Interesting topic I thought as jkiser01 asks Clint about how many balls does he need.

For the average league bowler, I'd agree.  A simple arsenal of 4-5 balls picked out correctly 3-5 boards apart should give us 15-25 boards on the lane to use.  That's more then half the lane we'll have to utilize if your game allows you to do so as well.

As for Clint, Ex, achappy, myself and other tournament players, I also see a need for similar surfaces with different layouts needed to "kill" the shot.  I don't mean just to bowl well and average 20 pins above average but to go about 50 over  a game (which is what it takes out here on THS to win a 5,6 or 8 gamer).  The last tourney I bowled I averaged 240 scrtach and came in 5th..lol  My friend who won it went 319 over for 5 games, that's 263 scratch guys...just nuts.  The only difficulty I see in having a very large arsenal is that you really don't have enough time to pick and utilize the "right" ball.  You really have to know your equipment and which ball can offer that proper "carrying" reaction.

On edit: This is why some of you guys will see your league scoring go from 200+ to 160 and back to 200 (hypothetically) with the same ball.  That one ball works well on one particular shot but as we transition, it doesn't carry as well which "is" the main difference in scoring and not scoring.

What are your thoughts?
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Edited on 6/7/2006 2:40 PM

I find myself thinking more along the lines of having 2 different arsenals! One for the shot i bowl leagues on and a different one for tournament play.   The more i bowl tournaments, the more i feel like the balls & drillings i use for leagues, just don't cut it for serious tournament play! They will work for local tourneys but not for Pba regional shots. On my league shot i have had very little luck trying to throw an asymmetric drill. Way too much over/under!Just my thoughts on the subject!

Ken

From my experience so far, I think I would cover any lane condition with a 5 ball assortment + 1 spare ball. BUT: this would mean that I know exactly what these balls do, so I think this number is a bit theoretical, the result of a long term testing process or a blind draw from only one manufacturer in hope to make up such an arsenal "from the book".

It took me about 10 balls from different manufacturers, a lot of testing other people's balls and watching them play their stuff in league and training to make a decision on a new ball and how to set it up with the help of a sound ball driller. No easy task, IMHO.

And even though I think that 5 balls are enough top covr desert to soup conditions, I am still a big fan of a B-ball in the bag which might give me different reaction shape by surface or drilling than an A-ball. Switching has saved my butt several times. As you descibe the 200-160-200 phenomenon: a different ball for the condition at hand can have tremendous effects (what does NOT mean that a skille player can adjust his/her game. I envy people who just come to the alley, pull out an Inferno and shoot anything with it, even 10 pins...).
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Edited on 6/9/2006 8:42 AM