First Ball Suggestions?

[MontyV]

I've been bowling off and on all my life and I recently started playing more often and decided with a few buddies to join a league.  I've really only used the 16lb plastic balls provided at the lanes but because I really never find my size I got use to throwing with only two fingers because the thumbs would never fit.

Well I went to the pro shop at my local bowling alley and though I was able to throw two used balls he did not seem very knowledgable about the balls or the conditions that they work well with thus I did not feel comfortable speaking with him.

I guess my question is what I should be looking for and in addition would buying a ball online at like bowlingball.com or bowling.com be better then buying at your pro shop?  The prices are substantially cheaper online though I know I still need to get them sized and drilled.

Any help from everyone would be great.

[shelley]

Ask some of the local bowlers who they go to.  If the guy at the lanes doesn't seem very knowledgeable, probably most of the higher level bowlers go somewhere else.  Find out who it is and go there.  If they go to the local guy, then maybe there's a good reason he didn't share much info with you.  He could have taken over the shop recently and inherited these used balls, or he's part-time and someone else took them in when he wasn't there.

Wherever you go, ask if they have any packages for beginners.  Many shops will have a deal for an entry-level ball, a pair of shoes, and a tote bag.  You could save a few bucks getting them as a package.  The ball is usually a lower-end ball like a Power Groove, Scout (I wouldn't get one of the new Scouts since the Ebonite-produced ones don't have more than a pancake core), Tropical Storm, or something like that.  If they have a Tropical Storm package, I'd get that one.

SH

[dizzyfugu]

Hmmm, if it is your first "own" ball, I'd recommend visiting a local pro shop and get a ball from there. Your hand needs to be measured, even if it is just a polyester ball with a conventional drilling. The extra bucks are IMHO worth it, because the ball will fit and make playing much more comfortable.

Also, with a fingertip ball (if that's what you want) - go to a pro shop for proper measurement and drilling.
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DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany

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[MontyV]

I like the fingertip holes.  I really don't like sticking my whole fingers in.  I've tried both ways and fingertip catered more to my style.  Don't get me wrong the pro shop helped me somewhat.  He let me throw the used balls and watched me in the lanes for proper form and technique.  He then recommended two differnt balls if I didn't want to go used.  Either the Raw Hammer or the Black Widow.  He said both would give me the result I wanted which was to float more in the beginning and hook hard at the end.  He also mentioned that the crease in my fingers should line up with the two holes and my thumb should fit all the way down.  None of the balls in stock were my size.

When asked about the core of the balls that is where he was less willing or not knowledgeable.  I asked what each core would do and the benefits of each and he said they all pretty much do the same thing except the more expensive balls will hit harder.

My current average, using my two finger technique and plastic balls, is about 180ish.  Using the proper technique I can see how these balls have an easier time breaking at the end whereas the plastic balls would not.

So is going to a pro shop the best way to buy a ball once I know what I want or simply to get fitted?  Could I not buy a ball online which is cheaper or is it the same price to buy from a local store after fitting charges?

[JohnP]

For your first ball, get an entry level reactive resin ball.  All the manufacturers have them, and there's not a whole lot of difference between them.  Buy it at a GOOD pro shop.  That way you assure that you have a good fit, which is more important than the ball choice at your level of experience.  And with the lower priced balls there's not that much difference between pro shop pricing and internet after you pay for the drilling.  After a season or so you'll want to move up to a stronger ball.  --  JohnP