Author Topic: "Aren't they all the same?" (Read 3290 times)

Ragnar · « **on:** September 20, 2004, 06:37:28 AM »

This question was first proposed to me by the local PBA member. He was referencing the idea that pretty much any ball, with any surface prep, can be used on the THS. Move a little one way or the other, change hand position a tad and pretty much any ball out there works. The better bowler can make it work; the more mediocre bowler can use anything without noticing a difference. Now mind you, the local pro and I are both ball junkies, but I think it fair to say that we've both come to the same conclusion - it really doesn't matter a great deal what ball we have in our hand, on the THS they all work. So, really, why do we spend so much time discussing "arsenals?" If you bowl tournaments there is a different case to be made, but most of us don't, so why bother with 8, 6, or even four ball arsenals? I think, as an experiment, for the next month or two I'll take the usuall three balls bag to bowl, with two different strike balls each night, but the intent will be to use only one each night.
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Edited on 9/20/2004 3:11 PM

Steven · « **Reply #16 on:** September 21, 2004, 12:56:49 PM »

Maybe one of the differences of opinion on this topic boils down to what Bob Hanson stated:

quote:
It is one of the reasons that I often can't tell whether a new ball is any good when I take it out on a fresh house pattern. They usually all work pretty well.

The key quote is "fresh house pattern". I would tend to agree that a freshly stripped and oiled THS allows for the use of many different types of equipment, and still achieve good results. I'll often practice right after they oil for the 6:00pm mixed handicap leagues. It is like shooting fish in a barrel -- you can use just about anything and string strikes.

Now, fast forward three hours later after 16 games have been thrown on each lane, and that THS is no longer "fresh". Here, it really is an advantage to have equipment tuned to the chopped conditions at hand.

Do others really see it different???
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"You want the truth? -- You can't handle the truth! "

jimensminger · « **Reply #17 on:** September 21, 2004, 01:15:59 PM »

Steven, you're right about the "forward 3 hours to the tough stuff",...the topic boils down to "will any ball (within reason) work well on what we call a THS..?"
My answer is "yes",...this is where the majority of weekly league bowlers want their equipment to work. Most bowlers drill new balls just for that. They want that 'go long, and hook look',...hence all there balls pretty much do basicly the same thing,..variables being..company,surface,design,..etc...It's tough for someone who just bowls league to buy a $150+ ball and have it drilled to go dead straight, and he can't use in league. That's why most people who I see on here that try and develope an arsenal key them to league bowling, and chasing the oil line,..which is what they see most of the time. So most of all their balls will work on a THS,...just depends on where they want to stand...
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Pinbuster · « **Reply #18 on:** September 21, 2004, 01:41:38 PM »

I guess that is why we need lawyers.

I was assuming a reasonably fresh house shot. Once holes are blown in the pattern it is no longer a typical house shot by my definition.

The funny thing is depending on who and how they breakdown the pattern in an early shift, the house pattern can still be there (just moderately inside) after 15 games or it can be chopped to pieces.

Author Topic: "Aren't they all the same?" (Read 3290 times)

Ragnar

"Aren't they all the same?"

Steven

Re: "Aren't they all the same?"

jimensminger

Re: "Aren't they all the same?"

Pinbuster

Re: "Aren't they all the same?"