Great ball for a beginner?

[Bendial]

Hi Guys,

New to the boards here, nice to meet you all! My partner and I are trying to get into bowling and we decided we both want to buy our own balls. I don't really have any technique or form yet but I'm trying to learn. I use house shoes and house balls and just throw down the middle, or use 2 fingers and put some spin on the ball. I'd love to learn to hook and use good form. My average right now with the house ball is probably around 100-110. Money is not so much an issue, but I don't want to get a ball I can't handle and I want a reactive thats good for beginners. Some balls I'm looking at are:

- Brunswick Slingshot (probably like this one the least, but I've heard so many good things)
- Storm Tropical Breeze (leaning towards this one since I like the way Storm balls look lol)
- DV8 Misfit (love this one a lot too but worried its more than I can handle)
- Ebonite Cyclone

Are there any other brands/balls you guys think I should take a look at?

I bowl at the local AMF, so the lanes are kept nicely and on league nights I'd say there's medium oil. Regular nights the lanes are probably broken down and dry with all the recreational bowlers, but I can't say 100% for sure. I have some wrist issues (nothing major, occasional pain and stiffness) from using computers 24/7 most of my life so I'm probably leaning towards a 14lb ball, since I can always go up or down on weight as I get more experience and I don't want to injure myself before I even get started.

Thanks in advance for your replies and I'm looking forward to being a part of your great community :-)

[americantrotter]

I started with a slingshot, it's a good ball.
I have a Tropical Breeze and it's not a strong ball, maybe not even strong enough to start with.
Cyclone is a nice entry level hook ball, it's more agressive than the previous 2. I'd get that if you arent afraid of hook, it sounds like it fits your aims the best.

Never bowled or seen much DV8 stuff.

[scottymoney]

All of them would be fine to start out with. The Misfit is the only one that might be too much, but isn't that much of a stretch.

[swingset]

Might consider a Brunswick Damage or a Karma, instead of the Slingshot. Slingshot is a great ball for dry lanes, but if you put it in heavy oil it's marginally better than a plastic spare ball. The Damage or Karma will give you a wider range of playability, IMHO, without being "too much".

[Hammer]

If you want to get some good ideas on balls click on FORUM near top of page and on the left side near the top you will see bowlingball.com. Click on that and it will take you to a site where it shows all kinds of balls. Near the top you will see a blue strip with different topics. Next to home is bowling balls. Cover that topic with your mouse and click it. You will see different topics about balls. You will see topics by manufacturer, lane conditions, performance etc. If you pick lane conditions it will show you the balls for those types of lanes from dry to oily. Click on the lane condition you will be bowling on and it will show you the balls for that condition. If you pick performance it will show you balls for beginners to advanced bowlers. Doing this will give you a lot of ideas. When you click on a ball you chose it will give you a complete discription of it. Below that it will tell you what that ball is good for.

[MisterSinister]

The balls you listed are all fine. Yes, the Misfit may be a little much, but it won't be too bad. good luck, let us know what you get, and feel free to ask more questions.

[MisterSinister]

Also, the Freeze is a great beginners ball. I know more than a few guys who won't take that ball out of thier bag no matter what else they buy.

[SouthpawTRK]

All of the balls that you mentioned would be great to start with as your first ball.

You might feel that the Misfit might be too much ball, but sounds like you are getting serious about bowling and it's a ball that will allow you to grow as a bowler.

One other thing to consider is getting a spare ball as well.

Best of luck with your purchases and with your bowling!

[billf]

Welcome to the forum. I've used all the balls you've listed. The Misfit would be fine. It's a little more aggressive than the Cyclone. Those two would be my top choices of what you listed.
Some pro shops offer a free lesson with a ball purchase. Might be worth asking about to steer you in the right direction to learn proper form and technique. If lessons are something you're interested in the USBC (United States Bowling Congress) certifies coaches and you can search for one here http://membership.bowl.com/USBCsearch/SearchCoachesMain.jsp

[eugene02]

The Misfit seems pretty alright to me as when I started, I started with a high end ball which is the Lane 1 MaxXx Curve. not a too bad ball to learn how to hook i'll say.. Misfit seems to fit in pretty right where it won't be too much compared to balls meant for heavier oil and won't be too little compared to balls meant for dry lanes..

[Rdmonster]

I got my brother a freeze for Christmas....nice ball.....welcome to the forum...the first and most important lesson.....have fun!! See..easy and free!!!

[Bendial]

Thanks all for the great feedback :) I purchased a DV8 misfit (orange/blue, 14lb) tonight from our local pro shop and my partner got a black/pink 15 lb Slingshot :-) They should be in Tuesday. WOOT I CANT WAIT :-D

[Perrin]

Both good balls. :)

I throw the blue and orange misfit myself. Welcome to the forums and feel free to ask anything. THere are some very helpful and knowledgable people on here.

[Rdmonster]

DV8 Misfit..... Very cool choice....it should be a ball you can grow with. I would seek out a pro and get a few lessons. I had the pro at a Royal Pin in college stop and watch me bowl when I was in college.

A few (very few) tips later and I was throwing a hook. Get some tips..practice and remember your first lesson...have fun!!!

[eugene02]

Thanks all for the great feedback :) I purchased a DV8 misfit (orange/blue, 14lb) tonight from our local pro shop and my partner got a black/pink 15 lb Slingshot :-) They should be in Tuesday. WOOT I CANT WAIT :-D

should have waited for 17 more days for the Misfit Pearl! hahaha but well.. nonetheless.. it's a great ball!

[Greenday]

I have a Tropical Breeze and it's not a strong ball, maybe not even strong enough to start with.


What kind of bowler are you? Stroker? I'm a tweener and I have no problem hooking my Tropical Breeze. It's not a heavy oil ball, but once it hits a dry patch of lane, it hooks hard. And I have mine drilled for length.

[cane]

Good call!

I went cosmic bowling recently (I know, I know) and it glowed like a mother... worth seeing!

[Bendial]

should have waited for 17 more days for the Misfit Pearl! hahaha but well.. nonetheless.. it's a great ball!

Ew but its yellow... lol, jk. What advantages are there in getting a "pearl" ball? What is the difference?

[Perrin]

in most cases a pearl coverstock will go longer on the lanes with a sharper breakpoint than the same ball with a solid cover stock. This is especiially useful for drier lanes or where the lanes have been bowled on alot.

I am waiting for a side by side comparison of the misfit and misfit pearl to see the differences.

[americantrotter]

What kind of bowler are you? Stroker? I'm a tweener and I have no problem hooking my Tropical Breeze. It's not a heavy oil ball, but once it hits a dry patch of lane, it hooks hard. And I have mine drilled for length.Well when i bought the ball I wasn't using a thumb. So it was a perfect low level ball if the lanes dried out. But I don't rev as much with a thumb in now. I have no idea how to describe my style as it's usually referred to as unique.

I know it will hook a lot if thrown right, but that assumes that your really getting around the ball, which a beginner probably wont start doing.

[vikingbowler88]

I'm holding off on a side by side comparison as well. Was ready to get the Misfit but now think that the pearl might be better for my style and what I need. I'm going to build a DV8 Arsenal. Probably going to go with the Too Reckless, Misfit Pear, then the Zombie spare, and possibly a urethane ball just in case.