Author Topic: buying from ebay (Read 1152 times)

awake4air · « **on:** July 21, 2006, 10:53:45 AM »

First post, so thank you in advance.

I'm getting back into bowling after being out of it for the past 10 years. I know very little about pin position and all that stuff which is why I'm posting this. I have been looking at balls online and on ebay but one thing concerns me about buying a ball online, they don't seem to post pin position with the ball. Are all balls of the same model created equal? (example: If I buy a 15 lb Ebonite The One, is this ball going to be the same as a ball from a pro shop, or is it possible that it can have varying pin positions?) I have noticed the same thing on some of the bigger online retailers too. If I buy a ball without knowing what the pin position is, does that make a difference. Is it possible to buy a ball and specify the pin position.

Also, can someone tell my why a pin position is always specified with a varying size. How can a ball have a pin position of 3-4 inches? Shouldn't it be a finite number such as 3" or 4" or is the idea of the pin position like that of a sweet spot which can vary?

Paul

Mvpbowler · « **Reply #1 on:** July 21, 2006, 07:03:29 PM »

message sent paul
--------------------
George Palumbo
Mvpbowler300@yahoo.com
Mvpbowler@aol.com
2002 True Amateur Challenge Champion
www.stormbowling.com

azguy · « **Reply #2 on:** July 21, 2006, 07:25:34 PM »

I know the balls I list, I state pin , tw, and as I state in my listings, if you have questions, ask.

Some of your larger ebay sellers have many balls to pick from, so they can't list all pins, but I've never heard of one that, when asked, wouldn't tell you if what you are looking for is available.

JMO.
--------------------
az guy aka: R & L Bowlers Pro
rlbowlerspro@cox.net
www.rlbowlerspro.com
http://www.ebaystores.com/R-L-Bowlers-Pro?refid=store

Looking for treasures ? Take a look at my wife's ebay store http://www.ebaystores.com/Lori-D-Bailey-Original-Art?refid=store

shelley · « **Reply #3 on:** July 21, 2006, 07:39:42 PM »

quote:
If a ball is marked 3-4 inch pin, it means that the pin distance falls within that margin. It's not exact.

The pin distance is actually a fixed distance. 3", 3.7", 3.14159", whatever. When the box says 3-4", it's just a grouping. The pin is somewhere between 3" and 4" but without opening the box, you can't say exactly what it is.

SH

MegaMav · « **Reply #4 on:** July 21, 2006, 07:45:28 PM »

also, i'd like to add...

ive ordered a 3-4" pin.

got a box that says 3-4" pin.

but it measures out to be a 4.5" Pin.

so, it can be a bit off as well, i wonder if manufacturers "eye" these things...

awake4air · « **Reply #5 on:** July 22, 2006, 04:07:35 PM »

This is all very good to know. I wonder why bowling.com and paradisebowling.com don't list the pin position?

So does the pin position and top weight have much effect on the performance of a ball? I have a mild to medium hook and I'd like to get a ball that will hook more but have no idea what I really should be looking for. I realize that my bowling style has more effect on the hook than the ball itself, but as I said earlier, I have been out of the game for 10 years and I figure I'm due for a new ball so I might as well get one with all the bells and whistles.

shelley · « **Reply #6 on:** July 22, 2006, 04:32:01 PM »

quote:
This is all very good to know. I wonder why bowling.com and paradisebowling.com don't list the pin position?

I believe you can request pins and tops when you order. Pin distance varies from ball to ball (one The One might have a 2" pin and another might have a 4" pin with different top weights too). It isn't that you order a The One and they all have the same pin distance. A retailer like that has access to pretty much everything their suppliers do, so they can't reasonbly list all the balls with individual pins and tops. Sometimes Buddies will do that when they actually have a few of a particular ball and you can choose between them.

quote:
So does the pin position and top weight have much effect on the performance of a ball? I have a mild to medium hook and I'd like to get a ball that will hook more but have no idea what I really should be looking for.

It does, but it's secondary or tertiary to other factors. In general, longer pins have more length and backend than shorter pins, though how much of that is a function of the typical drillings for such balls I don't know. The dominant factor in reaction is surface, then the drilling, and while different pin lengths give different, largely overlapping options for drilling, the end effect is quite small.

A ball with a 2-3" pin (or 3-4") and 2-3oz of top weight will give you almost unlimited options for drilling. But slightly longer or shorter won't necessarily effect you significantly.

As for getting more hook than before, most of today's balls will hook more than something made 10 years ago. If nothing else, a 10-year-old ball has got to have hundreds of games on it while a new ball has none.

SH

Juggernaut · « **Reply #7 on:** July 22, 2006, 04:39:13 PM »

awake4air,

I'm sending you a message.
--------------------
"The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits."
Albert Einstein

Gunny · « **Reply #8 on:** July 23, 2006, 10:16:15 PM »

great info guys. is there a link to
an in-depth description of all this?
i like awake4air have been out of bowling
for 6 years and plan on a comeback. and
was curious about this stuff also. im
use to the "3/4 fingers and 5/8 side". and
that was loooonnnng ago!

Author Topic: buying from ebay (Read 1152 times)

awake4air

buying from ebay

Mvpbowler

Re: buying from ebay

azguy

Re: buying from ebay

shelley

Re: buying from ebay

MegaMav

Re: buying from ebay

awake4air

Re: buying from ebay

shelley

Re: buying from ebay

Juggernaut

Re: buying from ebay

Gunny

Re: buying from ebay