Eariler in the week I asked about what could be the best replacement to my Aura Paranormal and what would be a good ball for heavy oil and I received great answers and support.

I'm planning to go to El Paso this year, so I'm checking my arsenal and I'm lacking of a heavy ball and a ball for dry conditions, here is my actual arsenal:

Heavy:
Medium to Heavy: Brunswick Aura Paranormal
Medium: Motiv Sigma Sting, Brunswick Wicked Siege
Light to medium: Motiv Tribal Fire, Visionary Gryphon G-3
Light:
Spare Ball: Motiv Arctic Sniper

As you can see, I don't have a heavy and a dry bowling ball. Do I really need both? In case I don't, which one is more important to have for opens and tournaments? A Heavy or a Light ball?

Thanks in advance!

For heavy i would look at the jackal, guru, crux and for lighter maybe somewhere along the lines of an ascent, lt48, or outcry. Unless you have a specific brand that you wanna stick with.

Since you play a simular line as I do, for heavy I will recomend a Hyper Cell by Roto Grip. I have had this ball for about a year, hits and continunes, and works very well in heavier oil. If you prefer to stay with Brunswick, then do some more research. -- I will recomend a hevy oil ball over a dry ball. It will benifit you alot more.

I would lean more towards a heavy oil ball, since you are a lefty, and won't see as much breakdown as the righties.

I really like the look of the Dream On for an oil ball with backend, or a Moxie if you want a smoother, earlier move.

As others have said, if you are bent on getting a ball, I would go with the heavier-condition piece before I'd go with the dry-lane piece. Most tournaments will tend to go heavy over light though there are exceptions.

If going with a heavy-oil piece there are lots of good options, which include: Mastermind, Crux, Guru, Hyper Cell, Ruckus Feud, IQ Tour Nano, and many, many others. It's just a matter of brand loyalty (if you have any), how much you want to spend, and what type of motion you're looking for.

One last note: If your main concern here is nationals, I would definitely get yourself that heavy oil piece because, as a lefty, you may have to go with something stronger early in order to open things up. That is unless you have multiple lefties on your pair. Also, the biggest key is having variety in terms of surface choices and shot shapes. You don't want all six balls to have the same surface and same characteristics. You need some balls matte/dull and some with some shine. You need some balls that are early and smooth and some that are later and/or sharper. Give yourself variety so that you can do different things as the lanes dictate. Good luck.

As others have said, if you are bent on getting a ball, I would go with the heavier-condition piece before I'd go with the dry-lane piece. Most tournaments will tend to go heavy over light though there are exceptions.

If going with a heavy-oil piece there are lots of good options, which include: Mastermind, Crux, Guru, Hyper Cell, Ruckus Feud, IQ Tour Nano, and many, many others. It's just a matter of brand loyalty (if you have any), how much you want to spend, and what type of motion you're looking for.

One last note: If your main concern here is nationals, I would definitely get yourself that heavy oil piece because, as a lefty, you may have to go with something stronger early in order to open things up. That is unless you have multiple lefties on your pair. Also, the biggest key is having variety in terms of surface choices and shot shapes. You don't want all six balls to have the same surface and same characteristics. You need some balls matte/dull and some with some shine. You need some balls that are early and smooth and some that are later and/or sharper. Give yourself variety so that you can do different things as the lanes dictate. Good luck.

Yeah Gene, my priority right now is to get something that can help me on the Nationals this year. And since I won't be able to buy more than one ball that's why I was wondering which would be more important to have. I don't have a brand loyalty, but lately I've been buying Motiv and I like it so far, so maybe the Jackal could be a good option.

About the different surfaces and shot shapes, most of my balls have almost the same kind of reaction, kind of a smooth, delayed hook, not eariler but not a late hook either. Is it bad to have all my equipment to roll almost the same way? I have some dull balls and some with more shine, and they are for different oil conditions, but the reaction is pretty close between balls. Is that bad? I ask because when I experienced bowling with a long lenght ball with a late hook and strong backend I struggled a little bit, but I would like to know if I need a ball with that reaction on my arsenal.

Thanks for your great response!