Author Topic: Too much equipment? (Read 781 times)

SprayNpray · « **on:** March 28, 2005, 09:15:00 AM »

I am one of those guys who has WAY more equipment than I could ever wear out in my lifetime, let alone haul it all to the center every time I bowl. I usually just fill up my 4-ball bag with a plastic and whatever I want to throw that night, and I bring this all whether I am bowling league or practicing. If I am bowling a tournament I will bring more equipment, though it gets tiresome hauling it around.

My question is, how much is too much to bring with you at any given time? Sometimes I don't feel like I get much out of practice if I only try one ball, but other times that is all I want to do is practice with one ball.

My teammates, one of whom is my brother (very close in age) like to rib me about how much equipment I have, and how much I bring. It is all friendly in nature of course. I respond by asking my brother, who is a scratch golfer, "You wouldn't go play 18 with a driver and a putter, would you?" He uses his Big Bully exclusively on all shots, and has an old Sledge Hammer that he doesn't throw anymore unless he is messing around.

What do you think of my comparison? Yeah I am a ball nut, but to me it adds enjoyment to the game, and my contention is that you can't reach your full potential without a decent arsenal. One ball simply will not cut it in today's bowling environment, in my opinion.
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Hex017 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 28, 2005, 05:52:13 PM »

I carry WAYWAYWAYWAYWAYWAY too much stuff. Went practicing today, trying to break my new shoes in and smooth out my release. I'm having ball fit troubles so I brought 5 balls, one being plastic, just for Open Play. O well, I had the front 7 in my last game, apparently I got somewhere with my release(or got lucky which wouldn't suprise me).
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TheBowlingKid25 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 28, 2005, 05:55:24 PM »

The way I see it, is if you bring 5 balls, and 1 of those balls works and knocks down the pins, then 5 balls is enough. If you bring 5 and none work, you obviously didn't bring enough

lol. Me personally, for league, I bring 3 (1 plastic, 1 polished resin, 1 dull resin), for tournaments I bring anywhere from 5, to 7. If I bring more then 5, I bring 5 in and leave the rest in the car.
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timw · « **Reply #3 on:** March 28, 2005, 06:01:49 PM »

Saw Freak;
I take my 4 ball bag to league and tournaments. 1 plastic, 1 particle and 2 resin (dull solid and shiny pearl). However, I like to buy and try used equipment since this is my hobby and I use it to relieve my stressful occupation. I change the balls in the 4 ball bag from time to time and I get ribbed all the time by my teammates and other close friends in league. However, I am not as instinctive nor as talented as many guys in league but do enjoy the mental challenge of trying to match up ball to condition or moving around on the lane. I think the problem arises for me is in getting rid of old equipment. I give mine away to friends at the alley or sell it cheap. One guy in league averaged 215 in league with my old 16# columbia rock when I went down to 15#. He never had it redrilled, just threw it since it was drilled close. I don't get ribbed as much now that I have given away some of my equipment.
Just my two cents.
timw

MSC2471 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 28, 2005, 09:42:22 PM »

Even though I own 10 balls, I only bring 5 to league with me- usually experimenting with a couple of them during practice before acutally warmups, but I usually bring 1 particle, 1 polished resin, 1 normal resin, 1 resin pearl and plastic. For tournaments, I will bring 7 and sometimes 9, especially if it's a house I only bowl in once a year and I don't know if the shot will be the same throughout the house. There have been tournaments where my polished resin pearl works for one set on one pair and then my medium-heavy resin works on another pair...

Matt

icetink · « **Reply #5 on:** March 28, 2005, 10:13:13 PM »

quote:
I have to much equipment and not enough talent.

Ditto.

When practising different lines, spare shooting, or just bowling, I take everything because I have a blast learning and playing with all my balls and watching their different reactions. Nothing's wrong with bringing all your balls with you!

In a league where the shot is the same THS every week, I don't see much advantage in taking a billion and one balls. I survive with 1 or 2 and a plastic.

At a tournament at an unknown house or with an unknown pattern, it's always safe to bring as many balls are you can. I like BK's idea:

quote:
if you bring 5 balls, and 1 of those balls works and knocks down the pins, then 5 balls is enough. If you bring 5 and none work, you obviously didn't bring enough

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fishnic · « **Reply #6 on:** March 28, 2005, 10:48:31 PM »

i carry total of 3 balls i don't have a spare ball,to my traveling league and reg league, usually bring 5 for tournaments and stuff that really matters
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dizzyfugu · « **Reply #7 on:** March 29, 2005, 06:59:56 AM »

I currently have a 9+spare ball assortment at hand, but I will only bring 3 strike and the polyester spare to the lane I play - with a 3 ball roller and an add-a-bag. Anything else or more is really cumbersome and becomes difficult to handle in the house (I live 2nd store... no lift... narrow stairs) and to haul into/out of the car and to the lane. On rare occasion I will bring a 5th ball - mostly when I get a new one and do not know what to expect.

Normally I'd say, when you know your house and which lane dressing is to be expected, 2 strike balls and a spare ball should be enough. But you need stable conditions! If there are drastic changes or oil dressing lottery, you will need at least 3 balls at your disposal.
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perfecone · « **Reply #8 on:** March 29, 2005, 07:43:58 AM »

I think the problem isn't having too much equipment, but changing equipment just because you have it with you. The toughest decision i face EVERY time I bowl, is it me or is it the ball? Often times it is easier to blame the ball and not take responsability. Did I make a bad shot or play the wrong line or just throw the bleeping ball too hard? were my feet to fast? did I tug the ball? do I suck? maybe this ball will solve all my problems....how many times can you change balls in 1 game, really. If you think about it, any ball that fits you, can be used someplace on the alley to make a decent shot. If you show up with one ball, and thats all you could use, you would find a way to score with it, having more balls gives you more decisions to make each game...
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SprayNpray · « **Reply #9 on:** March 29, 2005, 12:07:09 PM »

I have only experimented with having an arsenal every time I bowl for about this last full season. Before that, I did exactly as you said, perfecone, which was find a way to score with the one strike ball I brought to league. Several things have changed for me this season, and my game has really come together to the point where I am averaging 221 for the last 7 weeks, not including all of my practice games, which are right in the same range. Mind you my average for the season was right at 200 before this, and I have since gained 6 pins in the last 7 weeks this deep into the season.

These things include, in order of importance (in my mind):

1. Learning/understanding different ball choices and having an arsenal at my disposal.
2. A correction of a slight mechanical flaw in my approach.
3. Exercising on a regular basis.
4. Participating in this forum to better understand the technical side of bowling and bowling balls.
5. Purchase of some decent bowling shoes (ABS Tour Ultras)

Some combination of all of these things has helped me take my game to the next level. Some of my recent success has been on very challenging lane conditions (dry heads with lots of carrydown), so I feel confident in my ability to maintain my recent pace.

Once again, I feel the main key is having an arsenal at my disposal week in and week out. I have learned a lot by understanding the difference in what various balls are supposed to do.

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Predicting my next opponent runs into a BUZZSAW!

Member- FOS

LUCK is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.

Author Topic: Too much equipment? (Read 781 times)

SprayNpray

Too much equipment?

Hex017

Re: Too much equipment?

TheBowlingKid25

Re: Too much equipment?

timw

Re: Too much equipment?

MSC2471

Re: Too much equipment?

icetink

Re: Too much equipment?

fishnic

Re: Too much equipment?

dizzyfugu

Re: Too much equipment?

perfecone

Re: Too much equipment?

SprayNpray

Re: Too much equipment?