win a ball from Bowling.com

Author Topic: Bowling Ball Basics for a Guy Absent for 25 Years  (Read 3641 times)

Goodgrief

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 3
Bowling Ball Basics for a Guy Absent for 25 Years
« on: May 17, 2016, 03:32:45 PM »
Hey...I'm new to the forum and have made just a couple posts now...but I'm looking for a little help understanding the basics of ball selection, since the options now seem to have expanded quite a bit from the last time I bowled seriously.

I've just returned to bowling again, as my kids have started league bowling, and have joined a youth/adult league (summer league) for my first league since 1991 or 1992.  I might try to join a men's league in the fall, if somehow I can make that work with my schedule, or maybe another youth/adult league, if I can find one. 

All my equipment is 1990 vintage.  I have a blue Ebonite Nitro urethane ball that is currently my most aggressive ball (along with 7 or 8 other urethane balls of one form or another). It doesn't have much wear at all since I bought it I think during the last serious tournament I bowled in back in 1991 or 1992.  I still get pretty good movement in my local bowling center with it, but I keep hearing of the magic of reactive resin, so I'd like to understand that more.

I'm looking to buy a ball...maybe two eventually...probably no more than that.  My initial thought it to go for something super aggressive (Warrior Elite?  Paradox?) to handle oily conditions (all my best bowling has been on dry to medium conditions).  I'm not a cranker/hi rev player...more down and in, preferably playing the outside, so I don't think I'll struggle to keep it on the lanes in oily or even moderately oily conditions.

Where would an aggressive urethane fit into a spectrum of balls these days?  What's the difference between a reactive resin Pearl and an old, soft urethane ball (like the Ebonite Nitro)?  Is it just that the reactive Pearl will skid further and finish stronger (the Nitro still seems to hit like a tank)?  I guess my questions is if I get the Warrior Elite, would the Nitro function as a good moderate condition ball or would I really be hampered not having a reactive Pearl in that niche?

 

avabob

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2778
Re: Bowling Ball Basics for a Guy Absent for 25 Years
« Reply #1 on: May 17, 2016, 04:08:55 PM »
You got out of the game just as the biggest ball revolution in the game occurred.  The resin enhanced urethane that was introduced in 1992 had a huge impact on the game in more ways than you may be aware.  First, the resin enhancement drastically increased the friction coefficient of the ball surface on the dry, without significantly impacting it on oil.  However this change also impacted how the lane changed as shots were thrown with the new balls.  The resin balls not only hooked more, they absorbed oil off the lane, and dried out the heads and the track at a rate unheard of prior to the introduction of the new balls. 

As a result of the above revolution oils have changed significantly to become slicker, and the volumes used have increased by almost double.  The average length the oil has also gradually increased from typically less than 35 feet to about 40 feet on house shots.   

What all this means to you in selecting balls for todays game is that to get anywhere near the reaction you got with aggressive urethane in 1991, you need a reactive resin ball.  I think these new balls will actually benefit you as a down and in player if you pick the right ball.  There is also still a place for urethane due to the absence of much oil outside second arrow on the typical house shot.  Lots of good equipment out there.  I would go with a strong reactive pearl.  Only experimentation will tell you how the urethane and the reactive will play off each other in your game.  The biggest issue with urethane due to the much higher oil volumes is the carry down factor which can really impact urethane quickly, but is much less a factor with the resin.  Again trial and error throwing both will tell you a lot.  Urethane will definitely let you stay more direct from outside second arrow, but the carry down factor really limits the effective adjustment you can make with the urethane.  The biggest advantage you will get from the resin is the ability to move in a bit and still get a strong reaction on the back end compared to what you can do with urethane. 

I haven't even touched on core technology which has also changed dramatically with the advancement of asymmetrical cores.  Without getting into a lot of detail, I would go with an asymmetrical pearl for you as a lower rev straight player.  It will give you more continuation as you move a little deeper with the pearl. 

