The use of tape in bowling is a form of art. Bowling tapes can be your best friends during a bowling session. You may have seen bowlers, especially professionals use a piece of bowling tape on their bowling hand’s thumb. Besides protecting the thumb, the tape is also useful to ensure a flawless ball release. So what kind of bowling thumb tape is right for you? How to insert bowling thumb tape? How to take it off? Here you will find all the answers. I will also articulate when to replace the tape. So if you want to know the ins and outs of bowling thumb tape, stay tuned!
How to Insert Bowling Thumb Tape?
Do you know that bowling thumb tapes are very commonly used among bowlers? In fact, it is one of the most useful pieces of equipment that enhances your grip, protects you from skin irritation and other injuries, and boosts your bowling performance significantly. So how do you insert a bowling thumb tape in the thumb hole of your bowling ball? Allow me to clarify.
To install a bowling thumb tape, first, you will need a piece of thumb tape. It can be textured, slick, or protective as per your requirement. You will also need a colored wax pen, a ballpoint pen, a tape removal/placing tool, and of course, a piece of thin towel. Once you have gathered everything, let’s get started!
Step 1
First and foremost, give your bowling ball a nice cleaning. I don’t mean deep cleaning. Just wipe it down with a piece of microfiber towel and wipe the holes as well. After that put on the protective thumb tape that goes on your thumb. To do that, place the tape right on your nails and make sure the tape covers your thumbnail properly, and stick it down on your thumb. When you’re applying this particular piece, make sure your thumb is bent a little, but not all the way. Some bowlers are fine with this protective thumb tape, but for others, that’s not enough. This is when they need the grip tapes.
Step 2
Okay, now, time to decide what kind of grip thumb tape you want for your bowling ball thumb hole. Slick or textured? If you want to combat the swelling of your thumb with some added protection, the slick tapes would be a better option. This tape would be suitable for bowlers who want to get their thumbs out of the finger holes faster. Contrarily, if you want to delay the exit of your thumb from the thumb hole, you might want to go for the textured tape. It is also used for finger swelling which is amazing. So have you made up your mind? Let’s move on to the next step.
Step 3
Time to figure out where the tape is going to be placed. It shouldn’t be placed too up that it is hanging out the top of the thumb hole or pushed down so far that it’s hardly even doing anything. So as far as the distance into your thumb hole how far down you want it to be, make sure the tape is about an eighth of an inch down and you have to layer them on top of each other as much as possible. Now that you know the height of where the tape should be placed,
Step 4
Now, you’re gonna need to grab the wax pencil and the ballpoint pen to identify the point in the thumb hole where the tape will be placed. So if you’re looking at your thumb hole the top is gonna be 12 o’clock, and the bottom is going to be 6 o’clock. But this 6 o’clock and 12 o’clock rule is not applicable to all bowlers. When the positioning of your thumb tape is off-centered it can cause an extreme amount of sore spots and sometimes even blisters because it’s not placed properly.
To find your ideal point of where to put the tape, here’s what you need to know. Grab a pen and draw a straight line right in the middle of the thumb tape that is attached to your thumb. After that, grab a colored wax pencil and draw another line at the bottom of your thumb right in the middle. And then, place your thumb inside the bowling ball as you do when you bowl. And as your thumb comes out, the wax pencil mark will leave a residue and indicate the center of your thumb. The ballpoint pen mark will also help you to be more precise to mark and line up.
Step 5
Once you know where the tape needs to be placed, grab a tool to hold the sticky tape and place it inside the thumb hole of the bowling ball. If you follow these steps correctly, you can’t be wrong in this process. Just make sure the tape is centered whether it’s the front or back of your thumb holes. That’s all.
When to Replace the tape in bowling?
Like a band-aid, thumb tapes do wear out with time. You cannot just put them in your bowling ball once and forget about it. Statistically, the tapes wear out within 6 months or every 60 games. However, if you’re an avid bowler, it can happen a lot faster. So how do they wear out? Well, the dirt and oil from the lane get stuck to the outside of the tape and they lower the quality of these tapes. You can tell if the tapes need to be changed by the look of them as well. If they look or feel too greasy and dirty, it’s better to change the thumb tape of your bowling ball.
What are some of the common mistakes to avoid when taping a bowling thumb?
The tapes that you just installed doesn’t seem right? Well, you have probably made a minor mistake. Don’t worry, you can fix that. No big deal. But here are some of the common mistakes to avoid when you are taping the thumb hole of your bowling ball.
- For the tape that goes on your thumb, one of the common mistakes is not placing it over the nail. Some tend to place it right under the thumb nail which actually causes more damage than good to your nail.
- Selection of the type of the tape is another common mistake. If you use slick tape to place on the underside of your thumb hole, it will be of no use. Similarly, if you use a textured tape on the nail of your thumb hole, it will prevent easy sliding of the thumb during ball release.
- Placing the tape too high or too low in the thumb hole is another mistake that many of us make. Follow the instructions above to dodge this issue.
Does thumb tape help hook grip?
As a matter of fact, bowling thumb tapes do promote better grip. It makes the insert and exit of your thumb easier. As a result, you get more consistent throws. And, if you want to hook your bowling ball better, you need super consistent throws. By placing bowling thumb tapes, you boost the possibilities of better ball release and apparently better hook grip. So does that answer your question?
What does thumb taping prevent?
Besides providing a better and more comfortable grip in your thumb hole, the thumb tapes do a lot more. So does the thumb tape protect you from anything else? Of course! Thumb taping protects you from thumb injuries, painful blisters, scratches, and soreness. It also prevents your bowling ball from slipping too early. Most importantly, thumb-taping stops you from getting inconsistent shots.
Conclusion
Get ready to see the best reaction from your bowling ball. And what can ensure that? Bowling thumb tape, of course! It is one of the most important pieces of bowling equipment that you can’t just overlook. So learn how to install that yourself and make necessary adjustments if needed. Make sure your nails are not too long to use thumb tape! Don’t forget to replace the tape when the time is right. This article has described everything step-by-step. If you still have any further questions, hit me up. I will definitely help you out. Till then, good luck and keep on bowling, my fellow bowlers! See ya later!
Passionate Bowler and Bowling Enthusiast
Jess Pinelli is a dedicated bowling enthusiast with a deep love for the sport that spans over 6 years. With numerous strikes, spares, and a few gutter balls under hes belt, he has honed his skills on lanes across the country. Pinelli’s journey in the world of bowling has been a remarkable one, from casual weekend games with friends to competitive league play and even a few local tournaments.
Driven by her passion for the game, Pinelli decided to channel her expertise and knowledge into the digital realm, becoming a prolific author on this bowling website. She’s your go-to source for everything bowling-related, from mastering the perfect hook to choosing the right bowling ball and even navigating the world of bowling etiquette.
When she’s not busy writing informative articles or reviewing the latest bowling gear, you’ll likely find Pinellis at her favorite local bowling alley, helping newcomers improve their game or enjoying some friendly competition with fellow bowlers. She firmly believes that bowling is not just a game but a community, and she’s committed to fostering that sense of camaraderie both online and offline.
