Adjusting the fit of your thumbhole: How to insert thumb tape for the perfect fit!

If you have a freshly drilled bowling ball, you will find that your thumb hole is slightly loose. Most pro-shop operators drill it this way because the fit of our thumb varies with many factors. This includes ambient temperature, ball storage conditions, and even the time of day! This means that we will have to adjust the fit of our thumb hole, and we will teach you exactly how to insert thumb tape to do this!

In this article, we discuss some recommendations based on our own experience. It is not definitive, and we emphasise that the best method for adjusting the fit of your thumb hole is what you feel the most comfortable with!

Anatomy of insert tape

There are 3 main factors you should consider when picking which tape to use:

Texture

Generally, insert tapes can be classified as ‘smooth’ or ‘rough’ in texture. The smooth textured tapes are usually black in colour while the rough textured tapes are usually white. You may also find the ‘super textured’ tapes which are very rough, and black in colour. Rough insert tapes are always placed at the front of the thumb hole (opposite side of your nail) to give a bit of friction, especially if you have sweaty palms, and a better ‘feel’ of the ball. You would not place rough insert tapes against the back of your thumb because it can cause an abrasion. Smooth insert tapes can be placed both at the front and the back of your thumb hole, depending on individual preference, though most would place them only at the back.

Width

Insert tapes come in 3 different widths: 1/2, 3/4 and 1 inch. You should pick a width that is closest to the width of your own thumb, although some bowlers may prefer using something that is slightly wider to avoid feeling the edge of the insert tape.

Thickness

Currently, there is no standard for the thickness of insert tapes used, but you can select your thickness based on the brand of the tape. Between the two more popular brands, Master and KR Strikeforce, Master tends to produce thinner tapes, which means you would need to add more tapes to achieve the desired fit, but it is also easier to adjust.

Basics of using insert tape

When placing an insert tape into the thumb hole, you want to ensure that the curved side of the tape faces the opening of the thumb hole. This is to ensure that the top of the thumb hole is slightly looser than the bottom of the thumb hole, creating a smooth gradient when your thumb exits the hole.

We want to ensure that the surface of the tape covers the thumb correctly. If you insert your fingers and thumb into the ball, you will notice that the thumb is inserted at an angle. For right-handed bowlers, if the fingers are at the 12 o’clock position, then the front of the thumb is usually facing the 1 or 2 o’clock position. This means that when you put in the insert tape, it needs to be placed at that position of the thumb. You can use a colour pencil to mark out this position for more accurate estimation.

When actually placing the tape in, we also want to ensure that the tape enters straight down without curving away at the bottom, and that it sticks flat, with no air bubbles inside. Using a screwdriver or a pair of tweezers can help with this.

Once we feel that the fit is comfortable, we should try releasing the ball with a one step drill first, and not our full approach as there is a risk of the ball getting caught on your thumb if it is too tight!

Is there such a thing as too much tape?

It is common to use more than 1 insert tape per thumb slug, and many bowlers tend to exclusively use textured tape at the front of the thumb. At Breakdown Bowling, it is our strong belief that a maximum of 3 insert tapes should be placed at the front of the thumb. As you stick more tape at the front, you will find that your thumb is being pushed towards the back of your span, creating additional ‘reverse’ pitch. For most of us, having ‘reverse’ pitch will cause the ball to release quicker, which is contradictory to what we want to achieve with insert tape.

We recommend using smooth tape at the back of our thumb holes once we reach 2-3 pieces of tape at the front. Adding tape at the back helps to push the thumb into a ‘forward’ pitch, creating a more snug feel that we desire. From our experience, there is no limit to how many tapes you can put at the back of the thumb hole. However, if you find yourself placing more than 4 pieces, you might want to get your pro-shop operator to re-measure your fitting.

Tiered taping tips

Now, how should we add multiple pieces of tape into our thumb hole? We have found two methods of taping that work well for us.

First is what we like to call straight tiered taping. We add the first piece of tape as close to the top of the thumb hole as possible, but avoiding any bevelling to ensure the top of the tape does not flip or roll up. The next piece of tape is added directly below this tape, around 1mm apart, and any following tape is again added 1mm below the previous.

Creating a tiered taping fit works because the bottom of the thumb hole will be more snug than the top of the thumb. This allows for a better fit as you insert your thumb, but when your thumb leaves the thumb hole, it should still be able to slip out easily as it is looser at the top. In addition, most of our thumbs are thicker at the base, and narrower at the tip, so it makes sense to create a fit that reflects our natural physiology. Lastly, it is also easier to remove any tape if needed than if we were to stick the tape haphazardly.

The second method we use is called staggered tiered taping. The first tape should be inserted close to the top, similar to the previous method. The next tape should be inserted slightly below the first tape and a little to the right/left. The third tape should be inserted below the second tape, but aligned to the first tape. Any more tapes should be added in a similarly alternating fashion.

We prefer this method because layering the tape on top of each other may create a sharp edge that could be uncomfortable. Also, staggering the tape allows you to cover a greater surface area of the thumb hole, so the increase in snugness is distributed across the whole, rather than concentrated on one face. Lastly, more of the tape is stuck to the thumb slug itself, which is a better adhesive surface than other tape, and this prevents the tape from sliding around.

Having a proper, snug fit of your thumb hole is integral in bowling better, and we hope that we have helped you on your journey! Do let us know in the comments if you have any other taping techniques to share!