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Author Topic: A 'Magic' Thumbhole Can Be the Key to Unlocking Your Bowling Kingdom  (Read 11012 times)

john178

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I read this article "A 'Magic' Thumbhole Can Be the Key to Unlocking Your Bowling Kingdom" in the May 2009 issue of Bowlers Journal.  Here's a small excerpt from the article:

With the structure of most hands, a straight center-line alignment is the easiest to understand and administer. But for those searching for a grip to ultimately complement facility and produce effective action, an offset layout - or a more complicated two line-line design - is at times a better option.

One example would be a center-line drawn between the two finger holes where the thumbhole is drilled somewhat left of that line instead of being drilled centered on it, more toward (under) the middle finger and away from the ring finger.  With this right-handed configuration, one can often realize more of the palm contacting the ball surface.  Ergo, by realigning the thumbhole pitch somewhat away form the palm, it increases the buttress grip of the thumb by positioning it more in oppositon to the spread forefinger.  This alignment often supplements the strength and turn effects of the release, provided the pitches of the holes correspond favorably with this alignment, particularly the thumb's pitch in relation to the spread forefinger.

A contrary move, offsetting the thumb to the right of the center-line, provides a somewhat weaker grip, but it does have its merits.  Principal among these is inducing the hand to automatically apply more extension in the release, as the hand is inclined to remain more behind the ball.  This offset alignment also allows the ring finger to play a stronger role in the release, which often results in more forward axis tilt.


Have anyone experimented with offseting the thumbhole to the left or right of the center-line ?  What say the pro-shop operators about thumbhole offset drilling?


Edited on 5/24/2009 9:08 AM

Edited on 5/24/2009 9:08 AM

Edited on 5/24/2009 9:09 AM

 

laufaye

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uhhhh
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REvans284

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quote:
Have anyone experimented with offseting the thumbhole to the left or right of the center-line ?  What say the pro-shop operators about thumbhole offset drilling?



Answer me this.  If you measure your Ring finger to thumb and Middle finger to thumb, are the measurements different?  Because if they are, you already have an offset thumb hole.  Your thumb hole would only truely sit on the center line if the cut to cut measurements for both fingers to thumb were the same.

Later,

REvans284

Edited on 5/24/2009 4:19 PM

Juggernaut

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There are those among us who claim that an offset thumbhole DOES NOT EXIST, but I believe it does. It may only exist in the technique used to achieve it, but there is something about the geometry of it that lets me use one drilling method with no problems, while the other doesn't.

 Some claim that an offset thumbhole only amounts to a stretched ring finger, and having seen pictures of both on several occasions, I have to agree that they do seem similar on many facets.

 I, myself, use the centerline between the fingers, thumb offset to the left technique to achieve the proper grip "feel" for me. My thumbhole is offset exactly as much as the middle finger hole, and is pitched with I believe 3/8 reverse and 1/4 lateral away from the palm (negative). This lets me clear the thumbhole cleanly, but does dictate that I use a tighter thumbhole than before, which causes callusing on the sides.

 Like I said, I don't know the TECHNICAL difference between offsetting the thumbhole and just extending the finger span on one finger to achieve the proper span measurements, but there must be SOME geometrical difference, because I can clean the thumb well on the offset method, but not on the extended ring finger method, even with the appropriate pitches.
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laufaye

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You might want to ask Tom, I almost have my eyes crossed when I try to imagine if the thumb is offset or not, coz there is no lines on the ball anymore...

John, be selective on what you read...
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morpheus

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Technically, you cannot offset three points on a spherical object.  Assuming the pitches in your thumb hole aren't zero/zero you are changing the pitch ever so slightly by drilling the thumb in an "offset" position.
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Doug Sterner

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As a pro shop owner I'll chime in here...

There is a technique that matches whatthe writer is getting at. It is something called a CLT grip.

CLT stands for Center Line Transfer. If you want to know HOW to do it, I can provide that info but it's irrelevant at this point.

In a nutshell what this gives you is a more comfortable feel in the ball due to the finger pitches matching up better to the pads of contact on your fingers.

The grip promotes less grip pressure which leads to a freer armswing and a cleaner release.

As has been said there is no such thing as an offet thumb. If you lay the ball out and then offset the thumb one way or the other say 1/8", all you are doing is stretching the span of the middle or ring finger.
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Jesse James

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Amen Doug Strener!

I am no pro shop driller.....but that is exactly the way it's been explained to me, also!

