thumb rednes just below the nail bed

[lancetcampbell]

I just got a new fingertip ball. I have been experiencing an issue on the top of my thumb. Directly below the nail bed and across the entire width of my thumb there is a red line that is about a quarter inch in depth. It looks almost like a blood blister. This is on the skin not on the nail. This occurs after I have bowled three games. If I don't bowl for at least three to four days the redness goes away.

This started after I met with a bowling coach. I was dropping the ball really bad. He showed me how to use tape. He explained to me the difference between the white tape in front of the hole and the black tape at the back. I found that if I put 1 to 2 pieces of tape at the front of the hole and about 4 black pieces of black tape at the back the dropping stopped. I did not feel the ball slip when it was swinging back. I no longer drop the ball.

I am wondering if the tip of my thumb is having trouble coming out of the ball. So I pulled the black tape out and cut it in half. Then I put the tape back in the ball. So now the tape only goes down into the ball half as far. This seems to have diminished the issue with the redness. It is only slightly there. I also noticed that I began hearing this subtle popping noise as my ball leaves my hand. This is the exact sound I heard while watching a bowling tournament on ESPN. I also noticed my hook improved as well.

Is it possible that the thumb hole was drilled at the wrong angle for my thumb. Should it have been drill so that it angles more away from my finger tips just slightly? Is it normal for a person to cut the black tape in half length wise when placing it in the ball. Any help would be appreciated.

thumb.JPG

[billf]

I cut my tape all the time trying to get the perfect fit. I would suggest having a good pro shop check your thumb hole and pitch. Not because of the popping noise but because it sounds to me like you are using too much tape. If the pitch is wrong it will wreck havoc on your thumb.

[bowl1820]

I agree with billf, That's a lot tape sounds like the hole might be a little too big. That can cause the red mark and dropping. There can also be too much reverse pitch (angling the hole away from the finger tips) which can make you drop the ball.

The red mark comes from you having to squeeze to hang on to the ball. You can see this just push your thumb against something and put pressure on it. Look at that area and you'll see it turn red, do it long enough in the ball and it leaves a red bruise.



Possible causes:
1-Excessive Reverse Pitch
2-Span Too Short or Too Long
3-Hole Too Big

You can cut tape away you want to get the best fit. I use full pieces and ones cut in half lengthwise if needed.

The master of putting tape in a thumb hole is Norm Duke. If you ever see him when he does it, it's a sight.

[striker12]

well i would go with what bowl sead but my ball is perfecly fit for my hand but idk if i got mine from bowling or from football when i was in high school but that picture bowl you are showing looks alot like my fingers has for the past 5 years and i have only been bowling for 4 years

[10-in-the-pit]

Yeah, it sounds like you a gripping the ball. I'd take a closer look at how you are holding the ball and go from there. Have the pro shop look at your thumb and thumb hold to make some corrections first.

[kev3inp]

My wife would drop the ball no matter how much tape we put in, until the ball hung on her thumb. We had one of her balls slugged and the pitch changed to 3/8 forward on the recommendation of Ron Clifton. By the way, I swear by his Magic Carpet for thumbholes. It stopped the dropping and she's had no problems getting out of the ball. So now all of her equipment is slugged and redrilled.