Author Topic: Coming back after about... 5 years.. (Read 1509 times)

oracle3410 · « **on:** February 29, 2004, 02:43:20 AM »

I'm 18 now, and about 5 years ago i started growing, and lost all coordination i ever had.. now that i'm done growing, i've decided to come back to bowling... problem is...

I had bought a 13 lb Gyro Pro, Reactive ball, very little (if any) weighting on the inside, and so now i'm starting to notice i come in light an awful lot. I didn't take very good care of the ball when i had it, and as such, the cover is shot, i barely get 4 or 5 boards out of it, so I'm in the market for a new ball. Right now I don't have a whole lot to spend on 3 different balls for dry, med and heavy oil, so i'm looking for something that i can throw in pretty much any condition, that's going to get me a bit more push through the pins.

I wouldn't feel comfortable going into a pro shop and asking to be watched because i'll basically be developing my game around whatever ball i choose.

I'll probably keep my Gyro as a spare ball, because if i put any sort of speed on it, it barely reacts at all.

Any suggestions, or good questions to ask the pro shop guys?

michelle · « **Reply #1 on:** February 29, 2004, 05:49:50 PM »

If this was a ball you bought 5 years ago, it is not going to fit you properly...an ill-fitting ball will not allow you to bowl to your potential. As to having the pro shop watch you before suggesting something, I would opine that you need to do so...equipment should be matched to someones style. The bowler that tries to fit their game to a ball is going to develop a lot of bad habits and issues with form and technique.

oracle3410 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 29, 2004, 05:53:17 PM »

I've had it filled and re-drilled, obviously.

but i believe i'm developing more bad habits trying to find some way to get this ball to hit anywhere near solid.... i've lost all muscle memory, and so i'm going to be developing an entirely new motion, timing, delivery anyway, seing as i've grown a foot since the last time i played in a league.

michelle · « **Reply #3 on:** February 29, 2004, 06:01:02 PM »

quote:
I've had it filled and re-drilled, obviously.

but i believe i'm developing more bad habits trying to find some way to get this ball to hit anywhere near solid.... i've lost all muscle memory, and so i'm going to be developing an entirely new motion, timing, delivery anyway, seing as i've grown a foot since the last time i played in a league.

The plug and redrill is a piece of the puzzle we did not have previously...and if the shop did not ask pertinent questions before they redrilled it, they did you a tremendous disservice. I would suggest that before you try and buy new equipment that you first spend a few hours with a coach. Older equipment can still score in todays bowling environment, and the more you can do with less, the better you will fare as you move up the equipment scale.

Throwing 13 pound equipment is going to cause you to suffer somewhat in scoring, but you need to get the fundamentals down before worrying about which new ball to go buy.

I took off basically all of the 1990's...when I returned, I let a pro shop persuade me that I needed one of these newfangled resin creations in order to score on today's conditions, and I wound up with a RiotZone for something like $200 out the door. What I later realized was that I paid $200 to learn that I did not need modern equipment, although it certainly made it easier to play fourth and fifth arrow...older stuff worked just fine for a small swing shot. A few weeks after returning, I shot something like 642 to capture a squad leader position at a small tournament in the D/FW area...ball used was a Black Phantom to start and then a switch to a U2 in the 2nd and 3rd games. It was a handicapped event, but since I had no average, I had no sticks. The point in all of this is that you need to know your game before looking at new equipment.

Edited on 2/29/2004 7:01 PM

oracle3410 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 29, 2004, 06:04:23 PM »

anyone else have an opinion? i respectfully disagree with some parts of michelle's.

charlest · « **Reply #5 on:** February 29, 2004, 08:41:13 PM »

Oracle,

Unless you are especially small, you should probably not be fooling around with 13 lb balls. I'd suggest 15 lb as a minimum.

Michelle is not wrong, in anything that I can see. You really need to know whether your house or your delivery style and ball speed require a pearl or a solid. There are many, good, inexpensive balls around, but you definitely need some onsite and local advice. Other than the ball weight, I wouldn't suggest anything else. There are just too many unknowns in this equation.

A coach and a good local pro shop are the two best starting points anyone can recommend. I'd even go so far as to suggest that if anyone suggests more than that they are not looking at the whole picture you present and they are doing a disservice.
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"Just because you can do something does not mean you should do it."

no2bucsfan · « **Reply #6 on:** February 29, 2004, 09:24:12 PM »

the roto-grip apocalypse is supposed to be quite versitile. im getting myself one pretty soon because of the reviews its been given.
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no2bucsfan

oracle3410 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 01, 2004, 11:09:07 AM »

I could probably handle a few more pounds, i'm not small in terms of body size (6'2", 215), but my arm strength is pretty lacking at the moment..

so which should I do, buy a heavier ball, or use the lighter one for a while?

