thumb question
Ok, imagine you have your hand in your ball and are ready to start your approach. As far as your thumb is concerned, where should you feel pressure? Only on the front side facing your fingers? Front side and left and right sides? Should the back of your thumb touch anything?
Assuming correct fit, the least amount of pressure u feel w/o dropping the ball. I heard/ read about grip it like an egg or baby bird so u don't break/kill it. Just with the webbing on ur thumb, back of nail touches interior wall of thumbhole, etc. Rolf of BTM had that thumb pull back thing he used to write about.
A general rule "of thumb" for thumb fit is:
A thumb inserted in and out of a thumbhole, pressed to one side of the hole, should only barely touch the other side.
Right handed Stroker, high track ,about 13 degree axis tilt. PAP is located 5 9/16” over 1 3/4” up.Speed ave. about 14 mph at the pins. Medium rev’s.High Game 300, High series 798
"Talent without training is nothing." Luke Skywalker
Bowl1820, are you saying then there's no pressure on the back of the thumb?
The holding the "bird" is about grip pressure.Originally Posted by Beagle
What your referring to here is from the Rolf Gauger thumbproofing technique about "Setting" the thumb.Just with the webbing on ur thumb, back of nail touches interior wall of thumbhole, etc. Rolf of BTM had that thumb pull back thing he used to write about.
You can find a article about it in the Oct. 1998 issue of "Bowling This Month", it's also reprinted in the Jan. 2001 issue.
Right handed Stroker, high track ,about 13 degree axis tilt. PAP is located 5 9/16” over 1 3/4” up.Speed ave. about 14 mph at the pins. Medium rev’s.High Game 300, High series 798
"Talent without training is nothing." Luke Skywalker
It also depends on what you like to feel and your pitches. Some people like the thumb very tight like chris barnes.
When holding the ball, you could feel the back of your thumb touching, Depending on how tight a hole you have, but you shouldn't really feel "pressure". If you feel pressure or have rubbing, You might be knuckling (bending the thumb in the hole) the ball or possibly the pitch is off some.
Last edited by bowl1820; 08-13-2014 at 10:29 PM.
Right handed Stroker, high track ,about 13 degree axis tilt. PAP is located 5 9/16” over 1 3/4” up.Speed ave. about 14 mph at the pins. Medium rev’s.High Game 300, High series 798
"Talent without training is nothing." Luke Skywalker
Thanks everyone. I just had a terrible night practicing the other day. Even though my thumb would easily slip in and out of the thumb hole while cradling the ball, I couldn't get my thumb out of it on my release and it was just driving me nuts. It was operator error for sure, but I wanted some input on where some tape would have helped.
That sounds like you were "knuckling" it. I actually did that for awhile before I realized my thumb hole was too big. I know it sounds kinda backwards because you said you're having trouble getting out of the ball, but if your thumb is big, you will naturally squeeze so you don't drop the ball. Then you will be late getting your thumb out.
Everyone is different but I get a cleaner release with a really snug thumb, no tape.
I took my thumb hole and squirted some Scrubbing Bubbles down it and wiped it dry. This removed any built up gunk. Then I took 1000 grit sandpaper and worked it vertically only until the thumb hole was completely smooth. My release tonight was much better.
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