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Author Topic: Sure Strike for a First Timer?  (Read 2454 times)

justink

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Sure Strike for a First Timer?
« on: September 02, 2007, 05:23:12 AM »
My son is about to turn 12 and throws a straight ball, does a very good job of following through. He carries an average of 110. His ball he uses now is one of those 10lb glow balls, we got it for him two years ago for his birthday. He is starting to loft it alittle. My wife and I would like to get him a new 12lb ball for his birthday. So we asked the Proshop guy for his suggestion. This guy is the same guy who has drilled all my boy's balls and mine. Does a good job, but when he open his book to the Sure Strike and said this would be a good one, plus he could put the pin in a place where it wouldn't hook much, I looked at him like he was crazy.

So I am asking you all this question, would this ball be good for a twelve year old trying to develop a consistent game and maybe start hooking it alittle?

I have no reservations about him continuing to throw straight, I think that is a part of his game he will need in the future. So being well adept at it will be to his adavantage. Personally I think if they made the hornet in a 12lb version I would think about that, looks like a great consistent slight arcing ball, much easier to control. But I just don't know.
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“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.”
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Justin Kluska
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Lane Masters/Lord Field

 

Spider Ball Bowler

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Re: Sure Strike for a First Timer?
« Reply #1 on: September 02, 2007, 01:30:00 PM »
If your son throws the ball straight, why would you spend your money on a hooking ball?  I would look into a beginning line ball.  Work on the basics with him.  If he's 12, you may want to also put him in a 14 lbs. ball.  I started bowling when I was 12, and I was tossing the 12 lbs. ball around like it was a softball.  Just something to think about.
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Formerly SGC300
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charlest

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Re: Sure Strike for a First Timer?
« Reply #2 on: September 02, 2007, 06:51:21 PM »
Like Spider Ball Bowler, I'd suggest a few things:
1. Get me him a good silver level certified coach, and
2. WITH THAT COACH'S HELP (my emphasis), get him an inexpensive ball that hooks, and
3. Have that coach give him a good set of bowling basics and, only then, teach him to hook the ball.

Balls: Tropical Storm, Power Groove Pearl, Orbit Extreme, Bash, Saturn, etc

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"None are so blind as those who will not see."
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"None are so blind as those who will not see."

LowRG

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Re: Sure Strike for a First Timer?
« Reply #3 on: September 03, 2007, 12:59:49 AM »
Juiced.

If your pro shop operator loves Lane Masters. It should be out now if not now then soon.
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justink

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Re: Sure Strike for a First Timer?
« Reply #4 on: September 04, 2007, 11:20:50 AM »
To tell you the truth I couldn't agree with you all anymore. Just really surprised me when he suggested that ball. I was still looking at the plastic balls. I really want him to have the fundamentals down before he switches to throwing a hook. As far as the weight, I won't go to 14 with him yet, no reason to make the ball too much to throw now. He's not a big 12 year old, he's short and stocky.

The Juiced looks promising, but I think the Tropical Storm will be where we land. The Juiced doesn't have any background, while the TS has a very proven background.

One question I have on the TS is; if I don't like how it reacts off of the dry, will taking the polish off give it a more consistent predictable reaction?
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“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.”
-Einstein
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Justin Kluska
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Lane Masters/Lord Field

Spider Ball Bowler

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Re: Sure Strike for a First Timer?
« Reply #5 on: September 04, 2007, 11:24:46 AM »
I took the polish off of mine once as an experiment, and it did smooth things out and got the ball going a little sooner.  I didn't like the reaction, but it did what you would be looking for.

I honestly don't think you can go wrong with the Tropical.  I am a higher average player, and absolutely loved mine.  Just an FYI
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Formerly SGC300
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splendorlex

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Re: Sure Strike for a First Timer?
« Reply #6 on: September 04, 2007, 11:54:21 AM »
Ouch.  This looks to me like the famous peddling of more expensive equipment.  I have absolutely nothing against LM, their equipment or their prices, but this sounds to me like the guy was checking to see if you knew your stuff or not.  He was hoping to make a good sale off of you.  I can't believe any reputable shop operator with even a modicum of knowledge would recommend that kind of ball for a beginner.  

