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Author Topic: Stronger complement to Rocket?  (Read 2039 times)

Bull_winkle

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Stronger complement to Rocket?
« on: January 14, 2016, 08:24:42 AM »
I have been bowling for a very long time, but two years ago had to switch from right hand to left. The switch is permanent, by the way.

So I learned to bowl left handed with a Rocket. Which is fine, but on the conditions I bowl most on, it does not give me enough margin for error, or at least not the margin I think I need.

I normally play straight up 7-8. If I hit everything right (release, location) the Rocket is fine. But if I miss inside it just skids through the end of the pattern and misses left. And if I miss outside it takes off early. And sometimes it leaves a lot of weak 7s.

If I move inside a bit and look at 10-11-12, it won't come back unless the release is perfect.

So I am looking for something that is more forgiving of being off target a bit as well as forgiving of off releases. I think I am looking for a solid with some length that will react pretty strong to friction. But I am open to suggestion.

I averaged 215-ish right handed. So I know what I am supposed to be doing. I am now creeping up on 175 left-handed and my form is getting more consistent.

Left handed I am definitely a stroker. Not a high-rev. Not high speed. I bowl at two houses typically. The Rocket is definitely better suited to one than the other. It has trouble with the house with higher volume of oil and snappier back end reaction.

My coach has suggested solids like the IQ Tour, Haywire, Eternal Cell. Right handed I usually threw a dull solid like the Mutant Cell and balled down to a dull hybrid. So In my mind I know those kinds of reactions.

Of course, bowling left handed the condition almost never changes, because I am usually the only one.

Suggestions appreciated.

 

jman76

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Re: Stronger complement to Rocket?
« Reply #1 on: January 14, 2016, 09:07:48 AM »
I have the Sky Rocket and it's definitely stronger than the Rocket. It goes longer being a pearl and does move left hard for me being a right hander. I also have the IQ Tour Nano and love it for when there is a little more oil. It's has a good smooth roll to it and never seems to over react. For heavy oil I have the Haywire and that ball is a beast. I listed the balls in my bag from heaviest oil to lightest oil. Hope this helps a little.

Haywire
IQ Tour Nano
Sky Rocket
Ride

RevLefty

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Re: Stronger complement to Rocket?
« Reply #2 on: January 14, 2016, 11:02:42 AM »
the rocket should give you what you are looking for have you tried adding surface to it. by doing so it should get you in farther and get you the miss room both ways that you desire. but if you dont want to change it and like to stay with storm roto grip my suggestions are the lock, haywire,asylum,sinister they will all get you deeper and get the miss room you are looking for. playing where you are it is going to be touchy no matter the condition you have to be very precise playing that straight. but if you move in your gonna want something that corners hard with the lack of rev rate.  my .02 there is so much more free hook on right side i know  i bowled rh for almost three yrs cause of injury you have to create it on left side.

westtex

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Re: Stronger complement to Rocket?
« Reply #3 on: January 14, 2016, 12:36:55 PM »
For me the Nano is a great ball that can still handle slightly higher volumes of oil, it won't be as long as the Rocket or as snappy but it will give you a little more miss room.

Optimus Solid I believe is longer down lane than the Nano or IQ Tour Solid so that could be a good way to go unless your OK with going up to an asymmetrical ball like the Crux or Lock. On the Rotogrip side, the Hyper cell Skid, Eternal Cell, Critical, and possibly the Haywire would all be possible options as well as they are all stronger balls with some length vs your Rocket.

Idol
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HB Claw
HB
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Bull_winkle

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Re: Stronger complement to Rocket?
« Reply #4 on: January 14, 2016, 01:20:31 PM »
the rocket should give you what you are looking for have you tried adding surface to it. by doing so it should get you in farther and get you the miss room both ways that you desire.

The Rocket works fine on some conditions, so I don't want to change it. And as my reve rate and release improve, it should be more effective.

Quote
but if you dont want to change it and like to stay with storm roto grip my suggestions are the lock, haywire,asylum,sinister they will all get you deeper and get the miss room you are looking for. playing where you are it is going to be touchy no matter the condition you have to be very precise playing that straight. but if you move in your gonna want something that corners hard with the lack of rev rate.  my .02 there is so much more free hook on right side i know  i bowled rh for almost three yrs cause of injury you have to create it on left side.

A agree that the left side is stiffer, which I am learning to live with. My problem now with the Rocket is that if I move in, my release has to be perfect for it to come back.

I would like to be able to swing the ball a little bit more than I can with the Rocket now. Does that make sense?

I am kind of thinking haywire, and appreciate your input.

Metal_rules

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Re: Stronger complement to Rocket?
« Reply #5 on: January 14, 2016, 02:08:31 PM »
the rocket should give you what you are looking for have you tried adding surface to it. by doing so it should get you in farther and get you the miss room both ways that you desire.

The Rocket works fine on some conditions, so I don't want to change it. And as my reve rate and release improve, it should be more effective.

Quote
but if you dont want to change it and like to stay with storm roto grip my suggestions are the lock, haywire,asylum,sinister they will all get you deeper and get the miss room you are looking for. playing where you are it is going to be touchy no matter the condition you have to be very precise playing that straight. but if you move in your gonna want something that corners hard with the lack of rev rate.  my .02 there is so much more free hook on right side i know  i bowled rh for almost three yrs cause of injury you have to create it on left side.

A agree that the left side is stiffer, which I am learning to live with. My problem now with the Rocket is that if I move in, my release has to be perfect for it to come back.

I would like to be able to swing the ball a little bit more than I can with the Rocket now. Does that make sense?

I am kind of thinking haywire, and appreciate your input.
If you don't want to try and surface adjustments on your Rocket, and you want a ball for more volume, then for Roto look at either a Haywire or a Critical. The Haywire will start up sooner, and the Critical will have more a skid /flip type of reaction. For Storm a Lock will handle the oil and is a excellent ball, strong but smooth roll.
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charlest

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Re: Stronger complement to Rocket?
« Reply #6 on: January 14, 2016, 03:56:40 PM »
I'd be careful of going to too strong a ball. The Rocket is a polished hybrid, with a medium-high RG core that lets it lope a little and thenhook.

For a more even reaction, that won't skid as long when pulled inside and won't over-hook when swung outside, I'd look for a stronger solid and use it at 4000 grit dull or 1500/2000 grit + polish.

My suggestions are an Optimus solid or an IQ Tour solid. My only caution is any Storm/RG ball stronger than the Rocket is going to have a lower RG core. Balls like the Lock, Critical and the Haywire are much stronger and earlier than the Rocket. A polished pearl, like the Sky Rocket, is going to be more sensitive than the Rocket (skid more when pulled inside and flip harder when swung outside).
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