BallReviews
General Category => Beginners Board => Topic started by: mpotapa on June 04, 2010, 11:39:16 PM
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I've been bowling for about a month and a half now. Joined a summer league with a few friends. My average for the first week was 112, then I bought a new ball and 2 weeks later my average is up to 135 so I'm improving. The ball I bought is the Storm Reign of Fire. Is this a good ball for a beginner? The guy at the pro shop has been working with me, I can throw a decent first ball but I have a lot of trouble picking up spares. Any advice? Thanks
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Generally, I'd say that the Reign of Fire is not the best selection, nothing against you, I don't expect a beginner to know. The pro shop operator should though. You would most likely have seen a similar improvement with a ball that cost half the price of the one you have, just through having a proper fit and the regular playing.
Keep working with your coach, I'm sure he will be your best guide. But, as a rule, I would recommend trying to bowl the ball straight at the vast majority of spares, you should be able to achieve this by altering the way you hold the ball in your swing
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Reporting from England
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This is my take on this situation. I think this ball is just fine for a beginner. Versatile since if the ball hooks too early, you can polish it up. I hear too many times people's opinions about "you shouldn't have gotten that ball since you're a beginner". A good ball driller is going to ask the customer questions about what they want out of bowling. Depending on what the answer(s) are, the ball driller will recommend the best suitable ball. Sorry anglobowler, I think you are off base with your comment about "you would most likely have seen similar improvement with a ball that costs half the price". Lets see, can you get similar improvement with say a Power Grove or a Tornado? IMHO, no you wouldn't be able too. Dynamics of a ball does play into the equation. I would continue working with a coach. Preferably one that is certified.
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mpotapa,
The Reign of Fire is a good piece of equipment. It is a little above what is truly considered "beginner" level, but that just means that the ball will be able to "grow" along with you as you get better and better. It is capable of very high performance, so will suit your needs for a season (or two), as long as you clean it and maintain it well.
Speaking of cleaning, let me inform you that this is VERY important in modern bowling balls. The material they''re made from is very porous, but the pores get clogged with dirt and lane oil, which causes the ball to lose MUCH of its capabilities over a period of time. Get a good cleaner from your pro shop and don''t be afraid to use it. Your ball was a pretty good investment, but it is up to you to keep it that way.
Also, a coach can be a good thing, but only if you''re ready for one. If you do decide to get a coach, get one who knows you are a true beginner so as to not overload yourself by a coach who "assumes" you know a little and just gets you in too deep too quickly. Bowling is pretty easy, but bowling well can get pretty technical.
Good luck and welcome to the sport/game. Hope you love it as much as I have.
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Good transactions list in my profile
Edited on 6/5/2010 10:38 PM
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Thanks for the advice, ill have to purchase a clesner. How often should I clean a bowling ball? I have read that some people use simple green to clean up their ball.
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Welcome to bowling, the ROF is an excellent ball. All I can tell you is to keep it simple.
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^^^ it is a great ball but not for a 'beginner".. hope this guy doesnt turn out like most, thinkn they MUST have the newest heaver oil ball to make the hook! LOL tho ive never see this guy throw a ball, pretty sure he could of gotn something a bit weaker(less surface)..
op, you should in vest in a spare ball asap!!!
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If this is the ball he wanted than how can it be wrong. People wonder why bowling is on the decline and when a beginning bowler get a ball all the critice come out and say, its the wrong ball. That is just horrible....
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I only paid 60 dollars drilled for the ball. A guy that works for me owns a pro shop. I told him I wanted to throw a hook and he was able to get me this ball for a good price. I can always purchase other balls but right now I'm just trying to learn to throw a hook. It's actually going pretty good. I average about 4 strikes per game, but when I don't strike it's the spares that crush me.
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quote:
I only paid 60 dollars drilled for the ball. A guy that works for me owns a pro shop. I told him I wanted to throw a hook and he was able to get me this ball for a good price. I can always purchase other balls but right now I'm just trying to learn to throw a hook. It's actually going pretty good. I average about 4 strikes per game, but when I don't strike it's the spares that crush me.
That is normal for spares to be the thorn in your side at the beginning. Spares are the key to scoring so make sure you keep practicing. Also, 60 bucks is a good deal for that piece.
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Something I would suggest for you, go back to your pro shop guy and ask him for a 'spare ball'. A White Dot, T-Zone or a Maxim are the most common names for them. They are plastic covers and will usually go as straight as YOU throw them. Take some time, don't look or worry about a score and shoot at one pin. You decide what pin usually gives you the most trouble and try to hit that ONE pin ( full rack or not ). Shooting spares is like anything else, practice, practice and more practice.
