Bowler's thumb gets stuck in his bowling ball (SFW)

[u/Joanna_Valdes]

[u/alphajager]

I saw the SFW tag, but thought that I watched someone get a thumb degloved and I was in shock. Then I read the comments. . . .whew.

[u/SnowDay111 → u/alphajager]

Yeah I thought he lost his thumb and then was doing fist bumps with the same hand

[u/AnEgoJabroni → u/SnowDay111]

Well now, that is the only hand I would use, to be fair. Fist bumps are so much easier without that extra thumb weight on there.

[u/NaughtyThottiexox → u/AnEgoJabroni]

that's amazing, he still made that shot!!

[u/miss_review → u/SnowDay111]

Same, thank god.

[u/HollowLegMonk → u/SnowDay111]

I was like damn that dude is stoic AF giving daps without a thumb like it’s all good.

[u/Intelligent-Sir-9673 → u/SnowDay111]

I thought he got "munson'd"

[u/OfficialSpiderPig → u/alphajager]

Took me too long to understand, was also in shock

[u/Tobias_Mercury → u/OfficialSpiderPig]

“Wow this dude is completely unphased by his skin being ripped off”

[u/Randomfrog132 → u/alphajager]

degloved?

do i even wanna know lol

[u/ThatLooseCake → u/Randomfrog132]

You are wearing gloves, then you are not wearing gloves. You have been degloved.

You are not wearing gloves, then you are degloved. You are now wearing -1 gloves

[u/Randomfrog132 → u/ThatLooseCake]

oh.

i thought it was gonna be something awful.

like those old things that people would tell you to google image search cause they seemed harmless but they were actually mentally scarring.

ty for the info

[u/alphajager → u/Randomfrog132]

No, it's awful. With enough force it's possible to pull the skin off an appendage and still leave the meat and bones and stuff behind. You could Google it, but honestly I don't recommend it.

[u/Randomfrog132 → u/alphajager]

i'll take your word for it lol

thanks

[u/avibrant_salmon_jpg → u/Randomfrog132]

Degloving is exactly the kind of thing that people tell you to Google image search bc it seems harmless but is actually mentally scarring.

Used to do it all the time in middle school.

[u/godzilla9218 → u/Randomfrog132]

Literally pulling the skin off your fingers like a glove. Happens commonly with wedding rings and men in physical jobs around machinery.

[u/FeedbackBudget2912 → u/Randomfrog132]

All the slin comes off. It happens to people's legs in motorcycle accidents. Skinned basically.

[u/SanDickiego → u/FeedbackBudget2912]

Mmmmmm....slin....yummy

[u/Randomfrog132 → u/SanDickiego]

ok goldmember lol

[u/Randomfrog132 → u/FeedbackBudget2912]

so big time owies

thank you for the information

[u/ThingWithChlorophyll → u/alphajager]

Not an expert but wouldn't there be a lot of blood if that was the case

[u/alphajager → u/ThingWithChlorophyll]

I mean, yes. But I wasn't really sure what I saw and assumed the worst for the first few moments.

[u/BukkitCrab]

It's not his actual thumb, it's a piece of bowling equipment called an 'interchangeable thumb' used to customize the depth shape of the thumb hole on a bowling ball.

[u/ecafsub → u/BukkitCrab]

It does not change the depth of the thumb hole. It’s used to change the shape and diameter.

Finger and thumb holes are drilled to specific depths and diameters. Most custom balls have both thumb and fingertip inserts, being standardized at about 1” OD which makes it dead-simple: slap a 1” bit in the press and start drilling. Obviously there are rare cases where that’s not big enough, but most thumbs and fingers will fit a 1” hole with room to spare. The inserts are used to fill the space. Fingertip inserts are generally a lot softer than the ball resin/urethane while thumb inserts are harder and smoother plastic for better release.

The inserts are selected for finger fit and can be sanded for more precise fits, and are glued into the holes with CA. They are easily replaced. The CA will eventually fail, which is likely what happened.

Source: I’ve drilled hundreds of custom bowling balls.

[u/Kayniaan → u/ecafsub]

"I’ve drilled hundreds of custom bowling balls."

Did you drill it with or without the insert?

[u/Longjumping-Cod-6290 → u/Kayniaan]

Obviously he used his thumb

[u/macabremasterplan → u/Longjumping-Cod-6290]

Of course, if he's rich enough to play competitive bowling ball, he should be able to afford enough spare thumbs

[u/Scrub_nin → u/Kayniaan]

New insert every time. Cleanliness is of the utmost importance

[u/Jason_Kelces_Thong → u/Scrub_nin]

That’s why I never throw the same bowling ball twice. It’s an expensive hobby when done right

[u/worldspawn00 → u/Jason_Kelces_Thong]

Nah I don't want that ball, it's been on the floor. Bring me a fresh one!

