Bowling ball recommendation?

[Slickone]

I'm thinking about getting a reactive ball. I know nothing about brands, etc. What do you recommend? I'm re-learning the basics now with an instructor, since my form sucked, and will then learn how to hook properly/better. Basically my average is horrible right now. Not sure if I'll get it at the pro shop, ebay, or somewhere like bowling.com. I guess I need to wait until I get my swing corrected and consistant before deciding on a ball to know how much of a hook potential etc to look for in a ball (?), but I'm curious what brands and models to look for.

Also, I think I'll probably use my current urethane ball as a second 'follow up' (?) ball, since even though the holes are offset, being old technology, and not reactive, its hardly hooks. So any recommendations on a 2 ball tote (don't think I want a roller) bag welcome.

 

[Jhill]

What is a reactive ball?

 

[bubbadu]

A reactive ball is a ball that has hook potential... I just bought a Storm Triple X factor ball from ebay, which is top of the line. Ebay is going to have the best prices, but you are going to have to pay to get it drilled and maybe some inserts. I went from a 100 average with a house ball to about a 160 and hopefully into the 180 range soon. PM me for questions, and I can go into detail about any questions.

 

[Salvador]

Seriously.. Does anyone still bowl?

Sal

 

[Slickone]

No, everyone sits at their PC all day. Go get some exercise/have fun/live a little!
BTW, our ~40 lane alley is often full.

Thanks, bubbadu. PM coming.

 

[jaydee]

For a beginner, I recommend going with one ball. I averaged ~180 the last time I bowled in a league with one ball (AMF Night Hawk). For one, you don't want to be lugging two balls with you all the time and secondly (I think) it'll benefit you down the road if you learn how to shoot at anything with a reactive ball. Guys who have more than one usually have them for different lane conditions.

Ebay will probably be your best deal (shipping's going to suck though), but you have to go to a proshop to get it drilled anyway and they usually have deals if you get them both at the same place.

 

[Salvador]

No, everyone sits at their PC all day. Go get some exercise/have fun/live a little!

Bowling is exercise?

Do people that go to bowling alley's still chain smoke? That's one of the things that I always hated about bowling alley's. You couldn't go to one and not end up smelling like a dirty ash tray when you got home.

Sal

 

[bradruth]

I recommend a ball with something encased in amber.

 

[Salvador]

Bowling to me is like the movie Kingpin. The way that Woody Harrelson and Bill Murray portrayed those bowlers is so dead on from the 70's. Has bowling changed any?

Sal

 

[dmcowen674]

Bowling ball recommendation?

A Soft ball for slick lanes and pin action and your first ball.

A Hard ball for your spare shots and for first ball on dry lanes.

Brands do not matter.

 

[Sunner]

The best overall ball I've had was a Chaos made by Columbia 300.
They don't make it anymore though

It's a bitch to use on dry lanes though, pretty much impossible if your playing style hooks alot, so if you expect to be playing any important matches under such conditions, either get another ball to go along with it, or buy another ball.
I used that one, along with a Night Hawk, and a Target Zone for sparing, back in the day when I bowled alot.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674
Bowling ball recommendation?

A Soft ball for slick lanes and pin action and your first ball.

A Hard ball for your spare shots and for first ball on dry lanes.

Brands do not matter.

This couldn't be further from the truth.
There really aren't "hard" and "soft" balls anymore, at least for the last 20 years.

Brands most certainly DO matter. All companies make good balls, but not all the balls they make are good. Some of them are basically turds.
See your local pro shop for what's hot right now.
It pays to have someone who knows your game recommend a ball. The same ball that someone me uses might not work for you.
Your ball speed, revs, oil pattern of the house you bowl at all make a difference in what ball you need.
Some balls have high-friction surfaces, some low. Some balls hook early, some skid and hook late.

If you're into Ebay, look up Ballcellar....he has some really good deals on current and older equipment.
If you have any questions, feel free to pm me.

 

[Slickone]

Maybe I will stick with one ball. Another thing is none of my friends will want to play with me if I come lugging in two balls, looking like a pro (or rub it in if
they win).

I was thinking of asking two instructors from two different places but all the local pro shops around here are owned by the same company (Jenxxx), so I wonder if they would each recommend only the same few they both mainly sell. Though I imagine they could get any ball they wanted.

I don't see a Ballcellar on ebay.

What is amber?

How do you know if lanes are slick or not? And can't this change daily even at the same house?

Originally posted by: Salvador

No, everyone sits at their PC all day. Go get some exercise/have fun/live a little!

Bowling is exercise?

I figured someone would say that. I wasn't implying that bowling is a major source of exercise, I just meant to get off the couch/pc chair (not directed directly at you). And yes, bowling is definatly a lot more exercise that sitting at the PC, playing your PS2/XBox, or watching DVD's all day. According to this, it's as much as 'Canoeing, rowing, light effort', ' Dancing, ballroom, slow', or ' Frisbee playing, general'. Of course lately when I've been bowling to practice my form, after 3 quick games by myself, I'm sweaty and worn out.

Do people that go to bowling alley's still chain smoke? That's one of the things that I always hated about bowling alley's. You couldn't go to one and not end up smelling like a dirty ash tray when you got home.

Sal

Yep. That's the only thing I hate about bowling. The smoke. With all the non-smoking buildings now, I'm surprised bowling alleys aren't. The thing I hate about clubs too. Smoke.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Ballcellar

1. Amber...someone was joking.

2. Lanes are slick if you can't hook the ball at all or as much as you think you should. Lanes are dry if you find yourself having to throw the ball harder than normal to keep the ball on the lane.

3. Yes, the conditions can and do change from game to game. This where your adjustments come in, whether it's moving where you stand on the lane and aiming at the same spot, or moving your aiming point, or even changing balls, your release, your speed, etc. Lots of things.

