To Tape or Not to tape... That is the question!

[okfoz]

The purpose of this thread is to get opinions and reasons why you use or do not use tape.

This is my personal experience:
I recently had some lessons, (it was a Ritger Bowling Camp) and one of the things they tried to get me to do was to use thumb tape in the hole of my bowling balls to "improve my release"

First I previously never used tape successfully, but with some practice I got it to work for me reasonably well, I was using the white tape on my thumb pad, and was having marginal results... Finally I got tired taping, and trying to get comfortable with it and I just removed all of the tape from my balls (all 6 of them).

The reason for the tape (they told me) was so I did not have to "squeeze the ball so hard" to keep it on my hand, and it improves my release. NOTE: I do use use the quick grips thumb inserts to adjust the size of my thumb holes as needed.

Here is what I found...
Practice Averages Before Tape: 213.9
Using Tape 194.86
NOT Using Tape any more: 213.04

So obviously Tape does not seem to work for me, but I really want other people's opinions and reasons why or why not you use tape.

Thanks

John

[ep1977]

I use black tape on the back of my thumb hole sometimes but not always. I prefer to not use it.

[Amyers]

I'm a fan of tape. Part of this depends on how variable your thumb size is and how tight you want your thumb hole to be most bowlers do not use a tight enough thumbhole for proper release mechanics. You can mimic some of this with Interchangeable thumb holes but tape still allows for greater precision of fit than just changing your thumb insert allows. My question was this just something taught in the class or was it a conversation directed at you from a coach? If your adding tape where it doesn't need to be it's not going to improve your bowling so if it was a general comment maybe that wasn't an issue you had and your making a proper fitting thumb fit improperly. If it was directed at you obviously the coach seen something there just adding tape won't correct a gripping problem if that's an issue that you have you not only have to add the tape but correct the gripping problem if you grip with a tighter thumb hole it just makes the overall problem worse and you have the worst of both worlds.

[fordman1]

Before I retired I worked in a Stamping plant that had a lot of oil and dirt. You had to was your hands constantly with harsh soap.
In the winter your thump would be much thinner than in the summer. Before the fancy precut tape I used Duct tape in the back of my thumb hole 5-6 pieces. In the summer none and it was tight. It is amazing when I hear people talk about no tape at all.

[baker]

I have all my thumb holes drilled larger to accommodate tape. I actually use the soft side of 1/2 inch velcro underneath a couple pieces of white tape in the front of my thumb hole. This allows for a bit of swelling and shrinking while keeping a tight fit and adds a bit of an oval to the thumb hole.

I don't know if I'd ever recommend this, since it can mess with your span by adding the equivalent of 6-8 pieces of white tape to the front of your thumb hole, but it was just what I needed to accommodate my thumb shape and provide a clean, consistent release.

[ChuckR]

I never used tape until this summer. I was sliding the thumb and hurting the fingers as well as dropping the ball and scaring other people. My hand does NOT swell but does sweat a bit. Add oil and wiping the thumb didn't help. Suggestion was Tape and it worked. In fact I even proved to myself it was working when one of my balls had the tape come out without me knowing it. Result was same old problem. I use STORM BOWLERS TAPE.

[djp1080]

If you're squeezing the ball at all, all of your arm muscles tighten up and you'll muscle the ball on each and every shot. Try to squeeze a stress ball or something and watch what happens with your forearm muscles.
The manufacturers make the black and white tape a certain length. The videos on the use of tape tell you to place the tape about 1/4" down from the top of the hole. This is fine if all you need is to fit your thumb or fingers due to shrinkage; however, it doesn't help if your squeezing the ball IMHO. You should probably try to fill in that gap at the end of your thumb so that the thumb hole feels like it fits properly all the way down to the end of your thumb.
None of the tape I put the front of the thumb hole (pad side) goes up to the top of the hole. Usually it will be from about 1/2" to 3/4" down from the top. I'll cut the white tape into 1/4 and 1/2 and full sizes after cutting off the rounded end. I place the smaller pieces on top of a full piece to form a layered effect to fill in that end of thumb gap. It keeps me from knuckling and grabbing at the ball for a much cleaner release.
On the back side I decided to use clear urethane type tape for it's slick properties which helps for a cleaner release. If your thumb slug is nice and smooth, you probably don't need that. I use it as insurance.
Hope this helps...

[RobLV1]

I am very lucky that my thumb rarely swells or shrinks, my thumb holes are very easy to drill, and my driller is also my best friend and golfing partner, so every one of my bowling balls is EXACTLY the same. I have one piece of tape in each ball I own, but it's more for the feel on the pad of my thumb than for size. With that being said, if my thumb did change size frequently, I would definitely use thumb inserts and I would make sure to have them in sufficient quantities that I could readily change them without ever running short.

[Sche3067]

i have some older balls where the pro shop opened up the hole so i try to match the feel of my thumb in my primary ball. Someone posted a video about tape in the thumbhole, it has helped me understand how to do it better.

[zacks]

I never use tape. All of my thumb holes are tight to my thumb and my thumb doesn't really swell much. My hand will sweat, so when that happens, or in the rare case my thumb is swelling, I put some powder on my hand and my problems are solved.