Improve the feel of your bowling ball with this trick/technique

[@its_Kris]

great advice. this helped me so much back in the day when I figured out that I was squeezing the ball

[@matthewjspain9399]

I myself have an exact fit as in i know how to use a outside and inside micrometer. Only one of my 3 thumb inserts have a piece of tape. I just got a free ball with fingers pitched away from thumb. Now i plan on using this pitch to ease up on the fold at first knuckle. Talk about a smooth release to get the revs on oil i never knew.👍👍

[@jeffarmstead9182]

I really believe in having a piece of tape in my thumb hole. Thanks for showing how the adding of additional pieces of tape should fit.

[@NkoStoneman]

Great video as always JR.

[@jmorphius3619]

I use mostly the skin thumb tape the last 6-8 years. Mainly after I went with switch grip thumb inserts. The feel after has been way more consistent. Now I mostly just blow in my thumb hole to make it a little tacky until my thumb swells as the night goes if I need to, otherwise I’m good most days.

[@carywatson1146]

Yes! Thank you! Will definitely try this out! Got a new ball, in about 6 games, got hung up on my thumb 5 times…hurt my wrist a bit. About to get back out there today. 👍👍

[@raymondkung3342]

Thanks for sharing how to tape the thumb. great video.

[@mr.tuckers2848]

Thanks JR for this advice- you're the best! I just got the tape in today and I can already feel the difference. Can't wait to throw the ball down-lane and make adjustments as necessary.

[@SteveSmith-mx1bu]

Thanks for this tip JR I will try it when I practice next. Cheers steve

[@rogerredford6242]

I like to experiment with different tape positioning and layers. Your staggering method is worth a try for one of my favorite balls that comes off too early.

[@Willie-C]

Little man trying to be a ninja at 6:00 😂

[@Jeff_PNW]

Excellent topic! Improper thumb feel can literally ruin your day. Also, switch grips are great for interchangability between balls, but they're fantastic for when your thumb shrinks or swells. I keep several slightly different sizes in my bag so I can always dial in the fit of my thumb with a little strategic tape placement.

[@scottythompson940]

Cool video talk tech bowling bowling Jr Raymond

[@woodcutter6235]

Just starting my 2nd year bowling. Sure like all the tips. Will be trying this.

[@squidly2112]

Oh man, you MUST learn to control your thumb, so vitally important! .. see my lengthy comment here about it. Feel free to ask any questions. I have become the tape king of the world (I can probably tape my ball and thumb better than I can throw it .. 🤣). There is definitely an art to it, but when you get it correct, man, it can make ALL the difference in the world for your release especially. Effortless consistent release and easy rev's ... Experiment a little bit! .. oh, and I HIGHLY recommend interchangeable thumbs. I don't think I could bowl without them. JR uses the "Turbo Switch Grip" (I believe), but I personally prefer the "Vise IT" .. I have had to fix some of my friends Turbo Switch Grips when the tabs either break or wear out (yep, I perfected a method for doing that, I can actually build out the tabs completely, stronger than original, but it is a pain in the rear and very tedious to do it). Anyway, get interchangeable thumbs, have someone good SHAPE them to your thumb shape, and make them slightly larger so that if your thumb swells you are aren't stuck with thumbs that are too tight, or, have multiple size ones made. I generally only use 1 that I have used for over a year now. It is slightly large (not TOO large) and I have room to almost always fine tune it with tape. My ball drilling guy has shaped my interchangeable thumbs just perfectly (he's really good at it .. I have strange flat shaped thumbs). This is all definitely worth doing, trust me!

[@EricParker-ve4ud]

Great piece of advice. Never been a tape user and have been bowling a long time. Tried this technique and am using tape in all my switch grips, thank you JR for another video. I learn something every time I watch .

[@jondoe6618]

I got my first thumb hole drilled a few weeks ago. ALWAYS thrown 2 fingered. I could not bring myself to use my thumb until last night. Just didn't feel right. The lanes were so burned up I decided to try my thumb.About 10 slow shots and it just clicked!! I cant wait to go back tonight and try it some more!!

[@lonestarpatriot876]

I use tape on my thumb and in my ball. Tape is a must-have IMHO. There is no other way to customize the feel to what you prefer or to account for the fact that your thumb is always changing. You could have the best driller in the world, and they still can not account for the fact that your thumb is ALWAYS changing while they are drilling your ball. This is where tape comes in to save the day. Interchangeable thumb grips are also a must-have. If you own multiple balls and don't have an interchangeable thumb system, get one and you will never look back.

