Beginner, story and grip question

[motorpsykler]

Hi, I've been bowling seriously for a month now. I practice 2 nights a week and then 1 night league. I would do more but my schedule doesn't allow. I really have the bug bad. I started bowling totally by the seat of my pants, and obviously I was not consistent. So during practice I have been working on the fundamentals, one thing at a time. At first, whenever I analyzed anything I was doing, I would lock up. Now I am comfortable analyzing everything I do and am focusing on different things every practice. I recently read Bowling Fundamentals by Michelle Mullen. One of the things the author really stresses is a relaxed grip and how a tight grip affects the swing. I realized that I wasn't gripping the ball correctly. I had my ball drilled for a fingertip grip and my fingers were fine, but according to the book I should be inserting my thumb all the way. Well I wasn't. I've always inserted my thumb only to the first joint, which causes me to grip the ball too tight. So tonight in practice, I tried inserting my thumb all the way. First couple of balls, OK. Then, it happened. My thumb "stuck", and I threw the ball almost straight up in the air. Very loud, very embarrassing. After trying to shake that off, I overcompensated and released way too early a couple of times, dumping the ball at my feet. Then, a more "normal" release and my thumb stuck again, but I held onto the ball this time, which really hurt my joints. Not loud, still slightly embarrassing. At this point, I abandoned the full insertion of the thumb and went back to my old grip and got the same results I got in the past, inconsistent swings. Then I decided to modify my grip some, I inserted my thumb just a touch past the joint, just enough that I could relax my grip and arm, but not so much where I wasn't confident that I could still release the ball. I saw an immediate improvement in my accuracy. I struggled some remembering to follow through, because it felt so different swinging with a fully relaxed arm. But when I remembered the follow through, things felt right. I even scored a 193, which is my all time high.

My question is, what happened? I know I might have had a late release, but should the ball have really stuck like that? I don't know if I could handle the pressure of knowing that a slightly late release could cause me to throw the ball into the rafters or dislocate my elbow. I have sort of a big thumb and the tip curves up quite a bit, could that have something to do with it? Should I have my ball looked at or should I just continue with my modified "3/4" insertion of my thumb? Any help would be appreciated, this is a great board and I've learned a ton off of it already.

[JaMau24]

Well it's pretty clear what you need to have done.. You need to get your thumb hole drilled bigger. It shouldn't stick like that, and if it does, drilling it bigger is the fix. I'm not sure how tight your thumb is now, but if its only slightly tight, you could also use baby powder. It sounds like it is pretty tight though.

Welcome to the sport, and to the site, you'll find a lot of great info on here to help progress your game.

[Hampe]

Some other reasons your thumb might be sticking are if you are turning your hand/wrist when releasing (a common mistake for people starting out), or if you are bending your thumb when releasing. Your thumb should be straight and relaxed coming out of the ball.

[bowl1820]

What you need to do is go to the pro shop and have your grip properly checked.

The thumb hanging can be several things, not just a too small hole. It coud be the pitch of the hole, the span might be off, might need a oval hole not a round one, might need a thumb slug or insert do to your skin sticking to ball coverstock in the hole.

Also you it might be you, you could be bending your thumb in the hole (knuckling) instead of keeping it straight.

If you can hold your thumb straight and slide it in and out of the hole easly, I dont think the hole is to small.

[motorpsykler]

Went to the pro shop today and had my ball checked. Looks like the problem is me. The ball is fine, I must be bending my thumb. Very friendly and knowledgable people in there and they also coach. I think it's time for some lessons. I want to break this habit and release the ball properly.

[eugene02]

as expected.. hope you can overcome it asap to prevent any accidents from happening to you..

[Hampe]

Went to the pro shop today and had my ball checked. Looks like the problem is me. The ball is fine, I must be bending my thumb. Very friendly and knowledgable people in there and they also coach. I think it's time for some lessons. I want to break this habit and release the ball properly.

Don't sweat it, it's a mistake a lot of people make when starting out. When I get on the approach I'll usually get my 2 fingertips situated nicely in the ball, then I'll move my thumb in and out of the hole a couple times just to make sure it's straight and relaxed.

[motorpsykler]

I don't think it's me anymore. I spent hours trying to figure this out. First, I did what was recommended by the pro shop coach. I walked to the foul line and tried to release the ball with just a swing, making sure to relax and extend my thumb. The ball was still locked to my thumb no matter what I did. I even tried taking a knee. Same problem. I studied my thumb and it's fit in my ball. I found under no circumstance could I remove my thumb from the ball before my fingers, without actually wiggling the ball and contorting my hand. I have a strange thumb, the tip curves 45 degrees or more past the first knuckle. When I extend my thumb naturally, it wedges in the hole with a cam action. If I bend my thumb to make the tip straighter, the knuckle goes out and wedges (knuckling). What is odd is when you grasp the base of my thumb and pull it (like the ball driller does when fitting you), my thumb straightens and comes right out. I studied this outside the ball and I think it's because it pulls on one tendon and not the other, something I can't do myself without that outside influence. I'm not a ball driller but the only solutions that I can imagine, are drilling the hole at a different angle so that the cam-action is reduced. Or possibly taping my thumb in such a way that it stays straight and drill the hole larger to accommodate the tape. I'm going back to the pro-shop tomorrow night to demonstrate my problem. I'm not giving up on this, I really want to bowl correctly with a relaxed swing. I now know it's impossible to get a solution here, you have to see my hand and the ball. I'm just documenting this process for someone who might have a similar issue.

[billf]

At least you realize your thumb is unique. Knowing this yourself and being able to demonstrate to the driller what is really happening will allow him to try some things to accommodate you without offending you. Some people don't realize that a unique concern requires a unique solution and get upset.
In my opinion, the tape and a bigger hole sound like the way to go to prevent any part of your thumb from developing a blister or callous but this is without actually seeing the issue and just picturing it in my mind (which is warped, just ask my friends and family). Good luck and keep us updated.

[motorpsykler]

The issue is resolved now. I had two problems. I was knuckling the ball, but when I stopped knuckling it, the ball didn't come off either. I pretty much had to insist on having the ball drilled one size larger. Since I did that, when my technique is correct, the ball comes off fine. At first the ball felt insecure, like it was going to slip(even though it never did). I tried one piece of white tape to get a more secure feel, the ball stuck, so I took it off. At this point, I've played about 12 games since redrilling, I have confidence now that the ball won't slip off and sticking is a thing of the past. Thanks Hampe, I took your advice. Part of my routine now is to move my thumb in and out of the hole before the stance, it helps remind me to keep it extended. I guess the conclusion of the story is, that sometimes the shape of the thumb might require a little more room in the ball to get it out. Now I can focus on all my other problems!