The competition between ball companies over the last few year is nothing less than ridiculous. Every company always advertises new advancements that will "top" the other companies, and how their product is so much better than the other guy's. The simple fact is that all the balls they come out with are good!!!! Every ball made will match-up and roll good for people who throw. Now obviously, some will roll good for one person and not another. My point is matching up to bowling balls and finding stuff you can really shine with. Be smart with your purchases and don't stick with one company if you don't have to. All companies have their own characteristics, and you have to try them all to see if you match-up. Posting reviews saying "this ball sucks," "don't waste your money on this POS," and things relative to that, is just ridiculous. The ball simply did not match-up to your game, and there is no reason to knock the ball because it didn't work for you. Take time and really see what will match-up to your game. Test not only ball companies, but coverstocks, cores, RG and differentials, and especially drillings. Ask advice from ball drillers that know your game, and use their insight wisely. I have my arsenal pretty complete right now with different balls and cover types. From balls i've had in the past to stuff now, the drilling that matches up the best to my game is with the pin up and the MB just to the left of the strong position. From my style and type of roll and the amount of testing of different bowling balls, this is the drilling that i feel gives me the best look with my equipment. Now of course, this isn't the only drilling I use and that I wouldn't even think of using on some equipment. I have a WMB with the pin 3 1/2" from my axis and 2" above the midline, with the MB swung past my VAL. This ball flat out rolls great for me, even though it doesn't have my favorite drilling. This just shows that once you find a drilling you like, that you don't have to use it exclusively. Don't be afraid to try new things, but do it wisely. Your driller will give you insight and you need to make smart decisions. For example, if you have a higher rev rate with low axis tilt and less side roll, don't drill a Rule GP2 with the pin down and MB swung past you VAL and expect the ball to work on anything but a pure flood. Some things are concrete and you just will not be able to change them.
Another thing to think about is that all ball companies have different characteristics. Everyone knows Storm balls tend to get down the lane further, with sharper backend moves. Brunswick balls tend to start up quicker, and be cleaner on the backend. Knowing this can be an extremely important tool. If you are a lower rev player, looking for something that revs up quickly and can be used on a good amount of oil, you probably wouldn't choose a storm ball, knowing that their stuff has natural length. Use companies characteristics to your advantage, and stay away from companies whose equipment is opposite to your game.
The whole point of this speel is to let everyone know that all the bowling balls out on the market today are good, but you have to take time to find the ones that match-up best to your game. If you drill a ball that you just hate and never had a good roll with, don't go around knocking the ball and saying how much it sucks, sell the ball and get over the fact that it didn't match up. But don't sell the ball and learn nothing from it. Take what you saw and apply it to the next purchase you make. Be smart about spending you money, but don't afraid to do if you are serious about the sport. You can't succeed in this sport without having spent money on equipment, and knowing that equipment matches-up to your game great (I'm talking about succeeding in tournaments, not just league bowling). It will take time find what matches-up or not, but it is time well spent. If you do it right, you will make more money succeeding than you did buying the equipment and learning how to use it.
If you have read this far, I thank you for doing so, and my whole point is to get you to think about the stuff you use in this sport. So the next time you drill a ball that you don't like, when you see someone else throwing that ball, don't say "oh that ball is garbage," simply ask them if they like the ball and state that is never matched-up for you. This is just my perspective from the mind of an 18 year old college bowler, who has nothing else better to do at 3:30 in the morning except for thinking about this great sport, and what I can do to improve.
Matt Limardi
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*Erie Community College bowling*
Buffalo bowlers are the best all around in the country.
Edited on 4/10/2005 2:56 AM