[@stellaraudioaz]

What are your thoughts on grips vs. no grips?

[@randy1817]

Good stuff.

[@wkendall1035]

FWIW slowing losing weight. The thumb hole keeps getting bigger on my 2008 spare ball. Had 4 pcs on top of each other, still loose. So now i start off putting 2 pcs of tape, side by side. Then a pcs to cover the seem. Helps tighten the sides. When loose more weight probably replug the spare. It is silly but i like the old amf spare.

[@larrytobis9161]

Good stuff. I hang up in my ball sometimes and will try putting tape lower in the thumb hole next practice session

[@gregbentkowski159]

Learned a lot watching your videos. Curious, what does it mean, and how do you make the adjustments when you need a ball to go longer. Do I throw the same line and have a ball drilled to go longer or do I have to move lines as well.

[@michaelrhoads6349]

I always had problems with my thumb getting stuck until I discovered the perfect fix. I had my thumb hole plugged & drilled at a further distance (1/2-1inch) from my finger holes at size larger than my thumb measured. The ball comes off my thumb naturally & works amazing. I have had every ball I own plugged & drilled at the thumb. I am now consistently over 200. Consistency is the key & this grip change is the key for anyone who has problems with their thumb sticking.

[@squidly2112]

Man, I have to change the tape in my thumb constantly (interchangeable thumbs). My thumb changes all the time. Through the course of a league night I sometimes have to adjust the tape 2 or 3 times. I have interchangeable thumbs and I polish the inside of them so they are as smooth as possible. I use tape to adjust the the texture as well as the tightness and grip. When I have it perfect, I can hold my ball by my side with my arm and hand completely relaxed. I can jiggle my arm or jump up and down and my ball won't drop off my hand, but, as soon as I extend my wrist, without any other motion, the ball will fall right off my hand. That is the quintessential "perfect" fit, and if you have a very smooth thumb hole then you can get your thumb to release from your ball super super fast and at exactly the right time at the bottom of your downswing, all the while keeping your hand relaxed throughout your throw. Just a tiny flick of the wrist (like a yoyo) at the bottom of your swing, and BOOM! .. instantly your ball will release right at that point and your thumb will pop out about as quick as is possible. It's tricky to get it just right (you get better and better with practice), but the closer you do, the less you have to hold ball with your thumb at all (see JR's video on proper thumb technique). I also prefer to use tape on the back of my thumb (Storm tape, usually either the teal or the blue) and I use the black plastic tape in the thumb hole, not on the front side of the thumb, but on the BACK side of the thumb, this way I can fine tune adjust the friction on the BACK side of my thumb (again, see JR's video on proper thumb technique and you will see why). I don't care must about the inside of my thumb, at release it should even be touching the ball, it is all controlled by the BACK of your thumb (see JR's proper thumb technique videos).

[@jfabritz]

I'm the opposite. If I polish the inside of my IT, my skin drags horribly against it. I need that texture to help smooth the release.

[@squidly2112]

@@jfabritz - Interesting .. for me, I always use a fan on my thumb as part of my pre-throw routine, to ensure it is dry (not sticking), and occasionally I will use that super slick powder stuff. This allows me to adjust it just perfect every time. I guess I haven't had the same problem you describe. Whatever works though 😁

[@ALFAJERKBFH]

I gotta try this. Part of my bad form is because I'm death gripping my ball in fear it's going to slip out of my hand before my release.

[@jimkangas4176]

I've recently got my first ball. I found I was alternately death gripping it, or dropping it. When I didn't do that, it was great. Adding tape seems to help a bit (just tried this); I'm glad I resisted the temptation to have the pro shop ream it out further. Just have to work on relaxing.

[@remington1439]

I double tape my thumb hole like JR, has shown, right after probably 8th frame I’m taking 1 out and keeping the other in the full 3 games.

[@neilkaplan1433]

can you go over the tape that goes on the back up your thumb. I use that as well

[@leeromventura341]

Can you drill a symmetrical pattern on asymmetrical ball ?

[@lesliedavis2389]

Should you take the tape out when you're through bowling and start over every time?

[@a530demon]

You couldn’t be more right about the tape…even the part about looking at your pro shop guy like he has 10 heads when you say you want to clear your thumb faster 😂

[@nordattack]

You didn't mention about putting tape in the back of the hole and how to do this.

