BallReviews
General Category => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: BigDawg on November 10, 2012, 10:27:51 PM
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I am having a problem with loosing the bowling ball during the swing. Can't seem to keep a good grasp. At times, it feels like the thumb slips alot. Causing a gap between the index finger and bowling ball or slip at the pinky finger. Can't get confident on the shot when this happens, unable to maintain consistency. Any suggestions on how to maintain a better or good grasp on the bowling ball during the swing would be greatly appreciated and helpful.
I see a lot of power players bend their pinky finger with the finger nail on the bowling ball. How does this effect the grip and why is it done? Is it painful to do?
Thanks in advance.
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Tape in your thumb hole. Sounds like your thumb hole is not snug enough. Your thumb may have shrunk.
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Big Dog,bending your pinky finger causes your ring finger to pull down towards your palm. In the grip,it will make the tension on your ring finger stronger,thereby tightening the finger without gripping the ball tighter.
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I am having a problem with loosing the bowling ball during the swing. Can't seem to keep a good grasp. At times, it feels like the thumb slips alot. Causing a gap between the index finger and bowling ball or slip at the pinky finger. Can't get confident on the shot when this happens, unable to maintain consistency. Any suggestions on how to maintain a better or good grasp on the bowling ball during the swing would be greatly appreciated and helpful.
I see a lot of power players bend their pinky finger with the finger nail on the bowling ball. How does this effect the grip and why is it done? Is it painful to do?
Thanks in advance.
I agree with CC. Since we are starting to get to the coldest time of the year, your hand can be prone to shrinking. Another thing, is if the thumb feels good when you put it in but slipping during the swing, it could also be a pitch issue with your thumb hole. Is this only happening with one ball or all your balls?
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Im going to agree with TWOHAND834. I was experiencing the same problem with my thumb. The solution i found was moving toward more forward pitch. I started at 1/8 reverse and moved by 8ths finally till i stopped at 1/8 forward. I dont have the problem anymore.
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I have tape in the thumb hole and at times I still feel like I am slipping. Bowled last night to practice and noticed that I am slipping moreso where the thumb grips the bowling ball. This isn't happening to all my equipment, but enough of it to think it is a problem. Is there something to help at the thumb for grip?
I'll play around with the thumb pitch and see what happens. I'm ok with doing all this, since I have been out of bowling for quite awhile and trying to get myself back into form. I guess it's not as easy as it looks to just come back and bowl with high expectations.
Thank you all for your help and suggests and comments.
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It could be any number of reasons why - fit, pitch, thumb size has changed because of your layoff, etc, but the proper thing to do would be to visit your local proshop and have them check it out. They should be able to help determine the problem and offer the solution. If the fit and pitches are correct, then maybe someone here can offer suggestions, but you should verify that first.
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I use Valentino Franken Tape and it gets a bit slick at times. I'll go to the rosin bag for this. A quick LIGHT tap of it on your ball should do the trick OR tap the padded side of your thumb on one.
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I believe the thumb is pitched correctly. But I'll go back to my proshop to have it checked again and startup a conversation about it. Maybe its just me being out for sometime and trying to figure things out again with my grip.
Sometimes, the thumb hole just feels too slippery. Possible, oil in the thumb hole. If so, what can be done to get rid of the oil during league or tournament play, what's the USBC ruling?
Thanks again to all that has responded.
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What type of tape are you using and where in the thumb? You can use alcohol or rosin for the thumb. They sell those alcohol wipes that you could use to clean the oil off your thumb/hole but the alcohol may leave your thumb slicker. Use a piece of the 'grippy' white tape in the front part of the thumb hole. Ask your driller about changing the thumb pitch towards more forward or less reverse. Another thought - how often do you change out the thumb tape? If you are using the white tape, could it be worn?