I mean I can get up there and hit my mark, on balance at the line, timing's reasonably OK, but I don't want to develop any habits from trying to get this ball to react and/or hit that might affect something else negatively.

What i'm hearing is to go ahead and buy a used ball off the FS/FT board, 14 or 15 lbs, and get used to the weight and any changes in motion that come with that, and then once i know my game better go on to a new piece of equipment?

(Re-reading, it sounds like i came off a bit defensive earlier in the posts, my apologies)

Edited on 3/1/2004 12:04 PM

JohnP · « **Reply #8 on:** March 01, 2004, 09:46:43 PM »

oracle3410 -- At your size, you should be using a 15 or 16 lb ball (in as much as I can determine without watching you throw some shots). I'm sure people on this Forum are getting tired of me recommending the Ebonite Tornado TPS, but here it is again. This is a great beginner's ball at a good price. I've sold a lot of them and have not had a single complaint. Good luck -- JohnP

oracle3410 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 01, 2004, 10:46:55 PM »

not alot of that is muscle, i've tried screwing around with a 16lb house ball and it's waaay too much for right now... i'll look into the tornado

michelle · « **Reply #10 on:** March 02, 2004, 07:14:00 AM »

quote:
i've tried screwing around with a 16lb house ball and it's waaay too much for right now...

That could be due more to the fact that ill-fitted equipment can always seem heavier and less manageable. In the modern era, most bowlers can get by with 15 instead of 16. A ball that is properly fitted will almost always seem lighter than a conventional drill sitting on the house racks...as such, it is not a good idea to base you decision on what is on the rack.

matt smith · « **Reply #11 on:** March 02, 2004, 07:24:16 AM »

totally agree with michelle here.. the 16 pound house ball didnt fit.. .and you had to HOLD the ball more then you would if it were your own. If your 18 and you bowl with a 13 pound ball you will get given crap.. JOKING! seriously though you should move up in weight.. ive been using 15 pound since i was 14... and im weak as water.

Find your self a new oiler and get a 2nd hand ball for the dry conditions, or a cheap ball like a scout or something. May i suggest a V2 Particle for oil... not hard on the bank, but is a huge performer. Havnt put mine down since i got it...

let us know how you go..

good luck and high scoring
matt

oracle3410 · « **Reply #12 on:** March 02, 2004, 11:05:22 AM »

I know i'm not ready for a 16, but I could try a used 15...

i don't have the wrist strength to support even the 13 right now, what's a good, but not insanely expensive wrist support to help that along until i can?

oracle3410 · « **Reply #13 on:** March 02, 2004, 06:16:24 PM »

ok.. so i'm getting two completely different opinions.. one is to not buy a used ball, and the other is to buy one..

to let everyone know, with my current ball i usually roll somewhere around 130-150, i'm not in a league (the only league i could get into was too late in the evening, i have 8:30AM classes)

any more advice?

Strider · « **Reply #14 on:** March 02, 2004, 10:21:44 PM »

Unless you have a physical limitation, there's no reason you shouldn't use a 14 or 15 pound ball. All 14-16# balls have good cores. Many companies put weaker cores in their light weight equipment, but even that is starting to change. A properly fitted ball will make all the difference in the world. Depending on how much your local proshop charges, a new ball (drilling included or extra) or a used one (plus plugging and redrilling) could both make sense. If you could find a cheap used ball, I'd go that route. Developing a solid relationship with a good proshop should be your first priority. They will help with your fit, ball selection, and some form/style pointers. One of the entry level resins (Scout, Tornado, Beast, Barrage, Scamp...) would be a good choice. I'd really look at a Beast if they are still available. Many of the entry level resins have glorifies pancake (weak) weightblocks, but the Beast has a lightbulb shape. Even reacting and stronger than the modified 3 piece designs.
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Penn State Proud

Author Topic: Coming back after about... 5 years.. (Read 1509 times)

oracle3410

Coming back after about... 5 years..

michelle

Re: Coming back after about... 5 years..

oracle3410

Re: Coming back after about... 5 years..

michelle

Re: Coming back after about... 5 years..

oracle3410

Re: Coming back after about... 5 years..

charlest

Re: Coming back after about... 5 years..

no2bucsfan

Re: Coming back after about... 5 years..

oracle3410

Re: Coming back after about... 5 years..

JohnP

Re: Coming back after about... 5 years..

oracle3410

Re: Coming back after about... 5 years..

michelle

Re: Coming back after about... 5 years..

matt smith

Re: Coming back after about... 5 years..

oracle3410

Re: Coming back after about... 5 years..

oracle3410

Re: Coming back after about... 5 years..

Strider

Re: Coming back after about... 5 years..