Expert: Russ King - 9/21/2007

Question
Hello Russ. I found gripping the ball to hard because my thumb feels like its going to fall out.I add tape and now its not a smooth release. i want to do well  but in the back of my mind i think the ball will fall right out of my hand. I was thinking to have the thumb slug replaced a little tighter? Thank you for your help i will take all i can get. John

Answer
If the thumb hole is snug & your thumb is falling out, it maybe the pitches.Pitches are the angles of the hole.zero being straight in,if the hole is pitched 1/2" out or away from your palm, this will make the thumb release smoother & quicker. If the away pitch is too much, it will feel like you have to squeeze the thumb to hold on to it.The ball should not release from your thumb until your hand is in the release position in your arm swing.Your thumb should lock in the thumb without squeezing it until the release point.

The other reason is, your grip may be too short.Put your hand in the ball. Resting the ball on a table, lightly press your fingers down to the ball. If your fingers push out to the back of the finger holes, the grip is short. Another thing is put your hand in the ball resting the ball on the table. Try fitting as many pencils under your palm as you can fit easily. If it is more than 2 pencils, the grip is too short.

 ALL THESE TESTS WORK FOR CONVENTIONAL (FINGERS INTO 2ND JOINT)& FINGERTIP (FINGERS INTO FIRST JOINT)GRIPS.

 CORRECT THIS PROBLEM AS SOON AS YOU CAN. YOU WILL DEVELOP VERY BAD HABITS LIKE KNUCKLING (BENDING YOUR THUMB IN THE HOLE),SQUEEZING,BENT ELBOW & MANY MORE PROBLEMS THAT WILL STICK TO YOU FOR A LONG TIME .