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Author Topic: Textured Tape at back of thumbhole, then not  (Read 15611 times)

Neptune66

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Textured Tape at back of thumbhole, then not
« on: January 12, 2024, 09:45:54 PM »
I like my thumb  hole very snug and most years, when the weather first turns cold, I find myself losing the grip of the ball a fraction of a second too soon, so I put some white tape at the back of the thumb hole and wallah!!!  It’s like magic. Grip is more secure and I’m happy.

Then…. A few weeks or couple months later, I can’t seem to figure out what’s wrong. Just not coming out of the balls clean and finally in desperation I remove the tape from the back and all the balls are comfortable and am bowling lights out.

Am I just nutz (it’s ok if you say so  :) ), or does anyone else go through this or something similar each year?

 

SVstar34

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Re: Textured Tape at back of thumbhole, then not
« Reply #1 on: January 12, 2024, 10:36:07 PM »
Definitely in the realm of possibilities. Some people experience wide ranges of change with their hands

star

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Re: Textured Tape at back of thumbhole, then not
« Reply #2 on: January 13, 2024, 02:02:36 AM »
I use white tape in the back of the thumbhole at all times but I use a thin strip of very thin Teflon tape in the front. I pack it very tight only adding tape to the back of the hole never the front.

This was taught to me by a senior PBA player twenty years ago.

Until then like you I had some weird problems at various times but this seemed to solve them.

I hate thumbholes!
« Last Edit: January 13, 2024, 02:04:17 AM by star »
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Neptune66

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Re: Textured Tape at back of thumbhole, then not
« Reply #3 on: January 13, 2024, 10:04:58 AM »
Thank you. But I think I need to elaborate a bit.

Been using tape in the front for sizing as the warm weather makes the fit snugger and the cold weather looser.  Also when bowling more frequently or less frequently, and this occurs more in Spring and Fall, but pretty much thruout the year,

The thing about the textured (white) tape at the back of the thumbhole is that it only seems to happen once a year, and unlike the tape at the front, where a change in the the FEEL is very obvious, either dropping the ball or hanging up in it, the effect of the tape at the back of the hole is more subtle.

The last few weeks it didn't feel too loose or too tight, it just seemed that my timing was off and I was lifting or turning my wrist too early or too late.  Finally realized...  after removing the tape at the back... that it was probably cause I wasn't coming out of the ball cleanly.  But the difference was so subtle that it was kind of an act of desperation that I decided to remove the tape at the back.

I guess what I'm kind of asking is whether there is a way I can avoid this painful process next year.  Maybe an earlier sign that the thumb's fit is just slightly off -----before I bowl badly for several weeks.

Yesterday took the tape at the back of the hole out of 3 different balls and of course the scores were better, but the games were sooooo   easy.   Was back to throwing unconciously and not thinking too much while delivering the ball (or in between shots).
« Last Edit: January 13, 2024, 10:06:44 AM by Neptune66 »

Jesse James

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Re: Textured Tape at back of thumbhole, then not
« Reply #4 on: January 13, 2024, 12:38:05 PM »
Thank you. But I think I need to elaborate a bit.

Been using tape in the front for sizing as the warm weather makes the fit snugger and the cold weather looser.  Also when bowling more frequently or less frequently, and this occurs more in Spring and Fall, but pretty much thruout the year,

The thing about the textured (white) tape at the back of the thumbhole is that it only seems to happen once a year, and unlike the tape at the front, where a change in the the FEEL is very obvious, either dropping the ball or hanging up in it, the effect of the tape at the back of the hole is more subtle.

The last few weeks it didn't feel too loose or too tight, it just seemed that my timing was off and I was lifting or turning my wrist too early or too late.  Finally realized...  after removing the tape at the back... that it was probably cause I wasn't coming out of the ball cleanly.  But the difference was so subtle that it was kind of an act of desperation that I decided to remove the tape at the back.

I guess what I'm kind of asking is whether there is a way I can avoid this painful process next year.  Maybe an earlier sign that the thumb's fit is just slightly off -----before I bowl badly for several weeks.

Yesterday took the tape at the back of the hole out of 3 different balls and of course the scores were better, but the games were sooooo   easy.   Was back to throwing unconciously and not thinking too much while delivering the ball (or in between shots).

This is basic physics and the natural occurrence of bowling in winter versus the summer. In the warmer months your fingers naturally fully expand. In the winter months your fingers naturally contract and get smaller. All bowlers have to deal with this issue which is the reason that they made TAPE. It's there to be used or not used. See Norm Duke. He was always removing or adding tape to get the right feel. Another trick you can use is, in the winter when you know that your fingers will contract due to the cold weather,.... go wash your hands for about ten minutes in warm to hot water and then dry them. Your fingers will plump up nicely for you.
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