Author Topic: does it impress you? (Read 3084 times)

mainzer · « **on:** August 25, 2008, 04:31:19 AM »

Does it impress you when people brag about the scores they shot with this ball or that ball? Does it really make the ball, or the bowler, sound better in your opinion?

Do you buy equipment because all the heavy hitters in your area have one, are because you see a pro on t.v. use it with sucess?

I am NOT influenced by anyone I see using any type of equipment, or putting big scores up with one such ball or another ball. IMO it doesn't matter what is popular, it is what works for you. Also I think it is utterly stupid to say ' I was {insert ball name} and shot 750' that tells me nothing other than you shot okay on one night. Tell me about what a ball does on the lane give me specifics.

I do not buy gear because it the next big thing or because a pro is using it, buy stuff that works for me not for anyone else.
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MainzerPower

Edited on 8/25/2008 12:31 PM

livespive · « **Reply #1 on:** August 25, 2008, 12:38:10 PM »

If I know a guy that has a similar style, and I like the look that he gets with a ball I might ask him about it only as part of my research. Other than that, I look, and look try and try....

This site was the best thing ever because I would buy used balls to try them out.
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OddBalls · « **Reply #2 on:** August 25, 2008, 12:51:25 PM »

I'm impressed with a ball if bowlers across the BR board use it and like it.

Overpriced or overhyped balls don't impress me.

With the right wall shot, anyone can get high scores with just about any ball..
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Inverted 1 and Dead Flush are my Evil Twins...

Jesse James · « **Reply #3 on:** August 25, 2008, 01:02:22 PM »

I am not normally impressed by what a "big" bowler uses, or for that matter what a PBA bowler uses.

I experiment and look for pieces that fit my style, not whatever the fad is currently. When I first started bowling seriously in the late 80's, the Zones had become all the rage. (Danger Zone, Black Ice, Red Alert, etc.)

I bought one, and loved it. And everybody in the world seemed to have one too! But as I grew in knowledge of the sport, I learned not to always follow the pack.

I am probably one of the last people on this site to finally get his hands on the "One" ball. And that was a used one. I only just started to experiment with this ball, over the summer, recently. I can remember when I would look down at the ball returns, and 7 out of 10 balls on the returns were the "ONE"

Again, I tend to opt for pieces that react a certain way on the lanes, hit the pins a certain way, and most importantly...... fit my style.
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Smash49 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 25, 2008, 02:11:18 PM »

Back in the day when a ball won on tour it was what was selling on Monday night. Today not so much. I'm not normally impressed with what other bowlers use. Bowling ball technology has changed so much since those days and there are many factors as to what will work best for each different bowler. I like low rg, aggressive surface, average to high diff balls. Back when I was buying Rhinos you had none of that. Out of all the bowlers in our center maybe one other is even close to the way I bowl.

Smash49
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Dan Belcher · « **Reply #5 on:** August 25, 2008, 02:16:18 PM »

When I see that certain ball motion I'm looking for from other bowlers, I know it's a good ball for me. That's why I got the Rotogrip Cell, for example. The only cases I can think of where something a pro's throwing got my attention were the Cell (since so many different styles of bowlers were having success with it, and I saw that super smooth continuous motion that I like) and the Spit Fire (Norm Duke makes any ball look good, but I really liked the motion he got out of that ball when he found some friction, and it's served me very well since I got it redrilled a few months back, I now get the kind of motion I expected from it)

86camaroman · « **Reply #6 on:** August 25, 2008, 03:00:17 PM »

I think for the most part all brands are similar in carry percentage and quality. I know I was at indy 2 years ago and heard a lady saying to her grand son while watching pete weber throw a ball that bowling is not hard its all about having the money to by the best equipment. In reality it doesnt matter how much money you have to spend you can buy any ball or piece of equipment out there but you can not by the hand that throws the ball. Either you can repeat shots and hit a target or you cannot.

baltimora · « **Reply #7 on:** August 25, 2008, 03:03:18 PM »

i don't buy based on what someone else likes. i don't even buy based on popularity. i do watch others and the balls they use as see if i like the way it looks in the hand of people who shoot similiar to me. but sometimes i just try one based on nothing more than my desires.
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Jay · « **Reply #8 on:** August 25, 2008, 04:08:15 PM »

In general, I tend to get stuff I've never seen go down the lane before, except in videos on the internet. I don't know why. So, I get equipment based on stats of the ball, how I think it will roll, and what I could use in my arsenal. The only popular balls in my area I've ever gotten were the Twisted Fury and Black Widow Solid, and they were Christmas presents. I tend not to see a large percentage of whatever "big" new equipment comes out for a while. So I have my own opinion of equipment and whether it will fit for me. A certain ball I see going down the lane producing results doesn't make me want that ball. If it did I would have gotten an Ultra Zone instead of a Rival but I didn't.