[u/ItHappenedAgain_Sigh → u/ecafsub]

I always love it when someone like you turns up with real life experience and knowledge.

[u/Wonderful_Charge8758 → u/ItHappenedAgain_Sigh]

This is why I stick around here.

[u/NeuroticNinett → u/ecafsub]

Question about custom bowling ball: Do you need a custom one if you lack fingers, or does a standard one suffice?

[u/ecafsub → u/NeuroticNinett]

Never did one for someone without fingers, but I did do a couple for a guy who wanted only the thumb hole. Balancing it for drilling was a little tricky as you have to account for removed material and not drilling finger holes shifted the center of gravity a bit. Not a lot. A few ounces of urethane out of a 16lb ball isn’t much. Also drilled the thumb hole at a bit steeper angle toward the center so he could hang on moar better.

He had some kind of glove that had a grippy texture on the palm and fingers. Dunno where he got it.

[u/SOfoundmytrappornacc → u/ecafsub]

I had my own custom ball as a teenager when I was in a bowling league (bowled a 300 when I was 15, not in league though which sucks, just out with friends. I had them print off the scoresheet and my mom has it framed at her house) and I had those finger inserts put in since they help a lot with curving the ball imo. Never had a thumb one though.

[u/NeuroticNinett → u/ecafsub]

Interesting stuff. Thank you!

[u/Trappedbirdcage → u/NeuroticNinett]

If not doing so competitively, I've been to a few bowling alleys that had ramps where you put the ball at the top and push it down. Mainly used for kids but I've seen disabled and older folks use them too.

[u/vahntitrio → u/ecafsub]

I would add that the purpose of an interchangeable thumb slug is so that every ball has the exact same feel, and also that it can be swapped for a different size if your thumb starts to swell up in a long tournament.

[u/littlegreenrock → u/ecafsub]

Is a custom ball, with custom diameter/shape thumb hole not allowed, or not an option?

[u/ecafsub → u/littlegreenrock]

It’s a lot easier to drill a round hole in urethane and then slip a plastic insert in which can be shaped, rather than trying to file/sand the urethane. Thumb inserts are typically oval-ish whilst finger are round with a little lip to grip. The angle of the lip can affect loft and spin when releasing.

[u/frichyv2 → u/littlegreenrock]

Inserts are still used on custom balls.

[u/Ferociousnzzz → u/ecafsub]

Peak Reddit comment

[u/nataliieeep → u/ecafsub]

This person drills balls !

[u/TheStoicNihilist → u/ecafsub]

So you’re saying girth is more important than length?

[u/[deleted] → u/BukkitCrab]

Detachable penisssssssss

[u/mjrbrooks → u/[deleted]]

Holy shit I forgot about that song

[u/cesrage → u/mjrbrooks]

I woke up this morning

With a bad hangover

And my penis was missing again

[u/UrinatingJaguar96 → u/[deleted]]

Man I love that song

[u/TehChid → u/BukkitCrab]

I get that, but why is it red?

[u/BertaEarlyRiser → u/BukkitCrab]

Oh thank God... I almost had a new fear.

[u/G_Affect → u/BukkitCrab]

Lol lost a thimb but picked up the spare, high 5s all around, lets finish the game, then the hospital.

[u/MorbidMarko]

Man until I read the comments I sure thought that dude was super chill about de-gloving his thumb.

[u/notforrob → u/MorbidMarko]

I also thought that he degloved his thumb. Shudder.

[u/krazybananada → u/MorbidMarko]

I mean, he did pick up the spare so, worth it.

[u/phukerstoned]

Seems like he still has both thumbs when he walks back.

[u/Wonderful-Revenue762 → u/phukerstoned]

:). They have thumb "glove" to minimize damages

[u/phukerstoned → u/Wonderful-Revenue762]

I dig it. Protective equipment is necessary for most sports.

[u/EvilChefReturns → u/phukerstoned]

I digit

[u/phukerstoned → u/EvilChefReturns]

Nicely done!

[u/southern_boy → u/phukerstoned]

Con dom good job! ♻️

[u/Nanamiiiiii → u/EvilChefReturns]

2 digits

[u/BossBaddiexo → u/phukerstoned]

they don't oil up or something?

[u/OpeningTurnip8048 → u/BossBaddiexo]

I would bowl more often if getting oiled up first was a thing.

