Help, I am on Information Overload - New Ball

[Lynn]

I am in need of some advice.  I have been doing so much research that I have my head spinning. I think I am now over complicating everything.

I bought my first ball about 2 ½ years ago, which was a Scout Reactive. It had cracked and I am in need of a new ball.  I know how to bowl but I need improvement.  I bowl recreationally but often.  I am not consistent, will be taking some lessons.  I bowl between the 140s – 160s.  I bowl in different houses.  One is old wood with med to heavy oil, the others are synthetic with med to light oil.  If I need two balls I can deal with that.  I tend to bowl more at the wood house it is cheaper.  I bowl a lot of games 6 – 10 per outing.  I can hook the ball no problem.  I use a 12 lb normal fingertip drill.  The Scout R hooks in both houses but more on the med to dry syns.  It is not that consistent.  Most of the problem is I, but I’m working on it.

I stand 20 – 25 and throw 2nd arrow trying to move more toward the 3rd.  The ball carries down the right side and hooks pretty much.  (not all the time) I throw slow to med with med revs. The ball hooks to the Brooklyn side often for me.   I tend to get more strikes on the Brooklyn side.  I have some basic work to do to improve my game.

I am afraid if I get a ball that really hooks I will not be able to keep it on the lanes.  Would I have to learn a whole new game?  Although, might not be not a bad idea.

I am looking for a mid priced ball that would be good in med to med heavy oil conditions for wood lanes.  I would like to be able to use one ball for all my bowling if possible.  Some of the info I read regarding potential hook, diff/rg dry backend, sanded, pearl, etc has me going crazy.  The Scout R, which hooks for me, seems to perform more consistently on drier syn than the wood.  But I still bowl the 140s.

What ball should I get? I have researched the Hyde, Big Hit, Scout Particle, Grove Proactive or Reactive, Ebonite Tornado or Savage, and the Blade series.

I still need to make some mechanical improvements and want to do it with a good overall forgiving ball. I need a smooth predicable ball.

All comments are welcome!

Thank you in advance for your time.

Lynn

[brimar]

safe bet would be a mid-range solid shelled ball.

Like.

Ebonite  - v2
Columbia - messenger TI
Storm    - Flash point or hot wire
Brunswick- Monster smasher or Bruiser
 those are just base examples but i dont see how you could go wrong with any of the choices. Check your budget and buy from the company your comfortable with

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Thanks for reading my post.

Brian

[LuckyLefty]

My thought is you are fairly slow in speed due to being unable to keep a Scout Reactive very easily on the proper side of the pocket!

I doubt you need much more strength than a little more consistent coverstock.
A Wild (solid version of the Scout/r) would be a great idea.  Still a lot of length but more control of the pocket.

A messenger ti solid is also a great ball but may be too strong for your slow hooky style.  In my opinion the V2 is way stronger than that and should be kept away from though it is a great ball!

A good tip that I was told when I started(when I had similar problems as you).
Slow speed lots of hook and a lot of crossing over!  Was to picture the 6 pin(of course 4 pin in my case as I'm lefty and 6 pin for you) as my ultimate starting point.  And have my arm and the ball path sweep towards that.  If it over hooked keep moving in and continuing to throw the ball straight at the 6 pin.  Of course as one moves in the ball path starts to get to be over the 3rd arrow and etc.  If it's not hooking enough move right and keep throwing at the 6 pin.

It worked well for me!

REgards,

Luckylefty

[omegabowler]

If you are getting lessons,
 I would invest in very little until you have some lessons under your belt.

these lesson may include fitting advice as well and you don't want to waste cash on buying more than you need right now. you might even have to change weights.

Possible buy a used ball from a reputable member of this board. ask around or look through the feed back forum.

If you must buy NIB. get some mild and cheap. tornados, scouts,hits etc.
maybe a Brunswick groove. some of the cheapest balls and decent to start with.

being 160 or so avg. don't get all caught up in the cores, drillings, this ball hits more than that ball etc. when you are hitting the target path and the pocket with consistently, in speed, revs,angle and release then consider the more advance drillings and cores to combat the lanes.

you have much to learn and your game will change over the course of this year if you stick with lessons.

I speak from experience on this. I have been making a comeback to bowling over the last 2 years and I wish I could have back every dollar I ever spent on balls
and used them for lessons. 1 full day lesson and 3 or 4 hour long sessions have raise my avg way more than any ball purchase.  I have bought over 30 balls in 2 years. experimenting with spans,drillings, different companies equipment. etc.

If I spent the cash on lessons and practice I would be avg 220 instead of upper 190 low 200's. that is going from 170 something 2 years ago.

if your are just practicing or joining a league. you will need no more than 1 to 3 balls. Your coach will be able to help you the best.

start with one decent pearl ball until your speed picks up. You will pick up speed naturally as your learn and then you may need a solid for oilier lanes.

A plastic ball would be a good second ball. in the plastic for spare balls school of thought. You can develop one targeting system that will work on all houses. this alone can raise your avg to the 180's.

this will be easier to learn than multiple wrist position at first. you may progress and go with out plastic. that you can decide when the time comes.


enjoy the lessons. they are the best thing you can do for yourself. the game is more fun when you know how to Really play.
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"deserves got nothing to do with it."
-- William Munny

[nd300]

We were all there at one point or another in our bowling careers. One piece of advice I'd like to pass along if you haven't heard it already is to concentrate on spares. Consistent spare shooting will raise your average more than any high priced ball that you may not have the understanding or ability to use yet. I don't mean that as an insult. But from what I read in your post, lessons and practice are your two best bets now to help you.
 Good luck and remember that this is a lifelong game.
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Chris

[only storm 4 me]

lok and find a storm blaze.new or used.that would work fine.
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"We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for the journey and waved goodbye and slipped the surly bonds of earth to touch the face of God."