I might not have suggested that ball for your first ball but you got a good deal and your pro shop guy can see you throw, knows what you want to do and are trying to do so he probably had your 'wanting to improve' in mind when he suggested that ball.
Just keep in mind, if it were as easy as it looks on TV, we'd ALL be on tour. Some days are better than others but as long as you can realize what your mistake was, improve on it then you'll see your game getting better.
As far as a cleaner, if you have simple green at your house, mix it with water, a small amount of alcohol and you have a good cleaner for a ball with little expense. Many companies make good cleaners but the simple green/water is a great day to day cleaner.
Good Luck and welcome !
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What weight spare ball should I purchase? My reign of fire is 15 pounds. I notice a lot of people get a 14 pound ball for spares, is this what you guys would you recommend?
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I prefer to throw the same weight spare ball as my main balls
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"Don't Give Up... Don't Ever Give Up." -Jim Valvano
"Perfection is not attainable. But if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence." -Vince Lombardi
www.visionarybowling.com
www.solid9proshop.com
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IMO you should stick to the same weight for your spare ball as your strike ball. If you get a different weight the timing of your backswing could easily get messed up.
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quote:
^^^ it is a great ball but not for a 'beginner".. hope this guy doesnt turn out like most, thinkn they MUST have the newest heaver oil ball to make the hook! LOL tho ive never see this guy throw a ball, pretty sure he could of gotn something a bit weaker(less surface)..
op, you should in vest in a spare ball asap!!!
I agree. Especially considering he's new. I personally would have suggested something no stronger than a vibe until he becomes more comfortable.
It's really no different than teaching a 16 year old how to drive....In a Corvette.
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www.youtube.com/c6evolution2008
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v690/Phoenix_RsX/Arsenal/
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As for a spare ball, I recommend you stay with the same weight. That way, you don't have to go back and forth between two different weights.
Just make sure to get a "plastic" ball for spares, as this type ball tends to go very straight, or at least much straighter than other type balls. This will let you go straight at your spares with no un-anticipated moves.
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Good transactions list in my profile
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Do you guys think I should put the ROF away and buy a different ball or should I just stick with it since I have it? I bought the ball because of how cheap I got it for.
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You might as well keep it. Just understand that you may run into issues on shorter, drier conditions. You may find yourself adjusting surfaces week in and week out(if you aren't familiar with hand positions) if your lanes are as sporadic as mine are here.
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www.youtube.com/c6evolution2008
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v690/Phoenix_RsX/Arsenal/
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quote:
Do you guys think I should put the ROF away and buy a different ball or should I just stick with it since I have it? I bought the ball because of how cheap I got it for.
I don''t necessarily think you need to get anything else, except maybe that spare ball. The ROF is a little higher performance ball than most "entry level" balls, but all that really means is that it has higher performance "POTENTIAL". If you like it, it is a great ball, and the surface can be changed if it is too strong in its original finish. And the added performance potential is going to let it continue to perform well for you as you get more and more adept at the game.
Someone made the analogy that learning to bowl with the ROF was akin to teaching a youngster to drive in a corvette, but I don''t really see that. The corvette performance potential is there, but in the case of bowling, is directly related to the bowlers physical ability to make it perform at that level. In other words, the ROF CAN act like a corvette, but it can also act like a YUGO, and what it does depends on how you use it.
Almost any car can perform like a YUGO, just as any ball can be suitable to learn with. The difference comes with YOUR ability to get that performance out of the equipment with your physical ability.
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Good transactions list in my profile
Edited on 6/6/2010 12:53 PM
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^ Well said.
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www.youtube.com/c6evolution2008
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v690/Phoenix_RsX/Arsenal/
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There has been a lot of good advise here for you already about your bowling ball and on considering getting a plastic spare ball so I do not see any need to add anything more.
There are some links that you may find helpful in the BR FAQ (http://"http://www.ballreviews.com/Forum/Replies.asp?TopicID=74110&ForumID=16&CategoryID=5") so keep that in mind for future use.
Here is one link to spare shooting. (http://"http://bowlingknowledge.info/images/stories/8_steps_improving_your_spare_shooting.pdf")
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Thanks for all the advice. I went bowling today and bowled my highest game so far, a 181. I was happy with it. I think my average was around a 145 today. Just have to keep improving.
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What does it mean when you guys say the ball has high performance? Does it mean it will hook a lot?
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Congratulations on the new high game, and many more in the future, hopefully.