[u/LectroRoot → u/OpeningTurnip8048]

I'm imagining a naked greased up guy looking at you disappointed, looks you in the eye, and says ..newbie..

And walks away with a disgusted look on his face.

[u/phukerstoned → u/LectroRoot]

That's a disturbing image. Thank you.

[u/Youse_a_choosername → u/OpeningTurnip8048]

Sounds like an opportunity to get a rule named after yourself.

[u/xSTSxZerglingOne → u/Wonderful-Revenue762]

It's so you only get de-gloved instead of de-gloved.

[u/danknadoflex → u/Wonderful-Revenue762]

A thlove

[u/BlisssfulBabe → u/Wonderful-Revenue762]

lol i'm sure he was gonna make the shot :D

[u/dementrion → u/phukerstoned]

Yes, that's Dom Barrett who still bowls on the PBA Tour. To my knowledge, nobody (especially a pro), has degloved a finger whilst bowling.

[u/jtheman00 → u/dementrion]

My dad lost part of his finger while bowling. He wasn't mid swing, but rather reaching into the ball dispenser because he thought his ball was stuck. He also still bowls to this day, but his career in reaching into dispensers sadly came to an end that day.

[u/dmtdmtlsddodmt → u/jtheman00]

Your dad got Munsoned.

[u/Blacke-Dragon0705]

Who else thought this guy just nonchalantly de-gloved his thumb and went right along playing? I was mindblown til i read the comments.

[u/Mrhobo18a]

I killed a man with this thumb.

[u/Spiritual_Navigator → u/Mrhobo18a]

"All pins down, worth a thumb"

[u/Christopher261Ng → u/Mrhobo18a]

I understood that reference

[u/CounterFar7274]

The SFW tag makes the title hilarious 😂

[u/JuggernautyouFear]

No it wasn't lol

[u/Cobainevermind_]

There was a dude who would let the ball take him down the lane once he secured the win

Flawless - GIF - Imgur

[u/wkdadam → u/Cobainevermind_]

This is bowler Mike Machuga and it's known as the Machuga flop lol

[u/Cobainevermind_ → u/wkdadam]

You're correct, I grew up watching him back in the day. Always looked like he had big wad of dip in, he was one of my favorites. As an oldass on reddit, I didn't think anyone would care about the deets so I didn't bother with them

[u/One_Investment3919]

For a moment I thought his thumbs ripped off in the bowling ball, my heart stopped a little.

[u/NoSuchAg3ncy → u/One_Investment3919]

It's OK, he had a spare.

[u/hwilliams0901]

Im sorry is that blood all over his thumb???

[u/Schowzy → u/hwilliams0901]

I'm pretty sure it's that rubbery insert you find on some bowling balls. Seems as though it just pulled out instead of taking his whole thumb luckily.

[u/Ok_Use_9000 → u/hwilliams0901]

His thumb looked like it was skinned and started bleeding.

[u/vahntitrio → u/hwilliams0901]

Probably just bowlers tape. Professional bowlers throw so many games in a tournament that just about all of them tape their thumb and fingers to prevent blisters.

[u/Ashkill115 → u/hwilliams0901]

Bro it looks like it took his finger form him

[u/scuttdogg]

Roy Munson

[u/PurelyPuerile → u/scuttdogg]

You wouldn't happen to have a Phillips head screwdriver, would you?

... Never mind.

[u/Hal9000-supertramp → u/scuttdogg]

I thought there would be more Kingpin comments

[u/Numerous_Vegetable_3]

I knew it didn't come off but I thought he de-gloved it for a sec there

[u/ffnnhhw]

is it a thumb slug?

are there rules concerning things sticking out of the bowling ball?

[u/WrittenSarcasm → u/ffnnhhw]

Right I would have to think this shot would be either disallowed or count as 0

[u/yoko_OH_NO → u/ffnnhhw]

All these people commenting over and over about how they thought his thumb came off and I'm sitting here like "Yeah me too but it didn't, now I just want to know if this is allowed???"

[u/ProperBoots]

The amount of people who thought he would have his thumb somehow permanently stuck in a bowling ball is concerning

[u/CEEngineerThrowAway → u/ProperBoots]

Because “man bowls and pulls-out rubber insert” doesn’t make me say “Damn, that’s interesting”.

[u/FaroelectricJalapeno]

Seems like it should be some kind of foul

[u/GeneralLou15 → u/FaroelectricJalapeno]

Is this a foul? It can't be legal to throw something other than a bowling ball down the lane. Nor would it seem legal to add a foreign object to your ball.

