I bowled a personal record high 410 series last week. FUCK YOU I'M NEW OKAY.

I started bowling two weeks ago for the first time in many years--average so far is hovering over 130, though I'm getting noticeably better / back into it every time I go.

I also learned that my stupid, youth-ingrained bowling style is called a "backup".

5/2/2012 2:30:16 AM

lol....backup ball...yea you do not typically want your first ball to be rolling back from the side u throw from....(i.e. if u r a righty and your ball hooks back to the right...not good)
but with a new ball and with it drilled properly, you can easily fix that.
in the last couple of bowling seasons i have raised my avg about 40-50pins just by getting the proper equipment and a little bit of practice.
high game this year was 257. still no 700series but hoping to get one of those next year

5/2/2012 2:37:29 AM

ncsuallday i am most likely not bowling at all this summer. taking some classes and also girlfriend has major surgery coming up in july but let me know the league details and it is possible i could be interested

5/2/2012 2:41:31 AM

I have a fairly slow shot and I'm looking for a new ball with a lot of backend. Any suggestions?

5/2/2012 2:50:48 AM

you rolling a fingertip grip now or still conventional?

5/2/2012 2:53:17 AM

fingertip, using a 25 year old hammer

5/2/2012 2:54:28 AM

damn, still?!
i guess it depends on how much you are looking to spend....i just bought a new ebonite Warning Sign 2-3months ago...it was $200(drilling included)
if you tell the proshop owner that you are looking for more backend movement they can drill the ball for it.
i know u were bowling w brandi last season but dont really remember how fast your avg ball was or how much rotation you had on it

5/2/2012 2:59:57 AM

Probably ~12mph. If I throw it faster with my current ball it hits low in the pocket or misses the one pin completely. The shot is better once the oil dries up or I slow my shot down slightly, but would prefer to not have to do that.

5/2/2012 3:18:04 AM

that has been my problem as i have progressed. my slower shots have much better roll and a better angle, but not enough pin action. my faster shots have way better pin action, but the angle isnt as good and i have a good chance of leaving a split.

i also added a spare ball this year as opposed to just using the same ball for my corner pin (7 in my case as a lefty, 10pin as for the rightys) and i am still getting used to it. once i am comfortable with that i plan on my avg creeping up a bit higher.

let me know your price range if you are interested in a new ball, as i am friends with a guy who runs a pro shop in cary and could definitely help you out. he will watch you throw 4 or 5 frames before suggesting a ball and then listen to your concerns about drilling and backend finish

5/2/2012 3:28:59 AM

Yeah, I hate leaving the 1/10 pin combo. I'd be fine with using by current ball as my spare/backup ball.

Is he at the AMF in cary? I'd def be interested. I could swing ~$200.

5/2/2012 3:37:24 AM

he used to be at the cary amf at south hills. but now he is at buffaloe lanes in cary...on high house.
i dont know if you have any brand loyalty or not. he is 'sponsored' by ebonite so most likely he will try to get you in one of thier's. not that there is anything wrong with them. but if you for some reason want a different brand, he will probably have to special order it.
again...let me know your main concerns...if anything other than back end finish...i know ball speed is a problem as it was with me...you will probably want him to put some forward angle on your thumb hole so you release the ball a little bit later than you normally do. that will pick up speed.
i spent $300 when i got my new balls and have definitely noticed improvement in my game. 200+70+tax&shit for strike ball and spare ball.
he would have to tell you about how useful your old ball would be as a spare ball...even tho it is old it may still have too much action for a spare ball(maybe?i dunno)

but above all else, practice is key. dont expect instant results. because with new equipment comes new learning and problems...i know i was guilty of expecting instant success when i got my gear upgraded...and it happened at first, but new problems always arise. only practice and experience can help that

5/2/2012 3:48:36 AM

^I'll probably bowl Tuesday night and I'll try to get some prospective leagues and let you know. About half have already started but I think some start around the 12th. There's three person leagues and four. I could probably get at least one friend to join if we wanted to go that route.

I think a TWW bowling team would be awesome.

Quote :

"I have a fairly slow shot and I'm looking for a new ball with a lot of backend. Any suggestions?"

My Mission 2.0 has the most backend I've ever seen. you can straight bowl this thing and it will still hook, which is why I need to get a mid-hooking type of ball that can go longer because if the lanes aren't wet, I can pretty much only hit Brooklyn strikes if I'm on the left lane (I'm left handed). I've tried polish and it still doesn't do much to tame the beast.

It really depends on what type of oil pattern you usually bowl on. I love Ebonite but I'm thinking about getting a Track for my next ball. The pro shop at PV is very knowledgeable, and if you go during non-peak times the guy will watch you for a while and make suggestions but he's not the friendliest chap but he really knows how to drill a ball.

5/2/2012 8:28:30 PM

Yeah, he drilled my last ball. Good job, but not sure he'd approve of my existing shot.

5/2/2012 8:31:41 PM

I've never bowled fingertip, and I can never find house balls that fit. How is this something I could even begin to try?

