win a ball from Bowling.com

Author Topic: Balls for tighter patterns such as USBC  (Read 2168 times)

offthesheet

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 255
Balls for tighter patterns such as USBC
« on: August 15, 2011, 08:07:32 AM »
 What balls do you all like for tighter patterns such as the USBC shots?


 

ccrider

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2230
Re: Balls for tighter patterns such as USBC
« Reply #1 on: August 16, 2011, 05:56:32 AM »
 Rolly strong ball. I prefer solids generally with no polish that are calm on the backend.



Those that can do. Those that can't complain. Pimpin ain't easy, but it's mandatory.

Most things we like, we don't need. Most things we need, we don't like. Don't confuse your likes with your needs.

mainzer

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4405
Re: Balls for tighter patterns such as USBC
« Reply #2 on: August 16, 2011, 03:39:48 PM »
the ball is secondary to the drill pattern used on the ball to create reaction IMO. Almost any ball will work as long as it is drilled properly and used in the correct condition.

 

 



MainzerPower
"No one runs...from the conquerer "

MainzerPower

ccrider

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2230
Re: Balls for tighter patterns such as USBC
« Reply #3 on: August 16, 2011, 03:56:35 PM »
Drill pattern is important, but the ball cover and dynamics have more impact on ball reaction than drill pattern.

 

With that said, my experience is that the more difficult the oil pattern, predictable and controllable balls are a safe bet, and keep me out of trouble playing straighter. I have found this to be true whether using stronger covers on longer patterns, or weaker covers on shorter patterns.

 

I have also watched too many high average bowlers (210+ on THS) struggle to shoot 175 on sport shots because they don't have bounce outside, and insist on trying to hook the ball more than the pattern will allow.

 

Chris Barnes speaks to this from time to time.  He says that he generally looks for a ball reaction that arcs rather than skid flip, even though he can hook the entire lane with the best of them.


Those that can do. Those that can't complain. Pimpin ain't easy, but it's mandatory.

Most things we like, we don't need. Most things we need, we don't like. Don't confuse your likes with your needs.

northface28

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3333
Re: Balls for tighter patterns such as USBC
« Reply #4 on: August 16, 2011, 03:57:22 PM »

 
mainzer wrote on 8/16/2011 3:39 PM:
the ball is secondary to the drill pattern used on the ball to create reaction IMO. Almost any ball will work as long as it is drilled properly and used in the correct condition.

 

 



MainzerPower


Respectfully disagree,  ball surface is paramount, drilling determines shot shape, and that is secondary.

*˙ǝɟıן ɹnoʎ ɟo spuoɔǝs ǝʌıɟ ʇsoן ʇsnɾ ǝʌɐɥ noʎ ʇɐɥʇ ʎɐs oʇ ʎɹɹos ɯɐ ı sıɥʇ pɐǝɹ noʎ ɟı
NLMB 150 Dream Team
#NoTalking
#HellaBandz

Dan Belcher

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3954
Re: Balls for tighter patterns such as USBC
« Reply #5 on: August 17, 2011, 05:32:53 AM »
What?? So my 4x4 Mars is going to be a better fit than my 5.5x4 Virtual Gravity Nano on a tighter pattern just because of the drill pattern?? That's absolutely terrible advice. The friction created by the ball surface touching the lane is the single most important factor in ball reaction.
 



mainzer wrote on 8/16/2011 3:39 PM:
the ball is secondary to the drill pattern used on the ball to create reaction IMO. Almost any ball will work as long as it is drilled properly and used in the correct condition. 

MainzerPower



Jorge300

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6407
Re: Balls for tighter patterns such as USBC
« Reply #6 on: August 17, 2011, 07:20:35 AM »
I am going to have to disagree that the ball is secondary, but I will agree that the drilling plays a part as well.

 

The first thing, as has been said before, on a tougher shot you want more of an arcing ball. Something that is predictable, controllable and won't over or under react when it hits the friction. I think here is where the drill pattern comes into play.

 

Once you have found a ball you like with these characteristics, you have to put the correct drilling on it to match up to your game. Your Pro Shop or coach will be able to help you with this. If you have slow speed you will need a different drilling then if you are more speed dominent. If you have lower rev rate vs higher rev rate, amount of axis tilt, etc. All this comes into play into selecting the proper drilling......and to a lesser extent, what ball you would want. If you are slower speed, higher rev player, you may not need a VG Nano, for example.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Jorge300

P.S. I have had some back and forth with Mainzer in the past, some very spirited at times, lol, but I respect his knowledge of the game. I don't want to put words in his mouth, but he may have meant something along these lines as well when he made the statement below.
 



mainzer wrote on 8/16/2011 3:39 PM:
the ball is secondary to the drill pattern used on the ball to create reaction IMO. Almost any ball will work as long as it is drilled properly and used in the correct condition.


 


 



MainzerPower



 
Edited by Jorge300 on 8/17/2011 at 7:19 AM
Jorge300

Mattski

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 39
Re: Balls for tighter patterns such as USBC
« Reply #7 on: August 17, 2011, 09:21:13 AM »
A lot of answers can be correct regarding this topic, one thing that I haven't seen anybody refer to, and can be a very crucial factor to determine the answer is how long the pattern is as well as how much volume of oil is used for the pattern. Longer patterns will play tighter than shorter patterns. Also a valid question is what the lane surface being bowled on is. Wood plays different than synthetic, Brunswick synthetic place differnet than AMF.

 

I would ask the question of how long is the pattern before I made any ball or surface suggestions to an individual. I could sell VG Nano's or Arson's or 250K's all day long, but no matter the layout or ball surface, it may not work on the pattern being bowled on.

 

I belive some of the most successful folks at the USBC tournament and other major tournaments would tell you this same thing. Look at the balls that Riggs and company used in Reno this past year. A lot of balls were mid-range balls with weaker drillings with a touch of surface. Jeff has posted about this in his USBC report as well as his blog.

 

The old days of the more oil, the strongest ball are not neccesarily true anymore. Your local pro shop professional should be able to help you with your selection based upon how you bowl to get the most out of your money. 



pin-chaser

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1802
Re: Balls for tighter patterns such as USBC
« Reply #8 on: August 25, 2011, 10:36:48 AM »
If the answer was definite we all would be averaging 260+. All I know, the right ball for you is required. No longer is physical skill the only measure to being considered a good bowler.


Sponsored by: http://bowlerx.com



Chasing pins for 45 years.

kidlost2000

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5789
Re: Balls for tighter patterns such as USBC
« Reply #9 on: August 25, 2011, 11:36:19 AM »
It will depend on your style of bowling.
 
Generally for those conditions I prefer something that is drilled to read the midlane and not be jumpy. Especially down lane. A lightly sanded surface tends to help with this as well. Usually 1000grit, maybe more depending on the amount of oil. I'd like to have a few different bowling balls for the shot, with this surface. A mild hooking ball, a medium hooking ball, and a more aggressive ball. More times then not the medium to milder hooking ball works the best for me. With the more aggressive used for the heavier oiled of the conditions. 
 
Find a ball that suits the need, with a drill pattern to match the shape, and a surface to make it all work as desired. 


"Get out of bowling what you want because that is all there is." 
…… you can't  add a physics term to a bowling term and expect it to mean something.