Can 1 ball "do it all" for a beginner

[ruleof72]

I have bowled off and on over my life but never on a regular basis, until now.  We finally joined a league and being the competitive person I am I want to do well.  I seem to be able to shoot 130-150 whenever I go out but I throw a fairly straight ball.  I am left handed if that matters.  I have always used house balls, not my own.  So, now that I will be bowling every week I want to get my own equipment.  I'd like to find one ball that I can use to bowl my current straight ball but also learn to throw a hook.

Does such a ball exist?  What are the compromises?

[NJStroker]

yes they do, u should probably start out with something like a Vibe, its not gonna hook a TON, but u can hook it, and throw straight ball, although if u get it drilled fingertip, its kind of hard to throw it straight.
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Im so glad people are brainwashed to think that TRACK sucks. And its even funnier when im carrying with my TRACK ball and they're going flat ten with their BRUNSWICK ball.

[jbruno6]

Don't start buying balls.  NJ is right, a vibe would be a nice entry level priced ball that turn well on the lane.  Learn the fundamentals of a better release.  Once you learn more, then you start spending all of your money of a huge list of bowling balls like we do.  The house balls aren't really helping much either, unless you find a resin ball on the rack.
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A half ten is not a great shot.  No, you shouldn't have carried it.

www.jeterisanoverratedplayer.blogspot.com

[ruleof72]

Thanks for the info!

I will check out the Vibe.  Who makes it?(edit: Found the manufacturer.  That's how new I am )

I plan on going to the pro shop at the Brunswick center we will be bowling at and take a look around.  The league starts on Sept 8 and I want to get in some more practice, hopefully with the new ball, by then.

Edited on 8/28/2008 3:07 PM

[NJStroker]

well talk to the shop about coaching also IMO, o once again IMO, if he can get one, i recommend a blue vibe out of the 3, its smoother and easier to control for a beginner IMO.
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Im so glad people are brainwashed to think that TRACK sucks. And its even funnier when im carrying with my TRACK ball and they're going flat ten with their BRUNSWICK ball.

[Gazoo]

Brunswick Avalanche solid or Storm Street Rod solid, pretty much 1 ball arsenals on the THS for any level bowler.

[ruleof72]

Well, we ended up getting the Brunswick Groove Reactive.  I asked the guy in the pro shop about the Vibe and Avalanche and he said that for the conditions on the lanes, he suggests the Grove for most beginners.  He measured us and got them drilled up overnight.  We used them today and I like it!  I can bowl my straight ball just fine and I am able to get an OK hook when I release it properly.  My wife really likes her ball as well.

We're happy campers so far.  We have a lot to learn so I'm sure as I gain experience I will move up to another ball, especially if I can get my hook consistent.  Until then, the groove should be fine.

My average over the 8 games we've bowled is 142 and I expect that to go up quite a bit once we get "in the groove"

[zone]

power groove is a good ball. it hooks alot more than what people think. it was my first real ball. coverstock works good sanded or shined
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LANE MASTERS / LEGENDS convert and never looking back!

[dizzyfugu]

I also started with a PG, and it is a very good piece that can handle a lot of conditions - it will just not be very effective on very long and high oil. But most of the rest can be tackled through line, hand and speed adjustments, it is a very good tool to learn how to actually "play" bowling.

Just one suggestion: do not force too many revs when you start bowling. I see a lot of beginners and esp. junior players who start with a PG or a camparable ball, and after some time start revving the hell out of it because they want to hook the ball across the lane. Well, revs are never wrong but not the objective, since they tend to neglect the adjustment "lessons" mentioned above, and I "blame" this tendency on sticking too long with a weak ball and wanti ng too much out of it - it might make the next step to stronger pieces complicated, since this revvy style "overrides" most of the equipment's qualities and can make controlling it a hard time.

If you can, consult a coach or a pro shop after some months, esp. when you feel that you "understood" the Power Groove and explored ist utility on different lane conditions.

Good luck!
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DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany

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[ruleof72]

quote:I also started with a PG, and it is a very good piece that can handle a lot of conditions - it will just not be very effective on very long and high oil. But most of the rest can be tackled through line, hand and speed adjustments, it is a very good tool to learn how to actually "play" bowling.

Just one suggestion: do not force too many revs when you start bowling. I see a lot of beginners and esp. junior players who start with a PG or a camparable ball, and after some time start revving the hell out of it because they want to hook the ball across the lane. Well, revs are never wrong but not the objective, since they tend to neglect the adjustment "lessons" mentioned above, and I "blame" this tendency on sticking too long with a weak ball and wanti ng too much out of it - it might make the next step to stronger pieces complicated, since this revvy style "overrides" most of the equipment's qualities and can make controlling it a hard time.

If you can, consult a coach or a pro shop after some months, esp. when you feel that you "understood" the Power Groove and explored ist utility on different lane conditions.

Good luck!

We got out yesterday and bowled four more games.  I am getting a little bit of a hook when I release it properly.  I am not trying to rev the ball any more than I get from "rolling" the ball of of my fingers instead of the thumb.  I like the ball a lot.  When I hit my spot it hooks a little (maybe 6 boards) and hits the poket well.  I definitely get better pin action with my little hook than the straight ball.  The league starts on the 8th so I'm hoping to get a few more games of practice in this Saturday.

[lenstanles703]

Dizzy is right, I coached juniors for ten years now. We have had jrs that could hook plastic balls and when they moved to reactive balls they hooked too much. I allways try to get them to move up to reactive as quickly as possible to avoid this. I find the parents don't want to spend the money.
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