In answer to your question, high performance, in this context, means that the ball is made of a ver high friction material. As has been said before, with the correct application of technique, it is possible to make this ball hook well, although it will always be at its best on wetter lanes.
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Reporting from England
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I'll chime in, too...
AngloBowler made a very good and important statement: quote:
high performance, in this context, means that the ball is made of a ver high friction material.
Friction is key, and can be both your friend and foe. Many players (esp. beginners) misunderstand "high performance" as "hooks a lot", which looks cool, but rarely gets you anywhere except for splits and washouts.
What's important is to know that a properly drilled and released ball goes through 3 phases as it travels down the lane: skid, hook and roll. If you achieve this, the ball "works" to its full potential, and friction is an essential part of it - too little, and the balls skids too long, hitting weak. Too much, and the ball rolls out and hits like a wet donut.
Your ROF is already a strong ball concerning friction characteristics - which is nothing wrong in itself, but depending on the lane conditions you play, it can prove to be counterproductive. If the ball "works" for you, I would not worry much, because it is a simple piece that will make it easy for you to learn to play.
But there might be - beyond a spare ball (HIGHLY recommended) and a pair of shoes - some space "under" it for a weak entry level piece, a polished pearl like a Tropical Storm.
You CAN teach a kid to drive in a Corvette - you just need the proper highway 
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DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany
Confused by bowling? Check out BR.com's vault of wisdom: the unofficial FAQ section (http://"http://www.ballreviews.com/Forum/Replies.asp?TopicID=74110&ForumID=16&CategoryID=5")
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quote:
What does it mean when you guys say the ball has high performance? Does it mean it will hook a lot?
No, "High Peformance" usually means it will cost a lot. Nowadays it is possible to get a variety of different balls at the different price points. Most manufacturers have three or four levels of price points for bowling balls. The levels have designations like "Advanced, High, Mid-level, Value, Beginner, etc." It used to be accepted that the more expensive the ball, the more that ball tended to hook. More and more manufacturers are now releasing balls at the different price points that can provide a variety of reactions. The factors which make a ball "high performance" versus "mid-level performance" versus "value performance" are now more a function of marketing rather than ball reaction.
A great example is the recent release by Columbia 300 in their "Value Performance" line called the Burst. The Burst is the exact same ball that was released a few years ago under their "High Performance" line called the Resurgence. The only difference is the grit level of the abrasive they use for the final surface. Columbia 300 even advertises that all it will take is a quick change of surface and you'll get a Resurgence.
With a little research you should be able to get a ball with the performance characteristics you desire either at the lower price point levels or from earlier releases at the high performance level that are now on sale. (Of course it always helps to have a friend who runs a pro shop who will sell you a Reign of Fire for $60!)
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No, "High Peformance" usually means it will cost a lot.
I did not want to be that direct, but that's correct! A huge price tag does not mean that a ball "works" better than another - many lower price level balls are already very effective and anything a sound bowler might need. Older equipment is much the same - just because a ball is 1 or 2 generations "old", it does not mean that it is outdated or obsolete!
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DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany
Confused by bowling? Check out BR.com's vault of wisdom: the unofficial FAQ section (http://"http://www.ballreviews.com/Forum/Replies.asp?TopicID=74110&ForumID=16&CategoryID=5")
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just because a ball is 1 or 2 generations "old", it does not mean that it is outdated or obsolete!
Damn right.
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www.youtube.com/c6evolution2008
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v690/Phoenix_RsX/Arsenal/
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It's really no different than teaching a 16 year old how to drive....In a Corvette.
A Auto Driving School where I learned to drive, they had a corvette.
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Austin Burris
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I think the ball selection is just fine. I drill many stong balls for beginners that "want the ball to hook" because imo the WORST thing I can do for a customer like this is put them in a entry level ball and have them think I scammed them because the ball isn't hooking enough.
The way I see it is they will be able to get the most out of the ball and as they learn the game the ball will respond more and more.
Of course many may think that I am scamming these customers but I usually am selling them a top end that I got at a really good price (or a recently discontinued/closeout top end). That way I don't have to charge full retail to turn a profit, they feel like they got a good deal and will probably come back, and I am rest assured that as I work with them we will see a strong ball motion.
Just my philosophy though. It has worked really well for me and my customers.
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ALL STAR BOWLING & TROPHY
LANGAN'S ALL STAR LANES
WALLED LAKE MI
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Good Luck in bowling OP.......
Dedicate yourself to it and it will be rewarding from time to time.
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"Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder" - George Washington