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Author Topic: Lateral thumb pitches / coke can test ??  (Read 17016 times)

Re-Evolution

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Lateral thumb pitches / coke can test ??
« on: July 21, 2004, 12:10:06 PM »
In the past someone made a post referencing a way to use a coke can to determine the amount and direction of lateral thumb pitch needed by holding a can and checking where your thumb points to.

Anyone know how this is done.


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The great one

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Re: Lateral thumb pitches / coke can test ??
« Reply #16 on: July 29, 2004, 12:55:55 AM »
The guy that figured out my thumb pitch had me do kinda the same thing, but picking up a pencil.
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Pinbuster

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Re: Lateral thumb pitches / coke can test ??
« Reply #17 on: July 29, 2004, 08:40:28 AM »
King – Yes, maybe a starting point but when drilling $200 balls I prefer to get it right the first time.

With a somewhat educated guess a pitch will reasonably work for 80+% of the bowlers.

But we have “proshops” around here that drill the same pitch ( ¼ Rev 1/8 Left for right handed bowlers, opposite lateral for lefties) for every bowler that comes in their shop and over 80% of their customers are happy as well.

I’m simply saying for the best chance of getting it right the first time you need to use the Jayhawk type of adjustable ball.
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LuckyLefty

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Re: Lateral thumb pitches / coke can test ??
« Reply #18 on: July 29, 2004, 12:25:26 PM »
Pin Buster,

Bill Taylor's tables would put you at 0 forward reverse.

But there is a chance if you tried that you may like it but you may need more forward bevel that you are currently used to.  Are your balls almost no bevel in the thumb?

Also Bill would take a look at your thumb length and if you are over 2 1/4 inches and also look at your flexibility.  If you are wet thumbed, long or hang he would probably add about 1/8 to 1/4 to his starting point of near 0 for reverse pitch.

REgards,

Luckylefty
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Pinbuster

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Re: Lateral thumb pitches / coke can test ??
« Reply #19 on: July 29, 2004, 01:13:49 PM »
I have lots of bevel, I'm the king of bevel

And according to my handy 8 inch measuring tool I have with me at all times I would say my thumb is

Hmm it doesn't have partial inches

2 3/8

Guess that disproves that theory on....

Edited on 7/29/2004 1:12 PM

Edited on 7/29/2004 1:25 PM
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livespive

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Re: Lateral thumb pitches / coke can test ??
« Reply #20 on: July 29, 2004, 02:37:28 PM »
quote:
I have lots of bevel, I'm the king of bevel

And according to my handy 8 inch measuring tool I have with me at all times I would say my thumb is

Hmm it doesn't have partial inches

2 3/8

Guess that disproves that theory on....

Edited on 7/29/2004 1:12 PM

Edited on 7/29/2004 1:25 PM


Yeah that is a long thumb LMAO

Speaking of thumbs what is the standard depth that a thumb hole gets drilled?
from knuckle to tip my thumb is 3"
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Brickguy221

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Re: Lateral thumb pitches / coke can test ??
« Reply #21 on: July 29, 2004, 05:40:48 PM »
quote:
Speaking of thumbs what is the standard depth that a thumb hole gets drilled?
from knuckle to tip my thumb is 3"
 


Eric, then you have an excessive long thumb.

Thumb hole bevel--I keep the top of mine square, no bevel at all. I use a piece of sand paper to barely brush the sharp edge of the just drilled thumb hole to knock the sharp edge off. If I beveled the thumb hole, I would have to lengthen my span.

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livespive

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Re: Lateral thumb pitches / coke can test ??
« Reply #22 on: July 29, 2004, 08:58:27 PM »
Yeah,

I'm not the smallest of guys, ask Kendog

On two of my balls I tried the no bevel thing.
If I am going to do that I think I am going to
have to make the hole just a hair bigger.
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JohnP

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Re: Lateral thumb pitches / coke can test ??
« Reply #23 on: July 30, 2004, 12:18:25 PM »
I very seldom measure anyone that needs right thumb pitch.  Occasionally 0, more frequently 1/8 to 1/4 L.  Make a fist in the same manner you would grip the proverbial Coke can.  Now try to move your thumb in the R pitch direction (for righties, reverse for lefties).  Feel a lot of resistance?  Now move it in the L pitch direction.  Moves easily, doesn't it.  Now put your hand roughly in a bowling grip and try moving the thumb similarly.  Same thing?  If you miss the lateral pitch on the R side, you can very easily lock the bowler into the ball unless he turns the ball early. I know this, because my grip was that way for over 30 years.   When you make the fist, if your thumb falls between the RF and MF, I figure that's 0 pitch.  On the MF is 1/8" L, and between the MF and IF is 1/4" L.  I very seldom find anyone that needs more than 1/4" L.  --  JohnP
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Brickguy221

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Re: Lateral thumb pitches / coke can test ??
« Reply #24 on: July 30, 2004, 12:32:08 PM »
John, you may  be on to something with your fist method here because I recently had my span-pitches redone by King Of The Mill and everything works great. Best fit I've had for years. He gave me a lot of left lateral pitch on thumb which works great. Your method indicates the same left lateral that King gave me so in addition to King's method, I will have to say you have a good method also.

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Brickguy221

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Re: Lateral thumb pitches / coke can test ??
« Reply #25 on: August 03, 2004, 11:34:48 PM »
quote:
I very seldom measure anyone that needs right thumb pitch. Occasionally 0, more frequently 1/8 to 1/4 L. Make a fist in the same manner you would grip the proverbial Coke can. Now try to move your thumb in the R pitch direction (for righties, reverse for lefties). Feel a lot of resistance? Now move it in the L pitch direction. Moves easily, doesn't it. Now put your hand roughly in a bowling grip and try moving the thumb similarly. Same thing? If you miss the lateral pitch on the R side, you can very easily lock the bowler into the ball unless he turns the ball early. I know this, because my grip was that way for over 30 years. When you make the fist, if your thumb falls between the RF and MF, I figure that's 0 pitch. On the MF is 1/8" L, and between the MF and IF is 1/4" L. I very seldom find anyone that needs more than 1/4" L. -- JohnP  


I don't put much stock in the coke can test because for me, it's a case of "been there, done that and it didn't work". It may work for some people, but it doesn't work for me.

The above is a copy of a post made by John P under another topic. It may not be accurate for some people, but for me it is very accurate and "dead on". To give you an example why I know that John P's method is accurate for me is.....I've been fighting  with my spans, pitches, grip, etc for over a year now. I talked to LL and he refered me to King Of The Mill. I contacted King and he had me do some measuring and some tests and send the information to him. From this information, King came up with a complete new grip, span, pitches, etc. for me and it was accurate and it worked. The only adjustment I had to make is a 1/16" less span on the middle finger. Everything else is exactly the same today as it was a month ago.

Then when John P posted the above about determing thumb lateral pitches, I ran that test on my hand and it came out exactly the same as the lateral pitches King set me up on.....To sum it up, for me it is much more accurate then Bill Taylor's coke can test......And I thank LL for refering me to King.

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LuckyLefty

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Re: Lateral thumb pitches / coke can test ??
« Reply #26 on: August 05, 2004, 02:15:37 PM »
I've placed a post on drilling called

booooooom..........Boom!

It is about the relavance of lateral pitch.

Realize I am not advocating thumb UNDER lateral pitch, I am advocating proper pitch for YOUR anatomy!

boooom.............Boom!

Boomingly,

Lucky
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