Expert: Russ King - 9/17/2006

Question
When you say increase the reverse pitch, what does that mean?  

Also, what do you mean by, "You should feel the thumbhole all the way down to the tip?"

I just dont want to go in to get it redrilled and have no idea how to tell him how to fix it.

thanks,
rich

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Followup To

Question -
I had a couple quick questions.
First, I bought a new V2, and had it fingertip drilled.  After using the ball a few times, I have found the following happens:
A)  My ring finger's tip is numb at the end of the session.
B)  The inside of my thumb, towards the base, is swollen and in pain.  

My thoughts are that either I am strething too far, or that the thumb hole is too big...

My other wuestion is that i want to buy a ball for spares.  What cover do I need?  Plastic or polyester?  Are the Viz-A-Balls, the clear balls with 360 degree images, always made from such materials?  

thanks,
rich

Answer -
If you are burning only one of your fingers, your fingers need adjusting.If your v2 is a 16 lb ball, you should feel 8 pounds on each finger.Your finger is numb because it is a little too stretched out or the other finger needs a little longer stretch. The finger you burn,does your fingernail rub on the backside of the hole?This would mean it is too stretched.
 As for your thumb, you have a floating cartilage (feels like a bone) underneath your thumb by the base.You can wiggle it by pushing it side to side.If your span is too stretched, you will get a numbing feeling? SENSATION?OK, how about a numbing problem?You might bevel the top ridge (taper) to reduce the pressure & it also shortens the span a little.If you don't have finger inserts in the ball, your driller can adjust the span by puttung in the grips.If you have grips in it,your driller could spot plug the finger & either shorten it or increase the reverse pitch.
 I would look at the other finger also.If you are not getting any lift on it it might need a tweak also.When your fingers are equal & feeling good,if your thumb is stiill bothering you try an increase on reverse pitch.You should feel the thumbhole all the way down to the tip.If threr is more pressure at the top, the span is too long.
 The see thru balls are soft plastic (polyester).They scare up easily & hook on dry.You might go for a EBAY cheap
Boogie ball,Maxims or a .01 sylvester or bugs bunny.I have thrown all of these.Bugs I think is the hardest & straightest.
 IT'S NOT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.IT'S HOW IT WORKS FOR YOU!
YOUR SPARE BALL IS THE MOST IMPORTANT & SHOULD BE THE BEST FEELING TO FILL THOSE FRAMES.

TRY THESE & LET ME KNOW!

Answer
A hole drilled straight in is 90 degrees of an angle.To decrease the pain under the thumb at the top of the hole you decrease the angle.Angle the hole away from the fingers will decrease the angle at the top of the thumb.Face your hand palm up.Point your thumb straight up.This is 90 degrees.As you push your thumb away from your palm , this would be a quicker release & decrease the angle & decrease the pressure.Put a ruler at the base of your thumb while your palm is up.Point the ruler straight up with your thumb.As you move the top of the ruler away from your palm,the feel of the pressure lessens at the base & the top of your thumb starts to feel more pressure.You should feel equal pressure all the way down your thumb for the grip to be right for most.You can see the angle at the base of your thumb seeing the ruler lessen the angle.This lessening of the angle also shortens the grip slightly due to less angle.
If you bevel the top(round the top ridge teardrop)will lessen the pressure & slightly shorten the grip.Try the bevel first. If that don't work , your grip might be too stretched.Same thing goes with the fingers.Unless you have hurt a finger, the pitches should be equal for both.Just put your fingers in the ball in your lap.Start pulling your hand away from your fingers . Feel the transition of the pressures going from your full finger pads to just holding on with the crease of the joint at the top of the hole.As you pull further, the fingernails will hit the back of the hols with even more pressure to the crease of your finger at the top of the hole.A new ball needs a lot of fine tuning to feel right.Where ever the hole has pressure or rubs,take one slice with the bevel knife each time & try the grip each time for the pressures. You should feel the ball with your finger pads,thumb pad & your palm should rest on theb ball flat with little gap underneath your hand around one or 2 pencils worth of gap.
 Try the bevels first . Your last option should be to redrill I would say only the thumb.This is hard to describe. When I do it infront of the person,they can see the angles & see the pressures change. I tried to explain the best I could.Copy this & bring it to the driller. He will probably understand better what I am describing.The ball should not hurt or rub in any way for atleast 3 games in a row!