How to Put Tape on Your Fingertips for Bowling Balls

Bowlers use grip tape to provide protection against callouses and blistering. The cotton-weaved adhesive also allows a bowler to quickly tailor his grip to suit the holes unique to his ball. Some bowlers apply layers of special tape to the inside of their thumb and finger holes; others apply tape directly to their hands.The goal is to fine-tune your grip and release, improve comfort, reduce slipping and improve your score.

Things You'll Need

  • Scissors or utility knife
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Instructions

    • 1

      Use grip tape meant to be applied directly to your skin. Tape inserts also are sold in rolls, like finger tape, and are made to be applied to a bowling ball's holes.

    • 2

      Place your fingers in the bowling ball and gauge where the most rubbing occurs on your thumb, and where excessive space occurs around your fingers.

    • 3

      Cut a piece of thumb tape with scissors or a utility knife to the length of your thumb from the fingernail back to the bottom of you hand -- usually about two inches or more.

    • 4

      Trim one end of the tape to mirror the size and shape of your thumb tip.

    • 5

      Remove the adhesive backing and apply the thumb tape to your thumb nail. Stretch the tape tightly and apply it along your thumb to the bottom of your hand, along the area where your thumb rubs against the hole the most.

    • 6

      Cut a piece of finger tape to suit your hand size, and remove the adhesive backing.

    • 7

      Apply the finger tape according to the manufacturer's specifications. Typically, you will tape one end of the tape to the back of your finger and seal the side flaps. Then the final flap folds over the top of your finger and meets the other flaps on the bottom of your finger.