In summary, I have drilled out hundreds of balls over the period of time you were out of the game, and there is still a lot of trial and error involved. Plus no two people throw the ball exactly alike so what works for someone else, even a straighter player may not work for you.   

scrub49

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 407
Re: Bowling Ball Basics for a Guy Absent for 25 Years
« Reply #2 on: May 17, 2016, 05:00:53 PM »
Well said avabob.

itsallaboutme

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2002
Re: Bowling Ball Basics for a Guy Absent for 25 Years
« Reply #3 on: May 17, 2016, 05:34:26 PM »
Go to a Demo Day.  Then you can see first hand what has changed in 25 years.

tuckinfenpin

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 418
Re: Bowling Ball Basics for a Guy Absent for 25 Years
« Reply #4 on: May 18, 2016, 10:12:19 AM »
Go to a Demo Day.  Then you can see first hand what has changed in 25 years.

+1  took the words out of my mouth.

kidlost2000

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5789
Re: Bowling Ball Basics for a Guy Absent for 25 Years
« Reply #5 on: May 18, 2016, 10:52:01 AM »
For your style stated and where you like to play the lanes I would avoid the high end equipment and look at a mid performance ball and one a step down.

Like with Track for example a Legion solid and a Heat would be a good choice or Ebi Game Breaker/or MVP and a Cyclone.

This will get a lot more use a lot longer versus some of the high performance stuff…. Especially when playing up the boards. Most leagues do not see heavy oil.
…… you can't  add a physics term to a bowling term and expect it to mean something.

todvan

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 234
Re: Bowling Ball Basics for a Guy Absent for 25 Years
« Reply #6 on: May 18, 2016, 11:05:53 AM »
You may want to start with a ball that is considered a "benchmark" ball by whatever company you choose.  This will give you an idea of how modern balls roll for you and if you will need something stronger or not. 
MOTIV Jackal LE .................40 x 4.5 x 40 p2.5
MOTIV Revolt Vengeance......45 x 4.0 x 50 p3
MOTIV Forza GT ..................50 x 4.0 x 70 p2.5
MOTIV Sigma Sting..............50 x 4.0 x 45 p3

spencerwatts

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 383
Re: Bowling Ball Basics for a Guy Absent for 25 Years
« Reply #7 on: May 18, 2016, 12:32:13 PM »
Avabob said it the best. I've valued his insight in the time I've been in this forum.

An aggressive urethane ball of yesteryear (like my Faball Blue Hammer, Burgundy Hammer, or Columbia Black U-dot) is now nothing more than a good spare ball in most bowling situations. That's not to say it can't be used as a strike ball. But you are asking a lot from a ball that's not designed for today's oil patterns that have three to four times more oil volume than, say, back in 1990. Not to mention, most bowling alleys still used original wood surface when equipment like that debuted as opposed to today's synthetic lane surfaces.
« Last Edit: May 18, 2016, 12:35:15 PM by spencerwatts »
Ball speed avg. (18.25 mph)
Rev rate avg. (400-428 rpm)
Still refusing to accept AARP eligibility and membership cards

JohnP

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5819
Re: Bowling Ball Basics for a Guy Absent for 25 Years
« Reply #8 on: May 18, 2016, 04:31:26 PM »
My recommendation is to buy an entry level reactive resin ball, my favorite is the Ebonite Cyclone.  Find a good pro shop (ask the better bowlers in your league), and they will watch you bowl and locate your PAP for use laying it out.  Use the Cyclone for the summer season, then think about getting a stronger ball when fall leagues begin.  You're going to find that even an entry level reactive resin ball is much stronger than anything you've ever thrown.  --  JohnP

tuckinfenpin

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 418
Re: Bowling Ball Basics for a Guy Absent for 25 Years
« Reply #9 on: May 19, 2016, 10:10:50 AM »
I also agree with JohnP.  I would go with about any entry level ball, they are all good.  My go to is the Solid Rack Attack. It has a reaction like the urethane balls did in the past in today's conditions.