How do you...

[tah161]

If your the type of person who buys 1 maybe 2 new balls every few years, how do you decide on what to get?

With the internet research has become very easy and it seems like its almost impossible to make a decision.

So how do you decide?

[NicholasE]

Well, I buy lots of balls, so I couldn't tell you how i do but if I were just shopping to buy one ball....I would be looking at a few things.

1) coverstock

Is the coverstock what I need? Does it suit the lanes I'm bowling on? Those questions arise. For me I would be looking for a solid.

2) Ball strength

More then likely if you are buying 1-2 balls a year you are not bowling competitively other then league which means you will be faced with a simple THS. I would go with about an entry level ball or mid priced. Nothing fancy.

For me if I was out to buy maybe 2 balls a year, I would probably go with two solids. You can adjust a solid cover to handle more oil or you can shine it up to give it length. They match up well with my game that way, better then the pearl due to the over/under reactions it can create when the lanes break down.

Pretty much you need to know, what your going to bowl on, what kind of reaction you want on that condition, and what you want to spend.
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Throwing hambones since 2005.
www.myspace.com/nestes12

[AngloBowler]

I tend to buy balls as and when I need them, for instance:

If a ball has "died" I replace it

If I come across a condition which requires different equipment, and I think I'm likely to encounter it again, I'll buy a ball for that type of shot.

Because I don't buy balls very often, I try and give them quite generic and smooth drillings, as I can't afford to have anything to be too condition specific.

Before I got injured, I was bowling at a reasonable competitive level, so I don't think it's entirely accurate to say that you can't be bowling competitively buying 1-2 balls per year. I've got about 7 or so at the moment, bought between January this year and January 05.
I would say the best thing to do if you're not very knowledgable is to find a good pro shop operator and place yourself in his/her hands, tell them what you need the ball for and how much you want to spend and they should be able to sort you out.
If you want to learn more, by all means do, when I'm looking at getting a new ball, I have more of a dialogue with my pro about what to get and which drilling but I still place a lot of trust in his judgement, it's what I'm paying him for after all...
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Reporting from England

[shelley]

If you're buying 1-2 balls per year, you've probably got some in your bag that are several years old with many hundreds of games on them.  It's not still in the bag because you absolutely love the ball but because you don't buy enough to replace it yet.  So you want something that's got plenty of longevity.

Every company will make equipment that works for someone on a house shot.  Plenty of great stuff in the mid-price range, too.  It's just a matter of deciding on one over another.  Since "hit" and hook are largely equal from one company to another, I look for equipment that is going to last.

PK18 and Superflex are oldies but goodies; people get a LOT of games on balls with those covers, so even four or five years down the line, the ball is still going to be good.  Also, Visionary puts out some very long-lasting equipment and the Ogres are pretty close to mid-priced.  Slightly more expensive, but Lanemasters equipment is up there in durability as well.

SH

[KDawg77]

I am that guy and since I only bowl a few tournaments I look for a a set arsenal to meet all conditions, but I don't throw more than one or two balls for normal league. So, I have a lot of life left in the others. You need to look for balls you would use where and on what condition you bowl most. Then fill in where you have gaps.
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Ken
Sometimes you are the cheetah and sometimes you are the stick...
Videos at http://www.putfile.come/k-dawg77
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http://khlthe2nd.bowlspace.com
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[dizzyfugu]

When I started bowling, I used to buy lots of balls - mainly out of curiosity, and most of this eraly stuff is sold in the meantime except for a few special purpose pieces. But from that original stock a basic 1st and 2nd choice arsenal evolved, and new balls replaced some overlapping pieces, so the overall number is declining. I am now at a 4 ball league set, plus some additional pieces that offer reaction alternatives.

NEw ball now mainly fill true gaps that ball leave which either crack, or when I feel that I need a special reaction that differs from the other ones. But that's hard to pin down, because my needs are always relative to the existing arsenal. And when I start looking for "that special piece", I do a lot of legwork on specs and reviews. Normally, I know what I want, even though I must admit that making choices in today's market is quite a task!
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DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany

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