5/2/2012 8:37:54 PM

Buy a ball.

5/2/2012 9:28:56 PM

Find someone you know with a similar sized hand and fingers and ask to try their ball. It helps if they're not a prick too.

5/2/2012 9:41:00 PM

it's really not worth it if you aren't throwing a hook already. I actually started hooking with two fingers and then worked the thumb in later. I have a pretty unique shot though, I always get comments on it from other teams. big, late hook.

there should be demo balls at the shop they'll let you try out. or you could conceivably put some inserts in your existing ball and go that way to try it out without spending the extra caysh

5/3/2012 12:05:18 AM

I never threw a hook until I got fingertip inserts and a ball.

5/3/2012 11:56:41 AM

^^ any advice, i have always thrown with two fingers in a semi-two handed style and im trying to work on using the thumb. Just got a fitted freeze a few months ago. Barely any hook and I'm working blisters on my thumb trying figure out a good one handed technique.

5/3/2012 5:38:20 PM

I throw a crappy hook with way too much topspin but I found the "throw it like an underhand football pass" suggestion fairly helpful.

5/4/2012 10:29:21 AM

That has definitely helped some. I averaged a 160 last night, about 30 above my normal before. I still need to add some more spin but now that ive got it started I think I can work on it.

5/11/2012 12:00:47 PM

the way I tell people I'm trying to teach is act like it has no holes and you're throwing it to me like a medicine ball. then I tell them to put the two fingers in and do it again, making sure to feel the weight in the ball of your hand. Eventually, you end up cocking your hand to the side a little bit and putting your thumb in. Make sure the thumb slug is drilled wide enough so you don't risk catching your thumb on the release. It feels awkward for a while but if you stick with it, it makes your shot way more consistent than with two fingers. If you want the ball to hook more, use more wrist than arm. Release it early in the lane so it has plenty of time to build up revolutions so when it hits the pine it rips. Also try to bowl (two finger) with your hand flat facing straight up so when you release you can flick your wrist up for those extra revs.

Also, to my knowledge, the Freeze is not center weighted. I believe it's a simple polyurethane ball with a solid, symmetrical interior. Balls that have reactive resin on them will hook more, and balls with asymmetrical counterweights inside will hook pretty much no matter how you throw them. My Mission 2.0 hooks more than anything I've ever thrown, in the wettest oil conditions. Not saying you need a new ball to hook properly, I've seen people break 200 regularly with the house balls that have nothing to help them hook whatsoever. If you stick with bowling, though, you'll probably end up using that Freeze as a pick up ball (like I do with my first ball) or maybe for really dry conditions where you don't need the extra help with the weights/resins.

Let me know if this helps. Good luck!

[Edited on May 12, 2012 at 12:41 PM. Reason : you can also get inserts to make it fingertip, which would help if you have the wrist strength alrea]

5/12/2012 12:40:17 PM

My dad has bowled two or three 300s in his lifetime. we were in a generation league when i was in HS that I really enjoyed.

went home from State one summer...hung out with the folks and went with the old man bowling one night.

We bowled three games.

I bowled a 152, 212, and 112 (third game is always my worst). Second game, I beat the old man! Great feeling.

5/13/2012 11:17:46 PM

^^ Holy cow, that helped a freaking ton! Ball already had fingertip inserts so it was mostly about getting the motion down. I had to google "how to through a medicine ball" Question though, should i be inserting the thumb all the way or just the first knuckle. I was using the whole thumb, but after I wore in a blister, I started using just to the first knuckle. My grip isnt really strong enough to get much speed this way but my hook and accuracy are MUCH improved. Bowled a 559 and my first 200 game (barely with a 201) tonight and that's with the blister on the back of my thumb knuckle and a blood sore on the tip from relying on it too much to grip the ball.

I seem to be leaving the 10 pin and sometimes the 6 a lot now though. Is there anything in particular this might be due to (lack of speed maybe?) or will I just have to start fine tuning and playing around to find the right line?

A summer league where I am working in Franklin (BFE) Va starts tomorrow so im going to see if anyone is looking an extra for that. Would be the first time ive bowled in a league so Ill have to see how that goes.

[Edited on May 19, 2012 at 9:08 PM. Reason : random comma]

5/19/2012 9:07:09 PM

Move half a board to the right.

5/19/2012 11:26:49 PM

^^haha I had to get my ball out of the closet to check, but I use my full thumb. At this point though, whatever you can get in, even if it's just to the first knuckle is improvement. If you're really getting a blister, either you aren't cocking your hand to the side enough or you should have the thumb slug drilled a bit bigger so you're more comfortable. If you are doing well with the way you're bowling now, it is probably the latter.

as for leaving the 10 pin, you are coming into the pocket/headpin at too shallow of an angle giving most of the action to the headpin and not caring into the corner, so moving over half a board as ^ suggested should help.

