Dear Kneener,

     According to the information you have given me, I'll try to help you the best I can. I'm not drilling expert, but I bet someone on this site can help you with that. First of all, a 22 mph ball is way to fast. I recommend the pendulum swing, letting the ball do it's own job. There's no way a ball can reach 22 mph if you're using it's own weight for your swing. So try that. Secondly, I think for the average league condition I'll go with the sling blade. My reasons are sling blade has the classic hammer core which I find to be very versatile and forgiving. (you'll have no problem with revs that's for sure) It's not too flippy nor is it too arcy. I hope my advice helps.

                                   Patrick

Damn, good responses and quick too!  Thanks for the advice.  As for the speed, I would definitely agree.  I tend to try and throw the ball just because thats the way I was taught (too many years ago to admit to).  I knew I was throwing too fast last week when we started a local bowling league and the team we were next to kept making comments about the speed.  Definitely something to work on.  Hopefully I can slow it down and learn to control it.  Also appreciate the advice on the ball and the drilling.  Of course, I would also welcome any other advice since I'm just getting back into it and need to re-learn everything.  Have a good one.

I definitely appreciate all the advice.  The last time I bowled in a league was late 1988 (see, I told you its been a while).  The ball I currently have is even older than that, an old Brunswick Lazer.  I have never used fingertips, always a conventional drill.  As for the ball, its a straight ball because I never learned to hook it.  I start anywhere from just outside the second arrow to the right of middle, to the 4th arrow right of middle.  Not sure how many boards that is, like I said, its been quite a while.  I can throw it straight down the lane if I want but I usually have an out to in release.  Sorry if the terms sound golf-ish, but I am a golfer.  I am hoping with the changes in ball technology, I can learn to hook it and improve my game.  After two weeks in this league, my average is 153 (games of 170, 113, 171, 168, 129, and 169).  Dont know why I cant put anything together in the second game.  Would fingertips be a good thing to do even though it will take some getting used to?  Hopefully this adds a bit more info for you to make suggestions.  So far they have been great and I think I am definitely going to go with the Sling Blade.  Keep up the good advice.

First of all SLOW DOWN!!!! Too much speed kills the ball. You might as well throw a house ball. Not seeing you it's hard to get a perspective on your delivery. Try holding your ball at about your waist. Don't have a big back swing. Let the ball's momentum be the speed. When you can get your ball speed down then you can experiment with how high or low you need to hold the ball. As far as a ball let's try any low end reactive ball and see how it reacts. From there after you've learned to control your speed then you can graduate to a more aggressive ball.
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Just Stormin' through!

Well, I have to agree with scotts 33.  Being a golfer, I'll be the first to admit that just because soemthing works for one person, it doesnt mean it will work for others.  As for the rest of the advice, I think it helps alot.  I know what you mean about slowing it down.  I took the wife and kids bowling last night and slowed it down to approx 20 and it did help with the control.  rolled  a 165 first game.  Better than my average so I cant complain.  Still have a bit more to slow it down but even 2 mph helped out some.  As for a low end reactive, can you define which would fall in this category?  I am thinking Columbia's Scout Reactive but not sure of any others.  Think a Sling Blade is "too advanced" for a guy just getting back into it?  I think the fingertips are a good idea after hearing what they do for you and the fact that it would help me slow down by not taking as big a back swing.  Keep the good advice coming...I am always willing to hear from people better than me.  Have a good evening.  Oh as for the coach...not much luck with it here...I am stationed in Germany so I have to depend on the military community.  Maybe next year when we get back to the states.