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Author Topic: Recommendatinos to a returning bowler :)  (Read 2532 times)

expwbaprokim

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Recommendatinos to a returning bowler :)
« on: June 28, 2012, 11:36:05 AM »
OK, so I may be opening a whole can of worms here but here goes....

Yes, this is Kim Adler.

Haven't picked up a ball since May 25, 2005. On that night I shot 300 my last game of league and thought it might be a great way "to go out"....I threw a few shots with my equipment following that game but no scored games since then. (Finally) out of school and into the working world now as a Nurse Practitioner. Also busy with our 10-month daughter but children have not stopped others from bowling. So, here I am, don't even currently own a pair of shoes, thinking about returning to a competitive level.

So spent a good amount of time here on BR many many moons ago, and found my previous moniker didn't even work here anymore.  :D

I am looking for genuine well-thought out opinions across the board on balls and shoes. This will aid in my own research and my "picking brains" of my friends in the industry far & wide. As everone knows I was previously affiliated with Brunswick, which always treated me well, but I was also a free agent (and w/AMF for a short time.) I am not affiliated with anyone these days.

Thinking of about a 6-ball arsenal. 5+ plastic/spare. Don't have the $$ or the time to worry about the hotest thing off the shelf. Might be better to stick with tried-and trues, but this would be within the past year or so. Don't really want ot hear about urethane either. My last urethane venture was Rockford IL Player's Championship with my Red Rhino and haven't had any luck since.

So, post your thoughts, please?
Thanks ahead of time :)
Kim

 

RSalas

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Re: Recommendatinos to a returning bowler :)
« Reply #1 on: June 28, 2012, 01:10:03 PM »
Given that you have years of national competition experience, and I have none, I probably have no business posting a reply.  However, that's never stopped me before.   :P

I would first give some thought to the shapes and strengths that you're looking to achieve with the five strike balls.  Some companies have equipment that is more conducive to certain shapes than others.  Once you decide upon the reactions that you're seeking in these five pieces, it will be much easier for us (certainly those more qualified than me) to make more specific recommendations.

Best of luck, and welcome back to the sport!
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MI 2 AZ

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Re: Recommendatinos to a returning bowler :)
« Reply #2 on: June 28, 2012, 01:18:27 PM »
I mainly just wanted to say welcome back, Kim.  I remember you posting here years ago. 

I don't think I am qualified to give you any recommendations on bowling balls since I don't keep up with all the newest releases or bowl at the same level as you.  However, to help those who are qualified, are you planning on bowling at the pro level again?  If so, then the ball choices will have to be within those that are legal with the PBA, not just the USBC.

For shoes, I would recommend the 3G Tour Ultras.  Comfortable, versatile, and so far, seems to be good quality.

Good luck in your bowling future.
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tommyboy74

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Re: Recommendatinos to a returning bowler :)
« Reply #3 on: June 28, 2012, 04:47:10 PM »
Welcome back Kim- glad to see you back in the game :)

First for shoes, I also recommend the 3G Tour Ultras.  They're comfortable and versatile.  Plus their quality seems to be a little better than Dexter SST8's. 

As for balls, it may depend on the shape of reaction you are looking at.  My opinion is that Storm and Roto Grip do make 2 of the most complete lines available today.   Track also has a very nice product line.  Basic difference between both is that Storm tends to be more angular and Roto has more of a hard arc motion.  Track has a great mix of both solid and pearl covers but no hybrid covers.  With that being said, they do have a very good line and I currently throw a few balls from them in addition to my Storm/Roto Grip stuff. 

After reviewing video to see how you throw, here is what I would suggest:

Heavy oil: Roto Grip Defiant.  Great solid reactive piece that's clean up front yet has a nice heavy roll in the back.  It carries well, is predictable, and I think would fit your game well on slick conditions. 

Another option is the new Track 912T which also does a great job getting into a heavy roll and carries well.  It has a proven core that stores energy and a really strong cover to help you get maximum traction.