5/20/2012 2:00:30 PM

went into the shop today to buy polish for my Mission 2.0 because I just haven't been able to get it to go long enough on dry conditions (even with polish, but it helps) and bought this on a whim:



I'm hoping it'll be a good in between from the 2.0 and my old ebonite that I use for pickups and stuff that has no counter weight or reactive surface (left).

getting drilled Friday. not sure if I'll go to that expensive annoying-ass disco bowling Friday, but I'll report back on how it performs soon

5/29/2012 9:16:27 PM

Who's drilling it for you?

5/30/2012 10:45:47 AM

The hubby and I are doing the Bowler of the Year tournament at Pleasant Valley on Saturday. Pretty excited about that.

His average is a 185 and mine is a 137.

5/30/2012 2:25:03 PM

Need a lot of balls to enter a Bowler of the Year tournament rolling 185

5/30/2012 2:26:54 PM

hehe it's handicapped.

You can get qualified during league bowling.

[Edited on May 30, 2012 at 3:35 PM. Reason : 8]

5/30/2012 3:34:53 PM

is there a bowling "season" or are there leagues that run all year? not necessarily a single league, but even shorter ones that run concurrently

5/30/2012 3:41:48 PM

^^ Bring it on!
They have 10 week leagues in the summer.

5/30/2012 3:43:01 PM

^ do you know the league name? link(s)?

5/30/2012 3:44:18 PM

http://www.buffaloelanes.com/north/Leagues/Summer_12/summer_league_schedule_2012.pdf

I bowl at AMF but they're a little behind the times.

5/30/2012 3:46:16 PM

Quote :

"Who's drilling it for you?"

the older guy at Pleasant Valley Lanes. he did my Mission 2.0 and it was great, but he charges a lot.

5/30/2012 5:16:31 PM

I've been using the 300c and I like it. I have to take a much different shot (more conventional whereas my 2.0 I had to throw a big C-curve) but I like it a lot in dry oil conditions. It doesn't have as much pin action but I think I just need more time with it.

6/13/2012 7:27:17 PM

Bowled a 221 and a 568 total last night My average since league started had been 147. I need learn how to take care of my ball, anyone know of a good reference for this? Google seems to have a great many different suggestions.

6/18/2012 9:58:25 AM

Finally got my equipment to a point where I feel comfortable getting back into the big $$ tournaments.

Purchased an Ebonite Challenge

Redrilled and resurfaced the Track Mojo, Columbia Pure Swing and my spare ball.

Every ball is doing exactly what I want it to now.

Def give Rich at Strike It Rich at Buffalo Cary a shout if you ever need a new ball or something redrilled. His prices are fair and he doesn't nickel and dime for things that a good pro shop owner should do just because you purchased a ball. (finding your axis point, no charges for "exotic layouts", etc) He literally spent more time beveling and sanding my thumb hole to a good fit than other people have spent measuring and drilling a new ball for.

Anyone in the bowling thread bowl any local tournaments?



[Edited on January 8, 2013 at 12:22 AM. Reason : .]

1/8/2013 12:05:45 AM

I rolled a 175, a 107 (lol) and a 207 last Thursday night

1/8/2013 7:59:39 AM

Took my ball to The Alley last week. That was a mistake. Just glad I finished with my ball in one piece. Will be glad to be back at AMF tonight for league.

1/8/2013 10:03:33 AM

Woot woot for league tonight David!

Can't wait to use my new ball again!

Balllaaaaaa...



[Edited on January 8, 2013 at 10:35 AM. Reason : broken]

1/8/2013 10:34:47 AM

Had the front 9 again for the 3rd time in league this year, left a 10 pin with my first ball in the 10th

headed to Burlington friday night for a Scratch Singles tournament.

Anybody else bowling any tournaments these days?

[Edited on March 27, 2013 at 12:23 AM. Reason : /]

3/27/2013 12:21:42 AM

Nearing the end of league and we're currently 2nd out of 40 teams.
Bowled my best series ever with a 624 last night.

3/27/2013 9:59:08 AM

Yeah you were on fire last night! Still beat you one game though! muahahaha!

[Edited on March 27, 2013 at 10:21 AM. Reason : And who knows? Maybe we're in 1st after last night ]

3/27/2013 10:21:02 AM

Yeah, couldn't catch a break the 2nd game, but could def have been worse than 160.

3/27/2013 10:24:53 AM

my league finished a few weeks ago. we were number one or two most of the season but our handicap started killing us. shitty teams were being spotted like 160 pins and the league was 24 weeks so by the end, all of the the shittiest scratch teams ended up winning.

3/28/2013 10:12:36 AM

If a scratch team ended up winning it doesn't sound like excess handicap was a problem...

3/28/2013 10:23:07 AM

no what I'm saying is the teams with the worst scratch scores were the ones that ended up winning. the two best scratch teams ended up in last. it's just tough to win against a team that's spotted 160 pins from the get go.

3/28/2013 10:46:31 AM

True, but with 90% handicap capped at 210 or something, I'd much rather be on a team with three 200+ bowlers vs a team with a huge handicap.

3/28/2013 10:50:27 AM