Sticking in thumb....

[fordman1]

I have been using a thing called a thumb pillow for 15 years. It is a sponge thing like about a 1/4 inch thick. It goes in the back of the thumb. You can also put black thumb tape behind it to make it snugger and it will come out easier for replacement. I have it as tight as possible and with the slickness of the pillow you will never stick. I have to screw my thumb in it is so tight. Never drop the ball or stick. They are called Shur something I can't remember of the top of my head.

[LOUVIT]

Too me it sounds like the thumb hole is too big. You said yourself, no matter what size thumb hole, you feel like your going to lose it. You should be able to hold the ball with minimal grip pressure, once you squeeze, it's almost impossible to have your thumb release clean. There is a saying, "You can't out coach a bad fit".

And to answer your other question, it could definitely be a reason you are pulling the ball, using a lot of grip pressure tenses your whole arm which is most likely preventing you from having a nice relaxed arm swing.

after I had the pitch put in yesterday the hole is sized correctly. I didn't go for the bigger hole this time. It was a larger hole before. I may just have to get used to the right size hole and learn not to squeeze since the hole is not sized. the first game after the re drill with pitch was a 190+ with a triple and a double which is pretty good for me. second and third game just got lower and lower as my hand sweated and stuck again. I refuse to have this hole made larger this time I need something to make my thumb come out after it sweats and sticks. I think I am not relaxing my hand

[Amyers]

thumb tape that goes on your thumb? never knew about this. what's it called?

Vise Hada tape is what I use. Turbo and Genesis make it too. Ask your proshop about it they'll know what your talking about.

[Amyers]

after I had the pitch put in yesterday the hole is sized correctly. I didn't go for the bigger hole this time. It was a larger hole before. I may just have to get used to the right size hole and learn not to squeeze since the hole is not sized. the first game after the re drill with pitch was a 190+ with a triple and a double which is pretty good for me. second and third game just got lower and lower as my hand sweated and stuck again. I refuse to have this hole made larger this time I need something to make my thumb come out after it sweats and sticks. I think I am not relaxing my hand

I know what your dealing with I had that problem for years. Do you get a lot of calluses or blistering on your thumb?

[SAbowler]

Vise Hada tape is what I use. Turbo and Genesis make it too. Ask your proshop about it they'll know what your talking about.

This is what I use as well. I like the blue tape best, but I also occasionally use the thicker red tape too.

[JasonNJ]

I agree with using the Hada tape. Once I've started using it, I can't bowl without it now.

[djp1080]

I've had issues with knuckling which caused plenty of problems with my thumb. Tried all kinds of things. Without the aid of various tapes I was doomed. The first thing that led me to a solution was the protective tape (i.e., Hada tape from Vise), but there are several others that work just as well. I started with the precut stuff. Then moved to the full roll which you can cut to your needs. Today I use a length that not only covers the back of my thumb, but the pad side, too.
I could see that I was still grabbing at the ball as there were wear markings on the tape, but at least I wasn't having problems getting out of the ball any more. So the next step was to see about changing the thumb hole pitch to see if my hand would relax some. Went from reverse pitch to zero which was better. Tried two more moves to a forward pitch and I think it's at 3/8" forward now. No more wear marks on the tape to be seen. Success.
Went further though. Today I make up a tiered tape layer for the front of my thumb hole to fill in the gap at the bottom of my thumb. It's described on Joe Slowinski's website. I make the layers go from 2 to 4 to 6 to 8 and fit it down deep into the hole using 1" white tape. Placing it in such a way that only the bottom portion of my thumb touches feels it. Then I lay one piece of black 1" tape over the top to simulate more of the smooth feel of the thumb slug. That way the white tape doesn't pick up any sweat or dirt from my thumb. It makes the thumb hole feel like it's custom fit. I can hardly move my thumb at all in there is the result. No more knuckling!
Good luck!

[LOUVIT]

I know what your dealing with I had that problem for years. Do you get a lot of calluses or blistering on your thumb?

I was getting a callus on the crease of my thumb where it connects to my hand. I had my span shortened 1/4" and that problem dissapered.

