Need a good ball for my style (straight)

[jbeck]

I know it's hard say without a video, but I'm trying to decide what new ball to get that will agressively hook back to the pocket with my style of throw. I usually throw straight down the 2nd arrow standing on board 18. Either I miss right without rotation and it goes straight towards 6/10 pin or I put just slightly more rotation and I end up with a brooklyn. I've probably hit more brooklyns than 1/3 pocket shots. My ball is the Columbia Freeze hybrid and I kinda like the brand, and definitely have my eye on the new Enigma, Omen, or Mass Eruption. Of course if I won a ball I'd still use it. I guess I'm still looking for something that will hook back to the pocket if I miss my target right. Also I'm looking to get my son his first ball that hooks...Storm seems to have more of a selection for balls that are between 10 and 11 pounds.

[J Anderson]

Either I miss right without rotation and it goes straight towards 6/10 pin or I put just slightly more rotation and I end up with a brooklyn. I've probably hit more brooklyns than 1/3 pocket shots.

No offense intended, but there is no magic ball that will hit the pocket if you miss right without rotation. Your only hope on a shot like this is for a minor earthquake to occur as the ball hits the pin deck.

It sounds like you are not lined up right for when you do hit your target and release the ball correctly.

I have two suggestions:
First is to look at 75Lockwood's FAQs for any drills that will hep you develop a consistent release.

Second is to adjust your line so the ball hits the correct pocket, Otherwise a very large lefty may show up at your doorstep to collect the back rent for all those Brooklyn strikes:p. Seriously you can try making parallel moves to the out side or doing two and one move to the inside,

[Zothen]

Before you buy a new ball,I would strongly suggest getting a coach and develope a proper hook ball before spending tons of money on a ball that may or may not hook for you.

Zothen

[75lockwood]

No offense intended, but there is no magic ball that will hit the pocket if you miss right without rotation. Your only hope on a shot like this is for a minor earthquake to occur as the ball hits the pin deck.

It sounds like you are not lined up right for when you do hit your target and release the ball correctly.

I have two suggestions:
First is to look at 75Lockwood's FAQs for any drills that will hep you develop a consistent release.

Second is to adjust your line so the ball hits the correct pocket, Otherwise a very large lefty may show up at your doorstep to collect the back rent for all those Brooklyn strikes:p. Seriously you can try making parallel moves to the out side or doing two and one move to the inside,

Haven't you read this month's issue of Bowling this month? all you need to do to get the magic ball is go on a quest, slay a dragon, and take it to the mountain top pro shop! LOL

and it's not "my" faq lol its our's anyone can post links and what not :D (see link in signature to go straight there)




Every ball will do what your describing, if you are inconsistent in speed, target, lift, or axis rotation the ball won't hit the pocket properly, working on your physical game is more important than searching for that "magic ball", stick with a simple low hook ball for right now such as a slingshot and work on consistency.

[noeymc]

agreed 75

[jbeck]

I know I really do have to work on my physical game, and consitency. I probably worded things wrong...no worries. When I am consistent though I'll still leave 5s or 8s. I've been keeping my games over 150 most of this month, just gotta keep at it.

[J Anderson]

Haven't you read this month's issue of Bowling this month? all you need to do to get the magic ball is go on a quest, slay a dragon, and take it to the mountain top pro shop! LOL

Darn, my wife has read too many of Anne McCaffrey's Pern books to let me go slay any dragons.

[Zothen]

Perhaps you are better off reading Michael Moorcocks Elric series!

Zothen

[ArtVandelay]

Jeff Beck, Im not so sure your style is that far off... I never give unsolicited advice, especially because Im not that great myself, but there was a guy in our league who throws similar to what you described (at least I think he does, if Im understanding you correctly). He actually has pretty decent rotation but he faced similar problems as you. His ball would frequently hit the pocket spinning and leave splits.

He liked the way I throw and asked me for advice. I told him to try to learn to stand further to the left, use the same motion, but throw it out towards the gutter with less speed. Taking off a little speed helped him realize he was throwing a decent ball and it will come back if he throws it out towards the gutter. He is letting it skid through the oil now. He is hitting the pocket in the balls roll phase now and getting solid strikes. And he has started to figure it out enough that he is gaining confidence and getting his speed back.

Why dont you post a video that lets us see the rotation of your ball? You might not be as far off as you think! Perhaps you can start the process of slowing down your motion and throwing the ball out towards the gutter more. Once youre comfortable with the shot, and the process, you will get your speed back.

[jbeck]

Jeff Beck, Im not so sure your style is that far off... I never give unsolicited advice, especially because Im not that great myself, but there was a guy in our league who throws similar to what you described (at least I think he does, if Im understanding you correctly). He actually has pretty decent rotation but he faced similar problems as you. His ball would frequently hit the pocket spinning and leave splits.

He liked the way I throw and asked me for advice. I told him to try to learn to stand further to the left, use the same motion, but throw it out towards the gutter with less speed. Taking off a little speed helped him realize he was throwing a decent ball and it will come back if he throws it out towards the gutter. He is letting it skid through the oil now. He is hitting the pocket in the balls roll phase now and getting solid strikes. And he has started to figure it out enough that he is gaining confidence and getting his speed back.

Why dont you post a video that lets us see the rotation of your ball? You might not be as far off as you think! Perhaps you can start the process of slowing down your motion and throwing the ball out towards the gutter more. Once youre comfortable with the shot, and the process, you will get your speed back.

The other day I tried a new style by watching some other bowlers where they would rotate their wrist inward (ball outward) at the top of their swing then rotate it back before releasing it. I started way left and was actually consistent for about 2 games...then I couldn't hit the pocket because it would go too much towards the gutter. I went back to my style which is pretty straight and just powering through at the point of release and I'd get minimal rotation but it would hook back to the pocket. I still think the weight of my ball only being 13lbs and the way I throw it, isn't good enough to hit consistent strikes. That why I was thinking of a more agressive ball that would hook back strong once it hit the break point. Can't do a video now, because I'm out of bowling for a week with a bad shoulder and neck pain. Maybe I'll get one together this weekend.

[Greenday]

The other day I tried a new style by watching some other bowlers where they would rotate their wrist inward (ball outward) at the top of their swing then rotate it back before releasing it. I started way left and was actually consistent for about 2 games...then I couldn't hit the pocket because it would go too much towards the gutter. I went back to my style which is pretty straight and just powering through at the point of release and I'd get minimal rotation but it would hook back to the pocket. I still think the weight of my ball only being 13lbs and the way I throw it, isn't good enough to hit consistent strikes. That why I was thinking of a more agressive ball that would hook back strong once it hit the break point. Can't do a video now, because I'm out of bowling for a week with a bad shoulder and neck pain. Maybe I'll get one together this weekend.

What your doing makes a lot of sense. When the oil is heavier, you will need a little extra rotation to get the ball moving in the oil. Once the oil dries out, you either have to move to more oil or if you can throw a straight ball on dry lanes, feel free to do that.

[Hammer]

The problem might be that your ball is only 13 pounds. Sometimes ball manufacturers do not put in a good core weight unless the ball is at least 14 pounds. The weight block you might have in your 13 pound ball might be something that looks like a hockey puck. If that is the case you will have trouble getting your ball to hook. Go on bowlingball.com site and look at the balls that you might want there. It will show the ball and what kind of weight block it has. So maybe your next ball will have to be 14 pounds at least to get a good core weight for better hooking power.