Buying my first ball

[ThumbHole]

I've recently started bowling with friends every week and been toying with getting my own ball, though from doing some research it's a lot more complex than I expected!

I get the impression the local lanes aren't that well kept but it is half the price of everywhere else and it's the only one in walking distance. So would this mean that the lanes are probably dry and affect which kind of ball I get?

Would I be best off just getting a plastic ball rather than jumping in with a reactive one? It's worth having one for shooting spares anyway right, so could be a good starting point?

[noeymc]

ok buddy frist balls are great experince :) here is a list of starter balls so you can learn to throw a hook before getting a big boy hook

http://www.bowlingball.com/shop/all/bowling-balls/?Attribute_40=Entry+Performance%282%29

what pound ball do you use? cuz when u get your first new ball if your useing a house ball u can normaly add a pound to your own ball cuz its drilled to your hand

i have heard alot of good things about these balls

Roto Grip Shout
Brunswick Slingshot

[scottymoney]

Thumbhole, a few tips that I think may be best for you.

1. Ask yourself what style you want to be. Are you going to throw a straight ball the whole time and always throw straight? Do you want to put some hook in the ball?

2. If you are going to throw some hook, your best off with an entry level reactive ball. This will allow you to have some hook and learn the basics before getting the stronger balls. Like noeymc mentioned Brunswick slingshot is a good entry level ball, each company has one entry level ball and it will get you started in the right direction.

3. Find a prop shop, preferably one who can watch you bowl, but also will listen to you and want to help you. Things you should tell the driller are what you have been doing and what you are looking to do.

4. Look through all the forums here and there is FAQs sections. Look through and get a good grasp on form, releases and ball maintenance. Especially if you are going to start throwing some hook, you will need to learn a good release and there is definitely good material here and across the internet.

5. Commit to a style, don't start changing. If you are going to bowl a one handed hook, don't try to 2 hand it and start creating bad habits. 2 handed may be the way to go for you, but if you try it stick with it for awhile and see if it helps you. Don't start waffling as it will just mess you up in both styles.

6. Finally have fun! We all want to get better, but make sure you are having fun doing it. Don't beat yourself up over mistakes cause it will just create more mistakes and in a single game it is touch to recover. I myself have been victim of this and it hurts scores. Bowl one frame at a time and then leave it behind.

Good Luck!

[Zothen]

Slingshot is the least hooking,but,a very nice ball on dry. The shout is also a nice ball,but,needs some oil as it really moves on the dry. For your first ball I would recommend the Slingshot as it can be used for spares as well. All you have to do is deceid fingertip or conventional drilling.

Much success with whichever ball you get!

Zothen

[ThumbHole]

Thanks for the replys so far, I've tried searching but had no luck. What actually is the benefits of throwing a hook ball vs a straight one?

[scottymoney]

It is hard to create the correct angle into the pocket with a straight ball as it is with a ball that hooks. The hooking ball will create a more consistent angle to hit the 1 and 3 pins better. The downside to a hook ball is different oil patterns which will make you have to adjust to keep hitting the pocket. The straight is not effected by oil patterns as much.

From my experience throwing a straight ball will cause you to leave many more splits because of the angle the ball takes to the pocket.

My advice would be to get an entry level reactive resin ball which will give you a small hook to get you started. By having the small hook you will be able to throw it rather straight but get the few boards of movement for a better pocket hit.

[J Anderson]

Thumbhole, a few tips that I think may be best for you.

5. Commit to a style, don't start changing. If you are going to bowl a one handed hook, don't try to 2 hand it and start creating bad habits. 2 handed may be the way to go for you, but if you try it stick with it for awhile and see if it helps you. Don't start waffling as it will just mess you up in both styles.

6. Finally have fun! We all want to get better, but make sure you are having fun doing it. Don't beat yourself up over mistakes cause it will just create more mistakes and in a single game it is touch to recover. I myself have been victim of this and it hurts scores. Bowl one frame at a time and then leave it behind.

Good Luck!

Just to give a different point of view, If you're just starting out this is the easiest time to play around with different styles. Play around with different ways of throwing it and find out what feels most comfortable. Yes, this will drive anyone trying to coach you crazy but that's their problem not yours. Once you decide which style is best for you, then a good coach can work with you and make it perform even better.

Have fun, it is just a game.

[billf]

Hook VS. Straight. The optimum entry angle to the pocket to generate the highest chance of striking is 4-6 degrees. To do that with a straight ball you would have to be on another lane. That is why bowlers even bother to throw a hook. After that, accuracy is the most important part of any game. Proper balance, leverage and timing all contribute to accuracy. Good bowling is the ability to repeat your best shot often.
whatever ball you get, if you're serious about improving, get the ball drilled with fingertip grips. It helps with the hook.

[ThumbHole]

I'm also curious about what weight ball to get. I usually use a 10lb house ball but I've also used a 12 on occasion (depends on if I can find one with holes that are comfortable...)

