Sticking in thumb....

[LOUVIT]

I have a large thumb hole and a 1/4 back pitch yet I still seem to get my thumb stuck and pull or overturn the ball....Any advice?

[ytlas]

Usually the case would be either "knuckling" the thumb in the hole or incorrect lateral thumbhole pitch

[LOUVIT]

Usually the case would be either "knuckling" the thumb in the hole or incorrect lateral thumbhole pitch

I do knuckle it, I always did. I'll have to try not to and see if I can break the habit. just feels like I'll lose the ball if I don't no matter what size the hole is. When I have a ball drilled I have it done to the correct size and I end up going back and having them make it larger. I am always wiping my hands or using the rosin bag because my hand seems to get sticky and sweat during bowling. I put a dab of baby powder on my thumb yesterday and i dropped the ball before the foul line. Is there anything for the thumb that will make for a smooth release yet not too slippery like baby powder?

[Amyers]

I do knuckle it, I always did. I'll have to try not to and see if I can break the habit. just feels like I'll lose the ball if I don't no matter what size the hole is. When I have a ball drilled I have it done to the correct size and I end up going back and having them make it larger. I am always wiping my hands or using the rosin bag because my hand seems to get sticky and sweat during bowling. I put a dab of baby powder on my thumb yesterday and i dropped the ball before the foul line. Is there anything for the thumb that will make for a smooth release yet not too slippery like baby powder?

You mentioned earlier you've had this ball for 25 years have you recently had the grip checked? You can not hold onto a bowling ball correctly unless the fit is right. For properly adjusting thumb fit leave the powder, rosin, or any of the other crap you see people use out of it. That's why they make tape.

[bowl1820]

Yes, knuckling could be the problem.

With making the hole bigger and reverse pitch, you're probably having a hard time holding on to the ball. So you could be knuckling trying to hold on to it and that doesn't let your thumb come out clean.

Your thumb should be straight and lay flat in the hole.

[Amyers]

If you want to quit knuckling the ball first you have to understand my first post the thumb has to fit correctly. Second realize the change is going to take a while. You've been throwing that way for years your not going to change over night. What worked for me was putting a piece of the textured white tape in the thumb hole where the nail side of the thumb is and using the tape that you stick on your thumb (use one of the more textured ones). Concentrate on keeping the thumb nail touching the thumb hole add tape until you can swing the ball this way without it coming off just as your standing there swinging your arm back if you feel the ball slide add another piece to the pad side of the thumb hole until it doesn't slip. This will be uncomfortable, feel weird, and it will mess your game up for a while. If your a hard head like me it make take weeks or even months of practicing this for it to be comfortable some of the people who have tried this get it in as little as a week. If it sticks you know you grabbed it.

Once you have mastered this you can remove the tape from the nail side of the hole and even start to add a little pressure with the back of the thumb but never the pad. You can throw some good games knuckling the ball. I know because I did but you will never develop a consistent release and really be a good bowler until you quit. If I feel myself starting to do this I still go back and put the tape on the nail side of thumb again.

[LOUVIT]

You mentioned earlier you've had this ball for 25 years have you recently had the grip checked? You can not hold onto a bowling ball correctly unless the fit is right. For properly adjusting thumb fit leave the powder, rosin, or any of the other crap you see people use out of it. That's why they make tape.

no,lol... This is my first and second new ball in 25 years....I have a Track Heat and a Storm Phaze. this is more about the way I hold the ball I guess. trying to figure out why I pull the ball a lot. i would think it has to do with my thumb issue. I tried a zero thumb pitch on the Phaze and couldn't get out of it at all even with a huge hole. yesterday I had it plugged and re done to the proper size and with 1/4 back pitch. It felt so much better the first game and then it seemed to start sticking. I was about to have it made larger and decided not to yet. What besides baby powder can I use on my thumb or in the ball to help get a smoother release off my thumb. I don't want to put another huge thumb hole in this ball and use 4 pieces of medical tape in it. I'm starting to think I am gripping to tight and knuckling it. Hard habit to break!

Also would this be a major cause of pulling the ball?

[Amyers]

no,lol... This is my first and second new ball in 25 years....I have a Track Heat and a Storm Phaze. this is more about the way I hold the ball I guess. trying to figure out why I pull the ball a lot. i would think it has to do with my thumb issue. I tried a zero thumb pitch on the Phaze and couldn't get out of it at all even with a huge hole. yesterday I had it plugged and re done to the proper size and with 1/4 back pitch. It felt so much better the first game and then it seemed to start sticking. I was about to have it made larger and decided not to yet. What besides baby powder can I use on my thumb or in the ball to help get a smoother release off my thumb. I don't want to put another huge thumb hole in this ball and use 4 pieces of medical tape in it. I'm starting to think I am gripping to tight and knuckling it. Hard habit to break!

Also would this be a major cause of pulling the ball?

Oh ok I get it on the ball now. Maybe but late timing can cause that too and is probably the more likely culprit to pulling. I don't like using anything on my thumb as I believe all of it comes off of your thumb and draws moisture which eventually causes sticking. Try a piece of the thumb tape that goes on your thumb which will probably cause the ball to come off earlier then add white textured tape until it doesn't slip anymore that stuff has helped me use a much tighter hole which allow much less knuckling and still get the ball off. My pro shop gave me some samples to try until I figure out what texture I liked best.

[LOUVIT]

Oh ok I get it on the ball now. Maybe but late timing can cause that too and is probably the more likely culprit to pulling. I don't like using anything on my thumb as I believe all of it comes off of your thumb and draws moisture which eventually causes sticking. Try a piece of the thumb tape that goes on your thumb which will probably cause the ball to come off earlier then add white textured tape until it doesn't slip anymore that stuff has helped me use a much tighter hole which allow much less knuckling and still get the ball off. My pro shop gave me some samples to try until I figure out what texture I liked best.

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

[JasonNJ]

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.