The feel, by the way, is extremely comfortable!
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Edited on 5/27/2009 3:44 PM
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duvallite

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Here is a link showing how the CLT grip is layed out.  Having the hand flatter on the ball sounds good.  Is there any downside to this type of grip?  Do you lose revs at all?

http://www.ricksproshop.com/CLT_DRILLING_INSTRUCTIONS.pdf

J_Mac

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I swear my driller always rolled his eyes when I would twist the grips so they were completely even with my fingers pads.

DukeHarding

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Re: A 'Magic' Thumbhole Can Be the Key to Unlocking Your Bowling Kingdom
« Reply #10 on: May 28, 2009, 02:11:03 PM »
I found this article abut CLT by Chip Aki, from 2006.

Question: I wanted to post a summary of how Center Line Transposition seems to be defined by those using it. I never really determined if the definition found in practice is what was initially intended, a narrow use of a broader term, or something which evolved into something else. In my understanding, what is below is common to a PBA.com thread, an IBPSIA forum thread, and the BTM thread. If you find any of this in error, please let me know, so that I can edit this post.

Summary:

1) CLT is a fitting technique or method. Not a type of grip per se.

2) Placement of the drilled gripping hole centers is performed from the standard T-line. Only finger pitches, finger insert orientation, or finger oval orientation (no inserts) are referenced from another line (a transposed center line)

3) The transposed center line is just a line that intersects the standard center line at the midpoint of the finger bridge, the angle of which is determined by having the bowler insert the thumb into the thumb hole of either a well fitting ball, or the ball being fitted if thumb already drilled, and relaxing the fingers across the location of the finger holes. A marker is then used to draw a line between the ring and middle fingers which represents the direction of more natural placement of the fingers. This is the transposed centerline.

4) If the ball is being fitted from an existing well fitting ball, the fingers would be drilled applying the same finger pitch specs as in the pattern ball, but now applied about the transposed center line, which is effectively a pitch modification. The magnitude of the pitch change is related to how much angle there is between the transposed CL and the standard CL and also the magnatude of the initial pitches. The grip inserts or any ovaling of the finger holes would also be oriented to the transposed center line. http://www.neon-auto-lights.com/temp/CLTdrillinginstructions.pdf

5) If a well fitting ball is not being used to perform the CLT method, then the Pro Shop Technician, would select the appropriate pitches based upon careful inspection of how the bowlers hand lies across the ball and any other attributes such crooked fingers or inflexible finger joints.

6) Once the ball is drilled using the CLT method, the pitches can be measured referencing the standard centerline and documented and repeated in the future w/o CLT. The angle between the transposed CL and the standard CL would still be needed to set the grip inserts or oval the finger holes.

7) Most bowlers reported an increase in comfort and more contact between the hand and the ball.


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Monster Pike

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Re: A 'Magic' Thumbhole Can Be the Key to Unlocking Your Bowling Kingdom
« Reply #11 on: May 28, 2009, 03:45:17 PM »
Yep.  I have an offset thumb hole & it does feel more comfortable.  My thumb hole is left of the center line, for rh.  The finger hole inserts are left exactly how they would have been if the thumb was on center.  That's what keeps it off set.  If you twist the finger inserts to match the thumb, then you're defeating the purpose & then it wouldn't be off set any more. JMO.
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laufaye

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Re: A 'Magic' Thumbhole Can Be the Key to Unlocking Your Bowling Kingdom
« Reply #12 on: May 28, 2009, 05:57:19 PM »
uhhhhhhhhhhhhh  really....
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Laufaye

Monster Pike

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Re: A 'Magic' Thumbhole Can Be the Key to Unlocking Your Bowling Kingdom
« Reply #13 on: May 28, 2009, 08:04:23 PM »
quote:
uhhhhhhhhhhhhh  really....
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Laufaye


Thought provoking....  don't strain yourself.
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leftyinsnellville

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Re: A 'Magic' Thumbhole Can Be the Key to Unlocking Your Bowling Kingdom
« Reply #14 on: May 29, 2009, 06:53:51 AM »
quote:
Here is a link showing how the CLT grip is layed out.  Having the hand flatter on the ball sounds good.  Is there any downside to this type of grip?  Do you lose revs at all?

http://www.ricksproshop.com/CLT_DRILLING_INSTRUCTIONS.pdf


I've been using this method for a while, though I didn't know what it was called.  It just seemed logical to me to do it since my thumb is not centered in the middle of my palm.  

In addition to rotating the ball in the jig when drilling my finger holes, I also rotate the ball in the jig about 23 degrees clockwise before I drill the thumbhole (I'm a lefty, you right-handers would rotate counter-clockwise).  This makes the pitches follow the natural lay of my thumb a lot better.


Edited on 5/29/2009 6:54 AM