It was funny watching cartoon characters getting their thumbs stuck in bowling balls and getting dragged along the lane, but too much or too little friction between your fingers and the ball is an actual issue that bowling enthusiasts face.
Humans have vastly different hands. Some have soft, smooth hands with slender thumbs and others have rough hands with thicker thumbs. Therefore, it makes little sense that bowling ball holes would fit us all.
In this brief article, we’ll review some of the best bowling thumb tape brands on the market that ensure a good grip and release.
Why Bowling Thumb Tape Is Important
Whether you’ll use it on your thumb or in the ball’s thumb hole, bowling thumb tape provides several benefits for bowlers.
1. Protection for Your Thumb
The friction between your thumb and the bowling ball can cause calluses or blisters after continued use. The tape provides a layer between both surfaces to protect your thumb from excessive rubbing.
2. Better Ball Control and Release
Depending on your style of play, you may want a certain level of friction between your thumb and the ball to execute the perfect throw.
Thumb tapes come in different levels of friction to give you anything from a smooth, quick release to a slow, controlled one.
Besides, people with sweaty hands may want to use tape to ensure a better grip on the ball and avoid slipping.
3. Improving Hole Size
If the hole is too wide, it can adversely affect your throws. Therefore, many people with thin fingers who need to adjust the size of the thumb hole may use thicker tapes to do just that.
4 Best Bowling Thumb Tape Options
Finding the perfect bowling thumb tape can be quite challenging considering the wide variety of options on the market. To narrow down your options, we compiled a list of the four best bowling thumb tapes today.
1. Bowlingball Monster Bowling Tape
Bowlingball provides a 30-piece pack designed to be placed inside the thumb hole. It comes in two colors that vary in terms of release.
The black color provides a smooth, quick release that’s perfect for people with dry hands that may be affected by the consistent friction.
The white color provides a slower, controlled release that’s more suitable for people with softer or sweatier hands.
Things We Like
- Affordable price point
- Durable material that will last you many games
- Great adhesion
Things We Don’t
- The tape may be too stiff
- Adhesive can leave residue inside the holes
2. Bowling Ball Factory Ultra Tac
The Bowling Ball Factory thumb tape roll features 100 pre-cut pieces, each piece being about 3” thick. The tape is white and is textured to provide some friction for grip.
It’s designed to be added to the inside of the thumb holes to improve grip and release. It also reduces the friction between your fingers and the inside of the holes.
However, as for all thumb hole tapes, the adhesive can leave some annoying residue on the inside of your bowling ball. If you’re looking for a solution to this problem, check the following product, as it’s designed to fit on the back of your thumb.
Things We Like
- Can last up to 8 games
- Can be used to improve both fit and grip
- Great price per unit
Things We Don’t
- Adhesive residue may be hard to remove
- Material is prone to cracks
3. Turbo Grips Course Fitting Tape
The Turbo Grips thumb tape is designed to stick to your thumb. It’s mint green in color and is suitable for people with extra sweaty hands who constantly experience ball slipping. This is why they’re textured for a slow, controlled release.
People agree that the product fits seamlessly and stretches to take the shape of the back of their thumb. The tape is comfortable to the point where people would forget to take them off after they’re done bowling.
Things We Like
- Adheres for long periods even on sweaty hands
- Tape is stretchy to fit thumb size and contours
- Made of thin yet durable material
Things We Don’t
- Pricier than other alternatives
4. Genesis Excel Copper 3 Performance Tape
The Genesis Bowling 40-piece pack features purple tape made of a therapeutic copper material that fits snugly on your thumb. It protects your thumb, improves your grip, and gives a moderate release for the ball.
However, you should note that the material is fairly thin, which impacts durability, and that the adhesive residue is an issue as well.
Things We Like
- More Affordable than other brands
- Good material used
- Strong adhesive for sweaty hands
Things We Don’t
- Material may be too thin to protect
- Adhesive residue may be annoying to remove
Conclusion
Thumb tape is important for your game. If you’re looking to reduce friction, go for the smoother types like the black Bowling Ball Monster tape.
Per contra, if you want a strong grip with a controlled release, and you also hate the feeling of adhesive residue on the inside of the ball, we strongly recommend the Turbo Grips tape, which might cost you more but will do the job perfectly.
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