Title: Re: Tom Smallwood Layout
Post by: completebowler on March 29, 2011, 07:34:12 PM
I wonder if he has ever used Pro Grip creme on his forearm instead.
ALL STAR BOWLING & TROPHY LANGAN'S ALL STAR LANES IBPSIA MEMBER WALLED LAKE MI
Title: Re: Tom Smallwood Layout
Post by: bighook69 on March 29, 2011, 07:41:02 PM
I notice after he gets the spit on his arm he then rubs that on the ball... in my mind that kind of defeats the purpose... don't see why he couldn't just pat some rosin on his arm or something
Title: Re: Tom Smallwood Layout
Post by: Jesse James on March 30, 2011, 06:41:31 AM
I don't think that would be very good either. Greater chance of actually spreading rosin onto the lane surface over the course of a game. Not to mention, that there is probably something in the PBA rules about using foreign substances in non-applicable areas.
Duct tape is like 'The Force'. It has a light side and a dark side, but it still holds the universe together.
Some days you're the bug; some days you're the windshield.
Title: Re: Tom Smallwood Layout
Post by: Russell on March 30, 2011, 07:02:24 AM
OOORRR
We could realize that he's one of the best bowlers on planet earth...and has probably thought of this stuff. I mean he's probably been doing this for more than a few months.
Little known fact: In Russian "Hope" and "Change" translate to "Tax" and "Spend"
Title: Re: Tom Smallwood Layout
Post by: Dan Belcher on March 30, 2011, 08:01:05 AM
A little moisture on the skin makes it tackier than perfectly dry skin. Since he wants the ball to feel nice and steady on his forearm, he wants his forearm to be a little tacky. Pretty simple, and apparently, pretty effective.
Title: Re: Tom Smallwood Layout
Post by: T C 300 on April 09, 2011, 04:48:40 PM
i bet he does for grip/feel... just like WRW (and me! :->) blows in the thumb hole for xrta grip/feel..
ya it does look a lil "weird" LOL
Title: Re: Tom Smallwood Layout
Post by: TWOHAND834 on April 09, 2011, 06:33:25 PM
Exactly. I actually spit lightly in m left hand for that same reason. Makes the surface of the ball feel extremely tacky. Of course I wipe it off before I pick the ball up. That ball does not go down the lane with saliva on the surface.
A little moisture on the skin makes it tackier than perfectly dry skin. Since he wants the ball to feel nice and steady on his forearm, he wants his forearm to be a little tacky. Pretty simple, and apparently, pretty effective.
Peace doesnt always have to be silent.
Title: Re: Tom Smallwood Layout
Post by: bullred on April 09, 2011, 09:36:14 PM
Does anyone notice if Smallwood inserts his fingers in a fingertip, semi or "whatever????
I use to drill for a young man a few years ago that used the "partial" thumb" In an effort to get some control, he went all the way down to where his fingers were conventional. Lost very few revs, but got lot better accuracy. Anyone interested in this grip needs a "friendly" driller and some old balls to drill and get the pitches and thumb placement correct. The thumb and the fingers are almost in line with one another. Pin can be moved around to effect the track. His track changed each time we changed the finger depth. Don't use "regular" pin placements. Pin placement will be determined by where his track runs and "full roller" type layouts. Get this layout correct for you and if you can make the physical change, it's a killer. Notice that he is a bit early, body low, and has a soft release . Can't be "cranking " with this grip
Title: Re: Tom Smallwood Layout
Post by: bullred on April 09, 2011, 09:36:22 PM
Does anyone notice if Smallwood inserts his fingers in a fingertip, semi or "whatever????
I use to drill for a young man a few years ago that used the "partial" thumb" In an effort to get some control, he went all the way down to where his fingers were conventional. Lost very few revs, but got lot better accuracy. Anyone interested in this grip needs a "friendly" driller and some old balls to drill and get the pitches and thumb placement correct. The thumb and the fingers are almost in line with one another. Pin can be moved around to effect the track. His track changed each time we changed the finger depth. Don't use "regular" pin placements. Pin placement will be determined by where his track runs and "full roller" type layouts. Get this layout correct for you and if you can make the physical change, it's a killer. Notice that he is a bit early, body low, and has a soft release . Can't be "cranking " with this grip
Title: Re: Tom Smallwood Layout
Post by: JohnP on April 11, 2011, 07:46:31 AM
I tried to see how far Smallwood was putting his fingers in but he uses black tape on his fingers that blends in with the ball surface so it's hard to tell. I think he's fingertip but am not sure. I have two customers that use the half thumb grip, one is a full roller that hooks the lane, the other is a semi roller that also hooks the lane, the full roller is fingertip and the semi roller is conventional. -- JohnP
Title: Re: Tom Smallwood Layout
Post by: Cubsfan300 on April 12, 2011, 03:06:02 PM
Tom is not a full roller, he just tracks extremely high. He has to use full roller layouts or VERY high pins to avoid flaring over the fingers.
Title: Re: Tom Smallwood Layout
Post by: JustRico on April 12, 2011, 03:34:30 PM
He is a full roller....reason being is that if you track high you can use a typical 3/4 roll layout and pull the flare around the middle finger and away from the thumb-left side...he tracks on the inside of the thumb, thus necessitating full foller layouts to get the flare to go to the inside of his thumb and the left side of his middle finger...
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Title: Re: Tom Smallwood Layout
Post by: Cubsfan300 on April 14, 2011, 12:26:57 PM
My bad I was just going off the info that Tommy gave me a couple weekends ago.
Title: Re: Tom Smallwood Layout
Post by: LotsaBalls on April 17, 2011, 01:29:06 PM
Tom is a good friend of mine and he acually track right over the center of the thumb his axis is 5 9/16 over and 1 1/2 up. he can use standard layouts on high flaring balls but he tends to like the weaker balls because he is rev dominate.