Bowling Thumb Pitch Angles
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Originally Posted: 9/5/2013; Updated: 5/20/2021Your pro shop professional faces the challenge of determining which pitch angles to use when drilling your thumb gripping hole. Determining the proper size of your thumb hole is only part of the measuring and fitting process.
Since each bowler has a different size and shape of a hand and has an individual delivery style, the thumb hole pitches become an important part of drilling specifications.
Each bowler has a unique thumb configuration. Your thumb joint is constructed differently than the next bowler and opens and closes toward the palm of your hand differently than other bowler’s thumbs.
Your thumb hole pitch angles are measured both laterally (to palm and away-from-palm) and from front to back (forward or reverse).
The thumb hole angles influence your release technique.
A forward pitch angle in your thumb hole will help you hold onto the
bowling ball slightly longer than will a reverse pitch angle.
If you have difficulties with dropping your ball behind the foul line or with under rotating your bowling fingers, using forward thumb pitch helps prop your bowling wrist to support the ball weight as you enter the release zone in your forward bowling swing.
Forward
thumb pitch can assist you in getting the ball over the foul line and in completing adequate finger rotation.
Using reverse thumb pitch helps you clear your thumb from the ball more rapidly than does forward thumb pitch.
When you wish to reduce the amount of finger rotation used in your release technique, reverse pitch in the thumb hole will help you exit the ball more quickly than does forward pitch.
Reverse pitch in your thumb hole also helps you get the ball onto the surface of the lane quickly and aides in getting your ball to achieve a shorter ball skid distance in the mid-lane.
Away-from-palm thumb pitch will help you stay behind your ball longer and will reduce finger rotation than will palm pitches.
Away from palm pitch in your thumb hole can aide in attaining a forward rolling motion with less axis tilt as your ball travels down the lane opposed to using palm pitch.
Using a pitch drilled toward the palm of your hand helps you rotate the ball more than using an away-from-palm pitch angle. As the tip of your thumb fits into the ball positioned over the palm of your hand between your middle and ring fingers, you typically will be influenced to rotate the ball and create increased axis tilt than if the tip of your thumb is positioned in-line with your index finger.
Thumb hole pitch angles influence your release technique more so than any other pitch angles. It is important to discuss your thumb pitch angle with your pro shop professional to ensure it matches with your intended delivery style.
