Author Topic: Vinyl vs. Urethane thumb slugs (Read 12547 times)

REvans284 · « **on:** November 08, 2007, 09:20:03 AM »

I was just curious as to which type most people thought were the most comfortable, and were the easiest to smooth out inside to get a clean release. And is there an advantage to having one vs. the other?

I currently use the plain jane Vise Urethane thumb slug in all my equipment, After I get the hole fitted I usually take a small piece of sand paper (2000) and massage the whole a bit to smoothen it out. If it still grabs me a bit, I'll actually scrape the hole with the ballwork tool lightly in the area thats aggravating me and get it really smooth, then it doesn't bother me anymore usually.

I plan to buy a few as I am getting a few balls drilled in the near future. If I get them online its cheaper than buying through the pro-shop around here (same with finger inserts). I just don't know if I should try the Vinyl though as I haven't used it before.

Later,

REvans284

PS. I'm not in the market for the switch grip. I don't like those things.

Edited on 11/8/2007 6:22 PM

dizzyfugu · « **Reply #1 on:** November 08, 2007, 05:30:28 PM »

Well, if you are not content with urethane, I'd try vinyl on eone ball first, just to see how it works out for you.

Personally, I use urethane (with tape under the thumb, have rather slender fingers) and like its hard plastic grip and feel, with some sanded surface (1.000 grit).
I tried vinyl on a friend's balls which fit my hand well, but it was way too slippery for me and even got worse with sweat - nothing for me at all. But this must not be the same for you.
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azguy · « **Reply #2 on:** November 08, 2007, 05:49:13 PM »

The basic difference is slick vs tacky, your release.

Some like the quicker/slick release of vinyl where others like the smoother slower ( if you will) release of urethane.

Fords VS Chevy VS Dodge...it's a matter of likes. Try one then you'll know for sure. I've tried the vinyl and don't care for them, but that's me.
--------------------
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raiderh20boy · « **Reply #3 on:** November 08, 2007, 05:57:46 PM »

I use the Vice Easy urethane Great release. I thought the vinyl felt like a drag on my release.

REvans284 · « **Reply #4 on:** November 08, 2007, 06:01:09 PM »

quote:
Well, if you are not content with urethane, I'd try vinyl on eone ball first, just to see how it works out for you.

Personally, I use urethane (with tape under the thumb, have rather slender fingers) and like its hard plastic grip and feel, with some sanded surface (1.000 grit).
I tried vinyl on a friend's balls which fit my hand well, but it was way too slippery for me and even got worse with sweat - nothing for me at all. But this must not be the same for you.
--------------------
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Yea, you're right.

I bet you are a white tape kinda guy, and I can't stand that. It's too gritty and rubs blisters on me, and I have never gotten used to it. I use black tape and put it to the back of my thumb hole (not in the front usually or it would probably be too slippery. However, I did have a particle ball drilled without a slug for a week because they didnt have a slug in stock, and I HAD to put tape in the front of that thing).

If it feels like I have to squeeze the ball a bit, I add another piece to the back until it gets real snug. When its right, I don't usually have a problem with slipping (unless its sweat). Either way, I feel like adding white tape changes my span too much (I use 3-5 pieces of black in my ball usually for leagues because I bowled alot of youth tournaments with 12+ games before I moved up and my thumb swells alot during those so my hole is rather large for a natural fit).

I may have to give Vinyl a try just to see, but I planned on buying multiple slugs. My better half and I both use 1 1/8 so I was going to buy several and she used the Vise Urethane too. We will see, our span is pretty close and if she throws my ball and likes the feel I may buy more Vinyl, but I won't buy that many right now.

Later,

REvans284

Edited on 11/8/2007 7:02 PM

dizzyfugu · « **Reply #5 on:** November 08, 2007, 06:13:05 PM »

quote:

Yea, you're right.

I bet you are a white tape kinda guy

Exactly!

I like the rough surface and the additional grip - with the vinyl I always had the feeling that the ball would slip off of my hand in the downswing, and I'd apply a kung fu death grip.
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Edited on 11/8/2007 7:13 PM

clint191 · « **Reply #6 on:** November 08, 2007, 07:03:13 PM »

I like the smooth release of the vinyl slugs, but I have a problem
w/ them when I add tape. After a few games or an afternoon left
in a hot vehicle, the tape comes off and leaves the sticky residue
in the ball.

I hear the clear thumb slugs have a really good feel to them, but
I don't know how they take tape???

boondoggle · « **Reply #7 on:** November 08, 2007, 10:53:47 PM »

I've used both and I prefer the vinyl. Visegrips brand in particular.

For me, a well worn vinyl is easiest on the thumb. I use one with a bit of white tape in the front/finger side for grip.

I used to have fairly prominent calluses on my thumb particularly on the highest point of the knuckle, but with a vinyl slug I've got virtually zero wear and tear.

REvans284 · « **Reply #8 on:** November 09, 2007, 12:57:36 PM »

quote:
I've used both and I prefer the vinyl. Visegrips brand in particular.

For me, a well worn vinyl is easiest on the thumb. I use one with a bit of white tape in the front/finger side for grip.

I used to have fairly prominent calluses on my thumb particularly on the highest point of the knuckle, but with a vinyl slug I've got virtually zero wear and tear.

Thats what I was looking into. I have a very clean but snappy release at the bottom of my swing. When I have used white tape I had to put it in the front of my hole, and when I did that it was too much friction and caused me to hang in the ball. Therefore, I use black.