To all others that posted I have to look for that tape I guess, but doesn't all that stuff on your hand make the hole too small? Do you need to enlarge the hole to fit the tape in?

[fokai73]

The thumb feel and fit can be very tricky. Having the right pitches like mentioned is not as easy as some may think. Bevel is an important part of the fit and many over or under do it. I know bowlers who don't know how to place tape in their thumb hole and use non bowling tape - some make it work, but if they can repeat the same tape placement every single time which allows them proper TIMING, more power to them. Many use bowlers tape and never replace it too. The use of tape is an art on its own. (I use magic carpet tape in the rear and white tape in the front.)

When I returned to the game over a decade ago, I had bad release mechanics - I didn't know. I went with a thumb fit and feel that allowed me to get out of the ball (the wrong way). To me, I thought that's how it should be. Also, My tape placement was all over the place. Over the years learning from friends who were/are in the industry I've been bowling with a very snug thumb with forward and left pitches. The ball can stay on my hand with my hand/arm TOTALLY relaxed on my side leg and the ball wouldn't drop unless I turn my palms forward (release position) and the ball falls on its own. If a person holds the ball on their side and they have to grip it to keep it from falling, an adjustment may need to be done with their grip. But IMO, any reverse pitch a bowlers has in their thumb hole, they will grip it. Gripping anywhere in the swing, it's hard to repeat shots. In a house shot setting, mistakes are hidden, but mistakes make themselves known on difficult patterns. Likewise. if bowlers are bowling on THS and don't have a big goal, don't over think it. Just have fun. But if improvement is ones goal, it takes time and effort to get the release mechanics sound, but having a bad fit is just going to prolong that improvement. (There are those above average bowlers who have reverse pitches who make it work, but they are no Joe bowler.... unless they just bowl house patterns and are big fish in a small pond lol.

[LOUVIT]

The thumb feel and fit can be very tricky. Having the right pitches like mentioned is not as easy as some may think. Bevel is an important part of the fit and many over or under do it. I know bowlers who don't know how to place tape in their thumb hole and use non bowling tape - some make it work, but if they can repeat the same tape placement every single time which allows them proper TIMING, more power to them. Many use bowlers tape and never replace it too. The use of tape is an art on its own. (I use magic carpet tape in the rear and white tape in the front.)

When I returned to the game over a decade ago, I had bad release mechanics - I didn't know. I went with a thumb fit and feel that allowed me to get out of the ball (the wrong way). To me, I thought that's how it should be. Also, My tape placement was all over the place. Over the years learning from friends who were/are in the industry I've been bowling with a very snug thumb with forward and left pitches. The ball can stay on my hand with my hand/arm TOTALLY relaxed on my side leg and the ball wouldn't drop unless I turn my palms forward (release position) and the ball falls on its own. If a person holds the ball on their side and they have to grip it to keep it from falling, an adjustment may need to be done with their grip. But IMO, any reverse pitch a bowlers has in their thumb hole, they will grip it. Gripping anywhere in the swing, it's hard to repeat shots. In a house shot setting, mistakes are hidden, but mistakes make themselves known on difficult patterns. Likewise. if bowlers are bowling on THS and don't have a big goal, don't over think it. Just have fun. But if improvement is ones goal, it takes time and effort to get the release mechanics sound, but having a bad fit is just going to prolong that improvement. (There are those above average bowlers who have reverse pitches who make it work, but they are no Joe bowler.... unless they just bowl house patterns and are big fish in a small pond lol.

wow this hits the spot. I'll have to read it again to grasp it. As far as Joe Bowler and the fun game..I'm inbetween. 25 to 40 years ago I averaged 195+ and shot a lot of action. I am in it again for fun and excersise but once you were good you hate to average 150 or so. This game has come so far in the last 25 years it makes me nuts. I can shoot 230 and 130 in the same 3 game set. That bothers the hell out of me. i have just learned the reverse pitch now I'm hearing left and right pitch...I also thought my release was correct but my old ball wouldn't hook on the new surfaces. then I got a coach..Tampabaybob... and he gave me the correct release and my ball flies, but with this my thumb seems to stick like I said. I know the release is ok cause I blow 5 pins and the ball moves a lot.