BallReviews

Equipment Boards => Track => Topic started by: chris288 on November 18, 2004, 03:00:54 AM

Title: un-informed Newbie
Post by: chris288 on November 18, 2004, 03:00:54 AM: Hello all, a few stats from a technically ignorant Newbie, lefty, approx. 15.8-16.8 mph, medium revs, usually throw out over the 10-12 boards, have been bowling on and off in the same house league for about 12 years now. High 180's low 190's average, finished a 36 week season with a high of 204. Been through several balls over the years, u-dot, phirana, a couple of zone's, pearl jack hammer, reaper ll, trimax, and my favorite ball of them all,, a Track Triton T.K.O. which is the ball I finished with a 204.. The lanes are usually pretty wet, and since getting back I initially struggled with my trimax, (oil ball) and my jack hammer (medium ball), so I pulled the old TKO out of storage and been on fire with it. It almost always seems to find the pocket, even if I make a mistake and throw it real wide or tight, and it crushes the pins. Long story longer, I am going to chuck the trimax in the dumpster and keep the jack hammer for medium and reaper for dry,, The TKO has approx. 300 games on it, been re-surfaced a time or two and has a crack between the fingers, but have averaged well over 200 the last 4-5 weeks I just LOVE this ball and wanna stick with TRACK but just can't decide on a replacement,,, been going back and forth between the Rule, Phenom un-leased, and the Animal. I'm a semi cranker who puts some finger's in the ball, I like a lot of hook with a real strong back-end, and can usually hold my shot for 3 games being a lefty. AS for my drilling specs,,, well in that area, call me Cole Trickle, can bowl pretty well but couldn't tell you how I do it, I just tell the guy at the pro-shop what I want the ball to do and I guess in my case I get what I get.. Any help or guidance would be appreciated.. sorry for the novel.. Chris
Title: Re: un-informed Newbie
Post by: C-G ProShop-Carl on November 18, 2004, 11:11:30 AM: Chris,

If you have a lot of hand the better choice of the balls you listed is the Rule. It will certainly give you more backend than the other two. The Animal rolls up much sooner than the Rule, and handles a bit more oil.

From the vague description of your game that you gave, I would go with the Rule.

-EX-
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C-G Pro Shop (owner/operator)
Youngstown Ohio

Track Intl.-Advisory Staff
Title: Re: un-informed Newbie
Post by: chris288 on November 18, 2004, 11:38:42 AM: Thanks for the reply,, sorry for the vague description, what would I/you need to know to make it more helpful. like I said, I'm a pretty good bowler in a bad house, just don't know all the technical jargin. My low 190's average is in the top 10-15 guys out of 110 bowlers... I say bad house because the lanes are wood, old and we have just recently had some consistant oil patterns after a lot of tough years, were lucky to have 1 or 2 300's in a 36 week league. On the opposite end of the ball field, I subbed for my brother the other night on synthetic lanes with a throw it anywhere and carry everything. I was practicing 7 pins in practice and leaving 7 and 8 counts, there were 2 300's in the first game in a 10 team 3 man league,, the house is just ridiculous. I can easily average low 200's in that house..
Title: Re: un-informed Newbie
Post by: tenpinspro on November 19, 2004, 05:26:41 AM: Hey Chris,

As Ex stated, the Rule is a very good choice that will over power a lot of conditions for you. I do have one question, you mention med revs and then "semi-cranker". I define those two as different amount of revs. If you do turn the ball fairly strong, then I'd also look at the Xception or Unleashed to fit the reaction you're looking for. Hope this helps...
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Rick Leong
Ten Pins Pro Shop
Track Intl. - Amateur/Pro Shop Staff
Vise Inserts Staff
Title: Re: un-informed Newbie
Post by: C-G ProShop-Carl on November 19, 2004, 07:22:16 AM: Chris,

What I am getting from your posts is that you want a ball for oil. With that said I am still looking at the Rule for you. It will get down the lane decently and have a very strong arc on the backend. If the TKO is the ball you are currently doing well with expect to be able to move right and watch the Rule come back from anywhere.

-EX-
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C-G Pro Shop (owner/operator)
Youngstown Ohio

Track Intl.-Advisory Staff
Title: Re: un-informed Newbie
Post by: chris288 on November 19, 2004, 07:39:25 AM: Again, thanks for the replies, I am definitely looking for a heavy oil ball.. Our house is always pretty wet, and being a lefty, I can usually hold my line for all 3 games without a problem.. Yup, my TKO rules, I can swing it out and it will come back and hit like a truck and rarely if ever leave corner pins. With my matrix I leave a lot of 7 pins and gave up on it for my 8 year old T.K.O I immediately started bowing 600's again, instead of struggling every night.

Anyway, I usually stand between the 2nd to last dot and the last dot, again sorry for being technically illiterate and throw out over 2nd arrow, sometimes the 10 board. I prefer to be a roller more than a cranker, and let the ball swing out and have a lot of back end. Like I said, the 3 balls that caught my attention are the Rule, Animal and the Phenom unleashed.

I was trying to answer a bunch of my own questions by browsing the site, so I decided to read through the DRILLING section,, I found out just how illiterate I am. Trying to become a better bowling through knowledge also.. Thanks Chris
Title: Re: un-informed Newbie
Post by: C-G ProShop-Carl on November 19, 2004, 07:48:06 AM: Chris,

When it comes to bowling and bowling equipment one can rarely have enough knowledge.

Of the 3 you are interested in, go with the Rule. The Animal is my favorite oil ball EVER....but it rolls quick and will not have the backend strength that the Rule has.

