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Author Topic: Good ball for wood lanes  (Read 13190 times)

daves123

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Good ball for wood lanes
« on: February 11, 2018, 09:06:28 AM »
I don't know how many of you bowl on wood these days but just wanted to get some opinions  on what of the newer equipment of let's say within the last 10 years would be a good med condition ball. I can't tell you all my fancy specs but what I can tell you is ball speed around 16 to 17 mph low to med rev. Generally stand 30 target 8 bump a wall about 4. Any imput would be appreciated  Thanks

 

HackJandy

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Re: Good ball for wood lanes
« Reply #1 on: February 11, 2018, 10:49:35 AM »
I don't know how many of you bowl on wood these days but just wanted to get some opinions  on what of the newer equipment of let's say within the last 10 years would be a good med condition ball. I can't tell you all my fancy specs but what I can tell you is ball speed around 16 to 17 mph low to med rev. Generally stand 30 target 8 bump a wall about 4. Any imput would be appreciated  Thanks

Haven't bowled on wood lanes in many years but if its THS pattern I am always quick to recommend a Hy-Road.  With low to med revs it would find plenty of traction on wood and not over react.  Others with more recent experience on wood would have a more informed opinion though.
Kind of noob when made this account so take advice with grain of salt.

keegan.mier

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Re: Good ball for wood lanes
« Reply #2 on: February 11, 2018, 08:35:02 PM »
Oh, good, something I can actually help with. My biggest advice for wood is shell down from what you would be using on synthetic in the same situation, for the average player, a Hy-Road will be perfectly fine, if you want something solid, I would choose the Torrent, but that is THS specific. When it comes to sport shot, stick with what you would typically use.

Average Joe Reviews

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Re: Good ball for wood lanes
« Reply #3 on: February 11, 2018, 09:16:42 PM »
I started bowling on wood lanes last year and I struggled almost all season... My pin carry was awful and I tried almost everything.

I am a stroker, medium speed, medium, low revs and I usually like to start on THS with a low RG, medium DIFF solid to blend the pattern and have more control downlane. Since that strategy didn't work, I started bringing pearls with medium RG and medium to high DIFF and I have been carrying way better than last year. The trick for me has been that the pearls I've been using (Lethal Paranoia, Venom Shock Pearl, DCT Pearl, Ninja SE Pearl and Honey Badger) offer me a lot of recovery down the lane, while the solids I always felt I had to be really consistent and really accurate to hit the pocket and carry.

With my solids, misses outside and the ball never recovered and misses inside went directly through the nose. The Pearls allow me to have a bigger margin of error.  If I miss outside or I miss the ball at the bottom of my swing the ball still has some energy to make it back and misses inside the ball pushes further down the lane. My arsenal for wood lanes now is:

Inception DCT Pearl
Lethal Paranoia
Venom Shock Pearl

I start with the VSP way left and I play the track area (I'm a lefty) and when the ball starts reading the lane early, I start chasing the oil and I make parallel moves... When I know the ball won't be enough to move further right then I switch to a stronger ball, either the DCT Pearl or the Lethal. So far my average has gone up 15 pins since I started doing that.

I hope this helps!
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Dave81644

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Re: Good ball for wood lanes
« Reply #4 on: February 11, 2018, 10:03:57 PM »
Last time I was on wood, it was the blue vibe and then down to the Hammer Taboo spare ball (shot 803 with that ball) but these were pretty dry and the lanes were junk

HackJandy

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Re: Good ball for wood lanes
« Reply #5 on: February 11, 2018, 10:18:25 PM »
I started bowling on wood lanes last year and I struggled almost all season... My pin carry was awful and I tried almost everything.

I am a stroker, medium speed, medium, low revs and I usually like to start on THS with a low RG, medium DIFF solid to blend the pattern and have more control downlane. Since that strategy didn't work, I started bringing pearls with medium RG and medium to high DIFF and I have been carrying way better than last year. The trick for me has been that the pearls I've been using (Lethal Paranoia, Venom Shock Pearl, DCT Pearl, Ninja SE Pearl and Honey Badger) offer me a lot of recovery down the lane, while the solids I always felt I had to be really consistent and really accurate to hit the pocket and carry.

