Expert: Chip Aki - 5/23/2006

Question
I have always used a house bowling ball with a conventional grip.  Just within the last few weeks my husband and I decided to purchase our own balls.  The ball driller convinced us that the fingertip grip would be best for us.  When I tried my ball for the first time I had some problems with my thumb sticking in the hole on the back of my thumb, at the knuckle.  I got rather frustrated because a few times I almost followed the ball down the lane.  I had the driller make my thumb hole a little bigger a couple of times.  Also, I have been very careful to make sure that I am keeping my thumb straight and not gripping the ball too tight.  

Everything seemed to be working better but this last weekend we went bowling and after the first couple of games my thumb felt tighter in the hole, so it must be swelling up or something.  On my next turn I tried to throw the ball and it stuck really bad on my thumb, I ended up falling down and my ball lofted high up in the air and then flew into the gutter.  I was really embarassed.  After this I went to the restroom and washed my hands, then put my had over the air coming from the lane each time and this seemed to help.

Is there anything I can do to make sure that the ball doesn't stick onto my thumb like this again.  I don't want to fall down again and hurt myself or my ego.  This never happened to me before I got this new ball.  Any ideas would be appreciated.

Answer
What kind of ball is it?  It could be a different kind of material than the house balls are made of.
Also, going from a house ball to a ball of your own takes some getting used to.  Compared to the house ball, a custom fit ball will be tighter.
Try a little chapstick on your thumb, but only a little and only where you feel the thumb is binding.
You can also try a product called a thumb straight.  Your pro shop should be able to get those for you.  My wife swears by them.
It might be possible that the thumb pitch in your thumb may need to be changed.

Talk to your pro shop guy and he should be able to help you with these and other suggestions.

Good luck,
Chip