This probably a dumb question, but I need some input if you all do not mind. My wife needs a new ball. At this time she has a Tropical Storm. It is fine, but I feel it is time for a new ball. She has almost no hand in the ball to speak of and very slow speed, about 10-11mph.

I wanted to upgrade her and was looking at the Hammer Cherry Vibe. Would this be a good ball or is there another one that I should look at? Maybe the Avalanche Pearl? With her slow ball speed, I think a pearl is the way to go.

I think the TS is 12lbs. I know that she would not be able to throw a highend ball, but would still like her to get a decent ball.

Any and all comments are appreciated.
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Thanks in advance for all comments...

T.J.
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I just got my girl a Rotogrip "Venus" its a Particle pearl. She doesn't have a lot of hand either and her speed is about 10-11 mph also.

Looks good so far nice, smooth arc and a good solid hit on the backend.
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Aloarjr810
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Click For My Grip

Edited on 5/17/2008 10:23 PM

The cover of the tropical storm is reasonably strong, but the weightblock isn't much to speak of.

  Usually, women with weaker releases and slower speedshave a hard time using higher end equipment due to the fact that higher end stuff tends to use more energy than that type of release puts into the ball.  I can't tell you how many times I see women using balls picked out by their significant other because it works for them and they just expect it to work for their wife/girlfriend the same way, and it just doesn't.

  If she isn't having any trouble with the tropical, i would stay with something in that performance level, or maybe just a bit above.  Balls with a lower RG number are going to be a bit more predictable, but also start their motions earlier.

  I would definitely stay with a pearlized cover. The pearl cover will, generally, help the ball conserve the energy longer, but can make it a bit touchier at the breakpoint.  That fact may be offset by her slower ballspeed.

  The cherry vibe is a very good piece, and stronger than advertised.  Many competitive bowlers have one of these in their bag for use when the heads break down and their aggressive ball starts to read the lanes too early.

  The avalanche pearl is designed to be a ball of this type also.  Good pearlized coverstock with a milder flaring weightblock.

  Given what we have just discussed, I want to say that visionary makes a very good ball along these same lines, but it is not a pearl.  The visionary blue/green centaur has the mildest solid coverstock and a very mild core and is what I use for burned out shots.  It is very control oriented and as good as anything else out there.  Just last thursday, when my polished PAIN was burning up in the heads, I used my B/G centaur at 1000 grit and had to move 5 right, it is that mild.

  There are MANY good choices.  Good luck with your quest.
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My wife and I are going through this right now, too. Maybe this will help you.

My wife has been throwing 12-pound equipment (BVP Rampage, Columbia 300 Throttle) for three or four years now. When she started back in 2003, she was throwing straight with plastic but we moved her to competitive equipment quickly.

Her average has never gotten out of the 120s. My wife is tall (5'11"+) and long-limbed and has good natural strength, but doesn't generate much ball speed (10-11 mph tops). Last year, we started working on changing her wrist release. She kind of spins the ball (PAP is 2 1/2 over 1/4 up) but she can make it move.

The problem with the 12-pound stuff was the pancake cores and consistency off her hand. She never gets to practice and bowls only once a week, so she doesn't need a ball that is going to be jumpy downlane.

The other issue was carrying corners. She kept leaving 7s and 10s, even on good hits, and she has trouble shooting corner spares. About a month ago, I finally moved her up to 14 pounds. She's strong enough to throw it. I plugged my old Roto Grip Silver Streak SE, which has a real core and a pearl/solid hybrid cover, and redrilled it for her. I also took the ball to 2000 Abralon with no polish.

Her first game was an 86. Since then, she hasn't fired under 130 (her average was 112 prior to the switch).

I expect if she gets serious about things, she could average 150-160 at some point. She's bowling summer league for the first time in her life this year and I hope to have her in the high 130s by the time fall rolls around.

This might not apply to your wife I don't know her physique/wrist strength capabilities/etc.

Jess

ON EDIT: Forgot to mention this important part -- She really complained for the first week that the ball felt "heavy" and she didn't think she could control it, but now she's fine with it and has had no pain.

Edited on 5/18/2008 3:34 PM