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Author Topic: Thumb Pitches  (Read 2258 times)

alex

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Thumb Pitches
« on: June 03, 2004, 09:14:38 AM »
I am a right handed bowler and have been using 1/16th left pitch in my ball. Tonight i was told that if i used 1/16 to1/8 right pitch i would get more turn and hook out of my equipment. Can anyone tell me it this is true or not,thanks

 

channel surfer

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Re: Thumb Pitches
« Reply #1 on: June 04, 2004, 12:19:33 AM »
That all depends on your thumb buddy.
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Brickguy221

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Re: Thumb Pitches
« Reply #2 on: June 04, 2004, 12:30:14 AM »
With left pitch, you will come out of ball sooner.
With right pitch you stay in the ball longer.

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LuckyLefty

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Re: Thumb Pitches
« Reply #3 on: June 04, 2004, 12:34:11 AM »
There is a proper lateral pitch for your thumb.

In general if when you grab a coke bottle with your bowling hand if your thumb points to your index finger 1/8 lateral left is correct for a righthander.

If instead it points to your middle or ringfinger, pitches like 1/8 right or 1/4 right are correct for you!

This is from a famous old drilling guru named Bill Taylor.

The PROPER angle for YOUR thumb allows your thumb to come out without catching the sides of the hole leading to a clean high rev release!  This is how you will get hook!

REgards,

Luckylefty
It takes Courage to have Faith, and Faith to have Courage.

James M. McCurley, New Orleans, Louisiana

MoRich

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Re: Thumb Pitches
« Reply #4 on: June 05, 2004, 12:54:38 AM »
That is not true...  You will not turn the ball any more with Right Lateral...
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Doc Hollywood

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Re: Thumb Pitches
« Reply #5 on: June 05, 2004, 01:02:02 AM »
Lucky I have a question for you.

When you grab the coke can is your hand supposed to lie completely flat on the can prior to grabbing it or is the heel of the hand allowed to stay off the can?

It makes a big difference as to where ones thumb points.

I remember some notes that also takes into account short thumbs and flexibility issues as well.

Like to hear your comments on them
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LuckyLefty

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Re: Thumb Pitches
« Reply #6 on: June 05, 2004, 01:22:39 AM »
Short thumbs and flexibility are more of a forward reverse issue.

As to lateral that is a good question.

I just did the test heel on coke bottle, ends up with my thumb pointing near middle finger.  1/8 lateral under palm.

Then I tested with heel of hand off coke bottle and thumb ends up pointing near space between middle and ring finger.  1/4 lateral under palm.

I naturally grab with heel of hand off of the coke bottle.

Interestingly one can then sort of see when actually starting to clench hand up in a bowling grip how the thumb points to one of the fingers or another.
Then once in the ball if one thinks about it and focuses on feel one can feel if tip of thumb is touching one side of the barrell of the thumb hole or the other.  When it wants to hang straight down the opening of thumb hole without the lateral corner of thumb being closer to one side than the other.  Or wanting to graze one side or the other, then you know you've got it right!

I vote for heel off, because that dead nails me in the ball.

REgards,

Luckylefty
Bill Taylor does not specify on this point.  Just grab it!  Unless your name is Kobe Bryant!  Better ask first!
It takes Courage to have Faith, and Faith to have Courage.

James M. McCurley, New Orleans, Louisiana

Doc Hollywood

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Re: Thumb Pitches
« Reply #7 on: June 05, 2004, 10:11:56 AM »
Lucky - One of the reasons why I stated this is I have been experimenting with pitches like you forever.  I watch bowlers from time to time and see how they all look for the right feel.  I like to have my hand very flat on the ball since I have short fingers and thick hands. Grabbing a coke bottle I can go from 1/4 palm to 1/4 away depending if my heel touches.  I found that it all depends how someone likes to hold the ball which also helps determine lateral pitch.  

Onto a finger pitch question for you.  If you take someones hand and place it flat on the counter and have their second finger joints bend 90 degrees over the edge look to see which way the fingers point.  I have found in my experience that those that point straight down have a tendency to have higher tracks and those that point toward the thumb have lower tracks.  Shifting finger pitches lateral will help raise and lower tracks as well.

I don't know if you have observed this but check it out and tell what you find since you happen to drill more balls then I.
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pin-chaser

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Re: Thumb Pitches
« Reply #8 on: June 05, 2004, 09:22:44 PM »
Forward and reverse pitches in thumb are initially assigned by span length. Lateral pitches are initially assigned by thumb flexibility. These are starting pitches that are altered based on several factors such as, muscling in swing, grip pressure, length of thumb, skin texture and many others. The more flexable the thumb the larger the range of pitches that can be used to assist your release. The is no specific or ideal pitches for any person but more a range of pitches. Within this range, pitches can be used to assist or encourage specific release. For example, more under the palm can encourage more rotation while away from the palm can encourage staying behind the ball more. I say encourage because it can easily be over powered with strenth and muscles used in your release. As well it should be noted that under the palm pitch encourages the ball to come off your thumb slightly sooner while away from the palm pitches encourage the ball to stay on the hand slightly longer.


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LuckyLefty

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Re: Thumb Pitches
« Reply #9 on: June 06, 2004, 01:45:51 AM »
Just took a look at my old Bill Taylor book.

It looks like he just grabs bottle naturally.

Heel is a little off bottle.  I grab a bottle quickly and naturally and it feels like my fingers are perpindicular to the surface of the bottle.

If I grab unnaturally my heel goes on the bottle and my fingers feel like they are pointing vertically up a little.   Not the way my 2 year old son grabs a glass full of water.  He grabs a heavy full glass of water as described above fingers horizontal to the ground so that it is easy to hold and steady the glass(coke bottle).

This gives me the measurement discussed between my middle and ring finger.

I agree with the well written and accurate pin chaser above!

Grips for people are based on a certain range.
Me with my lateral pointing where it does is very uncomfortable with 0 or lateral out.  My good friend who originally drilled for me.  Has his thumb in this lateral test point at his space betwee his index and middle finger.

For him to bowl with 1/8 lateral out or 0 or 1/8 lateral under palm is a range he is very comfortable.  (He actually claims this stuff doesn't matter).

For me my base position is 1/4 lateral under.  I'm comfortable from about 1/16 lateral under palm to 3/8 under palm.  My midpoint of my comfort range is different.

Find your midpoint with these tests etc from above and then make tweaks to adjust fit and roll as needed.

I actually at this point wanted to say thank you to the King!  Yes King of the mill for taking almost 2 hours of the last couple of days to study MY particular hand over the web and to recommend and explain some tweaks for me.

He is an extremely knowledgeable source who is very generous with his time!

I hope to report back with some great results after his studied help.  The changes we are making are quite significant I think.  It's time I did somethin again!

REgards,

Luckylefty
Finger pitches, spans, thumb pitches, pitch rolls, special oval techniques.
Old drilling theories, new drilling theories, ball dynamics.  I thought I knew a few things!  This man however, is truly THE King!
It takes Courage to have Faith, and Faith to have Courage.

James M. McCurley, New Orleans, Louisiana