I'm a fairly small guy 5'6" and about 140lbs (64kg). Looking around I see that some of the lighter balls have different cores from their heavier counterparts and also some balls don't even come in weights under 14lbs.

Apparently a properly drilled ball lets you bowl heavier than usual with a standard drilled house ball, but how much heavier is realistic?

[scottymoney]

The rough percentage to use is 10% of your body weight. So Thumbhole you probably want to try 14lbs, which is probably the most used weight by bowlers these days.

[Hammer]

I am 5'6" tall and weigh 152lbs. I have a 15lb and 14lb ball. The 14lb seems to be easier to control as far as keeping the wrist straight and the hand behind the ball through the release. For dry lanes I have a 14lb Hammer Blue Hammer urethane ball with a fingertip grip. I think a 14lb ball for you would be a good fit. If you get a ball too heavy for you you will get turned off and find it hard to get better or as good as you want to get.

[ArtVandelay]

If you haven't already: Buy shoes first!!! hahahahahaha. The shoes are what costs you money. House balls are free. Take your time, do some research, and make your purchase when you're comfortable! If i had it to do over again, I would have gone to my pro shop to talk to someone about my first ball. I look back at my very first ball, and I remember getting tired head just looking online at the options. I had an idea in my head that buying from a proshop is a total rip off, but places like Sports Authority and Academy might offer two balls to choose from if I was lucky. So I got online, and the choices and options and everything else completely overwhelmed me until I just picked one.

Now I understand you're paying for the expertise. I wish I had done that for my first ball. But I'm sure the people on here are making great suggestions. I consider myself an okay bowler, but bowling balls STILL give me tired head, to this day...



The rough percentage to use is 10% of your body weight. So Thumbhole you probably want to try 14lbs, which is probably the most used weight by bowlers these days.

Any idea where I can find a 22 pound ball? hahaha. I better diet some more...

[billf]

After paying for the ball, drilling, grips and a thumb slug the internet and pro shop are usually within $10 of each other. This comes from many threads on various forums and several phone calls to shops across the country.

[scottymoney]

Art your 22lb ball is next to my 27lb ball!

The 10% is all just a guideline for those "small" people, and mostly followed for kids and seniors. I would venture to guess most guys over 160lbs, don't use 16lb balls. Hell I use them just because I am still throwing 18mph with a 16lbs. ball. I have a 15lb ball i retired. I will take it with me next time I practice and see what speed I throw it at.

[ThumbHole]

Thanks guys, that's heavier than I thought. I went bowling last night and I use the 10lb house balls cause all the heavier ones the hole span is too big for my hand. They feel a lot heavier, though as I've been reading that was probably cause I couldn't really grip them.

I'm on the south coast of England and there are a few pro shops a short train ride away, annoyingly they aren't all open on the same day to check them out on one day with a single ticket. Will get along to one of them at some point.

I see some of them also sell second hand balls plugged and ready for drilling. I guess the selection isn't going to be as great but could be a chance to get a bargain for a first ball until I know more about what I'd like going forward?

[scottymoney]

a 2nd hand ball could be a good investment for you. As it will allow you to get into a performance ball but at a lower price to see what you would like to do in the future. I would say go 14 and see how it feels, then for your next brand new ball you can gauge weight form there.

[HughScot]

I was in your postion a couple of years ago and based on that I'd seek out a pro shop and buy a relatively inexpensive ball like Hammer's Nail or Ebonite's Cyclone and let the pro shop do the drilling. So much will change for you over the next few months that you'll probably be ready for a totally new ball based on how good you want to get, etc. I'd go with a 14 lb ball based on your weight/height. A properly fitted ball will feel lighter than any house ball. As to hook or straight I'd go with hook as you have a far better chance to strike and it really feels better. One other thing.....get fingertip inserts. I would never buy a ball off the internet, no way it will be properly drilled. I pay the same for balls from my pro as I can get it for off the internet. Go luck and don't get into too many details as this point. Have fun.

[ThumbHole]

If you haven't already: Buy shoes first!!! hahahahahaha. The shoes are what costs you money. House balls are free.

Really?

I can't see as great as an improvement from having my own shoes and using a house ball compared to using the house shoes and my own ball?

[scottymoney]

Thumbhole the shoes are totally a financial investment, plus comfort. Add up shoe rental each time you go bowling. Guessing it is about $2 each time you go. A pair of bowling shoes will cost you $30-$40 and will last a few years. When you do the math it is a good investment. Plus wearing your own bowling shoes is so much more comfortable!

[ThumbHole]

Maybe it is different in the US, everywhere I've gone bowling here in the UK the shoe hire is included in the standard price. There is one chain that lets you wear your own (non bowling) shoes (provided they are flat bottomed) but there is no discount for doing do.

[scottymoney]

Oh well then that is cool, I guess one perk to bowling in the UK. Although have the same shoes everytime I believe makes a difference. Go get yourself a ball and make it your own!