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.

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.

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

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 😂

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!!

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

Great video as always JR.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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 .

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.

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).

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.

What are your thoughts on grips vs. no grips?

Cool video talk tech bowling bowling Jr Raymond

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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?

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.

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.

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

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!