Medium-Heavy:  The Storm iQ/iQ Tour Edition or Roto Grip Critical Theory all give you great options if you want more skid/flip.  Just depends on if you want a symmetrical or asymmetrical core.  If you want more hard arc, the Roto Grip Outlaw would work well.  If you want a mix between both, the Roto Grip Infinite Theory is a nice hybrid that can handle medium-heavy conditions. 

If you go with Track, the 919C or 716T would be the go-to pieces.  The 716T has great traction and very good carry.  The 919C is more of a control piece that offers good predictability.  The 706A or 718A are the pearls that give you more skid/snap when you need it on the back.

Medium:  The Storm Cross Road/Hy-Road are good options.  Both are hybrids (Cross Road has a slightly modified core but both use the same hybrid covers).  Also, I could see you using a Roto Grip Bandit (great pearl ball for this).  You may also want to consider the Roto Grip Berserk.  This is the hybrid ball that uses the same core as the Bandit. 

From Track, the 503T allows you to get through volume easily, whereas the 503C is a very nice control piece.  If you need more skid/snap, the 508A will easily take care of that.

Medium-Light:  From Storm, the Tropical Heat line is great.  There are solids, hybrids, and pearls in that line.  However, the hybrids are very strong and actually more for medium conditions.  You may also want to look at the Fringe (solid) and the Frantic (hybrid).  From Roto Grip, the Shooting Star (solid), Rising Star (hybrid), or Shatter (pearl) can fill that gap nicely. 

From Track, the 300T (solid), 300C (solid- control piece), or the 300A (pearl) are proven and tough to beat. 

Light Oil:

From Storm, the Tropical Breeze line would be the line to look at.  Roto Grip has the new Scream (pearl) and Shout (solid) use a variation of the Nucleus Core in the Rising/Shooting Star and Shatter.  It's an awesome core and stores energy very well.

With Track, they don't have a true light oil line.  However, I would lean more towards the 300C or 300A in this case.  The 300T would react way too early in the midlane and is not the best choice here.  If you were to go with the 300C or 300A, you may just have to change the surface or use a slightly weaker layout.

Spare balls: Either the Storm Brain Storm, Storm Ice, or Track 100P will fit the bill.

Hope this gives you some good ideas and if you have other questions about the Storm/Roto/Track lines, feel free to let me know.
« Last Edit: June 28, 2012, 05:01:14 PM by tommyboy74 »
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williewilkens

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Re: Recommendatinos to a returning bowler :)
« Reply #4 on: June 28, 2012, 05:56:40 PM »
Holy cow, Kim! First of all, welcome back! You were an instructor at a camp I attended in Davenport IA somewhere around '98 or so...maybe around the time of the WIBC tournament...or was it sponsored by BTM?. I can't remember...

Anyway...you quit about the same day I did in 2005. I got asked to sub on a fall league this year, and ended up finishing the last seven weeks on two leagues. The only time I had touched my equipment in the last seven years was to put it on a moving van. I was thinking about getting back into it...but doing so in front of a league full was not what I had envisioned.

So now I've gotten in seven weeks (x2) and another four weeks in two summer leagues...and I'm feeling pretty good at this point. I'm at 190+ in the PBAX, and 211 on the THS league. But I had some rough stretches during those first few weeks. My timing was HORRIBLE, and that probably took the longest to come back (still not always perfect, but the off-shots are a lot less now). I couldn't remember where I stood for my spare shots, but that too has come back. I've destroyed two right shoes so far - and it only took four frames to kill the first pair! I had a lot of "roller coaster" nights...like 242-142-190 something. Jeez.

I, too, was a Brunswick guy back then...so upon the return, I was mostly throwing my old Danger HPH. It still worked pretty well. I've now gathered some new equipment...some truly new...mostly plugged stuff...and have tried to get a little from a bunch of different companies. (I REALLY love my Jet Altitude, by the way!)

So the moral of this story is: It will be frustrating for a while...and VERY frustrating at times...but it will pass. I would expect it would pass even quicker with your past experience. It is good to hear from you, and I am glad to see you back in the game. Best of luck...and hopefully, we'll see you around!