Okay, quick question or two for the experts.  Shouldn't a bowlers style play a part in the discussion of a benchmark ball? 

I thought the definition of a benchmark ball was one that would fit in the middle of a bowler's arsenal or range of usable balls.  If so, wouldn't the benchmark for a slow speed senior bowler be different than that of a high rev, high speed bowler?  That being asked, how can suggestions for a benchmark ball be thrown out with no info on the bowler asking for one? 


Edited:   I should have probably used a low speed high rev bowler vs a high speed low rev bowler as comparisons.  They would probably view much different types of balls as benchmark.

At the same time if the suggestion is something that's in the middle of a particular lineup then it's probably a safe ballpark. Regardless of throwing style if your suggestion is something like a Cash for a bowler with high speed and lower revs it's hard to really call that a benchmark. No going up from there.

Or at the other end of the spectrum a bowler with lower speed and higher revs could be recommended a Rhino. No going down from there. Each could be the ball the bowler "should" be throwing, but the benchmark qualifier kind of complicates things for those that live on the ends of the spectrum. For those closer to the middle, then the general recommendations seen here thus far are usually in the right ballpark

I totally get what you're saying. Posts like this should include more information by those who make them. Not sure it's on the responders to go fishing for that information though. It would be cool if there were a template for people to use but at the same time it's not like everybody would actually put the effort into finding and using that template instead of just posting a quick sentence or two off their phone.

I don't disagree Jeff, just from experiences around my area, is they tend to go with these pieces as such; It also is true for the varying types of styles of bowlers' that play a factor in what is determined by the type of 'benchmark'  is needed.

A benchmark ball is any ball that you feel you can read the lanes best with. Whether that means something in the middle, or at the ends of the spectrum, it doesn't matter. In other fields, benchmarks are usually at the top, so not sure why bowling balls would be in the middle.

Someone mentioned the Cash being a poor benchmark because there would be nowhere up from there. This would be true regardless if it was a benchmark or not. As long as someone is able to differentiate between not hooking due to oil and not hooking due to roll out, there's no reason the Cash can't be a benchmark. Either way, if you need more ball, it doesn't exist.

Pick any ball that you know well enough that you can decide if you need to throw something else or not. If you are just starting out, then middle of the road would be a good starting point.

Of course there's a ball up. #morecash

A benchmark ball is any ball that you feel you can read the lanes best with. Whether that means something in the middle, or at the ends of the spectrum, it doesn't matter. In other fields, benchmarks are usually at the top, so not sure why bowling balls would be in the middle.

Someone mentioned the Cash being a poor benchmark because there would be nowhere up from there. This would be true regardless if it was a benchmark or not. As long as someone is able to differentiate between not hooking due to oil and not hooking due to roll out, there's no reason the Cash can't be a benchmark. Either way, if you need more ball, it doesn't exist.

Pick any ball that you know well enough that you can decide if you need to throw something else or not. If you are just starting out, then middle of the road would be a good starting point.

Then this is branching off into everybody's own personal definition of benchmark. Which will vary... wildy. It's not that I don't agree with what you're saying, because I do, it's just this is a topic that isn't quite straightforward. Like I said before a template with areas for information to be answered would be nice for questions like this/recommendation help. As long as it wasn't ignored.

And on the other side of the spectrum, also why I was trying to point this out, is that I know a bowler who is very slow and as an arsenal has three plastic balls that hook more than some of my reactives.  He wanted to know what ball I could recommend to him to use as a spare ball.  I couldn't. 

Edited to add:   I think I told him he needs to learn how to throw the ball straight but that is difficult for some.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone, every post is deeply appreciated. A big help for a benchmark ball not just for me but for all the bowlers.