Blood rash on thumb! HELP!!!

[trekker34]

Hi everyone. I am new to the forum and was really hoping to get some advice on a problem that has plagued me ever since I started bowling.

Every time I bowl, I develop a really awful blood rash on my thumb. It's always in the same spot, towards the left of my nail and a little bit up. I have asked several pro shop guys and the only thing I was ever told was that perhaps my thumb is rubbing hard inside the ball when I release it. I've never been able to fix this problem. No one can obviously look inside the ball as I'm throwing it to really see what's going on. I've tried using the "Thumb Saver" product but it's kind of slick and hard to hold onto the ball. It's such a problem that my thumb begins to throb really hard and it's obviously affecting my game. I recently bought a new ball and thought that getting it drilled from scratch might help, in case the thumb hole was messed up on my other ball, but no.

I was wondering if anyone else has encountered or dealt with this problem before and how I may go about fixing it once and for all.

This is such a huge problem for me and I'd truly be grateful if anyone here had some insight.

Thank you!

[bowl1820]

"my thumb is rubbing hard inside the ball" I'd get a second opinion from another pro-shop.

Take a look at this from Jayhawks fitting guide. Is it close to what is happening, if so then they need to adjust the thumb hole.


A - Span Too Short
A - Excessive Reverse Pitch
B - Excessive Left Pitch
B - Hole Too Small

[trekker34]

Thank you for your reply, bowl1820.

I suppose by looking at the picture you provided, I could narrow my problem down to being "Excessive Reverse Pitch."

You'll have to forgive my ignorance with the terminology, but could you please explain what exactly Excessive Reverse Pitch is? By the way, I think I forgot to mention that I am a lefty (if that makes a difference).

My other concern is with the span between the thumb and finger holes. This newest ball was drilled for me with a span significantly longer than I am used to. So much so that it is causing discomfort on the fleshy part at the bottom of my thumb. The gentleman at the pro shop measured my hand and said it was correct and that anything shorter would reduce the overall reaction of the ball. Is that true? It's hard for me to believe that making the span a little shorter would impact anything than a more natural and comfortable release. I have had a few balls in the past that the spans were much shorter, however, I still experienced the blood rash I am concerned with.

Thank you again for your willingness to help me! :-)

[bowl1820]

Simply speaking
Zero Pitch means the hole is drilled directly toward the geometric center of the ball,
Forward Pitch is where the thumb hole points more toward the fingers.(a hole drilled in the direction going above the geometric center of the ball)
Reverse Pitch is where the thumb hole points away from the fingers.(a hole drilled below the geometric center of the ball)


I suggest getting this PDF "USBC Bowling Ball Parts & Dynamics" here. First part is all about fit and pitches.

http://www.athletics2000.com/andrew/...20Dynamics.pdf

Some basic effects of Span:
+ Span = More loft, more axis rotation.
- Span = Less loft, less axis rotation.

[trekker34]

To be honest, I have no idea how the gentleman at the pro shop drilled the ball, and what sort of technical measurements he used. All I do know is that I have encountered this problem with every single ball I've ever had drilled and don't know what I can tell the folks who drill the holes what needs to be done. I'm simply not knowledgeable enough with the science and terminology to properly convey what I want and need. It's incredibly frustrating. I've never known anyone else who bowls who has had this problem.

Regarding the span, I think it may be at the very extreme length where it causing me to almost completely open my hand in order to grip the ball. I believe a small adjustment will solve the problem.

It's extremely disconcerting, to say the least, that I just spent nearly $200 on this new ball and I'll possibly need to spend more in order to get it re-drilled. And even more so that the pain I am experiencing has yet to be diagnosed or fixed.

I appreciate your help, bowl1820. Anything more you can tell me, I'm sure, would be useful.

[bowl1820]

At a good pro shop, You should be able Go in and say "hey I'm getting a blister here or some rubbing on this spot all the time" and he should take alook. Then suggest what to do, change pitch ec.

Changing the pitch on the thumb is no big deal. They just fill the hole and drill right back down it, at the new pitch.

When he drilled your new ball, did he fit you then? or just copy the grip off your old ball? If he copied it, Did you tell him you had been getting a blister from your other balls?

One thing to remember is your grip can change with time, have it checked once in awhile.

When he said your thumb was rubbing hard in the hole, then that's quite likely a fit problem. Your thumb should come out cleanly, without rubbing so hard as to make a blister. Now if he said you were knuckling (thumb bent in hole), thats another story. You should keep your thumb straight.

[trekker34]

This particular pro shop I went to is nearly two hours away because the only other one close by is run by high schoolers and quite frankly, I don't trust them to do quality work. This other pro shop I drove to, I do trust. I don't necessarily like the idea of driving all the way back to get it adjusted but I suppose it might be worth it.

I had an old ball with me, but I decided to have him take new measurements with the huge hope that it would solve the problem. Nope. How is your grip "checked?"

I do try and keep my thumb straight but I feel like I have hard(er) time holding on. I get that feeling like it's going to slip off. It's definitely something I need to work on. Any tips?

Thanks again.

[peterfa]

Hey Trekker34. No where in this discussion did you mention the type of grip (conventional/fingertip), the type of release (straight/hook/backup), frequency of bowling. If the drilling is not the problem, then perhaps it is the way you are releasing the ball. Time to find a quality coach to watch your delivery.

[striker12]

well trekker34 one thing i can say is that none can see how your thumb releases u have to feel it just consintrate on your thumb on the release and u will beable to figure it out and then and also if you are getting a bump then pop it and ice it and dont bowl untill its gone and every time u go to bowling bring some ice just in case and try to figure out how your thum is coming out is it like in the shape of a queeze or it that your thumb nail is pointed out to the other side cause one of those could do that to your thumb pressure making the blood flow too much and stop

[trekker34]

Good point, peterfa. I am using a fingertip grip. As for the "type" of release, I am unsure how to specify. Because of this constant rash and the pain associated with it, I haven't done a whole lot of bowling in the past two months. I purchased this new ball and got it drilled from scratch in the hope that it would solve the problem. Alas, no.

I think that you and bowl1820 are correct. I do need to find a coach who can help me with my release and figure out why this rash keeps happening.