Thumb hole, Loose or Tight?

[RoccoRock]

Ok, I've been working on my game, and I am in the middle of switching from a two finger/two handed style, to a conventional thumb in the ball style. My question is, what are the pros and cons of a loose thumb and a tight thumb? Right now the ball I am using the thumb is tight, and last night I noticed the ball sticking to my thumb a little bit. It caused inconsistancy, and after only 6 games my thumb was raw. I had a ball with a looser thumb a while back, and is seemed like it was harder to hold the ball on my backswing. I have a ball being drilled, that I am picking up tomorrow, and it had a Turbo Switch Grip sleeve in it. I haven't bought the insert yet, and I'm not sure how tight I want the thumb. I hate to get it wrong, and have to buy another one.

[GeorgiaStroker]

Thumb fit is a very personal thing. Some bowlers like a snug fit, others prefer a looser feel. Obviously either extreme would be detrimental. If you are used to bowling without a thumb slug, you may have experienced the vacuum effect in which inserting the thumb creates a vacuum in the hole causing the thumb to stick. Many slugs have a channel built in that allows air to get in the hole and prevent this. I have never tried switch grips (although i'm leaning towards swapping over.) but I would assume they have an allowance for this. The best idea with switch grips is to have one that fits well, and another a little larger for when the thumb swells. The other solution is to drill the grip slightly larger and add or remove bowles tape or an ace shur cushion as needed.

[bowl1820]

Bill Taylor's general rule (of thumb) is that a thumb inserted in and out of a hole, pressed to one side of the hole, should only barely touch the other side.

As GS said above the Thumb fit is a very personal thing, there is also the choice between a round hole and a oval.

[billf]

Some people may not know this and some will disagree BUT according to the USBC coaches association all thumb holes should have clean tape in them. A fit too loose will cause gripping, as you have experienced. Too tight and it rubs which can cause swelling, callouses, blisters, etc. My own thumb was too large but I had trouble getting my thumb out when smaller. I purchased the shur cushion mentioned above from bowlingball.com. They don't last very long but it was a comfortable way for me to learn how tight my thumb could be without getting stuck. It helped increase the trust factor (that my thumb would come out) that I hadn't even realized I had. Now I use a piece of white tape on the side that the fingers are on and a piece of black tape on the backside. This is the same on all my thumb (Vise IT) sleeves.

[TheSheibs]

For me personally, I have a thumb that tends to start small but as I bowl the thumb swells up a little bit. I have to make sure that my thumb hole is drilled a little bit bigger to allow my thumb swelling not to affect my grip. I notice it the most when I throw the ball and my thumb sticks a little bit. That's when I let up on the pressure that I am using with my thumb, since I have a fingertip grip and use my thumb to keep the ball from slipping off. It was more noticeable with a conventional grip but not with a fingertip grip. I think using tape or even the shur cushion that has been mentioned would solve any problem that you may be having. Just don't get the thumb hole drilled to small or if your thumb swells you will have a harder time using that ball since the thumb hole would be a lot tighter and will stick more. Having your thumb stick could cause your ball to go "Brooklyn" since you would be releasing the ball a little later.

[billf]

Don't grip the ball with your thumb. Centrifugal force will keep the ball in place. The thumb is only suppose to be used to balance the ball within your hand. The less grip, the more free the arm swing can be.

[The German Shepherd]

I prefer a thumb hole that is fairly loose and oval in shape. I hold to the USBC coaches idea that means TAPE. Tape makes my thumb hole size very flexible and changeable to meet every situation. I know some prefer the changeable thumb inserts, but that is an expense that I am prepared to deal with.

Jay

[edpup316]

Im one of those lucky guys who can bowl 16 games and my thumb wont change a bit. Not even temperture effects my thumb very much. The only time i can remember effecting my thumb is when i bowled jr. gold in Texas. It was 120 degres needs less to say my thumb grew a little. Had to put new them slugs in 3 of my balls cause i had to work it out so much. My girlfriend on the other hand, she throws a few balls without protective tape and her thumb goes up like a balloon... poor girl

[RoccoRock]

I got the ball today, and my ball driller flat out nailed it. Perfect size, I never got stuck in it, and was able to get out clean, and at the same time I didn't have to squeeze at all. Now I have no excuses, if I suck (which I did today) I can't blame the ball, I'm just not a good bowler when my thumb is in the ball. I do make spares fairly well, so I may just have a very exspensive spare ball now.

[billf]

What do you feel is the problem with the thumb in?