With my solids, misses outside and the ball never recovered and misses inside went directly through the nose. The Pearls allow me to have a bigger margin of error.  If I miss outside or I miss the ball at the bottom of my swing the ball still has some energy to make it back and misses inside the ball pushes further down the lane. My arsenal for wood lanes now is:

Inception DCT Pearl
Lethal Paranoia
Venom Shock Pearl

I start with the VSP way left and I play the track area (I'm a lefty) and when the ball starts reading the lane early, I start chasing the oil and I make parallel moves... When I know the ball won't be enough to move further right then I switch to a stronger ball, either the DCT Pearl or the Lethal. So far my average has gone up 15 pins since I started doing that.

I hope this helps!

Can't speak to the other balls but +1 on the Honey Badger.  Can use that ball just fine on synthetics as well.  Really a great medium dry to medium ball.  Think there might be a hybrid HB coming as well soon.
Kind of noob when made this account so take advice with grain of salt.

AlonzoHarris

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Re: Good ball for wood lanes
« Reply #6 on: February 11, 2018, 11:08:44 PM »
Yep every week. Pearls, pearls, pearls. R2S Pearl from Storm is beautiful on wood. Hy-Road Pearl, new Son!Q, etc.
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HackJandy

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Re: Good ball for wood lanes
« Reply #7 on: February 11, 2018, 11:14:57 PM »
Yep every week. Pearls, pearls, pearls. R2S Pearl from Storm is beautiful on wood. Hy-Road Pearl, new Son!Q, etc.

Also +1 on Hy-Road Pearl as have that one as well.  Have problems finding enough friction to use it on conditions I see but I bet that ball would totally own wood lanes.
Kind of noob when made this account so take advice with grain of salt.

shakenbake

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Re: Good ball for wood lanes
« Reply #8 on: February 12, 2018, 01:11:40 AM »
+1 for R2S. Depending on the pattern of course but our home house is wood and the old reliable hyroad has never failed to keep a solid reliable read. Wood can transition pretty fast and we've found that predictable symmetric stuff is what scores better overall.

daves123

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Re: Good ball for wood lanes
« Reply #9 on: February 12, 2018, 08:54:34 AM »
I too have a honey badger and it seems to over under on our lanes. Probably need to change the surface but not sure to what. Backends tend to fly here.
The venom shock pearl interests me but I'm concerned about how it comes off the spot.
Believe it of not the ball I have the best luck with consistently is a nighthawk SE stealth smooth startup, smooth finish. So I was wondering how the OG venom shock would do?

AlonzoHarris

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Re: Good ball for wood lanes
« Reply #10 on: February 12, 2018, 09:12:38 AM »
I too have a honey badger and it seems to over under on our lanes. Probably need to change the surface but not sure to what. Backends tend to fly here.
The venom shock pearl interests me but I'm concerned about how it comes off the spot.
Believe it of not the ball I have the best luck with consistently is a nighthawk SE stealth smooth startup, smooth finish. So I was wondering how the OG venom shock would do?

Probably decent as I also have some luck with the IQ Tour and Hustle INK. I feel like all 3 are within the same realm of each other.
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Pinbuster

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Re: Good ball for wood lanes
« Reply #11 on: February 12, 2018, 09:58:53 AM »
Depends on how well kept the wood lanes are.

Wood lanes will score just as well as synthetics and the same balls will work on both.

The biggest difference with wood is that each lane will probably play slightly differently. You have to be able to recognize that and play each lane accordingly.

HackJandy

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Re: Good ball for wood lanes
« Reply #12 on: February 12, 2018, 10:05:23 AM »
I too have a honey badger and it seems to over under on our lanes. Probably need to change the surface but not sure to what. Backends tend to fly here.
The venom shock pearl interests me but I'm concerned about how it comes off the spot.
Believe it of not the ball I have the best luck with consistently is a nighthawk SE stealth smooth startup, smooth finish. So I was wondering how the OG venom shock would do?

That Nighthawk is a criminally underrated ball from what I gather.  Almost got one but have that spot already filled in my arsenal.
Kind of noob when made this account so take advice with grain of salt.

hammajangs

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Re: Good ball for wood lanes
« Reply #13 on: February 12, 2018, 12:54:36 PM »
I bowl on old wood lanes.  I start with a Hustle INK for half of the first game, then it's the Storm Ride for the rest of the duration.  The Ride doesn't over react and is very smooth.

Impending Doom

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Re: Good ball for wood lanes
« Reply #14 on: February 12, 2018, 02:43:08 PM »
When I have to step in and get it around the pattern, I like my Drift. Seeing that the Drift isn't in production anymore, the HB is 4&2 stronger. If 1500 polished is too inconsistent, take it to 4000 and see how that works.