First thing first, this is not an offer to sell all of my equipment, just a scenario.

Ok, my collegiate season starts October 2.  I am two weeks into leagues and I feel I've been throwing the ball worse than ever.  I am currently throwing 16lb equipment and I feel its making me sluggish.  My grip is 3/16ths stretched, my grip doesn't feel relaxed, and I need major pitch changes in my thumb and fingers.  

Here's my dilemma. I've spent all summer putting together a solid all Brunswick arsenal.  These balls all have less than 12 games on them.  They include a BVP Goliath, Inferno, Raging Red Fuze, Monster Slay/R, Monster Scream/R, Command Zone Arc, and Teal Rhino Pro.  I also have a Green Messenger with 3 games on it, Rebel ECX hardly used, and a couple of others.

Now that I have my discount price sheet, I can basically put together a 4-5 ball package from any company for $250-320 dollars.  Keep in mind I do my own drilling so that would be free.

I love the reation of my brunswick stuff and more than likely I would get an all Brunswick or all Columbia package.  Would it be a wise decision to go through such a drastic grip change and reaction change in the beginning of the season?

I'm stuck on what to do because I haven't been throwing the ball well at all lately and I really feel that a grip change would be my best bet.  And with selling all of my balls, I really feel I'd make the money back to get any package of my choosing.  I don't want to go through a month long period of getting used to a new grip and new balls and hurt my team, but I don't want to hurt my team now by continuing to bowl like crap.  Gurus, please help me.
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-DJ Marshall
You're not Bowling if you're not using "B"runswick
Scratchbowling.com


Edited on 9/11/2004 2:02 AM

Not sure where you bowl collegiately DJ, but I know last year, for me, balls that had mellower layouts seemed to work better, especially on the Tier 1 sport shots.  In theory, you can still go with the large arsenal you amassed over the summer, as long as everything fits right.  It's really up to you, do you wanna take the time and refit everything for yourself with the stuff you currently have, or you can spend the $300 and get an Intense Inferno, Ultimate Inferno, Nemesis, and Power Groove and have a nice 4 ball arsenal all set for yourself.  It's really a toss up in my mind.
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Andrew Loose
"King of Them All"
"Evolutionary. Revolutionary."

well I'd definitely go to a relaxed grip. You can tell if it fits you properly if you put your thumb in the thumb hole and lay your fingers over your finger holes.  The join should be right in the middle or close to it.  I would choose one ball to do all the changes on.  Get pitch changes and remeasured completely.  Start from scratch.  After you find one that works or feels relatively comfortable, then I would change the rest of your equipment that way you don't have to change them all back and forth.  Unless if you asked for a stretched span, then your driller needs some glasses and I might ask for a copy of your new measurements and go to a few other shops in the area and see what they measure you at and how close they were to each other.  Not all of the drillers will get it exactly, but it should at least be within 1/16 and the pitches should be fairly accurate.  Let us know how it turns out.


Edit: sorry didn't read your post above mine.  But if you feel like that redrilled ball fits fine, I would test it out by throwing about 15 games or so straight to see if there's any particular irritation in any area and get it pitched to fix that irritation accordingly if that's the case.  If it's fine though, I would get the other ones redrilled, I'd make sure you have a decent driller that knows what he's doing though so you don't end up in a fix all over again.  You shouldn't have to worry about your grip and how your ball feels that way you can concentrate on your actual game and have a better outcome.  With the balls not feeling properly, it can distract your train of thought when on the approach (i.e. you're about to throw your ball but you second guess if it'll come off clean or hang up so you might try and slide your thumb out a hair to make sure it doesn't hang up and other scenarios like that can affect your bowling game).

Edited on 9/11/2004 3:35 AM

I don't see the need to buy another package cause you've got a pretty set arsenal right now, I'd just make the changes on the other equipment to that redrilled ball. Only takes a couple of pitch plugs and maybe a few thumb solids so it won't take that long.  Unless you're desiring new equipment, then go for it, it's up to you.

I think you have to feel comfortable with your grip and then your game will increase in average as a result of that feel. I know when I was in college that when I got the proper feel as a result of a pro shop operator who took the time and care to make sure I liked what I had, my average increased 15 pins for the season. The first couple of weeks were an adjustment, and from there it went onward and upward.

I also had issues at first with finger inserts. Didn't feel comfortable with them during my college days. Went back to them in 1996 and haven't looked back since.

Trust your instincts and your game will follow.

Matt