Author Topic: It's all in the perception of a bowling ball... (Read 2356 times)

mumzie · « **on:** April 25, 2005, 10:09:04 AM »

Since I've been coming to this site, there have been lots of message threads about how bad this ball is, or how great that one is.

I think it's interesting that a ball in one hand can be terrible, and yet, in the hands of another, it's the best thing ever!!!

For example, my teammate just got a Vertigo. Won it in a drawing, and the storm rep said that was the ball he should go with. So he did. I'm not sure how it's laid out, but it looks awful in his hand, burning up at about 45 feet on most shots around here. I don't know exactly what the layout is, but I bet it's pretty condition specific.

I bought one a couple of weeks ago. My driller agonized over how to lay it out so that I didn't have a single condition specific ball. I LOVE it. Now, I don't take it out of the bag on a second shift league, and I've learned when to put it away, but it's a great ball.

My teammate watched me pull it out yesterday and throw it for a couple of games. His quote was "well, in your hand, I can see why you like that ball. It looks FANTASTIC!" So, I suggested he take it back to his driller and have him re-lay it out more like mine, so he could have a more versatile reaction.

As far as I'm concerned, it's not the balls fault!
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-- The way we see the problem is the problem.

Hex017 · « **Reply #1 on:** April 25, 2005, 06:18:52 PM »

Big Rule: there is no such thing as a "bad" ball that is not a blem or has bad specs or has some sort of surface abrasion. The only way a ball will suck is either it is drilled badly(like my untamed, ball had too much side weight but it's fixed now)ball is not being thrown on correct conditions, or the bowler throwing it is not good. If the ball does not work it's called plug it and try again, make a surface change, or sell it. A ball may not work for you, but it does not make it bad, just means that you did not match up with that ball. Despite all this crap that I just said though, think about it, if we all were smart and all were totally open to opinions and no one ever said a bad thing about a ball, this forum and talking about bowling equipment in general would be really boring! Just my opinion.
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-If you're not willing to change, you're not willing to improve.

-Life is like a coin, you can spend it any way you want, but you can only spend it once.

-I will forever love this great game, I love the people and the competition, I only wish the best would get the recognition of an ATHLETE that they deserve.

azguy · « **Reply #2 on:** April 25, 2005, 06:22:35 PM »

I know not to many people pay attention to my posts, I'm kinda new here, but I have been saying for the longest time...preparation..preparation..preparation. Be it layout, cover adjustments or knowing when to adjust. I don't think there is a ball out there that, (given the spans were right) would work the same from one hand to the other. Not close. If a ball, no matter what brand, wasn't layed out or drilled for that one person, it will not react the same for another. I have seen posts on here stating this ball sucks...that ball is great and they are the same ball ! I often wonder if one person says a certain drill works great, then to many run out and copy that drill , only for it to be the wrong layout for them.

For my money, I'd trust a driller who knows what I want the ball to do, for the conditions that I bowl on and my delivery. Maybe I'm wrong, but that's just how I feel.
One man's treasure is another man's junk.
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AZ Guy aka: R & L Bowlers Pro
rlbowlerspro@cox.net
www.rlbowlerspro.com

Sleep is over rated.

janderson · « **Reply #3 on:** April 25, 2005, 06:41:58 PM »

quote:
For example, my teammate just got a Vertigo. Won it in a drawing, and the storm rep said that was the ball he should go with.

Has the ball rep ever seen your teammate bowl?
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J.J. "Waterola Kid" Anderson, the bLowling King : Kill the back row

charlee323 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 25, 2005, 06:52:47 PM »

I seem to like 2 certain drills for the conditions I see, there really isn't a lot of difference between the companies. I just finished throwing brunswick and I am going to throw whatever I can get off ebay cheap next year. Which will either be one EGO and a Formula or two EGO's. You just can't beat a ball that works for $41.

mumzie · « **Reply #5 on:** April 25, 2005, 08:39:08 PM »

quote:
Has the ball rep ever seen your teammate bowl?

Yes. He was there that night.

Also - my teammate and I have games that are very close. We throw the ball very much alike (not to say our specs would be the same), and can really line up off each other well. What works for me usually works great for him, and vice versa.
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-- The way we see the problem is the problem.