[u/mrturtleturtleturtle]

What a real Munson…

[u/FingerTheCat → u/mrturtleturtleturtle]

Was looking for this!

[u/taddymason_76]

You want a thumb; I can get you a thumb by 3:30, with nail polish,

[u/MethodicalWin]

Mark it zero Smokey

[u/Walk_the_World → u/MethodicalWin]

Bullshit, mark it 8, Dude.

[u/ThrownItAllAway4425]

AAHHH! NOBODY LOOK! NOBODY LOOK! NOBODY LOOK!

[u/NeverBeNormalnbn → u/ThrownItAllAway4425]

Because you said "his brother" then you threw your big fake thumb at me.

[u/SplinterRifleman]

I thought he was going to loony toons it and fly with the ball down the lane

[u/YoshimitsuRaidsAgain]

Back in my competitive bowling days, I had this happen and it took most if the skin off the back of my thumb. Still finished the series thanks to that nu-skin gimmick you can buy in the pro shops, but I had the thumb re-fitted the next week lol.

[u/dneirfolleh → u/YoshimitsuRaidsAgain]

Glad u didn't get injured. So that wasn't blood on his thumb? Does everyone wear these?! What is the purpose? I'm so intrigued!

[u/YoshimitsuRaidsAgain → u/dneirfolleh]

Can’t speak for him, but mine def bled. The worst spot was on the joint area. Once I got the bleeding stopped, I applied the fake skin stuff. It’s essentially a super thin fabric that goes over the wound and then you paint a sealant over the the entire area. I was really skeptical, but it worked well.

[u/dneirfolleh → u/YoshimitsuRaidsAgain]

Well shooooot. Sounds painful! & Interesting. Glad it worked out well for ya!

[u/MacNCheeseDontLie]

When your aim is pure.

[u/Obsessivegamer32]

If he really lost his thumb, I’d imagine he’d have a more worse reaction.

[u/ryanruud85]

Thumb cover. Still in the bowling ball

[u/theBloodsoaked]

OK, how many of us were disappointed his actual thumb was still attached?

[u/abarr021]

Shitty clickbait. You knew exactly what you were doing when you wrote thumb in the title without specifying

[u/NoHeat7014]

King Pin did it better

[u/MaLiCioUs420x]

I feel like this should be considered a foul or somehow not count before an object was lodged in the bowling bowl which visibly helped it take that it likely would not have taken, had the foreign object not been lodged in the ball which helped the ball score a spare this should be a foul

[u/Randomfrog132]

so without the thumb it would have been a gutter ball.

that's cheating lol

[u/Low-Inevitable7140]

He really Munsoned that one!

[u/florpynorpy]

That freaked me out I though his hand was red from blood

[u/BigEvening3261]

Did it de sleeve his thumb?

[u/GenderfluidPhoenix → u/BigEvening3261]

Fun fact: the thing you mentioned is called degloving and often occurs in industrial accidents. I also think autocorrect might’ve turned sleeve into sleave for you. Have a nice day!

[u/BigEvening3261 → u/GenderfluidPhoenix]

It did I didn't even notice thank you

[u/Terrible_Length007]

"never seen anything like this in my career" my god commentating bowling must fucking blow

[u/dashKay]

Why lie? They literally say in the video that the insert is what's hanging out of the ball...

[u/Mr_Rum_Ham]

Pulled that maneuver straight outta Wii bowling

[u/Alive_Salary4970]

What is SFW?

[u/tired_of_old_memes → u/Alive_Salary4970]

"safe for work", as in you won't lose your job if someone catches you viewing this content at work.

As opposed to NSFW ("not safe for work"), which could include nudity or violence or gruesome injury or whatever.

[u/Alive_Salary4970 → u/tired_of_old_memes]

Thank you.

[u/Marinaraplease]

he's not using any lube

[u/OkNeck3571]

Well, wtf do they make them so f-ing tight

[u/BallDiamondBall]

I'm curious about how the lanes don't have indentations from this. I have family members in a local league, and when I watch them, I hear balls from less experienced bowlers hammering that wood frequently.

[u/SixtyNineFlavours]

This was not interesting to me.

[u/Vali-duz]

Never thought i'd have a fear of bowling...

[u/Nicenightforawalk01]

Flashbacks to the movie kingpin and his hand.

[u/Spirited_Pass_8639]

So its not "Garand Thumb" Anymore now IS "Bowling Thumb"...Times change.

[u/Ribeye1111]

Munson

[u/chum1ly]

MUNSONED!

[u/Biglabowski411]

I want to see the NSFW version

[u/Tall-Hunter-2637]

Dude walked around like he did it on purpose lol

[u/moewluci]

I was gonna say, he’s pretty casual for losing a thumb.

