I am considering getting my next ball for next year's fall leagues. I bowl in two leagues at the same house. The interesting thing is that I bowled 10 pins higher in my late house league than the early house league. My problem is that I do not handle the transition that inevitably occurs between the end of the first game and early in the second game. This typically causes me to have a lower second game score.
Although my profile has more detail, quickly, my current line-up features:
Mojo - Medium Heavy to Heavy - Great ball that I can dull or shine, in fact I can't decide which way I like it better. Mojo provides control and hit which is a great combo!
Rule - Medium to Medium Heavy (different look than Mojo) - This is my go to ball since acquiring in the second half of league (previously used Mojo). On late league, I can use for all three games with minor adjustments to my feet.
Threat - Medium - I can deliver this ball to pocket very consistently, but it rings the 7 almost everytime. When new it clearly was stronger on the back than now and never left a corner pin. Now a different story.
Crunchtime - Medium Light to Medium. This ball is very skid flippy for me and I have a tough time consistently delivering to the pocket. It also does not hit as strong as The Rule or Mojo for me.
Sonic Boom - Light. I really like this ball and when I start leaving 7 pins due to my stronger equipment burning up, I switch to this and play down and in and consistently carry. Too bad Track does not have true light condition ball.
I need a ball that can do a better job handling the transition. Not sure what causes me more problems, the track burning up or carry down. Being lefty, the transition occurs later than for the right handers who sometimes can work through during the warm-up period.
I am thinking about a Heat to replace the Crunchtime. The core is easier to control than the Crunchtime's and since the coverstock is weaker than the Threat's, it might carry better (retain energy). Control and carry would be a good combination.
Alternatively, I am thinking about either a second Rule or an Xception. I would drill the second rule to provide more control than my first one. My concern with the Xception is that the backend is too strong and I would be better off with a control ball. Also, thinking of Slash here (Could I just dull the Crunchtime and get a similar reaction to a Slash? I rarely bowl on floods, although carry down can at times cause my current Rule to miss the breakpoint.)
Do I need a new ball? If so, which one or two would you recommend and how would you drill? Should I refinish the coverstock on my existing balls differently to handle the transition better? Do I need a different approach to my game for the earlier league that bowls on a fresh shot?
Any thoughts and/or advice would be greatly appreciated.
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Mike D
Former Brunswick player who found the light!
