Author Topic: Spare balls? (Read 4843 times)

michael.willis9 · « **on:** March 04, 2017, 03:45:05 PM »

Roto Grips Facebook page posted a review of the No Rules Pearl and in the Facebook comments, I noticed multiple posts along the lines of "but good luck making a 10 pin with it." I laughed to myself because I've never had to switch balls to shoot spares. I was always taught to flatten my release and throw it straight.

But it had me wondering. Is that a lost art among bowlers? Are people not taught to shoot spares like that anymore? Is it all just throwing a plastic with your normal release and letting it skate through all conditions now?

Personally I always found it beneficial to just throw whatever ball I'm using flat so I never had to waste a bag spot on a plastic ball.

pears · « **Reply #1 on:** March 04, 2017, 04:48:22 PM »

I dont use or have ever used a spare ball.

avabob · « **Reply #2 on:** March 04, 2017, 05:37:21 PM »

I have used a spare ball for years. Not about knowing how to flatten your shot. I can throw my resin ball pretty straight. If I could generate 22+ ball speed, and/or only played on house shots I might not use one. Even with a plastic ball I flatten it. I dont know if you have ever bowled on the wolf or any other short pattern but I suspect you haven't.

Bottom line, I am a good spare shooter. With a plastic or urethane spare ball I am better. Another minor benefit to using a spare ball is saving the wear on the relatively short lived surfaces of resin equipment.

milorafferty · « **Reply #3 on:** March 04, 2017, 05:37:57 PM »

I throw plastic at most spares. Not sure why you care what someone else does.

michael.willis9 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 04, 2017, 05:44:06 PM »

Quote from: milorafferty on March 04, 2017, 05:37:57 PM

I throw plastic at most spares. Not sure why you care what someone else does.

It's not that I care. I was away for bowling for like 10 years and it's just something I've noticed since I've been back. Plus the comments that drove this thought were people who seemed to think it was impossible to do.

I mainly wanted to see other people's opinions on the matter.

pears · « **Reply #5 on:** March 04, 2017, 06:17:07 PM »

Quote from: michael.willis9 on March 04, 2017, 05:44:06 PM

Quote from: milorafferty on March 04, 2017, 05:37:57 PM
I throw plastic at most spares. Not sure why you care what someone else does.

It's not that I care. I was away for bowling for like 10 years and it's just something I've noticed since I've been back. Plus the comments that drove this thought were people who seemed to think it was impossible to do.

I mainly wanted to see other people's opinions on the matter.

I asked a similar question to what you asking not to long ago, majority of answers that I got were geared towards that having a spare ball saves on wear and tear on your strike ball(s).

Jesse James · « **Reply #6 on:** March 04, 2017, 06:50:19 PM »

I used to flatten my wrist, and throw at corner pins. Until I went to that ONE tournament, where no amount of wrist flattening would keep that damn ball from pulling off, right before it got to the ten pin!

I am older now, and I cannot throw 19+mph!!!

After that, got a spare ball and I haven't looked back since.

michael.willis9 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 04, 2017, 07:16:47 PM »

Quote from: Jesse James on March 04, 2017, 06:50:19 PM

I used to flatten my wrist, and throw at corner pins. Until I went to that ONE tournament, where no amount of wrist flattening would keep that damn ball from pulling off, right before it got to the ten pin!

I am older now, and I cannot throw 19+mph!!!

After that, got a spare ball and I haven't looked back since.

That makes sense.

I do see two handers do it as well. Without a thumb hole there's really no way they can flatten it out as well.

It's more geared towards younger people I guess. When I go watch my son bowl youth leagues I see it. The kids just flip to a plastic ball and rev through and it just skates down.

dmonroe814 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 04, 2017, 09:10:39 PM »

Quote from: michael.willis9 on March 04, 2017, 03:45:05 PM

Roto Grips Facebook page posted a review of the No Rules Pearl and in the Facebook comments, I noticed multiple posts along the lines of "but good luck making a 10 pin with it." I laughed to myself because I've never had to switch balls to shoot spares. I was always taught to flatten my release and throw it straight.

But it had me wondering. Is that a lost art among bowlers? Are people not taught to shoot spares like that anymore? Is it all just throwing a plastic with your normal release and letting it skate through all conditions now?

Personally I always found it beneficial to just throw whatever ball I'm using flat so I never had to waste a bag spot on a plastic ball.

Older balls were not reactive and they did not have cores in them. It was much easier to throw balls straighter for both strikes and spares. Some bowlers, Norm Duke, can throw a strong reactive straight or even a backup to pick up spares.

michael.willis9 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 04, 2017, 09:17:00 PM »

Quote from: dmonroe814 on March 04, 2017, 09:10:39 PM

Quote from: michael.willis9 on March 04, 2017, 03:45:05 PM
Roto Grips Facebook page posted a review of the No Rules Pearl and in the Facebook comments, I noticed multiple posts along the lines of "but good luck making a 10 pin with it." I laughed to myself because I've never had to switch balls to shoot spares. I was always taught to flatten my release and throw it straight.

But it had me wondering. Is that a lost art among bowlers? Are people not taught to shoot spares like that anymore? Is it all just throwing a plastic with your normal release and letting it skate through all conditions now?

Personally I always found it beneficial to just throw whatever ball I'm using flat so I never had to waste a bag spot on a plastic ball.
Older balls were not reactive and they did not have cores in them. It was much easier to throw balls straighter for both strikes and spares. Some bowlers, Norm Duke, can throw a strong reactive straight or even a backup to pick up spares.

Yeah I've been throwing my no rules pearl at 10 pins since I got back into bowling.

leftybowler70 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 04, 2017, 09:23:53 PM »

Although there's a benefit to both, as mentioned above, I will
Never use my reactive resin at corner pins, and damage my equipment, or cracking my bridges (which leads to balls' cracking). To each his own.

michael.willis9 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 04, 2017, 09:31:47 PM »

See now I'm glad I posted this. I've never really heard about it damaging equipment or anything. Is it a common issue? What actually happens?

ignitebowling · « **Reply #12 on:** March 04, 2017, 09:39:23 PM »

I used a low end reactive ball for years. On really dry conditions and tougher conditions I quickly found how much reactive balls even entry level are affected by friction.

First time to bowl at Nationals in 2012 I quickly found out this wasn't going to work. The end of this month I'm making my return to Nationals and over the summer I committed to shooting at almost all of my spares using plastic. This has quickly paid off and I really wish I had done this sooner. Bowling in a sport league, along with several tournaments on sport patterns has really confirmed this decision.

When you can take the lanes out of play it's nice. It's a matter of finding what works best for you.

xrayjay · « **Reply #13 on:** March 04, 2017, 10:03:30 PM »

I use a plastic ball for spares cause chicks dig my 91% single pin spare game.

tkkshop · « **Reply #14 on:** March 04, 2017, 10:04:44 PM »

With the rate at which modern day reactive absorbs oil or needs to be maintained, why waste shots with it when a cheap plastic ball will do?

Author Topic: Spare balls? (Read 4843 times)

michael.willis9

Spare balls?

pears

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avabob

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milorafferty

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michael.willis9

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pears

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Jesse James

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michael.willis9

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dmonroe814

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michael.willis9

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leftybowler70

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michael.willis9

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ignitebowling

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xrayjay

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tkkshop

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