Recommend a bowling ball for me

[fustercluck]

I've been wanting to get a new bowling ball for a long time. I like my current ball pretty well, which I got at a used sports shop for $10 a couple years ago. But, it doesn't hook too well on oily lanes, the ball is probably from the early 80s. I can slow down and give it more time to hook, but trying to bowl slowly kinda throws off my game. So I want to get a new ball, the ball doesn't have to be new, I will probably buy used, as new bowling balls are expensivo. I want a ball that has a really mean hook, even on heavy oil lanes I can chuck it down the lane pretty fast and it will still make it back to the pocket. So I guess i'm looking for a reactive or particle ball, 15 pounder seems to be the recommended weight nowadays.

Really I've been doing pretty good with this old yard sale ball (average 150 and break 200 once every 10 games or so), so I've put off getting a new one for a while. I think it would benefit me though, maybe I could instead average 170 and break 200 once every 3 games, that'd be nice. I'd still keep my current ball to use on dryer lanes, while using my new ball for medium/heavy oil lanes. Blah blah blah, I'm rambling as usual.

Anyways, some bowling ball recommendations would be helpful. I'm not going to consider poly urethane balls. I want something newer, a reactive ball that hooks a ton.

I've seen some bowling threads in a past and there seem to be some really knowledgeable bowlers here. I was looking at bowling forums first but they're all too slow and it would take days to get a reply. Thanks.

 

[kthroyer]

Basically any reactive or particle ball on the market is going to hook a lot more than your current ball, if it is drilled properly. I personally like the Storm products, but there is not a definitive best ball. You should buy a ball from your local pro shop, and have the person who drills your ball watch you ball a few frames with your current ball. The amount of hook can be adjusted by the drilling pattern, and the distance the ball will slide before it hooks, can be adjusted by the way the surface of the ball is prepared (polished vs. dull). You can spend $80 - $120, and get a very good ball. It might be last years model, but you have to spend $175 + to get this years hot models. I currently throw a Storm XXX Factor Extreme, and am very happy with it. I believe I purchased this ball around Spring 2004, and I am still using it in my weekly league, if you can find this ball used, I wouldn't hesitate to pull the trigger.

 

[Uppsala9496]

Check out bowlingball.com. They have a goggle checkout coupon valued at $10 off $30 or more and a stackable at another 410 off $75 or more.
They have a really good selection too (I've orded about 8 from them in the past 2 years).

 

[nitsuj3580]

I've been rolling this for the last 3 years or so. My average is up to 210 and I bowl 600+ series regularly now in my work league on the house oil pattern.

The thing has radar to the pocket. I if I miss my mark wide it still gets back to the pocket.

 

[gwrober]

Reactive cover stock is definitely the way to go. I bought a Beast a few years back, and it still hooks like crazy. (I think it's time I get a new one too...). I bought it from recommendations from other bowlers - it was cost effective too.


Try bowling.com - or even the manufacturer websites, like Brunswick and Columbia - they have good product demonstrations. Some even have flash clips of how the balls hook/roll, etc.

Good advice from kthroyer, definitely work with the pro shop on how you throw.

Keep in mind, a lot of the folks I bowl with that use heavy-reactive or high hook balls, keep a back up for spares - another ball that doesn't hook near as much. I have trouble picking up the 10 with my beast now and then....

 

[fustercluck]

Thanks. The problem is here that there all of the local bowling shops (3 different lanes) seem pretty crappy. I've talked to all of them, and none of them offered to watch me bowl first, even though I told them I was already set up to play. One guy was just kinda rude too, like he just had a bad divorce or something - So I was thinking of just buying a ball on ebay maybe, and getting it drilled somewhere. I might try the Pro shops again, but everything in there is way overpriced anyways, unless they have used balls.

 

[kthroyer]

It's too bad about the pro shops, they really should be doing everything they can to get new customers, and keep people bowling. I try to buy all of my stuff from my local proshop, because he treats me well, and I like trying to support local businesses when I can. One of the reasons that pro shops charge more for balls, is that the price usually includes the ball drilling and grip measurement. So expect to pay $30 - $40 dollars to have a ball drilled at a pro shop after you buy it from a website.

I don't know the circumstances when you went to your local bowling shops, but I have found that the worst time to go is at 5:30 PM before bowling leagues begin, because every league bowler is trying to get minor adjustments made before they begin league bowling. If that was your circumstance, then I suggest trying another time, when the shop is empty, or talking to the pro shop operator, and asking him when an appropriate time would be to have him watch you throw a couple balls.

 

[fustercluck]

I think most of the time I wasn't talking to the actual 'pro shop guy', but their lackey assistants instead. So I might just have to try again. Still looking for ball recommendations. I should probably be less picky when it comes to color, but there's a lot of ugly bowling balls out there

 

[k1pp3r]

I have been rolling a Zone reactive ball for awhile now, i like the ball nice hook and has held up pretty well over the years.

 

[fustercluck]

bump for more recommendations/advice. Might get one this weekend. Should I consider a particle bowling ball?

 

[funboy6942]

Sorry for the dumb question but wouldnt hook really mostly have to do with the wax on the lane, the person thowing the rock, and the polish on the ball then really the ball itself? Im sure what its made of may have a play in on it too, I guess, but more polish and wax on the lane is going to have to make you adjust more the way you throw it. I would assume more then just the name on the ball and what you paid for it, no?

 

[gocubs2k5]

Originally posted by: funboy42
Sorry for the dumb question but wouldnt hook really mostly have to do with the wax on the lane, the person thowing the rock, and the polish on the ball then really the ball itself? Im sure what its made of may have a play in on it too, I guess, but more polish and wax on the lane is going to have to make you adjust more the way you throw it. I would assume more then just the name on the ball and what you paid for it, no?

those may be important factors, but it all depends on what kind of ball you have to begin with. think of a race between a ferrari and a yugo. would you think the winner of the race would do so more because of the condition of the track than the actual speed or quality of the car? no, obviously not. while you may be able to still bowl well with something not brand new, there are many different factors which make any reactive ball made in the last 10 years or so better than some old school LT48 from 1979. the guy who runs the pro shop where i bowled when i was younger did give a shot at pro bowling for a few years. he made it on tv 2 times, in teh late 70s. its funny. soemtimes espn will show the old classic bowling tournaments and i saw him on there not too long ago. they were throwing white dots and lt48's and it was very interesting to watch.

 

[fustercluck]

final bump try, will probably buy one tomorrow or tues and I still don't really have anything specific in mind.