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If you think your thumb hole is way too big due to your layoff, like four or five pieces of white tape big, then email Ron Clifton and ask for a free sample of his Magic Carpet tape. He used to offer free samples to bowlers from this site. It is placed on the backside of the thumbhole. See his site for his email address to ask for a sample:
http://www.bowl4fun.com/magiccarpet/magiccarpet.htm (http://www.bowl4fun.com/magiccarpet/magiccarpet.htm)
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I use white tape, but I think it is slicker than the thumb slug. I mostly put the tape in the back to take up space. Then there are times I put it in the front to help the thumb come out quicker, but that was in the past not now. Now wondering if the thumb slug is slick and if there are other thumb slugs that are tackier...need to look into this. =)
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Oh, I'll also checkout that Magic Carpet Tape too. Just looking for some consistency and a good grip.
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I haven't kept up on all of the tapes currently on the market, but it used to be that there were two main types: Black and White. The black tapes were usually thinner and slicker. The white tapes were usually thicker and textured for a better gripping surface and usually placed in the front part of the thumb hole if more grip was required. That is why I asked if the tape was worn, the white tapes over time could become slicker due to wear of the textured surface. The Magic Carpet is like velcro, thick and cushy so it gives way to the thumb allowing a tighter fit and air is still allowed to pass through so you don't have the suction effect and sticking.
And yes, there is a difference between the two main types of thumb slugs but I don't remember which was slicker, someone else will have to provide that info.
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It looks like I'll be having a serious indepth discussion with my proshop about grip, tapes, slugs and pitch.
My other topic of curling the pinky finger. How difficult is it to convert or change? What is the best technic to do or use?
Thanks again as always to everyone.
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Finger tuck - I don't use it but here is a link that may help explain it:
http://www.bowl4fun.com/ron/tip11.htm (http://www.bowl4fun.com/ron/tip11.htm)
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Dude or dawg...if you're having this many issues you should be TELLING your pro shop this...if he either doesn't wanna do anything about it or hees and haws about it...FIND ANOTHER PRO SHOP...it could be a number of issues but if it's falling off your hand and/or thumb, it could be span, reverse pitch or size of thumb or all....have it checked out...you're paying him!
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I haven't brought it up to my proshop yet. He's about 300 miles away from me, but I do have a schedule appointment with him for this coming Saturday. So, hopefully, I can get things fixed physically and mentally.
I only started this forum to see if there was a quick fix to my problem and to see if tucking the pinky would be a resolution.
I did come across another forum that is similar where the ring finger does feel closer to the thumb and the bowler is sometimes slipping with it.
Forum Topic: Ring Finger higher does what? (changed from post re: Thumb Bevel)
http://www.ballreviews.com/drilling-layouts/ring-finger-higher-does-what-changed-from-post-thumb-bevel-t290288.0.html
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This sounds like a complete problem with the fitment of your equipment!
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Now wondering if the thumb slug is slick and if there are other thumb slugs that are tackier...need to look into this. =)
Thumb slugs come in either vinyl or urethane. Urethane is harder, thus will be slicker. Vinyl is softer and tackier. Of course, the amount of slickness also depends on how the hole is sanded. -- JohnP
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Another thought is too much front thumb bevel. Again, something for you pro shop to look at.
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I could have a number of problems or it could just be mental or possible weather change (I live in the Northeast):
- The bevelling at the frong of the thumb could be one reason. Will redo the thumb slug on one ball to test.
- How snug should a thumb be? Might try putting in more tape to test.
- I'll have to get another balls thumb slug redone with a vinyl slug to test.
This is a lot of information and good too. I'm glad I posted to this forum, my bowling interest has increased greatly.
I know I will bowl better with more confidence if I can just get my grip to be more secure.
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Grip fixed. I guess my hand shrunk, my thumb and finger grips were way too big. Proshop reslugged my thumb hole smaller and changed the finger grips smaller...much better now. More confident with my shots than before.
Thanks to everyone that provided their input and thoughts. Much appreciated.
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you can buy some type of rubber finger inserts that fits tight against the coverstock of the ball. drill your ball so that your hand span is longer. If your little finger is slipping get some normal ole sand paper and scuff the ball in the small region of where your little finger is located. it will not effect the balls role at unless because your track should be far away from it.