Dana,
it is not so much about the company - different people will tell you different things. I am not sure at which level you want to play - I suppose you are playing with house balls so far, those you find at the alley? Then the next step to dive further into bowling is a polyester or spare ball. Any major company has huge assoertment of designs, e. g. Brunswick, Ebonite, Columbia.
Other manufacturers like Storm or Hammer have at least a single ball in the arsenal. The difference between them is very low - it is mostly a matter of taste and what the pro shop has at hand. They are also very durable.
With a properly fitting drilling, 10 pounds should be a good weight. Lighter balls are intended for children, and a proper fit will make playing much more enjoyable.
Later, if you want to go further into playing a hooking ball and a fingertip drilling, you should consider an entry level reactive ball. The old polyester ball can be used for spares. Again, all major manufacturers have at least one ball/design available. But IMHO this should be only the next step when you get a proper basic technique with your polyester ball.
Hope this helps a bit?
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Edited on 12/6/2006 10:10 AM