Tips and Tricks to Help with my Thumb?

[BowlingNewbie]

Good afternoon bowling buddies!

I am having trouble with bending my thumb too much and not gripping with the base of my thumb like I've been told I should be doing. My thumb hole was drilled a little big so it's not the best fit but I have put some tape to try and help with it, but to no avail.

Any tips or things I can do to cut that nasty habit out? Maybe my ball is too heavy? It's a 15lb and maybe I should use a 14lb to cut down on the need to grip so much?

Thanks!

[noeymc]

its hard to say if u cant hold your ball with your arm at a 90 degree angel for 10 secs theres a good chance its to heavy i am not really sure what the question is tho could try to explain it better please

[striker12]

ok 1 thing do you use a thumb slug at all.

if you dont use a thumb slug at all then get one and have it set perfectly for your thumb and in over time when your thumb starts to get bigger from bowling you can open it up abit but i use to have the same problem you are having and i never used a thumb slug but when i put one in the ball it all changed over the last season because a thumb slug helps your thumb out because it gives abit of a grip in it.


but if you do have a thumb slug best way to learn how to get the base of your thumb holding the better is when your at home holding the ball put your fingers and thumb in the ball them try to pull your fingers toward your thumb it will create pressure on the fingers but when you do that lift the ball in the air above your bed and then just to releave presser from the fingers so then your not sqeezing the ball with my fingers but try to keep your thumb in the same spot with out moving and then when you releave to much pressure of your fingers the ball will drop on the bed... ok so do it again but from the first time you should now right where the pressure is thats when you pull your fingers to your thumb again but leave ball still on the bed then releave pressure from the fingers untill you find that spot that was before the ball dropped then lift the ball up... at this time move the ball around my moving your wrist but not moving your thumb at all.

i did this and it helped me

[mike_thomas93]

Hey, Striker12. I wanted to add to that. I posted a thread about having trouble with coming out of the ball thumb first. I still tend to grab it at the bottom, and my thumb tends to want to stay in the ball when I get ready to let go, causing me to full roll it. I've recently gotten out of that. I still need to work on clearing the thumb out first, but I feel afraid of the ball slipping or me grabbing it at the bottom, putting too much force on the fingers. And I don't have much hand or lift at all. I tested using inserts in one of my balls, and I had planned to start using grips and slugs. Would you say that what you said to the bowlingnewbie would benefit me, as well? What would your admonish me to do?

[dnhoffman]

^^^ I don't even...


Seriously - thumb issues are the most frustrating in bowling. Go see a IBPSIA certified pro shop with a pro who will work with you on a lane and get you fitted right. Once your fit/pitch/span is right you'll still deal with thumb swelling, and there a lot of options to deal with that (cheaply with tape or expensively with about six IT thumb slugs for suckers like me!) but you need to work with a good pro because with the thumb it's usually fit, in my opinion anyway.

[striker12]

Hey, Striker12. I wanted to add to that. I posted a thread about having trouble with coming out of the ball thumb first. I still tend to grab it at the bottom, and my thumb tends to want to stay in the ball when I get ready to let go, causing me to full roll it. I've recently gotten out of that. I still need to work on clearing the thumb out first, but I feel afraid of the ball slipping or me grabbing it at the bottom, putting too much force on the fingers. And I don't have much hand or lift at all. I tested using inserts in one of my balls, and I had planned to start using grips and slugs. Would you say that what you said to the bowlingnewbie would benefit me, as well? What would your admonish me to do?

yes it would help you out also just remember in your case to always have your thumb nail touching the back of the thumb hole but one thing i was just like you afriad i was going to drop the ball or it would slip off my hand but when i got thumb slugs it actually helps me alot and i'm not afraid of it anymore it just takes time to use to but dont go instently in league trying to throw the ball with out grabbing just dont grab as much and every week put less grab on the ball with your thumb untill you get use to it then less and less and less and you will be perfect.

[Bunny]

One thing that helped me not grip with my thumb and gave me a nice little hook was to hold the ball "suitcase" style. Kind of like you're going to pick up a suitcase at your side. Have your thumb around the 10 o'clock postion rather than around the 12 o'clock position. Your fingers will be on the "outside" of the ball rather than underneath.

The thumb hole on my spare ball is a bit big. I use two pieces of tape inside next to each other, so it basically wraps all the way around the inside.

Good luck!!

[mike_thomas93]

Sounds fair. Thanks

[BowlingNewbie]

Thanks all!

Noeymc, Mike explained it perfectly. I grip too much at the bottom of my thumb and sometimes have a hard time getting my thumb out first and putting a weird side roll on it the ball. But I can hold the ball out 90 degrees so that is probably not the problem.

From what Striker and dnhoffman were saying, its more than likely because my thumb hole was drilled out too big. I will try putting some more tape to try and get as tight of a fit as possible without being uncomfortable.

Thanks again for all the info!

[striker12]

Thanks all!

Noeymc, Mike explained it perfectly. I grip too much at the bottom of my thumb and sometimes have a hard time getting my thumb out first and putting a weird side roll on it the ball. But I can hold the ball out 90 degrees so that is probably not the problem.

From what Striker and dnhoffman were saying, its more than likely because my thumb hole was drilled out too big. I will try putting some more tape to try and get as tight of a fit as possible without being uncomfortable.

Thanks again for all the info!

what tape are you going topput in the ball white or black because the back of your thumb you should use black for a easy slid with out sticking and in front use blakc then over lay it with white for grip.