Expert: - 12/27/2009

Question
Hi again, Warren;

Thanks once again for such a prompt reply. My christmas was great thanks. Quiet one with my family. I hope yours was good, too.

You mentioned in your latest response (http://en.allexperts.com/q/Bowling-1812/2009/12/Ball-track-issue-2.htm) that I might be very up the back of the ball, which like accounted for the long PAP and low tilt. Would that likely be a possible cause for the ball track on the thumb??

From watching slow motion videos of Chris Barnes and Tommy Jones on YouTube, I noticed that they tend to close up their axis tilt right at the bottom of the swing, if that makes sense. As in, their hand would be angled to the left (in relation to their forearm) during the downswing, the just before release point, they would bring their hand more parallel with the floor, with their hand pointed in the appropriate direction to achieve the axis rotation they were after. This is something I've tried to emulate in my release. Could it be that I'm simply going a little too far, nearly eliminating all axis tilt from my release? How would I go about putting a little more tilt on the ball? Would that help get my track away from the thumb?

I also have a question for my wife. Lately, she's had real problems with the ball tearing up her thumb, right on the top of the knuckle. From reading around, I figured its probably a pitch problem in her thumb. However, the texture inside the thumb is quite rough also. Should I try a piece of black tape first and if that fails be safe in assuming its probably a pitch problem?  She currently puts a long piece of protection tape on the back of her thumb and that helps alleviate the problem for now, but it also makes it harder for her to hold on the ball, making her come out early and spin the ball quite a lot (very high tilt. I suspect close 60 degrees or more). As you can imagine, the reaction she gets when she does that is not the best. Any suggestions?

I would just like to thank you for all the information you've provided me so far. You've helped me get more direct with my research in to problems and their solutions. I would love to become a pro shop operator, so I can service the local area, I just lack the funds to go through the training at the moment. However, your advice is helping me learn how to fix problems in my own equipment and game, which is also helping me help others, so Thank you.

Kindest regards,
Kelly

Answer
Kelly,
Try to keep your hand inside the ball as you get to your release point. Wrist and hand position seems to be causing your roll to be near zero axis rotation, while that works ok some time, not a versatile delivery.

Friction on the top of the knuckle of the thumb is usually created by bending the thumb in the ball. The knuckle can't touch the back of the hole (as the ball should be sliding off the pad of the front of the thumb) without the pressure of bending the knuckle. Try to get your wife to control the thumb be keeping it stiff in the hole. The pressure keeping it straight will mimic the pressure to grip so it should be doable. If she has the ball let go of her more easily, and she spins it less, she may have a thumb size or to much reverse/not enough forward issue in the thumb. If she continues to spin it, the span may be a touch too long.

Good luck with your game and happy holidays.