BallReviews

General Category => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: Zanatos1914 on December 12, 2013, 10:49:01 AM

Title: Inserts or No Inserts
Post by: Zanatos1914 on December 12, 2013, 10:49:01 AM
Just wanted to know how many people are still using inserts and advantages of not using them... I am watching allot of youtube bowling these days and these pro's arent using them...  Does tape feel the same as inserts...
Title: Re: Inserts or No Inserts
Post by: St. Croix on December 12, 2013, 11:26:32 AM
I recently began using thumb inserts. I like the feel. Do the inserts help the release? I am not sure, but from a psychological point of view, the smooth feel is worth it.

There is a potential advantage. I was having some trouble with the thumb grip on a recently purchased ball. The local pro suggested using tape which I did not want to do. I asked him to start from scratch with a new thumb insert; he installed a new insert, and the grip is excellent. There is the small added expense, but I would rather tweak the grip with an insert rather than tape.
Title: Re: Inserts or No Inserts
Post by: SVstar34 on December 12, 2013, 11:30:36 AM
some people tear up their hands(fingers) with inserts. I've noticed lately that when I bowl a lot, the sides of my middle finger get chewed up pretty good because I put more into the ball now than I used to.
Both proshop guys I've known have switched to no inserts. 1 because he liked the feel better and felt like he had more control on his release, the other because his fingers always got chewed up with inserts.
Title: Re: Inserts or No Inserts
Post by: BallReviews-Removed0385 on December 12, 2013, 12:15:18 PM
Inserts.  Thumb mold, and vaccu-grip finger inserts.  It's personal preference.  Whatever feels right for you will be best.

Title: Re: Inserts or No Inserts
Post by: kidlost2000 on December 12, 2013, 12:38:22 PM
Thumb slugs but no finger inserts. Went away from finger inserts in 2001ish and never looked back. Much more consistent feel from ball to ball. I use a little tap if needed and that is it.

I have also only had one ball crack since I stopped using them. (I drilled 10 plus a year safely)
Title: Re: Inserts or No Inserts
Post by: Matt Fortney on December 12, 2013, 07:37:52 PM
Played around with this a lot for a long time. Some with inserts, some without. What I found was that I got better feedback from shots I throw without. The grips for me, were so soft and would hide my mistakes from me, feel wise. I would rather know what I did to cause that poor roll. Like it was said before though, personal preference.
Title: Re: Inserts or No Inserts
Post by: David Lee Yskes on December 12, 2013, 08:51:17 PM
I stopped using inserts back in 2001, and i too would tear up my fingers... literally tear the skin off from inserts.. 

plus, i dont have to replace the inserts either.. finger holes stay the same size..  I also use Bio-skin finger tape..





Title: Re: Inserts or No Inserts
Post by: Coach castle on December 12, 2013, 10:29:05 PM
I stopped using finger grips in 2006 due to a lot of joint pain in my fingers an elbow. Boy what a difference it has made no more pain along with bowling better than I ever have . Still use thumb grip using vise it . I suggest to bowlers to try a ball with out grips .
Title: Re: Inserts or No Inserts
Post by: tommyboy74 on December 12, 2013, 10:38:59 PM
I personally like the feel of going without inserts for the fingers more.  It helps me with keeping more control on the ball and it just has a much better feel for me.

However, when I came back to bowling a few years ago, I started using thumb slugs.  The feel for me has been more consistent and I don't tear my thumb anymore.
Title: Re: Inserts or No Inserts
Post by: Elimeno Pee on December 13, 2013, 05:08:41 AM
I used to use them.  Went to no finger inserts, liked it. Used no inserts for 7 or so years.  I'm not back to inserts on my strike ball, my spare ball has no inserts.  I find that I can get more on the ball because it feels easier to hang on to the ball when I go for more axis tilt.   The thumb, I always used to get pre-formed ovals, but my last ball was no insert / raw ball in the thumb....love it.

So, insert, no insert?  Only matters what's comfy for you.  Someone I know uses 1 insert in the fingers, 1 without, both straight up finger tip drills.
Title: Re: Inserts or No Inserts
Post by: Stan on December 13, 2013, 11:30:53 AM
Used them when they first came out for a few months.  Hated the feel, took them out and never looked back.
Title: Re: Inserts or No Inserts
Post by: Impending Doom on December 13, 2013, 04:10:44 PM
As far as fingers, I haven't had inserts since 98, dislike the feel of them now, and couldn't throw a ball with them in. I've been no inserts, no bevel for about 11 years. Awesome for me.

As far as thumb inserts/slugs/etc, that all has to do with the type of feel you want in the thumb, and how moist your skin gets. The top half inch of the hole is the coverstock, and if your hands get very sweaty, you can easily stick. I personally go IT slug and no grips.
Title: Re: Inserts or No Inserts
Post by: MI 2 AZ on December 13, 2013, 05:28:40 PM
As far as fingers, I haven't had inserts since 98, dislike the feel of them now, and couldn't throw a ball with them in. I've been no inserts, no bevel for about 11 years. Awesome for me.

As far as thumb inserts/slugs/etc, that all has to do with the type of feel you want in the thumb, and how moist your skin gets. The top half inch of the hole is the coverstock, and if your hands get very sweaty, you can easily stick. I personally go IT slug and no grips.

I have gone to no inserts on my new balls.  Right now I have a mixture of older balls with the inserts and the new ones without.  I prefer the no insert method but I have to have some bevel.  I don't think I could bowl with no bevel, those edges are sharp off the drill press.

After reading about the depth of the coverstock, I checked a few balls.  The Radical and Storms are about 1/2 inch in depth.  If you have a problem with sticking because of the coverstock, better avoid Visionary - the ones I checked were about an inch in depth. : )
I don't have that problem because I use Magic Carpets on the back of the thumb hole and tape in the front part so very little of my skin is actually contacting the coverstock.

Title: Re: Inserts or No Inserts
Post by: northface28 on December 13, 2013, 07:50:51 PM
No inserts,  no bevel. I don't understand why guys go with no inserts and then bevel, sand, "work" the finger holes beyond recognition.  At that point, they feel like oval grips.
Title: Re: Inserts or No Inserts
Post by: six pack on December 14, 2013, 09:47:25 AM
I've went back and forth and currently use inserts.comfort and adjustments with finger's were the reasons I switched back.
Title: Re: Inserts or No Inserts
Post by: scrub49 on December 14, 2013, 11:24:27 AM
I went back and forth decided on semi's for comfort.