Swelling Thumb Problem

[Cobberz]

This is more of a if its not broke dont fix it question....ive been avging 210 and 205 in my 2 leagues this year...my most consistent year so far....i bowl 2 nights a week...and have troubles with my thumb swelling once in a while. Not every night but depending on temp in the alleys, if ive practiced..etc...i have found that chapstick helps me get outta the ball...but its a pain in the ass to have to put on between every frame. A bowler in my league told me to try this tape that he had...im not sure what its called..its blue, and it goes on the back of my thumb. So i tried it out while practicing today, and it seems to work very well for helping me get out of the ball. The only thing is im bowling really well without it too. Just curious what anyone thinks about it.

[JaraTo]

Tape is a must have in your bag. Most bowlers have their thumb holes drilled slightly larger that they can start off with several pieces of tape in the thumb for a comfortable fit. As the thumb swells they remove pieces as necessary.

I only use that tape that you are speaking of in the back of my thumb hole. But it's normally black and it's thinner and slicker then white tape. It's good stuff to have when necessary. Use it when it swells if that helps.

[idlehourlegend]

This is more of a if its not broke dont fix it question....ive been avging 210 and 205 in my 2 leagues this year...my most consistent year so far....i bowl 2 nights a week...and have troubles with my thumb swelling once in a while. Not every night but depending on temp in the alleys, if ive practiced..etc...i have found that chapstick helps me get outta the ball...but its a pain in the ass to have to put on between every frame. A bowler in my league told me to try this tape that he had...im not sure what its called..its blue, and it goes on the back of my thumb. So i tried it out while practicing today, and it seems to work very well for helping me get out of the ball. The only thing is im bowling really well without it too. Just curious what anyone thinks about it.

Its probably either Brunswick or Ebonite protection tape, I use it sometimes too when Im having thumb issues, gives a very smooth release.

[Cobberz]

the tape actually goes on the back of your thumb and not in the thumbhole correct?....i really liked the feel it gave me and how easy i came outta the ball

[idlehourlegend]

the tape actually goes on the back of your thumb and not in the thumbhole correct?....i really liked the feel it gave me and how easy i came outta the ball

Yep, directly onto your thumb, its made out of like sticky fabric and gets a good seal to your thumb, yea its a very smooth release I was impressed the first time I used it so I went right into the pro shop and got it.

[Cobberz]

yeah thats it..the other guy that posted was talking bout thumb insert tape...you and i are talking about the same thing. i like it also and may continue to use it

[bluerrpilot]

Vise has the same kind of tape. They have it in rolls and pre cut pieces. There are different colors as well as different thinknesses. Whatever the cloth material, it makes for a very fast and smooth release. Whats nice is you can make the thumbhole tight and not have to worry about comming out fast enough.

[Steve1591]

I use Vise Hada Patch tape for my thumb. Its blue and goes on the back of the thumb as you said. They have 1-4, they are different colors but also different as far as slickness goes (aka, faster release-slowest release). 1 is the slickest, and 4 has the most stick to it, or whatever you want to call it :p

Here is a link to it over at buddies...
https://www.buddiesproshop.com/product/3261/Vise_Hada_Patch_Blue_1_-_40_Pieces.htm

[Cobberz]

thanks guys

[hbhammerhead]

now that i have been bowling for awhile my thumb has gotten a little bigger and with a couple of my balls drilled for my old thumb size it sometimes get a little hard to get it out. when i have some time i'm going to get my thumbs fixed, but i have been just using the rosin powder and it seems to work pretty good for me.

[JoshWithrow]

now that i have been bowling for awhile my thumb has gotten a little bigger and with a couple of my balls drilled for my old thumb size it sometimes get a little hard to get it out. when i have some time i'm going to get my thumbs fixed, but i have been just using the rosin powder and it seems to work pretty good for me.

That may not be a bad thing. One thing MANY drillers AND bowlers are guilty of is having or accommodating too large of a thumb hole. Come to find out, in m experience, what is actually a "Good Fit" most people initially think is "Too Tight".

Then again, alittle (emphasis on the little) big isn't an issue as a dose of tape aint always such a bad thing ;)

[hbhammerhead]

ya it's been working pretty good with the rosin, but i do have other balls with the fixed thumbs and i like the feel better. what i really need to do is get my thumb molded so it makes it easier.

[JoshWithrow]

ya it's been working pretty good with the rosin, but i do have other balls with the fixed thumbs and i like the feel better. what i really need to do is get my thumb molded so it makes it easier.

I'm considering this as well. But first I'm going to give the old oval hole a shot. I held one for the first time just the other day and it felt MANY TIMES better than my round holes.

[hbhammerhead]

i have no idea how the oval feels as i have never used a ball drilled like that, but i'd be up to try that out as well. thinking of maybe getting some cheap used stuff to play around with.

[JoshWithrow]

i have no idea how the oval feels as i have never used a ball drilled like that, but i'd be up to try that out as well. thinking of maybe getting some cheap used stuff to play around with.

IMHO Thumb holes are easy, especially if you have'em slugged. All it requires is slug removal and replacement.

Do try an oval thumb, though... it's a totally different feel (at least for me!).

[hbhammerhead]

IMHO Thumb holes are easy, especially if you have'em slugged. All it requires is slug removal and replacement.

Do try an oval thumb, though... it's a totally different feel (at least for me!).

ya the last time i had a thumb changed it was pretty fast and easy. i also tried out the power lifts too, which i have always wondered how they would work and i do not like them very much. i will try out the oval someday though.

[JoshWithrow]

i also tried out the power lifts too, which i have always wondered how they would work and i do not like them very much. i will try out the oval someday though.

You too, huh? My Proshop suggested I try them. I absolutely hate them. I feel like I don't get solid fingers in the ball (I've never had a rev's problem, either, so I don't know what he was thinking). Recently I've tried fingertipped with no inserts... I'm considering having all my balls converted. I LOVE the way no inserts feels. Talk about getting a really good feel on your ball.

[hbhammerhead]

You too, huh? My Proshop suggested I try them. I absolutely hate them. I feel like I don't get solid fingers in the ball (I've never had a rev's problem, either, so I don't know what he was thinking). Recently I've tried fingertipped with no inserts... I'm considering having all my balls converted. I LOVE the way no inserts feels. Talk about getting a really good feel on your ball.

the power lifts were just an experiment on my black widow pearl that i don't use as often as my others. my revs are med to high, don't know the exact rate, but they are good enough to get the reaction i like. my friend uses the lifts but for the thumb he doesn't use anything, which i do like the feel of that. his drill is almost exactly the same as mine. my friends rev rate is really high, i'm SURE that he has as many revs as some of the top rev rate pros on tour.