-EX-
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C-G Pro Shop (owner/operator)
Youngstown Ohio

Track Intl.-Advisory Staff
Title: Re: un-informed Newbie
Post by: chris288 on November 19, 2004, 10:39:59 AM: Thanks X,, I really was leaning towards the Rule.. The pro shop in our house is basically nonexistent,,, I really wanna make sure this ball is drilled to suit my bowling style and the reaction I want from it, not like in the past where I feel it was a crap shoot, thats why I have been trying to do my homework.. I'm hoping to find a knowledgeable pro-shop and have this ball set up correctly knowing all my parameters.. Thanks again..
Title: Re: un-informed Newbie
Post by: C-G ProShop-Carl on November 19, 2004, 12:34:58 PM: Chris,

If you can find out a few things we can try to help you here.

We will need to know your PAP location, axis tilt, precise ball speed, and it is kind of vague...but would you consider yourself a cranker or a tweener? Crankers have about a 350 revrate or more.

Thanks,
EX
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C-G Pro Shop (owner/operator)
Youngstown Ohio

Track Intl.-Advisory Staff
Title: Re: un-informed Newbie
Post by: MC on November 19, 2004, 08:09:49 PM: chris,
You and I sound alot alike. I am a righty but usually play about the same path as you. I talked w/ these guys and went with the Rule. It is very easy to adjust the coverstock. Also I have not found too much oil for this ball to handle. It offers great recovery. Just since I got the ball drilled avg. is up 20+ pins. One thing that I would recommend, find a Track Staff member to drill the ball (if you can). I drove an hour to one, and really believe that this ball would not perform like it does if my house shop had drilled it.

Hope this helps.
Mike Cunningham
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Marsupials, scare me.....cause they're fast!!!!!
Title: Re: un-informed Newbie
Post by: tenpinspro on November 20, 2004, 12:04:14 PM: You tell'em MC!

Chris, the Rule by nature is far stronger than the TKO. You'll have plenty of power and then some. But try to do what Ex recommends, get some of your personal info and then we can help you with a layout.
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Rick Leong
Ten Pins Pro Shop
Track Intl. - Amateur/Pro Shop Staff
Vise Inserts Staff
Title: Re: un-informed Newbie
Post by: chris288 on November 22, 2004, 08:45:14 AM: Hey Guys, drove some distance and visited a well known pro shop, he had the Rule in stock, but also reccomened Dyno-Thane The Thing Lives, he said with my style ( rolling the ball with an arc and a lot of back end ) the thing would be a better choice, he really likes the rule, but feels with the snap reaction of the Rule that the thing is a better choice. Any thoughts ?? Thanks chris
Title: Re: un-informed Newbie
Post by: clintdaley on November 22, 2004, 09:55:39 AM: Personally, I do not like any of the covers produced by Storm, including Roto Grip and Dynothane equipment. I have tried a few from each manufacturer in previous years, and if they are anything like they used to be, you may be disappointed in the choice. I believe, based off of the 3 Rules I have drilled and use, this ball may be the most versatile ball I have seen in a few years. The cover is versatile, you can use it across a variety of conditions, etc. The Thing Lives has such a High diff, it would be difficult to alter an overall reaction if you do not like the out of box reaction.

Any questions? Please write!
Thanks!
GO TRACK!
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Clint Daley-Owner
Lets Go Bowling Daley
Salem, Ohio 44460
TRACK ADVISORY PRO SHOP STAFF
Title: Re: un-informed Newbie
Post by: tenpinspro on November 22, 2004, 01:30:10 PM: Hey Chris,

Yes the Rule has more strength on the backend in comparison but it can be easily drilled for arc if that's what you want. That again is the beauty of having a strong mass bias design, they can be drilled in any position to react the way the bowler wants. Just get back to us with your personal info and we can give you the matching layout to give you that strong arc you want.

IMHO, it's always better to have the strength from a ball then not have enough. It's easier to just move and adjust slightly if you "have" hook vs trying to have to "turn or crank" a ball that doesn't. That will possibly bring in muscling and muscling will start to bring inaccuracy. Hope this helps explain some...
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Rick Leong
Ten Pins Pro Shop
Track Intl. - Amateur/Pro Shop Staff
Vise Inserts Staff
Title: Re: un-informed Newbie
Post by: T Brockette on November 22, 2004, 02:03:32 PM: Chris,

I talked to Rick (Tenpinspro) about setting up my Rule to give me more
of an arc motion and the drilling he suggested gave me exactly what
I wanted. I am pretty much a down and in player, with a decent amount
of rev, and everthing I had was drilled to go long and snap. I finally
got tired of leaving corner pins. The Rule is a great ball that you
can definitely get a good forward roll and arc out of.
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Tracy
GO COWBOYS
Title: Re: un-informed Newbie
Post by: BigHorhn on November 22, 2004, 02:43:21 PM: I'm a lefty also Chris288. Your style sounds similar to mine. I am parcel to AMF equipment but I have a buddy who throws the Rule and I do mean throws the rule (down half the lane)and it turn for him. I like control balls if there is enough head oil. In my opinion the Rule is what you're looking for, just drill it sort of strong. It will get back and not jump to much from what i've seen. My ball driller in Cleveland is a Track certified driller and thats all he throws and he can throw anything well. He love them.
Title: Re: un-informed Newbie
Post by: MC on November 22, 2004, 07:38:33 PM: Chris,
My Rule turns the corner hard, but I would not consider it to be a sharp snap. One thing that I know, is when alot of other balls wont turn or are over reacting my Rule is still doing the same thing it always does. I can open up the lane which is something that I have never considered trying before. I have never thrown Dyno but have a good friend (220 avg) who has a hard time using his. Lasts one game and has to switch. It is hard for me to suggest going with anything BUT the Rule. Get all your vitals and talk to Rick and Ex and they will give you a layout that will give you the reaction you want.

Mike Cunningham
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Marsupials, scare me.....cause they're fast!!!!!