Post by: stormerjip on July 22, 2003, 05:48:55 PM
Post by: Jeffrevs on July 23, 2003, 09:09:34 AM
--------------------
JEFF
Just chimin' in !
Post by: Pye on July 23, 2003, 09:17:19 AM
Sounds silly but, my spare ball is the most important ball in the bag. I can always find something that will get to the pocket but depending on the lanes I can't always keep my strike balls from tailing off on a ten pin if the backends are dry, or how much I have to judge the hook on the mid-lane on that first two-eight. Throw straight at everything and adjust the angles on the approach and it won't matter if the lanes are very oily or very dry, wood or synthetic your spares will always be shot the same way. (For the most part.)
Just my two cents worth...
Spare ball - One vote!
Bowl well!
Post by: Sir_rev-a-lot on July 23, 2003, 09:42:23 AM
I keep a spare ball in the bag just because of the looks (Plus it helps to help out in pro shop to get equipment at cost), but I can throw my normal equipment at my spares just as well.
Post by: Rock77 on July 23, 2003, 09:58:53 AM
quote:
Most of the higher quality bowlers can flatten the shots enough to not need the spare ball. Let's be honest with ourselves though, that approximately 80 percent of your 180 plus bowlers are those that don't want to take the time to learn different wrist positions.
I feel this is very untrue. When you talk high quality bowlers, first thing I look at is the PBA. I see ALOT of pros using plastic. I also see and was taught by my coach who tours on the PBA seniors that plastic is best for spares. I dont think it matters what one's avg is. Saying that 180 plus bowlers dont want to learn is one of the most untrue statements I have ever heard. Every 180 bowler I know uses plastic, every 200 bowler I know uses plastic. I dont think I know anyone who doesnt use plastic. I do see the 160-170 range bowlers using other balls, but they dont use plastic. Nor do they know how to flatten their wrist. I for one can flatten my wrist, but a plastic ball wont do anything different on any different lane condition. I think it is personal preference, but also feel that one can pick off more with plastic.
--------------------
How am I supposed to knock all 10 down with one ball?!?
Post by: omegabowler on July 23, 2003, 09:59:54 AM
I have decide to make my spare ball multi-functional. use for dry lanes and spares. do I have to kill it ? Yes. but with the cg in the negitive side of the ball it goes straight as a plastic where as a strong drilling will still move 2 boards or so. enough to snap past a ten pin.
so use what YOU need to get the job done.
--------------------
"deserves got nothing to do with it."
-- William Munny
Post by: thegame on July 23, 2003, 10:31:25 AM
Post by: Chazman819 on July 23, 2003, 10:58:45 AM
--------------------
Stealth Bomber - Bonanza Pearl Pulse
Bloodline - Red Pulse
The Fish - Piranha Retro
Power of the Fragrance - Trauma ER
Yes...I name my bowling balls
Post by: Gravy on July 23, 2003, 11:02:17 AM
Post by: CPA on July 23, 2003, 12:18:37 PM
The plastic ball helped in a tournament and in the sport league I was in. In my opinion, the more demanding conditions require a spare ball.
Post by: Rick Wunder on July 24, 2003, 10:53:33 AM
As for what I do, Bob Hylka described it perfectly, right down to the brain cramps.
--------------------
RW (THB)
Edited on 7/24/2003 11:03 AM
Post by: Jeffrevs on July 24, 2003, 10:56:50 AM
--------------------
JEFF
Just chimin' in !
Post by: ecajberry on July 24, 2003, 02:36:22 PM
On the nights that my Icon is not co-operating for me I put it away and throw the plastic for everything.......
--------------------
Ed
Icon300
Hyde
Ebonite Maxim
First time throwing a hooker...this is truely a test of confiction.
Post by: Michael DeSantis on July 24, 2003, 02:40:38 PM
--------------------
"Chopping Wood For over Two Decades"
Post by: NY Mike on July 24, 2003, 02:58:34 PM
good balls and I don't believe in spare balls. I am a firm
believer in learning to adjust. In addition, I do not believe
that no matter how good your pro shop guy is, no two balls are exactly
alike, therefore, getting a little different feel. Any others out there
who agree or disagree ???
Post by: Gravy on July 24, 2003, 03:24:55 PM
For me the key to scoring better, is to make things as easy as possible. For me to use my strike ball and use a very different release just doesn't work well. On the approach I'm thinking about my release and all of the sudden I got 4 or 5 thoughts running through my head. I got a multi-pin spare its 9 out more times then not. With a plastic ball the ball goes straight, you have very little dought about making the spare. For me its all about repeating every shot , the less stuff on my mental check list the better I bowl. Just my opinion.
Post by: serice on July 26, 2003, 12:37:09 AM
Post by: trash heap on July 26, 2003, 09:45:56 PM
It goes straighter (more predictable) but the other reason which makes more sense to me is it is one less throw with my strike ball and extending the life of my strike ball. It is a lot cheaper to replace a spare ball.
Post by: bass on July 27, 2003, 05:35:13 PM
Either plastic or an older urethane ball.
For most league type situations you can/could flatten out your hand position.