SirAshley · « **Reply #6 on:** April 25, 2005, 08:48:38 PM »

I'll make a simple analogy. A bowling ball is like race car. The driver is like the bowler. The pit crew is like the driller. If the driver performs bad, the car is worthless no matter how fast it is. If the pit crew sets the car up wrong, the car is worthless no matter how good of a driver is behind the wheel. My point is that a ball must be set for the conditions it will be bowled on as well as the bowlers style. Otherwise it is worthless to the bowler.
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They say that 1 in 3 people in this world are ugly. So look to your left and look to your right, if neither one of those people are ugly... Guess who is!!!

dizzyfugu · « **Reply #7 on:** April 26, 2005, 03:11:34 AM »

Are there bad balls? I think so, but maybe it is just the wrong drilling and surface prep. I had a Brunswick Proactive Plum Pearl and it did not convince me at all. I sold it, but also due to ball weight change. And now I have an X-Factor RE-Loaded which does not convince me on any lane I tried it - it works... somehow... but it does not inspire confidence enough to make a go-to ball in my arsenal.

But most of the time it is either the inability of the player to make use of it (simple bowling technique, release, speed), lane and ball/surface not matching. Some days, e. g. on a fresh pattern, a long forgotten ball you accidently have in the bag might show its real potential and surprise you...
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DizzyFugu --- Reporting from Germany

Team "X" league website: http://homepage.mac.com/timlinked/

"All that we see or seem, is but a dream within a dream..." - Edgar Allen Poe

janderson · « **Reply #8 on:** April 26, 2005, 11:56:06 AM »

quote:
quote:
Has the ball rep ever seen your teammate bowl?

Yes. He was there that night.

Also - my teammate and I have games that are very close. We throw the ball very much alike (not to say our specs would be the same), and can really line up off each other well. What works for me usually works great for him, and vice versa.

That is good then. When a bowler, ball rep, pro shop worker, etc. says "this ball will work great for you" to a person they've never seen bowl, it is often a recipe for disaster. That's especially true when the ball being recommended is a ball at one end of the spectrum or the other. The vertigo is one of those balls, designed mostly for heavy oil.

I understand what you mean about being able to line up off your teammate, but keep in mind that being able to play the same line doesn't necessarily mean that you're throwing the ball in a similar fashion. Less axis tilt can be made up for with more speed, less revs can be compensated with less speed, and so on. When you add a ball into the equation, that 3rd factor can make all the difference in the world.

A new layout might be the answer, but I'd suggest trying a surface alteration first. You can always change the layout if the surface changes do not have the desired effect.

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J.J. "Waterola Kid" Anderson, the bLowling King : Kill the back row

Edited on 4/26/2005 11:49 AM

Splitz · « **Reply #9 on:** April 27, 2005, 08:37:34 AM »

My take on a good ball vs. a bad ball is; What did the bowler envision when the ball was purchased?

For most AVERAGE league bowlers I've seen over the last thirty years, having an arsenal to drag around is just stupid. Not only don't they want to aquire one but they definitely have no understanding of how to use one. Proof, look at all the twenty year old and older balls still in use. When they buy a ball it is supposed to score well on all conditions and last forever. If they get a condition specific ball, no matter how good, for them it is a bad ball. Versatility is what a good ball has in this case.

Let me compare the two balls I currently bought to use for leagues. A polished, pin over the fingers, Triple X and a very slightly scuffed, pin under the fingers Impulse Zone. Each one can absolutely destroy the pins when it is used correctly. By which I am saying matching the roll and speed to the lane conditions. If I had to describe them both I'd say the Zone was a better ball because I can usually change lines and speeds with it much easier than the XXX without running into areas where you are leaving nothing but washouts and designer splits. So is it really a better ball? It gives me more options to adjust with on a league shot, so for me it is a better choice more often and gives me better value for the money invested in it. On the other hand the XXX can make the Zone look sick when the lanes are a little drier. It just doesn't work out that way as often. So being a little more condition specific it gives me a little less value in league so is it a worse ball? I guess I'd have to say so even though it has some outstanding qualities.

Author Topic: It's all in the perception of a bowling ball... (Read 2356 times)

mumzie

It's all in the perception of a bowling ball...

Hex017

Re: It's all in the perception of a bowling ball...

azguy

Re: It's all in the perception of a bowling ball...

janderson

Re: It's all in the perception of a bowling ball...

charlee323

Re: It's all in the perception of a bowling ball...

mumzie

Re: It's all in the perception of a bowling ball...

SirAshley

Re: It's all in the perception of a bowling ball...

dizzyfugu

Re: It's all in the perception of a bowling ball...

janderson

Re: It's all in the perception of a bowling ball...

Splitz

Re: It's all in the perception of a bowling ball...