Expert: Chip Aki - 11/14/2008

Question
Recently I picked up bowling again for the first time since I was a teenager (20+ years) - I joined a bowling league. The last time I bowled prior to this year I always used lane balls and used the "conventional" grip.

One of my teammates was kind enough to first let me use his second bowling ball for the first several weeks, and it seemed to me that it fit me. However, it seemed fit me using the fingertip grip (which my teammate also suggested I should be using).

The strange thing about it, is I noticed each night, after 3 games, the tip of my thumb would be sore (and sometimes numb), and would have a small black circle on it. At first I thought the circle was just oil and/or dirt from the thumb hole of the ball.

As I continued using that ball, the soreness would always return towards the end of a night of bowling (although it would be better a day or two later).

Since then my teammate purchased a new ball for himself, and was kind enough to give me the one I'd been using, so it's truly mine now, to do with as I need to (including re-drilling if necessary).

This week at bowling I told him about the problem, and we realized that the problem is that while my thumb seems loose in the thumb-hole, when I actually throw the ball, my thumb is getting pinched towards the tip. Now I'm even suspecting if that black circle I mentioned (which, mind you, hasn't gone away, despite repeated washings) is actually an under-the-skin blood blister due to this pinching.

Any ideas or suggestions? Should I look into having the ball re-drilled? Or should I just add or remove tape from the thumb hole?

Answer
If you are having pain or discomfort, then the ball does not fit you as well as it needs to.  The discoloration is caused by squeezing the ball to hold on to it.  That can be caused by the pitch being wrong for your hand, the thumb hole being too big, or the span being wrong for your hand.
The minimum that would need to be done is have the thumb hole plugged.  That will allow you to correct any or all of the three issues.  
One good thing is plugging the thumb hole is much cheaper than buying your own ball.

Once the ball is drilled to your hand, it will be truly yours and your game should improve.

Good luck,
Chip