Author Topic: Pitch Changes.......... (Read 4474 times)

Willis · « **on:** April 24, 2008, 08:46:34 AM »

Right now I am at 0 lateral and 3/8 reverse in the thumb, with almost a 5 inch span. I want to reduce the amount of squeezing, I have the thumb hole as tight as i can get it.

If I changed the reverse to 1/8, would that be too drastic of a change?

I was also thinking about changing from 0 to 1/8 reverse in my fingers, to help my fingerpads lay on the ball better.

Thanks

Locke · « **Reply #1 on:** April 24, 2008, 04:48:47 PM »

I personally do not use any pitch at all. and when I put my hand in a ball with a 1/8 back thumb I couldn't hold it. I would say 1/4 is a lot of a change...
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LuckyLefty · « **Reply #2 on:** April 25, 2008, 06:31:27 AM »

Changes of 1/8 of an inch are a good amount in changing forward reverse.

1/4 may be a lot.

If one is having trouble holding on....lateral under palm increases holding power as does less reverse.

If it were me I would go to 1/4 reverse on that span or 3/16.

Those are typical adjustments made for flexible thumbs or thumbs that have trouble holding.

Note 3/8 reverse is the standard reverse for a 5 inch span from the Bill Taylor charts. Most increments and changes he recommends in his old but still pretty good books are about 1/8 at a time!

REgards,

Luckylefty
PS Locke is your span 5 inches? Just curious.
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dizzyfugu · « **Reply #3 on:** April 25, 2008, 06:38:34 AM »

I had my thumb pitch moved 1/8" towards grip center a while ago, as a suggestion from my pro shop owner who saw me lofting the ball a lot. We tried it on a ball I had with me, and it was a) a remarkable difference and b) an immediate success. My thumb now rests less cranked in the hole, I can hold onto the ball with the full thumb area instead of just the rim area, which made me apply the "Kung Fu death grip". Small change, huge effect!

Since then, I have been using tape, though, but overall the pitch change lead for me to a more relexed and earlier release.

Personally, I would give it a try, but do not try more than 1/8" change at once. Besides, I am not sure if it helps with your fingers - you might rather try inserts or different types of inserts which also give a much different feel as well as different levels of touch and leverage, depending on how your finger joints are "constructed".
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Strider · « **Reply #4 on:** April 25, 2008, 07:07:21 AM »

As people who work with Ron Clifton know, if you're taught properly how to not squeeze, you'd be better off making a big jump rather than making a bunch of small moves. I went straight from 5/16 reverse to 3/8 forward and was dropping the ball within a few shots.
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CoachJim · « **Reply #5 on:** April 25, 2008, 07:45:03 AM »

The most important part of playing with your thumb pitch is to make sure you have the proper span, if your span is too long you may injure yourself.

To check your span, put your thumb in the hole and lay your fingers across the holes, the edge of the finger holes towards the thumb hole should be 1/2 way between the first and second knuckle with your hand relaxed, not stretched.

Ron also had me make a big move, from 0 to 1/2 forward in one session.

Willis · « **Reply #6 on:** April 25, 2008, 08:35:07 AM »

My span is 4 7/8 to MF and 5 to RF..

Willis · « **Reply #7 on:** April 25, 2008, 08:39:47 AM »

I already tried going from 0 to 1/8 lateral under palm (I'm righthanded) in the thumb and didn't like, it caused the left side of my thumb to rub too much so I went back to 0.

LuckyLefty · « **Reply #8 on:** April 25, 2008, 10:44:02 AM »

On lateral...you've done the right thing for your hand based on thumb damage!

REgards,

Luckylefty
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strikealot · « **Reply #9 on:** April 25, 2008, 10:48:23 AM »

dont you know everyone should be using 3/8 to 1/2 forward nomatta what your span or flexibility is..just ask the ron cult...

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Strider · « **Reply #10 on:** April 25, 2008, 10:29:20 PM »

quote:
dont you know everyone should be using 3/8 to 1/2 forward nomatta what your span or flexibility is..just ask the ron cult...

Sorry, but I answered the question asked. There's no way to know from the information provided whether the OP's span is OK. But, if you have a modern relaxed span, you can change your pitches quite a bit without changing your span. I'm living proof of that. Of course, you have to take many things into account (including flexibility) when finding your proper span and pitches. But if your span is correct and you want to move your pitches, you're better off learning how not to squeeze and moving all at once and avoid re-drilling your ball several times trying to get it right.
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ThongPrincess · « **Reply #11 on:** April 25, 2008, 11:54:14 PM »

I have something like a 4 5/8 span and use 5/8 forward. My journey forward began back in 2003 when my then coach, Eddie Williams, had me move from reverse to forward. He moved me to forward because I was dropping the ball.

I think I was at 1/4 forward when I met Ron Clifton. Since I made slow moves until I got to where I am. I no longer drop the ball, at least not very often

, but am curious what would happen if I went even farther forward. I may experiment one of these days
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AngloBowler · « **Reply #12 on:** April 26, 2008, 04:45:15 AM »

My span is in the neighbourhood of 5" and I have about 5/16-3/8 reverse, suits me fine and I don't have to grip the ball, different strokes for different folks, just find a ball driller you trust and work with them.

Adding reverse on the fingers will result in a loss of revs (I have noticed this myself, I think) so bear that in mind. I've got a *lot* of reverse on my fingers, and if I didn't create leverage in other ways I probably wouldn't get much on the ball at all. I am of the opinion that you should go for as much forward pitch on the fingers as you can without causing any injury. The reason I have so much reverse is that I was getting bruises under my nails as I have stiff end joints.
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CoachJim · « **Reply #13 on:** April 26, 2008, 09:04:20 AM »

The length of the thumb is key, if your thumb is longer than 2" you will have more surface area between your thumb and the ball and have a better grip, and not need as much or any forward pitch, but you should still go forward to the point where you don't need to knuckle the ball to hang on to it.

JohnP · « **Reply #14 on:** April 26, 2008, 10:41:12 AM »

quote:
Adding reverse on the fingers will result in a loss of revs (I have noticed this myself, I think) so bear that in mind.

This is true IF your finger joints are flexible enough to allow the full pad of your finger to contact the front of the holes at the increased forward pitch. However, a lot of the bowlers I work with have lost flexibility in their joints and their finger pitch puts only the crease of the joint in contact with the front of the hole and their finger nail jammed into the back side of the hole. In this case, increasing the reverse pitch so the entire pad of the fingers contacts the front of the hole will NOT decrease revs, but will probably increase them. I have put customers at as much as 3/4 reverse finger pitch with no loss of ball reaction, but a significant loss of finger joint and nail pain. -- JohnP

Author Topic: Pitch Changes.......... (Read 4474 times)

Willis

Pitch Changes..........

Locke

Re: Pitch Changes..........

LuckyLefty

Re: Pitch Changes..........

dizzyfugu

Re: Pitch Changes..........

Strider

Re: Pitch Changes..........

CoachJim

Re: Pitch Changes..........

Willis

Re: Pitch Changes..........

Willis

Re: Pitch Changes..........

LuckyLefty

Re: Pitch Changes..........

strikealot

Re: Pitch Changes..........

Strider

Re: Pitch Changes..........

ThongPrincess

Re: Pitch Changes..........

AngloBowler

Re: Pitch Changes..........

CoachJim

Re: Pitch Changes..........

JohnP

Re: Pitch Changes..........