Thumb shrinks and or swells and causes release problems

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richardsymms
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Thumb shrinks and or swells and causes release problems

Post by richardsymms »

My problem is an ever-changing thumb width. That is I start out with large thumb and then it starts to shrink. I end up having a hard time keeping the ball until the proper release point or thumb is too tight and ball hangs on and goes left. Even though I use the interchangeable slugs, I need to constantly add or subtract tape inside the thumb hole. Also, my thumb grows a big callous on the finger side of it. Should I use a lateral thumb pitch left or right?
Would I be better off using a very loose (larger) thumb hole and then consciously releasing the ball when it is timed right?
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bowl1820
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Re: Thumb shrinks and or swells and causes release problems

Post by bowl1820 »

Are you using a oval or round hole? if round you should go to a oval.
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richardsymms
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Re: Thumb shrinks and or swells and causes release problems

Post by richardsymms »

yes oval s what I use for the thumb holes.
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Re: Thumb shrinks and or swells and causes release problems

Post by deadpin6 »

They correct on the oval. Initially my thumb was getting drilled
1 1/32. When I went to a different PSO, the hole drilled was 29/32 and milled to width. Made all the difference. Before I was, stacking tape on tape now just have the vinyl on the backside.

Also maybe someone here can confirm or deny about the pitch. but I had developed a callus on the inside of my thumb in the area of the knuckle and it seems to be slowly disappearing as well. My initial pitch, the first PSO had me at 3/8 away with a 4 7/16 span I'm now at 3/16
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Re: Thumb shrinks and or swells and causes release problems

Post by rrb6699 »

gawd, talk about ever changing thumb, that's me. I have spent hundreds on experimenting with pitch changes in my thumb. I have the pso slug all my stuff. then I tweak it and if I mess it up or dont like it I just reslug and try again.

I found out by doing this that when your thumb is swollen (before I bowl it's largest then shrinks as I bowl) - anyway, get your thumb sized before you bowl. the driller can make the hole to match your thumb's initial size.

I am telling you what works for me. by doing it this way the thumb doesn't have to be forced into the hole to start. if it shrinks I can add tape to get the righr feel. this should work for thumbs that shrink. if you have slugs I'd start with your thumb before you forced into your thumbhole for your 1st interchangeable.

then id go two sizes smaller and one size larger in 1/64 increments. be ready to tape if you change or thumb shrinks. this is part of the deal you have to commit to.... taping...
I've been to tournaments where a snug thumb starts hanging and you gotta start working your thumbholes out. not a good situation. I'd rather have a fit I can add a piece or two of tape as my thumb shrinks. I havent had to add more than 2 strips using this even without interchangeables.

much better to snug up the thumbs than try to open them up at any league or tournament right?

much easier imho.

rr
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Re: Thumb shrinks and or swells and causes release problems

Post by russelldean »

This is why Interchangeables are such a great option.
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Re: Thumb shrinks and or swells and causes release problems

Post by Daryl »

My thumb size also fluctuates from time to time. I just use bowlers tape to compensate for any thumb size changes. As a result, I do not have this kind of problem anymore. I actually prefer the feel of the tape over the feel of urethane.

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Re: Thumb shrinks and or swells and causes release problems

Post by river800 »

I too have some issues with my thumb changing sizes due to mostly temperature changes and such.

Have been working with my driller and we have been drilling oval thumb holes and then I fine tune the hole with some white tape.

It's one thing to add or take away 1 piece of tape due to size and such, but when you simply can't get your thumb in the ball due to the width which is very difficult to change with tape if the hole is large enough to begin with then it has to be drilled at the larger size that you know your thumb will be at, at its largest. Then as you have learned to know, adjust tape accordingly. Simply stacking tape directly on each other is not the best idea, try staggering it from side to side and top to bottom some if you haven't already and see what that does. I have been using this technique and I have better control over my thumb hole fit due to my ever changing thumb.

Do you use any rosin by chance or baby powder/hand conditioner?
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Re: Thumb shrinks and or swells and causes release problems

Post by Qman »

I finally have a thumb in my IQ Tour that fits the best since I went to an oval thumb and am having switch grips put in next week in all my equipment that match that thumb. :D
Adapt or perish!

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Re: Thumb shrinks and or swells and causes release problems

Post by TonyPR »

If you are willing to put in the practice time and are physically fit with no back problems you can always try to learn to bowl thumbless with a two handed approach. It's not for everyone but it fixed my thumb fit and release problems. The two downsides are you will be back to beginner status and some close minded persons will criticize your decision. Just saying it's a valid outside the box option.
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Re: Thumb shrinks and or swells and causes release problems

Post by Qman »

richardsymms wrote:yes oval s what I use for the thumb holes.
Go to Switch Grips, I just went to them, best move for consistent thumb feel.
Adapt or perish!

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