My 2nd Ball Advice/Suggestions/Recommendations

[zman1974]

I just got back into league bowling a couple of months ago. First ball was the DV8 Marauder drilled for length. See my stats below. I love my Marauder except in heavy to medium-heavy oil (1st game, transitioning into 2nd). This view became very clear last week when I simply got no back-end reaction in the 1st game; ball just squirted through the break point. My pro shop guy swears by Storm, but I like the DV8 brand. If you could choose a heavy to medium/heavy oil ball for me from these two brands what would they be?

Thanks in advance.

[e-tank]

when my ball gets no reaction on the backend especially in the first game the first thing i think is carry down and i slow my ball speed. Id give it a try. If you want DV8 the hell raiser revenge is a beast. The hell raiser terror, nightmare and brutal nightmare look awesome as well. I heard the Sync from storm is amazing in heavy oil but can be too strong for anything else. A league mate of mine has the sameish style as yours and uses a lucid with success.

[zman1974]

It was SO frustrating Tuesday. Bowled a 124...

Then, like flicking a switch, half-way through the second game the Marauder starts snapping. Through a 182 and 212 the last two games. I'm not so arrogant to blame the ball for everything that first game (missed several makeable spares), but I was just unable to hit the pocket, and the couple times I got a clean hit the angle was so bad I got either a split or ringing 10's.

[Zothen]

DV8 Nightmare,Storm Lucid,Vivid,!Q Tour or Sync.

Zothen

[billf]

DV8 Nightmare or Revenge. Storm Sync when it comes off backorder.

Did you try moving a couple of boards to your ball side with your feet?

[eugene02]

DV8 Brutal Nightmare, Nightmare or Revenge will be suitable for heavy oil lanes! Hooks like a beast!

[ecub]

I just got back into league bowling a couple of months ago. First ball was the DV8 Marauder drilled for length. See my stats below. I love my Marauder except in heavy to medium-heavy oil (1st game, transitioning into 2nd). This view became very clear last week when I simply got no back-end reaction in the 1st game; ball just squirted through the break point. My pro shop guy swears by Storm, but I like the DV8 brand. If you could choose a heavy to medium/heavy oil ball for me from these two brands what would they be?

Thanks in advance.

Any dull ball, no polish, will do. But if you have no back end in the 1st game, have you tried moving you're feet to the right and not shooting too far right? Maybe a Down & In shot?

[zman1974]

Bill and Ed: I was all over the place making adjustments. As I said, I don't blame the ball entirely. Mentally, I was beat by mid-game, and was playing with very little confidence. I will be using only the Marauder again next week so I will try your suggestions and report back.

Based on my research and the suggestions here I think I will go with either the Brutal Nightmare, Nightmare, Lucid, or Sync.

[zman1974]

I spent some time at the pro shop prior to league last night. As I said, he is pretty much a Storm guy. He knows my style, and was excited as he just received the Reign of Power. He is confident this ball will be perfect for the fresh THS during league so I guess I will go with it. I have the BTM review, and they did not give it a glowing endorsement. However, when I ran Matchmaker on the Storm site this is the ball it recommended. Going to roll the dice, and see.

[zman1974]

Did a five game practice last night, and figured out that indeed ball speed was the culprit. If I stay anywhere about 16 mph, the ball will simply skid past the breakpoint and finish light, or if I miss the target I will go left of pocket. So, it seems the sweet spot for me and my desired line is about 15 to 15.5 mph. Shot a 206 in my final game using this speed over 10 board with a breakpoint of 9 or 8. May half to slow it down even further for the first game of league as there will obviously be more oil than yesterday.

[zman1974]

What do you guys think of the Storm IQ Tour as a compliment to my Marauder? It is one of the highest reviewed balls in BTM, and it seems to be the ideal benchmark ball.

[scottymoney]

My personal thought is speed should never be the culprit. Keep a consistent speed and move on the approach. If 1 mph is the difference you need to change I guess that isn't too bad. But think of this, the lane is 60' long. If you are throwing at 16mph and not making the pocket create more or less angle to compensate. If you create more angle by moving deeper you are giving the ball more time by making your shot longer, instead of 60' you may now get some extra distance for the ball to hook in. It also works the other way. Taking away angle will create a shorter distance the ball travels but will also cut down on the hook needed to to get into the pocket.

In the end trying to limit or create speed is tough for a lot of people because in most cases you need to change your timing to reduce speed or create speed. Where as keeping timing and everything the same and just moving your spot on the approach and target can be much easier to learn.

[ghetto24]

im the type of person that is stubborn and wont make a ball change. I stick to what I got and figure out how to make it work. when I don't have the hook, like stated above, I know how to slow my ball speed down but not lose my revs. it really is an acquired skill. and I have to admit that it does work. im in the process of getting two new balls. and like quite a few have said, if you want hook, get the brutal nightmare. it will look like someone just kicked it on its breaking point. this is one of the balls I will be getting. another option would be a hammer or higher end track balls. those things hook CRAZY-LIKE!!!

[zman1974]

I got to throw a fellow league member's Reign of Power last night, and it does exactly what I want it to do; churn through the oil on a fresh league shot (41'). This ball produces a very different reaction than the Marauder; I would describe it as a big curve that is predictable and controllable. I think it will be a great compliment to the Marauder. Going to get mine punched up on Saturday for league on Tuesday.

[billf]

I finally had the chance to roll a Reign of Power. I liked it and think it would be a great compliment to the Marauder for you. The have different reactiolns so with adjustments you can play your 41' pattern with multiple angles no matter the level of oil.

[Castiel]

I was having the same problem with my Marauder. Now the ball doesn't even leave the house...

[zman1974]

Got the Hell Raiser Terror for a steal so I decided to purchase it instead of the Reign of Power. After further consideration of my actual lane conditions I really don't think that a sanded solid is really necessary. Thanks to Billf for the advice. I plan on going with the same layout as the Marauder, and hopefully I will see the reaction I get from the Marauder in the late 2nd/3rd game on the 1st game. I can always add the Madness later if I'm wrong; it's such a reasonably priced ball now I should be able to get it for easily under a $100 in a few months.

[zman1974]

LOL. Back to the Marauder Madness. Just makes more sense for what I am trying to do. If I didn't own the Marauder it would be the Terror, no question, but it doesn't make sense for the only two balls I own to both do basically the same thing.

[billf]

????? I own thirteen balls all for the same reason: to get strikes lol
If you want a different reaction then just have it drilled differently. The Madness is close to the Marauder oil-wise than the Terror (it's actually right between them). Either way, you will love it so enjoy!

[zman1974]

Well, it's only my second. Hell, it's only the 4th ball I've ever owned lol. Still experimenting and getting my feet wet. Will be interesting to see what the solid vs. hybrid will do for me. Can always add a Hell Raiser or Nightmare series ball later on.