Better than tape inserts?

I have to mention a great bowling product which doesn't seem to have a name (but ought to). It's basically a roll of tan tape with a sticky side that has a backing layer like a band-aid would. The tape itself is a lot like a band-aid, but more porous and not as slickly plastic (it has a textured feel to it -- this particular tape is a lot like a rough cotton -- and comes in several textures, each a different color).

If you have a banged up thumb, or just want to avoid putting tape in the ball, this is worth trying.

A few weeks ago I had seriously dinged my thumb a couple times during the week before our weekly bowling date and figured things were going to be bad. On the second ball in practice, I ripped open the fresh scab which was going to be a problem. I tried using Robbys Sure Release but that's works much better for cuts and the like and this was right on the back of my thumb so it immediately tore itself apart. I went to Jeff Massey who runs the local shop and he asked if I'd like to try some tape. He showed me what it looked and felt like and cut off a piece for me to try. It ran from the tip of the thumb (needs to be cut a little pointed) to just above the top joint. I used it and things worked out quite well. It stayed in place and I felt comfortable, mangled thumb and all, I bowled pretty well. It hurt a bit to rip it off, but a whole lot less than what might have occurred otherwise.

Fast forward to this week. Once again, I'd put a ding in my thumb (not a big one this time) but I went in and asked Jeff for some more tape. I pulled the tape from my balls and damned if it didn't feel a whole lot more comfortable than having tape in the thumb hole of the ball. The tan variety of tape works well with a plastic thumb insert and just slides inside the ball. No hangups outside of operator error.

I went back after finishing this evening to buy a roll of the tape with no name and plan to use it on my thumb when I need to fit a bit more snugly in the ball and stop using tape inserts all together. Actually, that's as subject worthy of an entire discussion; pulling two month old, gooey tape inserts from a ball is quite a mess.