For those that say they get balls that match their style, is that to say you don't match up with a certain reaction, such as heavy or early rolling? Or are you referring to certain characteristics of a ball, such as rg, differential, core type, coverstock type, or finish?
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rvmark · « **Reply #9 on:** August 25, 2008, 04:36:31 PM »

I buy a ball based on the reaction that I am looking for. I have 2 Popular balls (Black Widow Solid and Cell, I picked up used) and otherwise the balls that are in my arsenal I am currently the only one in my area that I have seen throwing an Apogee, Sure Fire or the new Grand Illusion. I really could care less what the other guys are throwing, I find what works for me.

Mark

Robadat · « **Reply #10 on:** August 25, 2008, 04:56:02 PM »

I choose my ball purchases based on what type of reaction I'm looking for and what my driller recommends will do what I'm looking for.

In my winter league, there is no one that has a similar style to me on the left side.

There are a couple of righties w/ similar styles, but our looks on the lanes with the same balls drilled similarly look completely different. As a general rule, throwing the same ball with the same speed, revs and rotation, my shots tend to break several feet earlier with about five boards more total hook than the righties do.
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trash heap · « **Reply #11 on:** August 25, 2008, 04:57:44 PM »

Several years ago we had a guy in a mixed league throw a 300 game with Ebonite Predator. He doesn't put a lot rotation on the ball (which is about 80% of bowlers in our association). A 300 was thrown weeks before by a different guy that has tons of hand. It was with a different ball.

Well the next few weeks the local pro shop couldn't order Predators fast enough.

That's why I don't understand why when ball videos come out, they always have someone with high revs throwing. If you want to sell the ball show someone with less revs striking ball after ball.

On Fire · « **Reply #12 on:** August 25, 2008, 05:11:17 PM »

I buy them for the simple fact that it will match up with my game and style. My bowling league last year had tons of bowlers using the Black Widow, Ones and NV balls because everyone had to get one but mostly complained that had bad series with them and the next thing you know they're on Ebay.

I may be the only person in the league throwing a Track, Columbia or Roto-Grip ball but I'm not much into the whole fad thing. That's why there's videos and reviews on ball reactions similar to mine that helps me determine what I need, not the "I just bowled a 830 series" or "I bowled 2 300 games and a 288" that talks more about the scores and not enough about the ball reaction, bowler's PAP, surface adjustment, line or ball comparisons.
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another300 · « **Reply #13 on:** August 25, 2008, 06:37:19 PM »

I buy a ball because it's pretty. Oh wait, I shot my only 800 with a but ugly green ball...

ValentinoBowling · « **Reply #14 on:** August 25, 2008, 07:18:27 PM »

ego is the biggest part of our sport, so I really don't buy into their stories.

The last hype ball I bought was the Fear Factor, I actually bought into the hype of it being amazingly strong and massive hook.

-Kevin
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www.ValentinoBowling.com
makers of Snake Oil, Remedy RX & Resurrection

Edited on 8/25/2008 7:21 PM

Author Topic: does it impress you? (Read 3084 times)

mainzer

does it impress you?

livespive

Re: does it impress you?

OddBalls

Re: does it impress you?

Jesse James

Re: does it impress you?

Smash49

Re: does it impress you?

Dan Belcher

Re: does it impress you?

86camaroman

Re: does it impress you?

baltimora

Re: does it impress you?

Jay

Re: does it impress you?

rvmark

Re: does it impress you?

Robadat

Re: does it impress you?

trash heap

Re: does it impress you?

On Fire

Re: does it impress you?

another300

Re: does it impress you?

ValentinoBowling

Re: does it impress you?