Looking for a new ball wondering about Symmetric vs Asymmetric cores?

[Cochese]

Looking at buying my next ball and I definitely want to give DV8 at try. Looking at either the Hell Raiser Terror, Marauder or Too Reckless. I don't bowl in any tournaments, so heaviest stuff I encounter is just normal THS for league. I have a Frantic air freshener right now and its a good ball, but I want something that has a little more snap on the backend. I am not a cranker, probably be considered a tweener.

My main question is what advantages/disadvantages does an asymmetric core have over a symmetric core? Is the Terror going to be too much ball for a normal THS pattern?

Kind of leaning towards the Too Reckless and I have to admit it is mainly because of the color scheme and I am not sure I need a ball as strong as the Terror. But the Marauder looks great too. Wish I had enough $$ to just buy all 3 ;) But unfortunately I do not

[75lockwood]

See this link:
http://www.bowlingball.com/BowlVersity/symmetric-vs-asymmetric-bowling-balls#idc-cover

Typically symmetric cores create a smoother more controlled curve where asymmetric have the back-end snap

the nightmare and the hell raiser series are the only dv8 balls that have asymmetric cores, rest are symmetric

[Cochese]

That is some pretty techinical stuff. Could you drill a Too Reckless or Marauder to be more angular and have more snap though?

[75lockwood]

That is some pretty techinical stuff. Could you drill a Too Reckless or Marauder to be more angular and have more snap though?

that you can, everything is relative! assuming the same layout is used on a marauder and a hell raiser, the hell raiser will be more angular, yes you can make a marauder more angular with a certain layout, but drilling the same layout in a ball with an asymmetric core will result in a more angular reaction

[Zothen]

Asymmetrical cores give you the big hook! Think of it as going straight,then exit stage left.

Symmetrical cores are more curving! Think of it as going striaght,then turning your car as you come around a curve nice and easy!

Aysmmetrical=High RG

Symmetrical=Low/medium RG

Zothen

[Cochese]

Asymmetrical cores give you the big hook! Think of it as going straight,then exit stage left

I think this is what I have in mind. I just hope I can figure out how to control it.

[GoodGorilla]

In the bowling execution book I read every so often says asymmetrical cores can only be utilized by a really skillful player because it takes much skill to be able to be accurate with the kind of hook it produces (which is less forgiving). All of my balls are symmetrical and I have not given much thought to an asymmetrical. My pro shop operator wanted to sell me a ball with a asymmetrical core after watching me bowl awhile months ago. Next ball I get may have one, I'll have to talk with my operator when the time comes. I think I got the best pro shop operator in Florida. If you want to know his name, it is Brian Brazeau and here is a link if you want to check him out.
http://www.manta.com/c/mm52zqk/brian-brazeau-pro-shop

[J Anderson]

That is some pretty techinical stuff. Could you drill a Too Reckless or Marauder to be more angular and have more snap though?

Even symetric balls are slightly asymetric after being drilled. A good ball driller can layout a symetric ball to maximize te sharpness of its reaction. It still won't be the same as if you started with an asynetric ball, but might be a good compromise.

[Cochese]

The more I research the details and after reading GoodGorilla's post, I am not sure I am consistent enough in my delivery yet. Will it be too much of a contrast over my Frantic if I get the Terror? I play a lot of golf and I know for golf I am skilled enough to handle pro level equipment. But to me, it sounds like getting something like the Terror is going to exaggerate both my good shots and my bad shots. Obviously making my good shots better is a plus, but is it going make my bad shots that much worse too?

Right now my biggest miss is due to inconsisteny of speed in my delivery. When I keep my speed around 14.5-15.0 mph, I get a nice reaction and as long as I hit my mark, the results are pleasing. When I start to get comfortable, my speed picks up and I hit low and miss the head pin.

I am probably getting too technical and should probably just try it, but with my current skill level, I am afraid of wasting $200+ on something that isn't going to help my game.

[GoodGorilla]

I am probably getting too technical and should probably just try it, but with my current skill level, I am afraid of wasting $200+ on something that isn't going to help my game.

It's all about buying what you need. If you think your shot needs a sharp hook then buy it. OH yeah, you should also look up the other stats for it like the length it has and all of that. You can find just about any information you want from one of the excel documents on these forums. Ill post the link.
http://www.bowlingboards.com/threads/1562-The-Ball-Review-Spreadsheet
It's only the link to the bowling ball spreadsheet which is a sticky in this forum. I didn't know where it was so I looked it up. It's a good source, I agreed with what was marked down for the balls I have.

[Cochese]

It's all about buying what you need. If you think your shot needs a sharp hook then buy it. All the marketing and watching the pros like Tommy Jones hook it coast to coast is very mesmerizing. But then I see Norm Duke and I think, that looks more like my style and looks much easier to manage.

[75lockwood]

The more I research the details and after reading GoodGorilla's post, I am not sure I am consistent enough in my delivery yet. Will it be too much of a contrast over my Frantic if I get the Terror? I play a lot of golf and I know for golf I am skilled enough to handle pro level equipment. But to me, it sounds like getting something like the Terror is going to exaggerate both my good shots and my bad shots. Obviously making my good shots better is a plus, but is it going make my bad shots that much worse too?

Right now my biggest miss is due to inconsisteny of speed in my delivery. When I keep my speed around 14.5-15.0 mph, I get a nice reaction and as long as I hit my mark, the results are pleasing. When I start to get comfortable, my speed picks up and I hit low and miss the head pin.

I am probably getting too technical and should probably just try it, but with my current skill level, I am afraid of wasting $200+ on something that isn't going to help my game.

I don't think it would ever be a waste, buying different balls aren't meant to improve your game, they are tools used to adapt to specific lane conditions, if you want to test drive a ball with a asymmetric core go for it

[GoodGorilla]

All the marketing and watching the pros like Tommy Jones hook it coast to coast is very mesmerizing. But then I see Norm Duke and I think, that looks more like my style and looks much easier to manage.

I'm still learning. But the more hook I am putting on the ball, it seems that it is just more difficult to repeat and control. I am improving.

[Cochese]

I am also still learning. I bowled a lot about 10 years ago when I was in college and was self taught, no lessons, just bowled a lot and was ok. Haven't bowled more than once or twice a year until about 2 months ago. Now I am trying to re-learn and do it the right way. I have been trying to mess with wrist cock and cupping to increase revs on the ball, but I gave up on that about a week ago and have been just trying to work on accuracy and timing. To my surprise, timing my release better resulted in more revs without trying to "crank it"

[75lockwood]

I am also still learning. I bowled a lot about 10 years ago when I was in college and was self taught, no lessons, just bowled a lot and was ok. Haven't bowled more than once or twice a year until about 2 months ago. Now I am trying to re-learn and do it the right way. I have been trying to mess with wrist cock and cupping to increase revs on the ball, but I gave up on that about a week ago and have been just trying to work on accuracy and timing. To my surprise, timing my release better resulted in more revs without trying to "crank it"

Revs are way over rated anyway :p if you a broader understanding of the physical game as a whole, chapter 7 of the usbc bronze handbook is a great read. http://www.athletics2000.com/andrew/...cal%20Game.pdf

Other Chapters and great links found in the FAQ :D

[Cochese]

I am sure too many revs would most likely be more problems for me. My best shots are when I am starting around board 25 and throwing between 13-15. My most common miss is low and is usually because my speed goes up and my revs go down. I would guess this is something to do with my release as my arm swing doesn't feel any different, the ball just comes out different. It tends to leave nasty splits, then I over compensate and ususally miss my mark to the left. At least the brooklyn hits don't leave such ugly splits (most of the time)