Expert: Chip Aki - 3/3/2008

Question
QUESTION: hi, im 15, and i throw a hammer black widow bite. i have noticed that i bend my thumb in the ball because i am a cranker. i raise the ball above my head, says my brother. he says to lower it, but when i do it messes up my whole approach. when i am in the back swing i have to grip the ball and bend my thumb. i know the thumb hole is too big for me because i have to add at least 3-5 tapes to get a fit. but when i swing the ball just standing, i seem to bend my thumb to grip it, i cant just relax my hand. i cant really throw the ball without bending my thumb because i will just hold onto it and throw it in the air. is there anyway to get like the thumb hole to be positioned so when i bend it and release it, it wont rip my skin on top of my thumb and cause my forearm muscles to hurt from tensing up? i havent put a slug in it yet, and i might when my thumb heals. i just dont know what to do with this problem. thankyou

ANSWER: You need to have your ball looked at.  You should not have to bend  your thumb like that to hold onto the ball.  It might be that you need an oval hole.  No matter what, you will have to train yourself to relax your thumb so you will be able to release it.  If you have grip pressure on your thume, it should be at the base of the thumb and not at the tip.
If you continue to bend your thumb, you will continue to tear it.

Have you ball fit checked for the correct span, pitches, and thumb size.  You should not have pain while bowling, whether it is thumb, fingers, wrist, or forearm.

Good luck,
Chip

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: i know i should relax my thumb, but what if i like to grip it? is there anyway to have the thumb made so i can grip it and bend my thumb, yet allowing it for easy release? like put an air hole thing in the thumb hole? what does an oval hole do also? because mine is perfectly rounded. what should i tell my pro shop? thankyou

Answer
An oval thumb usually fits your thumb tighter so you dont feel the need to squeeze the ball so much.
About the only thing you can do to help is to buy the skin protection tapes that several companies make.  You can place this on your thumb and it will help prevent tearing from bending your thumb.

Good luck,
Chip