4. Bowling may not be like running, but anyone who goes out and bowls 3 or more games regularly will benefit, particularly if you don't take a long time to do it. You can and will work up a sweat, I don't care what kind of shape you're in.

 

[Sust]

Haha, amber ball.
I think the guy is talking about the old ebonite clear wolf that they dont produce anymore.
It's a "plastic" bowling ball that is a translucent dark yellow/amber color and the blue core of the bowling ball is visible.
I have one of those and I used it to basically hit spares since my throw generated a lot of hook.
I liked the ball itself, but in hindsight I should have gotten a cheaper ball since the clear ones are purely for novelty reasons.

And speaking as a guy who has bumped and crashed his way through a lot of expensive balls, I would say that you should get a consistent throw first and then buy a ball that fits in line with your throw. Let the pro or some other guy who knows his $hit help you choose a ball.
I bought a black quantum ball off of an online place and took it to the pro for drilling and when he asked to look at my current ball for hole placement, he then gave me the "WTF-are-you-sure-about-this" look.
Turns out he could diagnose my throw from the various patterns of oil-bands/scratches, and the ball I had chosen would never hit the strike zone with the way I was throwing.
Fortunately he traded me for a ball of equal value that was better suited for my throw.
Good luck.

 

[us3rnotfound]

what price range are you looking at?

I bowl a ton, good solid 180 average, I can lead you toward a good reactive/proactive ball.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

i've bowled with shminu a few times, he's pretty good, take his advice

He's done a 298 before :Q :Q :Q

 

[Riprorin]

Originally posted by: Salvador
Seriously.. Does anyone still bowl?

Sal

I started bowling in a father and son league when I was about 10 and bowled through high school. I took it up again about 7 years ago.

You're right though, it's a dying sport.

 

i'm a fan of Hammer and Zone

the thing is, you need someone local to help you choose
the things to consider:
how many revs you put on, and how fast
your style (down and in hook? or gutter to gutter?)
the lane condition you bowl on most frequently? (wood? synthetic? oily? uneven? etc etc)

talk to the alley owner, or a local pro/semi-pro

btw, i used to carry a 215 average (for 3 years) bowling 3 leagues a week (other 2 averages were 199 and 203)

 

[Crappopotamus]

Originally posted by: Salvador
Seriously.. Does anyone still bowl?

Sal

me and my friends still bowl, just to chill and for something to do. *shrug*

 

[Slickone]

I'd like to keep the ball price around $100.

Thanks for the tip on Ballcellar. Better prices than bowling.com BTW, it's ballcellar_com on ebay.

Has anyone used a Track ball? And why do I not see Zone sold at many places?

Some of you with 200+ averages, do you bowl professionally? I noticed most of the avg's for people in the PBA that I looked at are around 215.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Originally posted by: Slickone
I'd like to keep the ball price around $100.

Thanks for the tip on Ballcellar. Better prices than bowling.com BTW, it's ballcellar_com on ebay.

Has anyone used a Track ball? And why do I not see Zone sold at many places?

Some of you with 200+ averages, do you bowl professionally? I noticed most of the avg's for people in the PBA that I looked at are around 215.

Bowlingball.com has decent prices, but despite what they say, they sell blems. I bought several balls from them once and on every one the center punch mark was wrong....so the pro shop had to triangulate and find the center. This led to the ball having a different pin position than was indicated, which led to 2 of 3 balls being useless.

Ballcellar's equipment, so far, has been flawless, in addition to being priced lower. He will also combine shipping.
If you want to spend less than 100 bucks, I am currently throwing a Hammer Blade particle, which is a fairly hooking ball. I have it drilled, however, to go long and hook sharply on the back end....which has led to a ball with a very nice reaction. I paid about 70 bucks+shipping back in December, so it's probably cheaper now.
I also bought an Ebonite Vortex Strong at the same time, and it just hooks off the lane, but does hit like a truck.

My average is generally 215, but due to injuries this season, I'm currently around 208, but climbing steadily now that my back is okay.
I have bowled in a couple of PBA regional tournaments....they are fun, but cost WAY too much for what they pay out.
It's about 240.00 now for a non-member to enter a tourney, and they only pay 2500-4000 for first, and the money plummets from there.
Your money would be much better invested to go to one of the high-roller tourneys in Vegas.....it's hard not to make money there, because there are so many tournaments.
FYI, pretty much any league average less than 220+ really isn't a pro-caliber bowler, and in some houses, a true scratch bowler will average 230 or more. League conditions are just way too easy, and it's not that hard anymore to carry a high average and shoot some really nice scores.
Naturally, the better bowlers will shoot more of these scores, but easy lanes are a great equalizer.
Put the average 210 average league bowler on a PBA shot and he'll be lucky to average 185.

Track balls are good, and they have a large selection. I have a Track Thrash, and when I am on a lane condition that is right for it, it's a great ball.
Brunswick has gotten away from the traditional Zone line, several of which arel, IMO, the best balls ever made.
They have other equipment right now that is pretty good, but again, IMO, nothing as good as the old Zones were.

 

Originally posted by: Slickone

Some of you with 200+ averages, do you bowl professionally? I noticed most of the avg's for people in the PBA that I looked at are around 215.

A friend and I tried, but it's damned expensive.
The pro tour tournaments i entered cost almost 1000 bucks, plus bowler pays their own travel, lodging, etc

there's a HUGE difference between maintaining a 200+ average at a local bowling alley and maintaining the same average bowling a different location every week.

 

[us3rnotfound]

Well, get something good. I would recommend the AMF Triumph or the Killer Instinct (Ebonite?).

Good luck.