Post by: da Shiv on July 27, 2003, 05:58:21 PM
I have no problem with people using plastic spare balls if it helps them, unless they leave them on the ball return, or delay other bowlers while they wait for it to come back so that they can remove it from the ball return. If using a spare ball, I think the bowler should just remove his strike ball from the rack before going for the spare, and then remove the spare ball the next time he goes up to shoot a strike. I see messing around with spare balls cause a lot of delays that are unnecessary.
The main thing that mystifies me about the need for spare balls is that I see lots and lots of pretty casual talk on this board about changing axis tilt and axis rotation as necessary to strike; as if doing those two things is something that every real bowler can do. If that's true, then what's so difficult about zero axis rotation?
Shiv
--------------------
Listening to the monotonous staccato of rain on my desk top
Post by: DP3 on July 27, 2003, 06:00:55 PM
Post by: charlest on July 27, 2003, 08:00:10 PM
Unless you're throwing 10 or 11 strikes per game (and I am not), that's a lot of wear and tear on expensive balls rather than plastic balls.
--------------------
"Those who do not remember history are doomed to repeat it."
Post by: da Shiv on July 27, 2003, 09:00:23 PM
Shiv
--------------------
Listening to the monotonous staccato of rain on my desk top
Post by: charlest on July 27, 2003, 10:02:36 PM
I agree 110% about ball feel; that is why I am obsessive about the size and drilling of my thumb. Even in today's practice (very humid & hot day here), I can't tell you how many piece of tape I went through on just 3 balls over only 4 games. Feel is everything.
Still, it's not just oil, it's also wear and tear on the track. The strike ball is still going to wear out sooner. That said, it was just something that I felt needed saying.
My main reason for using a plastic ball for spares is that it's easier to be more accurate when you take most of the lane oil out of play and/or throw a smaller or non-existent hook. I usually throw my Blue Dot slower than my strike ball; it helps me to be more accurate with spares. A hard plastic will still hook somewhat on dry lanes or on dry parts. I have a minor problem with my arm and hand and find it very difficult to throw a ball end over end; in fact, almost impossible. Due to this fact, a Blue Dot-type of spare ball is almost an essential for me.
--------------------
"Those who do not remember history are doomed to repeat it."
Post by: da Shiv on July 28, 2003, 12:09:34 AM
My anchor man, who is the only cranker on our team and one of very few in the whole league, can crank it in the opposite direction. He goes coast to coast as his normal shot, and then can throw close to coast to coast in the opposite direction (mega-back up ball) when shooting for the 10 pin. People stop and watch when they see he has to shoot for a 10 pin. It's amazing. My arm hurts when I attempt to imitate it with nothing in my hand at all, much less a bowling ball.
Shiv
--------------------
Listening to the monotonous staccato of rain on my desk top
Post by: charlest on July 28, 2003, 08:30:43 AM
quote:
My anchor man, who is the only cranker on our team and one of very few in the whole league, can crank it in the opposite direction. He goes coast to coast as his normal shot, and then can throw close to coast to coast in the opposite direction (mega-back up ball) when shooting for the 10 pin. People stop and watch when they see he has to shoot for a 10 pin. It's amazing. My arm hurts when I attempt to imitate it with nothing in my hand at all, much less a bowling ball.
Shiv
fun to watch, for sure.
Although that may make it easier for him, a cranker, to make the opposite side's corner pins, the problem is he is still cutting across the oil with a hooking ball; so he is still subject to the whims and whimsies of the oil and the amount of hook he is throwing. I can do that, but it's still too unreliable, to my mind.
--------------------
"Those who do not remember history are doomed to repeat it."
Post by: LuckyLefty on July 28, 2003, 08:40:43 AM
WRW. That's one reason.
2nd reason. I happen to bowl with a guy that might be up in the top 5 or 10 in the world in sparemaking. A multiple time regional champ. He throws at spares with resin. Completely flattens and says he feels like he is throwing a backup ball. I have noticed that after a string followed by a 10 pin(righty) and a resin ball spare that his strike percentage is invariably lower and release not as powerful. He doesn't believe it! The numbers in my head say that his strike ratio is cut by a third to slightly less than 1/2 after these spares.
He refuses to believe it and I can't get him to chart it or try a spare ball.
Good god he averaged in a righty friendly house near 240 last year!
I believe he is leaving close to 15 pins a with a weaker release after his resin corner pins release.
REgards,
Luckylefty
PS he says he will try this year and we will have the final proof!
Post by: da Shiv on July 28, 2003, 10:39:50 AM
quote:
fun to watch, for sure.
Although that may make it easier for him, a cranker, to make the opposite side's corner pins, the problem is he is still cutting across the oil with a hooking ball; so he is still subject to the whims and whimsies of the oil and the amount of hook he is throwing. I can do that, but it's still too unreliable, to my mind.
It is unreliable. Sometimes he just flattens it out when he goes for the 10 pin. I don't know what criterion, if any, he uses to decide whether to reverse hook at it or go straight at it, but I wish he'd choose one and work on perfecting it. He fits the cranker stereotype in the sense of being able to string impressive strikes, but then damage his scores with poor spare shooting. He does not seem to be able to kill his hook, and when he goes straight at the 10 pin, he just uses high speed. It seems strange to be able throw massive hook in either direction with the same hand, but not be able to throw a flat shot. He is a prime candidate for a plastic spare ball, but he doesn't use one. The bowler's mind is a mysterious thing.
Shiv
Shiv
--------------------
Listening to the monotonous staccato of rain on my desk top