Thumb Swelling

[smoovethug]

So its been getting warmer here on the East Coast and my thumb is starting to swell making my formerly snugly ball fit a bit tighter. I've had trouble getting into the ball I took a round rasp file and opened it up some. This made it a little too loose so I had to throw a piece of tape in it. I went out to shoot the Lilac City Tournament (in Rochester, NY) this past weekend, bowled 24 games in 3 days and everything was out of whack. One day it was too tight, the other too loose, wound up taking tape out and putting it back in. I know its common for your hands to shrink some in the cold and swell in the heat but does anyone have any remedies to combat this?

[BigDawg70]

I know alcohol will make you swell up. Also when you have to bowl a lot like 24 games in 3 days, some swelling is going to be normal just from the war and tear of bowling. Maybe try keeping your hand above your heart while your waiting for your turn to bowl. I know a few guys that tightly wrap a dollar bill around their thumb between frames to keep swelling down.
My advise is to use tape. I have all my stuff drilled so that I can put 4-5 pcs of tape in the ball. That way there is no way my thumb can swell enough to effect my release.

[katoemt]

If ur thumb hole gets to loose, don't take the tape out of the thumb hole, but add tape to back of thumb,from middle of the nail to 2nd joint this way ,if the hole gets to tight take the atpe off ur thumb.

[Tylrsmom]

I understand where you are coming from...my thumb swells when I bowl, too...the warmer the weather, the more it tends to swell. I recently had all of my balls redrilled for pitch and had to have the thumb holes opened up considerably. I'd much rather have to add tape in the ball and to my thumb than to have my thumb stick in the ball..