Double Jointed Thumb, and Drilling problems

[Brad Pierce]

Hey guys. So over the past few months that I've been bowling seriously, I've gotten my own ball and gear. But everyone noticed that there was always something wrong with my thumb. Whether it be a blister on the middle joint on the inside, a blister on the very bottom of my thumb on the inside, or the tip of my thumb is actually being burnt from friction. Recently I met my soon-to-be coach of my High School team in a pro shop that I just wanted to check out. He noticed my thumb right away and asked what was wrong with the drilling in my ball. I said I think it's alright, because I don't blister or burn until game 12-15, seeing as I throw that many every day. He took a look at my ball, and at the measurements of my hand, and noticed right away, that my thumb is double jointed, when the pro shop within the alley I bowl at, never touched my thumb or any of my fingers other than to find a fitting insert. He extended the thumb hole down about a half an inch, and it made a world of difference. I no longer had to squeeze my thumb so the ball didn't fall off my hand on the back swing, which completely got rid of any blistering, or burning. I rolled 16 games at a Brunswick a few days ago, and noticed a definite difference.

Has anyone else had experience with being double jointed in the thumb? My coach said that a lot of teenage bowlers are coming in double jointed due to video games (always using the thumb sticks and the wide range of motion loosens the joints).

[Trex]

I don't think mine is due to video games, personally I think it's genetic....At least in my case.

Being double jointed in the thumb can throw off many ball drilling techs in many Pro shops.

It takes someone very well trained, and with years of experience to even notice that someone is double Jointed in the thumb. It took more than 5 Pro Shops and 15 years before anyone noticed that I was double Jointed in my thumbs!!

Once you get the right fit, it does make a huge difference!!

As Before I could bowl 5 games and then have blisters!!

After making adjustments to my fit, I can now bowl 140 games back to back with no pain or blisters!!!

So if you are having problems with blisters and or pain....The fit is not right!!!!

[Motivlution]

My thumb is double jointed as well and no one noticed until was 16. I know that seems pretty young, but I had been bowling in sanctioned leagues since I was 6 and had been throwing a hook since I was 10 or 12. My "coach" realizing that I had a double jointed thumb had the same effect for me. I stopped gripping the inside of the thumb hole on my ball and which corrected my problem of a late release and late reaction down lane.

[Tenkei]

What do you do with your thumb if you don't grip the inside? The ball doesn't just fall right out? I'm double jointed as well and have this problem of "gripping" the ball also. I was told to just grip the ball with the middle and ring finger, but I don't see how that's possible without gripping with your thumb as well.

[Motivlution]

In one of my balls the thumb whole was a little too big so the ball did to fall off of my hand, but I was able to remedy that easy enough by giving having a thumb stock put in and I'm pretty sure that the same thing could be accomplished with a few pieces of tape. I don't really know what they do during drilling to correct it but I think it might be something with the pitch of the thumb hole. Either way I haven't had a problem with needing to grip the ball as your thumb should be the first finger out of your ball at the bottom of your swing anyways.

[Brad Pierce]

My thumb is double jointed as well and no one noticed until was 16. I know that seems pretty young, but I had been bowling in sanctioned leagues since I was 6 and had been throwing a hook since I was 10 or 12. My "coach" realizing that I had a double jointed thumb had the same effect for me. I stopped gripping the inside of the thumb hole on my ball and which corrected my problem of a late release and late reaction down lane.

I'm 16 at the moment, doing High School bowling this year (my senior year)


@ Tenkei since I can't double quote,

On the inside, I do grip slightly. There's no way around it, but being further out, it doesn't catch on my thumb for the burning, or blistering anymore.