With that in mind, my hands do sweat like several other people have stated having a problem with and causing slipping, so I use a puff ball to keep them dry. That usually solves my slip problem all together.

With the Urethane slugs, I have developed a callus on the left side of my right thumb between the cuticle (start of) my finger nail and the bend . I figured that it was because the hole wasn't quite correct for my thumb shape so I fixed it with the ballwork too. It feels alot and has been fixed on all of my equipment, and the callus has shrunk dramatically but still slightly remains. In extended play such as tournaments when I'm not used to it, it can also become irritated a bit even when I remove most/all of my tape.

I'm hoping the Vinyl slug will cure this problem and be a little easier on the wear and tear for me too. Hopefully I can get rid of the callus all together and reduce the tenderness in long play.

Also, I have tried the Vise finger tape, that goes on your hand rather than in the ball. Reguardless of which color none of it would stick to me for longer than 2-3 swings. The red/tan seemed to work better than the blue/green but I just cant use it.

Later,

REvans284

Edited on 11/9/2007 2:00 PM

cgilyeat · « **Reply #9 on:** November 11, 2007, 07:56:51 PM »

Like others, I've used both and prefer urethane to vinyl, but apparently I'm just the opposite from everyone else. I find vinyl slugs to be more tacky than urethane. For me, the softer vinyl slug tends to be far less smooth after drilling and more tacky. I find that a urethane slug, being a harder material, is smoother and slicker than vinyl. So I get a better release with urethane.

Brickguy221 · « **Reply #10 on:** November 11, 2007, 08:14:22 PM »

quote:
Like others, I've used both and prefer urethane to vinyl, but apparently I'm just the opposite from everyone else. I find vinyl slugs to be more tacky than urethane. For me, the softer vinyl slug tends to be far less smooth after drilling and more tacky. I find that a urethane slug, being a harder material, is smoother and slicker than vinyl. So I get a better release with urethane.

I agree with every word cgilyeat wrote here. That description exactly fits me exactly, also.

--------------------
Brick

Mike Austin · « **Reply #11 on:** November 13, 2007, 07:00:19 PM »

In some other threads I noted, that vinyl slugs are effected by the color. The darker they are, the harder they are to make smooth. This varies from slug to slug too. The white and yellow usually always come out slick. Wipe them down with some acetone and they are like glass. I like black slugs, and sometimes they would be gummy, soft.

The harder material of the urethane takes a sanding better. If you have the patience, sanding them with some finer and finger paper can make any color urethane almost too slick.

Most of you guys would hate my thumb holes. For one I am a tape fiend. (One reason I love the Switch Grip so much, if I wouldn't break them.) Before taping I rough the slug with some screen. I like two pieces of white tape in the front. Fill in until snug (really tight) with white tape in the back, usually about 4-5 pieces.

Since I use so much tape, I have tried no slugs, numberous times, but you would not believe what a difference the slug makes. The hole is more uniform from ball to ball.
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REvans284 · « **Reply #12 on:** November 14, 2007, 01:26:17 PM »

quote:
In some other threads I noted, that vinyl slugs are effected by the color. The darker they are, the harder they are to make smooth. This varies from slug to slug too. The white and yellow usually always come out slick. Wipe them down with some acetone and they are like glass. I like black slugs, and sometimes they would be gummy, soft.

The harder material of the urethane takes a sanding better. If you have the patience, sanding them with some finer and finger paper can make any color urethane almost too slick.

Most of you guys would hate my thumb holes. For one I am a tape fiend. (One reason I love the Switch Grip so much, if I wouldn't break them.) Before taping I rough the slug with some screen. I like two pieces of white tape in the front. Fill in until snug (really tight) with white tape in the back, usually about 4-5 pieces.

Since I use so much tape, I have tried no slugs, numberous times, but you would not believe what a difference the slug makes. The hole is more uniform from ball to ball.
--------------------
Just because they make it in your size, doesn't mean you should wear it!!!

Check out my project: www.mikeaustinbowling.net

CHECK OUT MY BLOGS! www.myspace.com/strikes4days

Check out Tony's Journals - they are FREE!!
http://www.allbowling.com/journal/public.php?uid=67&leagueid=563

Ow,

That hurts just just thinking about releasing a ball with tape like that

.

Thanks everybody for the input.

REvans284

Author Topic: Vinyl vs. Urethane thumb slugs (Read 12547 times)

REvans284

Vinyl vs. Urethane thumb slugs

dizzyfugu

Re: Vinyl vs. Urethane thumb slugs

azguy

Re: Vinyl vs. Urethane thumb slugs

raiderh20boy

Re: Vinyl vs. Urethane thumb slugs

REvans284

Re: Vinyl vs. Urethane thumb slugs

dizzyfugu

Re: Vinyl vs. Urethane thumb slugs

clint191

Re: Vinyl vs. Urethane thumb slugs

boondoggle

Re: Vinyl vs. Urethane thumb slugs

REvans284

Re: Vinyl vs. Urethane thumb slugs

cgilyeat

Re: Vinyl vs. Urethane thumb slugs

Brickguy221

Re: Vinyl vs. Urethane thumb slugs

Mike Austin

Re: Vinyl vs. Urethane thumb slugs

REvans284

Re: Vinyl vs. Urethane thumb slugs