[u/Flying_Dutchman16 → u/moewluci]

He definitely degloved his thumb. Watch his thunb as he turns around with that the blood.

[u/ThatsKindaHotNGL → u/Flying_Dutchman16]

Not blood. Its just a cover

[u/moewluci → u/Flying_Dutchman16]

ooof, yeah I see it, yikes.

[u/xiphoboi]

saw the red cover on his thumb and thought his thumb got degloved @.@

[u/Roariee]

i fully thought his thumb went with the ball

[u/tinydeerwlasercanons]

This isn't interesting it's just got a misleading title

[u/CC-1112]

This has happened to me before. It can rip the skin off of your finger and hurts pretty bad

[u/JappyJan]

This is not sfw!

[u/hogimishu]

if you are watching without volume it’s a whole other video

[u/DirtyRatLicker]

Hello, bowler with multiple custom balls here. What he says about an “interchangeable thumb” makes perfect sense. An interchangeable thumb is the plastic insert in the thumb hole that can be interchanged to your other balls to keep the same fit throughout your arsenal

[u/Ambitious-Beat-2130]

New fear unlocked

[u/Dmayak → u/Ambitious-Beat-2130]

Just now? I had it as soon as I saw holes in the bowling ball.

[u/Ok_Pea_5356]

Looth like the thpare took thumb luck

[u/Dan_Glebitz]

Misleading title. Not his ACTUAL thumb. Clickbait in action 😏

[u/Indian_Outlaw_417]

😳 It's the REAL LIFE "King Pin"

[u/Legitimate-Source-61]

Dude doesn't get the thumbs up

[u/ProvocatorGeneral]

Pulled it off better than Roy Munson.

[u/Rizzo65]

👍

[u/ACosmicRailGun]

That's just how I bowl in Wii Sports

[u/overzealous_wildcat]

Literally why I’ve hated bowling since I was a little kid

[u/[deleted]]

Did he actually loose some skin there?!

[u/Im-Yumi]

Task failed successfully

[u/CJR3]

Damn with that title, and seeing a blurry redness on his thumb after he tossed the ball… I thought it straight up ripped his thumb off for a second lmao

[u/squarepuller69]

TV flashed "Weber Cup". Is it named after THE Pete Weber? Who do you think you are? I am!

[u/Deep_Delivery2465 → u/squarepuller69]

It's named after his father, Dick Weber.

Pete has bowled in the event, which is sadly no longer held

[u/Mahaloth → u/squarepuller69]

Yeah, gotta be Dick Weber, not Pete.

[u/MixDependent8953]

So it saved his thumb

[u/lobobobos]

Something in the thumb hole

[u/epirot]

me watching the slowmo to get the details: cant see shit man

[u/Ok-Comfortable6400]

Talk about picking up a Split!!!

[u/Available_Nebula4070]

It’s a thumbs down from me 👎

[u/BrandonXbox]

That’s why I play 5 pin

[u/MustardSocietyy]

phew thankfully there’s redditors with some common sense nowadays

[u/Patrickmonster]

I have gotten a finger stuck before and it hurts. Mainly in the shoulder as the ball didn't come away from my hand. Most people don't realize bowling balls are mostly drilling for right handers. The left of the two finger holes is usually slightly smaller. Using it in my left hand my middle finger gets stuck when I'm not careful. I can usually compensate for it with my grip. But after a few pitchers of beer sometimes you forget things.

[u/eldudelio]

seems like cheating to me, the inserted thumb guided the bowling ball

[u/Big-Seesaw1555]

Lol that's how I normally bowl 😜

[u/kalb_jayyid]

Didn't know ol Roy Munson was still out on the lanes!

[u/Fun-Currency-1806]

Insert gif of Stanley from the Office: What is wrong with you? Why did you have to phrase it like that?

[u/COmarmot]

is it cake?

[u/brucemo]

Are you allowed to knock pins over on the fly?

[u/foodank012018]

The perspective makes it seem as if he's bowling uphill.

[u/RackemFrackem]

Are there people who think that the bowling ball might have pulled his thumb off?

[u/SolarPunkYeti]

So like, does it count?

[u/Hanginon]

DAFUQ is an "interchangeable thumb"? 0_0

[u/Miserable-Neat9370]

Bet he wishes he had JoPo Grips. Must have used turbo grips. I would bet 1 millions dollars if I had it so let’s make it 100k if I was lieing 350$ on the first.

[u/Xtianus21]

lol did he say an interchangeable thumb. is that on alibaba?