I was once considered to be quite a good bowler, but that was a long time ago, and things have changed a lot since then. This was back in the polyester/urethane days. I was great with yellow dots, U-dots, and Hammers, but flaring weightblocks and reactive technology has never liked me.

 Things have gotten so bad between me and reactives that, for the first time in a long time, I have shot multiple 400 series, and was averaging about 175-180. I can't seem to throw the ball NEARLY hard enough to take advantage of what its strengths are. It has been over 20 years, and I still just don't "get" reactives.

 Enter frustration and surrender.

 So, out of being so frustrated, I took all my "good" stuff out of my bag, and started carrying only a black urethane TURBO and a polyester BOOGIE to league, figuring if I was going to average a buck seventy, I could do that with them and have an excuse as to why. At least I would know where they were going when I let go of them.

 What happens? I shoot back to back 650's with the TURBO. Since then, the lowest set I've shot with it has been 610, and this is over a month in two different leagues.

 Then, last Thursday, I bowled with the polyester ball, and shot a 687! My average is now climbing, and after several weeks of this, I am at a 195 average.


 Make no mistake. I have NO illusion that I would EVER shoot any honor scores with either of them. I do not believe either of them to be the "magic" ball, or the answer to my bowling problems, but they have ended my struggle to consistently hit the pocket and have predictable, ball reaction.

 So, I guess my question is this: Would you give up all chances you might have to ever shoot an honor score in order to have predictable, reliable, repeatable scores by using equipment most people initially laugh at, or would you continue to use the new stuff, hoping to be like the blind pig that occasionally finds an acorn, and struggling the rest of the time?

 (P.S. They usually stop laughing and pointing after it becomes apparent that I am serious about it, and more than capable of shooting between 200 and 225 on a regular basis with them.)

I still throw an Ebonite Turbo X and I've been using it alot more lately with how fast today's lane conditions turn into what would of been a 1990's lane condition.   Many times today's modern lane condition gets so beat up that it's a struggle to get the modern aggressive reactive down the lane.  When you have excessive friction from the lane and try to use excessive friction from the bowling ball combined with clean back ends it can become a rather difficult scoring night unless you have modern physical game skills (even then it can be a struggle). Nothing wrong with urethane and older reactive resin bowling balls.   I bowled a tournament over the weekend and it was on a short pattern with friction.  There were quite a few vintage urethane balls on the racks and in players bags.   Most better bowlers have good technique and solid releases.  The typical house lane condition can hurt them at times more than it helps their skill set because at your league level friction is a scoring tool and a way to create happy bowlers. 

Not everyone can throw the ball 20 mph at the scoring cameras so do whatever you have to do to be creative and score your best.

Its a funny game.  I had the opposite problem.  I was very tough in the polyester days, but never did much during the urethane decade of the 80's.  However it probably had more to do with the short oil as it did the balls.  In any event, my game peaked when I was in my late 40s with the resin equipment.  Ironically, for as much as resin helped my game, and for as bad as I bowled with urethane, I have found urethane to be an indispensable addition to my bag over the last 3 seasons.  Even more interesting is that urethane seems to benefit straighter players as much or more than the power players.       

 Gentlemen,

 You have all been kind, gracious, and quite insightful.  As a result, I took the good advice you gave me, and shot the first 700 series I've had in quite a while!

  Took the black Turbo out Sunday night and shot games of 223, 247, 234 for a 704!

 OK, so I am not setting any records, but bowling is starting to be really fun again, and I don't have to guess where the ball is going every time I let go of it.

 

Took the black Turbo out Sunday night and shot games of 223, 247, 234 for a 704!  OK, so I am not setting any records, but bowling is starting to be really fun again, and I don't have to guess where the ball is going every time I let go of it.

Very nice and congrats on a nice series. Best part was your statement that "bowling is starting to be really fun again" - that is the way it should be.