage can.
For a right hander, negative is left and positive is right pitch.
For a left hander, negative is right and positive is left pitch.
The proper lateral pitch in the image shown is 0

Bowl first your picture didn't post.

I did start with reverse pitch on the thumb but we've changed it twice. Now 1/4 forward. Do you think I should try and go even more forward?

We did adjust the span a little longer but that didn't seem to make any difference.

I've firmed the thumb up with tape to the point that if I had it any tighter the ball wouldn't come off.

The oval thumb was my next idea. We used that on the asylum when we drilled it the only difference I can see is that it is moving the blister about 1/8 of an inch towards the center of my thumb.

I'm really at a loss. I've never heard of anyone having this hard of a time getting fitted. Thanks for all the advice I appreciate it.

[fortheloveofbowling]

Have you tried the vise skin patches? They come in several different degrees of roughness and really work stopping blisters.

[bowl1820]

Bowl first your picture didn't post.

They're showing here, try reloading the page. hold down the shift key and click the browser reload.

I did start with reverse pitch on the thumb but we've changed it twice. Now 1/4 forward. Do you think I should try and go even more forward?

No, not at the moment.

We did adjust the span a little longer but that didn't seem to make any difference.

When you went to forward pitch you should have shortened the span not made it longer.

Thumb linear pitches are based initially on the span and adjusted from there for flex, length etc. Usually the longer the span, the more reverse thumb pitch is used.



( A lot of bowlers have their span too stretched and/or to much reverse. )

You can see how close your span is by placing your thumb in the hole. then laying your fingers across the holes. the half way point between the first and second joint should be at the edge of the hole.

I've firmed the thumb up with tape to the point that if I had it any tighter the ball wouldn't come off.

The oval thumb was my next idea. We used that on the asylum when we drilled it the only difference I can see is that it is moving the blister about 1/8 of an inch towards the center of my thumb.

Given if you have the 1/4 forward in this, I'd say the span is off (Most likely too long.)

I'm really at a loss. I've never heard of anyone having this hard of a time getting fitted. Thanks for all the advice I appreciate it.

If possible I think you should try another pro shop and get your grip refit.

These are only suggestions It's hard to diagnose a fit problem online, you really need to be able to manipulate the hand etc.

[Amyers]

They're showing here, try reloading the page. hold down the shift key and click the browser reload.


No, not at the moment.



When you went to forward pitch you should have shortened the span not made it longer.

Thumb linear pitches are based initially on the span and adjusted from there for flex, length etc. Usually the longer the span, the more reverse thumb pitch is used.



( A lot of bowlers have their span too stretched and/or to much reverse. )

You can see how close your span is by placing your thumb in the hole. then laying your fingers across the holes. the half way point between the first and second joint should be at the edge of the hole.







Given if you have the 1/4 forward in this, I'd say the span is off (Most likely too long.)



If possible I think you should try another pro shop and get your grip refit.

These are only suggestions It's hard to diagnose a fit problem online, you really need to be able to manipulate the hand etc.

Thanks bowl1820 that was the next step I was going to take was go to another proshop. I hate to do it because the guy has been really good to me but at the end of the day it's got to work. Thanks for all the info. I'll update this after talking to the other proshop here.