[@CMC4622]

The best bowler by far in my group does this exact thing. Not sometimes. Every single tournament I watch him meticulously work tape in and out his main 3 or 4 balls for that day. The guy seems to care very little about any other equipment or preparation. A month ago he won the Oklahoma Senior Masters. He was wearing...I shit you not...Sketchers brown work shoes with rugged soles. He planted all day and bowled I believe 866 to win. Im sure J.R. knows him. The most passionate, emotionally motivated lefty around. Mr. JACK ZUNIGA himself. Gotta love him. He replaces and manipulates his tape before each and every tournament. He may show up naked, or not at all for months, but hes got tape...BET.

[@lt8473]

It makes a difference my buddy put 1 tape in my bowl last night said throw a few man game changer. And how crazy are ppl to think your hand is gonna feel the same every time you bowl. The lack of respect for this sport is crazy.

[@johnny_1971]

hey JR i have a problem with my thumb bending and i have a callous on the side of my thumb would this taping help with both problem

[@jesslong75]

New bowler, conventional drilled 12 pound Tropical Surge ball , no grips, can I use the tape in a naked hole?

[@AmaliaAlexander-i5o]

What about tape in the back of the ball

You can, but there's also tape for the back of your thumb slow, medium and fast release.

[@BassRacerx]

what tape is the smoothest/fastest. I got some turbo tape but it is very textured and rather sticky especially after just a few shots.

[@SteebSauce]

Look for black tape. I have some by Ebonite and it’s slick. I use it for the back of the thumb hole.

[@chilsonsire5756]

I like the black tape as well. It's way more smooth. I personally prefer to place the tape on the back side of the thumb hole... leaving the front ever-smooth and clean for a consistent feel.

[@jeffwatzig2213]

JR, nothing at the oval? I only use 1 in front, for the feel, then fill in the back as needed.

[@ripvanrevs]

Does anybody still use electrical tape? Couple bucks for a roll and it might last a couple years. I bowled back in the 80s and 90s and just started back and that is all I use. Actually, the tape I am still using is at least 24 years old!!

[@BassRacerx]

@@ripvanrevs i would like to know where you buy your electrical tape. I do IT work and use it a lot and it seems like it sticks to nothing but itself. maybe my employer only buys the cheap crap lol.

[@mireally]

Do you subscribe to the idea that black tape goes on the nail side of the thumb hole and white tape goes on the pad side of the thumb hole?

[@nevinkinzel]

I need to put tape in my "2nd thumb" because it is drilled for when my thumb is REALLY swollen. There's always a transition where it's still too big and I tend to claw the ball and baby the swing causing the ball to come in early and go through or across the head pin. 😂 Would putting tape on the bottom of the thumb (or back of my thumb) be a good way to close it up a bit?

[@jfabritz]

I use thumb protection tape on both the front and back of my thumb when necessary to adjust the fit more than adding more tape inside the thumbhole.

[@mikeseabrook3380]

JR, I see you placed your tape at the 12 o'clock spot, is this the best place? I had been placing mine at 1 o'clock.

[@dougdandrea9307]

I think he forgot to go over the location, but the 1 o'clock position is pretty close.

[@shanehelm1570]

What causes the little burn on the thumb? I have the same one.

[@BassRacerx]

just need to get your thumb hole sanded again. the plastic breaks down with use and you can get burs over time.

[@jfabritz]

I get it from abrasion against fresh tape, and probably that I am sometimes grabbing with my thumb a little too much.

[@tonysanta3497]

You should have 3-4 tapes and end with 1. Anyone else tells you no tape, run the other way!

[@SuburbAllied]

Very good video, with a lot of clear and useful information! But, im gonna give you a real head-spinner now! I don't use tape, because my thumb doesn't swell, have never done it before either. I really hate the feeling of something inside the thumb hole! It is distracting, and you have to fiddle with it and... Of course, im not a pro bowler, just a regular league bowler, but my avg is still around 212 - 215 and my thumb hole feels so great... without tape. And no, im not holding on to the ball with a death-grip. Im actually doing just like what JR Raymond says to do in an another video, that one about gripping the bowling ball. Nothing beats that satisfying popping sound when realising the ball, except for the sound of your opponent getting a nasty split... Cheers!

[@jfabritz]

You are one of the lucky ones my friend! You have the ideal thumb for bowling! 😁

[@SuburbAllied]

@@jfabritz I guess I am lucky with my thumb then :P I love it, but then I do have a slight different realise than the others as well. They say my hand is very much behind the ball at the realise (or under the equator), almost like someone who plays one handed without thumb (eg Smallwood).