New Ball Advice 190+

[dno36]

Hello:

Thanks for taking the time to help.

I used to shoot in 5 leagues a week and carry about a 185 avg..

Then I did not bowl at all ( just with the kids )for 12 years.

I now bowl in a once-a-month mixed league for the last 4 years and I am finally starting to figure this game out. I am up to a 195+ avg for the last 2 years.

One of the guys in my league has convinced me to get into a good consistent scoring house and get serious. He has a 185 in our league, and a 197 in both of his other weekly leagues.

I use a 33 year old Gyro I, which has been drilled 3 times, but it fits me perfectly, and I can adjust to about any conditions in the "challenging" house that I am in.

I think, therefore I'm nutz, that I would like to get a ball that would be a medium oil type as the house that I'm going into has "plastic" lanes and I would be in the 9:00 scratch league (not too drippy), so, well I need some advice here.

I have the ability to change my hand pitch readily to adjust break point and can move my line from 18 @ the arrows to 5. I shoot all of my spares "thumbs down" so I can use 1 ball for it all.

I do not want something too quirky, but I can control almost anything.

TIA,

Dean C. Stewart

[NoNeed4Revs]

Wow...

I'd say go with something currently considered "mild", just since you're not used to the reactions of modern equiptment.

Off the top of my head, I'd suggest a Smash/R from Brunswick. It's a pretty smooth ball if you keep a light polish on it, and it has awesome hitting power.
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Proud owner of a 111-111-111 triplicate series. And a Winnie-The-Pooh spare ball.

[JohnP]

dno36 -- The Ebonite Tornado series are good balls for entry into reactive resin.  They are relatively inexpensive (less than $100), but perform well for a bowler like yourself.  Of course, they don't have the high powered core that the top line balls do, but I think you will be pleased.  It will be such an increase in hook and hitting power over the Gyro that you will be amazed.  Also, please don't get trapped into the "wow I'm good" syndrome.  Today's lane conditions and equipment (although you're still using yesterday's equipment) are so much better that it's easy to think you've improved when actually it's just easier to hit the pocket.  In the early 70's I bowled in four leagues and practiced 15+ games a week to average 195.  I was in my mid 20's.  Now, at 56,  I can bowl two leagues with no practice and average 200.  Does that mean I'm a better bowler than I used to be?  I don't think so!  --  JohnP

[seadrive]

I would probably look for a mild, mid-price particle ball, like Ebonite's Predator Pursuit or Storm's Eraser Pearl Particle.

Since you're using a 33-year old ball, you may not know what drillings work best for you on modern equipment.  So consider leaving that decision in the hands of your driller, assuming he has seen you bowl.

Good luck, and have fun!
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seadrive
Cogito ergo bowl

[Strider]

I would look at some of the mid price solid cover resins like the Roto Grip Silver Streak or the Dynothane Vendetta.  I think Columbia still makes the Beast as well.
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Penn State Proud

[dno36]

Thanks for the help guys.
I have a couple of balls that I am looking at also, maybe you can throw a bit of advice about these also. All are 16#
A red Hammer reactive - Pin is 2.5" out
A purple Hammer Claw - 1.5" Pin.
A Track EMB Pearl Burgandy color.
A Columbia Titanium Hawk reactive.

Just some thoughts..

Thanks Again

DNO
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Just when you thing you've got it figured out, you ARE gonna crash. That's Bowling!

[Constantine]

DNO,

A 33 year-old Gyro is either rubber or plastic with a pancake type weightblock.  Anything except a basic polyester will be a significant step up.

Your story reminds me of my Dad.  He was using his rubber old Ebonite Magnum IV for too many years.  I bought him a urethane Columbia Stingray/C.  His amount of hook and control didn't change very much, but his carry went way up.  With the rubber ball he had to be flush to strike.  Now he could carry both the high hits and the light ones.

The Red Reactive Hammer came out in 1994.  In my opinion, Hammer's resin balls in the early 90's didn't compare well to the other resin balls of the day.  Hammer was the urethane king in the late '80s and they stuck with urethane too long.  Their early resins were a step behind the other makes.

The Purple Claw is a three-piece urethane.  Its definately a controlalbe ball for you, but its too weak, in my opinion.

The Track EMB & AMF Ti-Hawk are probably more ball than you are looking for, but of the four I like the Ti-Hawk the best.


My recommendation to you is to look for balls that react smooth using a weaker cover with roll properties instead of flip.  I'd consider:

Columbia Beast Master
Dynothane Crisis
Storm Hot Wire

Good luck

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Good luck & good bowling

[dno36]

Ok guys...Thanks for all the help!! and to Strider too for the E-Mails, it all has helped me get over the confusion/anxiety issue so far. LOL

As I can get my 33 year old Gyro to work almost any day, I do not want to get something too radical, and I would like to use 1 ball for 90% of the time. I have not thrown another ball since 1982, and my average has gone up 10-15 pins in the last 2 years.

The balls I am looking at are:

1. Dynothane Vendetta
2. Nu-Line Virus Purple
3. Ebonite Stinger Black 2-piece
4. Storm Ultra Hot

I plan to take my current ball to Deerpark lanes down in Lake Zurich 25 miles away( I only bowled there in a Transplant Survivors benefit) to have them look at me and the new ball and provide input and drilling.

Once again, thanks for the help, Everybody.

Dean.
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Just when you thing you've got it figured out, you ARE gonna crash. That's Bowling!