There is nothing wrong with the balls you have in mind.  A Tropical Storm, or maybe a Groove line ball would be fine.  Just take your pick of any company's "entry level" offerings and you should be ok.  Maybe let your son take a look at a few like a TS, Power Groove, maybe a Vibe, and pick one based on looks.  Nothing wrong with that!
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Mr. Lebowski, this is Bill Salnicker with the Southern Cal Bowling League, and I just got a, an informal report, that a member of your team, uh, Walter Sobchak, drew a firearm during league play. If this is true of course, it contravenes a number of the league's by-laws, and article 27 of the league...
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justink

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Re: Sure Strike for a First Timer?
« Reply #7 on: September 04, 2007, 03:56:41 PM »
Nope, I just think he is mis-informed or just has no clue about that balls performance. I can see that, if you look at their catalog it's not too often you see a Company with 5 complete levels of bowling balls. So he just thinks that the Plus Performance is that far down the line that it is for beginners. Well, I know now, so I am just going to do what I was going to do in the beginning, which is ask him out of a select few balls, which one he wants. Thank you all for the help.
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“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.”
-Einstein
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Justin Kluska
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Lane Masters/Lord Field

charlest

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Re: Sure Strike for a First Timer?
« Reply #8 on: September 04, 2007, 06:23:59 PM »
quote:
Nope, I just think he is mis-informed or just has no clue about that balls performance. I can see that, if you look at their catalog it's not too often you see a Company with 5 complete levels of bowling balls. So he just thinks that the Plus Performance is that far down the line that it is for beginners. Well, I know now, so I am just going to do what I was going to do in the beginning, which is ask him out of a select few balls, which one he wants. Thank you all for the help.
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“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.”
-Einstein


Look - as far as I can tell, there is really no such thing as a "Beginner's ball". I suggested a line a inexpensive balls that will hook less than the average "monster" that most of us crave, so our macho ego will be satisfied. My key was an inexpensive investment that couldbe used as a light oil ball JUST IN CASE your son turns out to be truly interested in the sport of bowling.

The Sure Strike is one of the less expensive Lanemasters balls because it uses everybody's else's 5/8" thick shell instead of Lanemaster's traditional 2.5" thick shell. (Keep in mind that BTM has given it a rave review stating that performance is in line with all their other balls.) As such it is Lanemasters "beginner's ball or the equivalent thereof.

So, in my personal opinion, your driller was NOT trying to screw you or your son.

I think placing more money into coaching and less into bowling balls (I'd go so far as to suggest a used Tropical Storm or Power Groove) is the wise course of action. After all, how many times does a 12 year old boy or girl change their mind: my guess would be 85 -90 times PER DAY!
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"None are so blind as those who will not see."
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"None are so blind as those who will not see."

shelley

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Re: Sure Strike for a First Timer?
« Reply #9 on: September 04, 2007, 10:52:47 PM »
quote:
I think placing more money into coaching and less into bowling balls (I'd go so far as to suggest a used Tropical Storm or Power Groove) is the wise course of action. After all, how many times does a 12 year old boy or girl change their mind: my guess would be 85 -90 times PER DAY!


Keep in mind, too, that a 12-year-old is growing a lot and fast.  That 12# ball fits him now, six months from now it may need to be re-drilled.  Maybe a year from now (eternity in bowling terms) he is ready to step up in weight.  I'd go for something less expensive like a PG or Tropical that you can afford to replace whether it's worn out or not.

SH
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justink

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Re: Sure Strike for a First Timer?
« Reply #10 on: September 05, 2007, 01:12:38 PM »
As far as there being no such thing as a beginner ball, that is more true that most of us know. There are just affordable balls that are made for less oil and are usually too snappy for a beginner. Which is precisely the reason I question the use of a Tropical Storm for a beginners ball, from what I have seen it is not a very smooth predictable ball. But if you look for affordable balls there are not many that are. They all are dry lane balls that are supposed to get through the heads with ease , not read the midlane much and then hook up and drive in to the pocket. Now I may be just a bronze level coach, with not much continued training, but that doesn't spell good beginners ball to me. Sorry about the rant. Just not too sure about what ball to get him anymore.

You are correct about the emphasis being put on coaching and not ball. That's where it should be, I just want him to have the best tool to use during this stage in his young bowling life. Maybe I'll just have him pick a Tropical Storm that fits his fancy and if I don't like how it responds to friction I will just change the coverstock to be more forgiving.
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“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.”
-Einstein
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Justin Kluska
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Lane Masters/Lord Field

charlest

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Re: Sure Strike for a First Timer?
« Reply #11 on: September 05, 2007, 01:53:55 PM »
Regarding the Trop. Storm,
Maybe you've seen it being used by people with too much hand using it on too much oil or others who have drilled it to flip (which far too many people do with far too many balls), but its basic design and utility is generally not considered flippy. In any case, if you feel that way, there are drillings, like 2x5, which will make it arc. Also if bought as a 12 lb ball, it's likely to have a pancake core which are very stable and very arcy in nature.
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"None are so blind as those who will not see."
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"None are so blind as those who will not see."

Spider Ball Bowler

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Re: Sure Strike for a First Timer?
« Reply #12 on: September 05, 2007, 02:05:24 PM »
The Tropical Storm does like to boogie a tad, but like I had said earlier, if you knock the polish off of it, it will be a lot more smooth for your son to use.
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