looking for my first Ball.

[daxma6270]

I have never owned a bowling ball and now that im getting more into bowling recreationally I have been in the market for one. anyone have any suggestions?

[ecub]

There's allot of good balls out there. I'm a Hammer brand guy, but Storm, DV8, are a couple of good brands. It basically comes up to how much you want to spend on a ball.

[daxma6270]

There's allot of good balls out there. I'm a Hammer brand guy, but Storm, DV8, are a couple of good brands. It basically comes up to how much you want to spend on a ball.
well since I'm looking for my first I'm just looking for something entry level and in the $60-100 range.

[ecub]

For a starter ball, go to the pro shop and look which ball appeals to you. Tell the pro basically what you stated in the 1st post and how much you are will to spend. Have it drilled fingertip.

[Greenday]

Well, what kind of bowler are you? Do you bowl straight or giant hook? Slow or fast? What kind of lanes do you bowl on, heavy oil, light oil?

[unclemantis]

Ask a non biased pro shop in your area that knows all the local houses.

[daxma6270]

Well, what kind of bowler are you? Do you bowl straight or giant hook? Slow or fast? What kind of lanes do you bowl on, heavy oil, light oil?

im a straight bowler i think since i dont know have to curve yet. and i dont really know the lane types. I usually bow at AMF if that tells you anything lol

[Zothen]

Good ball to learn fingertip or conventional is Brunswick Slingshot.

Zothen

[e-tank]

if you bowl straight and want to continue bowling straight just get a plastic ball like a columbia white dot. If you are interested in learning to hook however, go with zothens post and get a slingshot

[Greenday]

I'll be the odd man out and say Tropical Breeze from Storm. Gives you a fair amount of length but can still hook strongly if you want it to.

[striker12]

my first entry lvl ball was a c300 freeze but i learned how to hook a ball before that, i got the freeze when my bowling style changed so i started from the start of everything and learned everything again and know since my revs have gone way way up now i have to throw my c300 freeze because all my other balls are eather over hook or im throwing to fast my other balls are 14lb and my freeze is 15lbs and i can make it hook alot.

[J Anderson]

well since I'm looking for my first I'm just looking for something entry level and in the $60-100 range.

For $100 many pro shops will sell you a ball, bag, and shoes. The ball will most likely be a Brunswick T-Zone or a Columbia 300 White Dot.

[unclemantis]

For $100 many pro shops will sell you a ball, bag, and shoes. The ball will most likely be a Brunswick T-Zone or a Columbia 300 White Dot.

Plus drilling which is between $15 and $30

[e-tank]

Plus drilling which is between $15 and $30

price of the ball usually includes drilling at a pro shop

[unclemantis]

price of the ball usually includes drilling at a pro shop

Well then. That is a bonus :)

[ualtim]

I was basically in the same situation a few weeks ago and went to a local pro shop and discussed it with the staff there. I had researched the topic throuroughly on the internet and scoured all the tips from bowlingball.com, but still could not make up my mind until I had my discussion with the pro shop staff. Since I am just planning on staying a rec bowler with no intentions of joining a league, we decided to go with a platic ball as I develop my game. The shop was an Ebonite shop so I ended up with a Maxim soley based on color compared to the other platic 15#'ers that were available in the shop (Maxims and White Dots).

One thing I would consider (which was mentioned earlier in the thread) is getting your plastic ball drilled finger tip IF you are eventually planning on getting a higher performance ball at a later date. I got my Maxim drilled finger tip because, eventually, I would like to pick up a higher performance strike ball and figured I might as well get used to the fingertip grip (was essentially using a fingertip grip when I bowled with house balls, anyway, as the span on the balls that had holes big enough for my fingers/thumb would not allow a convential grip due to my hand size.)

Of course, after 12 games with a plastic ball I am already thinking about what I would like in a strike ball, but even if I do go ahead with a strike ball purchase I will already have my spare ball in the bag. :D

[Greenday]

ualtim, I learned how to throw a hook with a spare ball. That could be why I now have trouble throwing a straight ball but oh well. A finger-tipped plastic ball was good enough for me to pick up the basics.

[daxma6270]

ualtim, I learned how to throw a hook with a spare ball. That could be why I now have trouble throwing a straight ball but oh well. A finger-tipped plastic ball was good enough for me to pick up the basics.

i tried hooking last night when me and my gf went bowling. i cant do it worth a damn lol. I found an OTB ball that i wanted but is was like 149.00. so i think im gonna get a sling shot

[Hammer]

Two entry performance balls that would be good for you to learn to hook the ball are the Brunswick Slingshot and the Storm Tropical
Freeze. These balls are for beginners learning to hook a ball. Get at least a 14 pound ball to get the good weight block. Balls under 14 pounds usually have only a small weight block in them. Those two balls are pretty cheap now on bowlingball.com or at a pro shop near you.

[Greenday]

Two entry performance balls that would be good for you to learn to hook the ball are the Brunswick Slingshot and the Storm Tropical
Freeze. These balls are for beginners learning to hook a ball. Get at least a 14 pound ball to get the good weight block. Balls under 14 pounds usually have only a small weight block in them. Those two balls are pretty cheap now on bowlingball.com or at a pro shop near you.

I think you mean the Tropical Breeze. I have a Tropical Breeze that I use for lighter oil. You can actually get some good hook with it. It gets good length and a good amount of backend. Smells great too.

[eugene02]

I think the DV8 Misfit Pearl would be a nice ball to start with.. So ultimately it depends on how you bowl and what kind of lanes you will be bowling mostly...

[daxma6270]

I think the DV8 Misfit Pearl would be a nice ball to start with.. So ultimately it depends on how you bowl and what kind of lanes you will be bowling mostly...


how do i tell what lanes there are? how much does the that ball run?

[explorer05]

If you ask some at the bowling center they should be able to tell you. I believe wood will be darker and the synthetics are lighter.

[J Anderson]

how do i tell what lanes there are? how much does the that ball run?

If you ask nicely some one who works for the alley might be able to tell you how the lanes have been dressed. If there is a pro shop at the center they will most likely know the answer as well.

[daxma6270]

If you ask some at the bowling center they should be able to tell you. I believe wood will be darker and the synthetics are lighter.

the lanes there are pretty light in color.

[ecub]

Lanes would probably be oiled as THS, Typical House Shot during open bowling. Another low priced ball would be the Hammer Taboo spare, which should run just about $100 drilled. It has a strong weight block.

[eugene02]

how do i tell what lanes there are? how much does the that ball run?

the lanes I mean whether is it always heavy oil, medium oil, dry oil. it depends. on my side, i bowl at night mostly. so the oil would be rather burned out.. but if i play in the morning, it'll be fresh oil... so.. ask around.. the technicians, counter staffs, pro shop.. you'll get the answer... if you get your ball at the pro shop you will be bowling mostly at, most probably he will recommend you what is better to suit the lane conditions and also drilled to your needs.

[daxma6270]

the lanes I mean whether is it always heavy oil, medium oil, dry oil. it depends. on my side, i bowl at night mostly. so the oil would be rather burned out.. but if i play in the morning, it'll be fresh oil... so.. ask around.. the technicians, counter staffs, pro shop.. you'll get the answer... if you get your ball at the pro shop you will be bowling mostly at, most probably he will recommend you what is better to suit the lane conditions and also drilled to your needs.

thanks!

[unclemantis]

i am thinking of getting the TABOO DEEP PURPLE (http://hammerbowling.com/products/product_detail/taboo_deep_purple/) for my next ball it looked like the ball gets better grip at my house than my Nail does. With my nail my house shot is stand at 20 and throw at between 2nd and 3rd arrow.