Need Advice on Next Ball

[ebliss1]

Hi all - first time poster here. I just recently got back into bowling after being away since high school. My old Columbia Yellow Dot was basically a 16 lb brick that killed my arm if I wanted it to do anything other than go dead straight. I picked up an Ebonite Tornado Warning at 15 lbs which has been a lot better for me, but its just not hooking enough for me.

I tend to throw the ball a little fast (about 16-17 mph) on light-medium oil lanes and I have the Tornado Warning drilled conventional.

What I'm looking for are recommendations on balls that will hook more than 3 boards at the back end with the speed I throw. Also, if anyone can explain coherently the main differences and pros/cons of fingertip drilling vs conventional, I'd be grateful.

Thanks for your help.

[JohnP]

quote:Also, if anyone can explain coherently the main differences and pros/cons of fingertip drilling vs conventional, I'd be grateful.
 

A fingertip grip makes it easier to rev the ball for more hook.  Note I said easier, it can be done with a conventional grip, just requires a lot more effort.  The vast majority of good bowlers use the relaxed fingertip grip.  The difference between the grips is that the conventional grip is spanned and sized for the fingers to be inserted to the second joint, while the fingertip grip is spanned and sized for the fingers to be inserted only to the first joint.  What to do depends to a great extent on your finances.  The inexpensive way would be to have your Yellow Dot plugged and redrilled fingertip.  Use a large slug in the thumb hole so you can easlily and inexpensively make pitch changes until the grip is perfect.  Then use it for a spare ball and buy a new mid range or top end ball and duplicate the grip from the Yellow Dot (which, by the way, was the best plastic ball ever made).  The more expensive way would be to jump straight to a top end ball and experiment with it.  Good luck, and update us on your progress.  --  JohnP

[dizzyfugu]

Well, pricipally I agree with JohnP. Simplest thing would be to go to a good pro shop, have your hand measuered and the Tornado Waring plugged and re-drilled. A good pro shop owner should be able to get the pitches quite right.

But I would not recommend buying a high-end ball in the first place. Big bucks do not mean big hook. A mid range ball with a real core and medium RG differential should be enough.

Two reasons:
#1: You should know how to play the ball with fingertip before you buy the ball and have it drilled. This money is better spent on a coach to teach you in a fingertip release and proper technique.

#2: Not every ball is suitable for every condition. There are so many players whining about the Goliath from Brunswick which does not hook for them ,even though it has the highest hook potential of any current Brunswick ball. Well, they probably do not play the ball where it belongs (or they do not play properly, see #1).

Therefore, be aptient and keep practicing instead of paying much money on a high end ball. I do not say that it is a waste of money, but as beginner you should put emphasis on other things.
With time and practice you will get a feeling for which ball reaction you might need when the Tornado Warning does not work for you. But until then, practice and a properly fitting entry ball (and spare!) are the best basics you can get.

Good luck!
--------------------

DizzyFugu --- Reporting from Germany
Team "X": http://homepage.mac.com/timlinked/
"All that we see or seem, is but a dream within a dream..." - Edgar Allen Poe

[JohnP]

The only reason I didn't recommend plugging the Tornado Warning is that by the time you've spent the money to do that you're well on the way to buying a new mid-range ball with a dynamic core, like a Brunswick Nemesis.  The TW has only a pancake core, but would still break more than you'll want for a spare ball.  After you plug the Yellow dot you've got a good spare ball.  And yes, money spent on good coaching is never wasted.  --  JohnP

[ebliss1]

Thanks a lot guys. Good info. I've since found out that the guy I got the Tornado Warning from didn't ask about my ball speed. I throw in the 16-17 mph range and the TW seems to be better suited to people with slower ball speeds. I looked into having the Yellow Dot redrilled, but with a limited selection of places in the area that still do drilling, I'm looking at between $70-$85 to have that done. If I'm gonna spend that much money, I think I'd be better served getting something new and drilled fresh (my YD is 20 years old so I'm not sure how much life it still has left). Also - the wife gives me less grief if I have something new to show for the outlay of funds.

Some of the suggestions I've gotten from local bowlers are as follows:

Storm Diablo
Storm Tropical Storm
Storm X-Factor Ace
Hammer Switchblade
Hammer Sawblade
Ebonite Big Time Pearl

Any "plain english" observations on these (or other selections as well) would be appreciated. I've read a lot on each of these on the boards, but so much of whats there is pure greek to me.