Is my equipment right for me?

[Jaescrub]

I have three 15lb Balls as if right now A Dv8 Misfit, Dv8 brutal nightmare and an old C300 wrath XP. I have been having som troubles as of late with aiming and have never been able to get any revs on my release. All my balls spin like a up side down shell. I was thinking my thumb holes might be big. My teammate that I gave the hammer cold blood I won to had our proshop guy put my size finger tips into a old storm eraser psb? Ball he has. The thumb hole is super tight but comes off clean it's drilled pin down middle of fingers "he's a lefty" has about 1000+ games on it and is a 16lb ball. It feels just like a 15 to me comes off clean, rolls right and I can get it to make a slight hook. Shot way better then the last 5 weeks using my equipment! So I'm guessing I need tighter thumb holes but do I need to move up to 16lb?

[Mike White]

I have three 15lb Balls as if right now A Dv8 Misfit, Dv8 brutal nightmare and an old C300 wrath XP. I have been having som troubles as of late with aiming and have never been able to get any revs on my release. All my balls spin like a up side down shell. I was thinking my thumb holes might be big. My teammate that I gave the hammer cold blood I won to had our proshop guy put my size finger tips into a old storm eraser psb? Ball he has. The thumb hole is super tight but comes off clean it's drilled pin down middle of fingers "he's a lefty" has about 1000+ games on it and is a 16lb ball. It feels just like a 15 to me comes off clean, rolls right and I can get it to make a slight hook. Shot way better then the last 5 weeks using my equipment! So I'm guessing I need tighter thumb holes but do I need to move up to 16lb?

Can you elaborate on the "my balls spin like a up side down shell"

It sounds like you're have a high tilt release. (I'm making that assumption)

It may be that not only do you need a tighter thumb hole, but you also need a ball with a layout that will burn off high tilt quickly, then stay in the hook phase long enough to create entry angle.

The Pin Down would increase the length of the hook phase, hopefully ending after the end of the oil, but before the pins.
Middle of the fingers to me sounds like the Pin to Pap distance is longer than optimal for you on a symmetrical ball.
That would cause the ball to start the hook phase too close to the end of the oil pattern.

After drilling, a coarse adjustment would be the location of a balance hole to control the length of the skid phase.
A fine adjustment would be sanding/polishing the ball to control the length of the skid phase.

[Jaescrub]

On my Equipment when you watch the ball it goes straight has lil to no "hook" and looks like it's spinning like a top, not like what I see with other bowlers in that the inserts are off to the side and get smaller as the ball makes it's move to the pocket. That help?

[dnhoffman]

From the top spin, and the fit issues you've described - it sounds like you're gripping the ball.

Having the right fit on your thumb and a relaxed hand is crucial to the release if you want tilt and rotation.

[J Anderson]

Sounds like you're trying to hard to make the ball hook instead of letting it hook. With the junior bowlers, when they go to make the transition from going straight to throwing a curve, many of them try so hard to hook the ball they wind up coming around the side of the ball and spinning it.

[Jaescrub]

No matter what I do the release looks the same :-/ I do know I need to fix the thumb now but don't know about making the jump to 16lb

[Stormed1]

I would say get the ball to fit correctly and see what happens first. Your Wrath is similar in dtrength to the Eraser PBT and your Nightmare is a much stronger ball

[Aslan]

Is it round? Is it a bowling ball weighing 14-16lbs? Then it's perfectly fine equipment.

The great thing about bowling balls...is they are completely bound by the laws of physics...and thus cannot (by definition) be "wrong". If they are behaving a way that is contrary to what you desire...you need to throw them differently.

I mean, if you're throwing a house ball...thats different. But a reactive resin ball drilled for your hand...it doesn't matter what brand is stamped on it, how it smells, or what color it is...it can be thrown in a way to knock down 10 pins. Bowling ball companies like to try and make it seem like their balls are more dominant than the other guy's line-up...but thats pretty much just malarky.

[tr33frog]

When you release the ball, try keeping your hand under the ball and drive your hand up to a hand shaking position as the ball is already starting to come off. It really sounds like you are releasing on the top of the ball and turning your hand like you are trying to screw the ball into the ground. When the ball comes off your hand, where are your fingers pointed? Try not following threw, and if your fingers are pointed down when the ball comes off it is you need to fix your release.

[e-tank]

When you release the ball, try keeping your hand under the ball and drive your hand up to a hand shaking position as the ball is already starting to come off. It really sounds like you are releasing on the top of the ball and turning your hand like you are trying to screw the ball into the ground. When the ball comes off your hand, where are your fingers pointed? Try not following threw, and if your fingers are pointed down when the ball comes off it is you need to fix your release.

i agree with this. I had an issue with spinning the ball like a dradle a few months ago. I wasnt staying underneath the ball and i was coming around the side of the ball with my hand instead of driving through it. The 16lb ball also might be making you slow down your speed a bit, the tighter thumb may be keeping you underneath the ball and for longer. Lastly, i believe the eraser is a particle ball which has more traction than any other coverstock. I would keep using the eraser to create muscle memory than take that muscle memory and see if you still get the same results using your own equipment

[Jaescrub]

Thanks to every one for the info Etank I'll do that I know I need to get my other balls thumb holes fixed ASAP. Aslan I don't think you even took the time to read my post. I was asking about the Lbs of the balls I own and the type of ball in relation to my "spinning" problems aka bad release.

[e-tank]

Thanks to every one for the info Etank I'll do that I know I need to get my other balls thumb holes fixed ASAP. Aslan I don't think you even took the time to read my post. I was asking about the Lbs of the balls I own and the type of ball in relation to my "spinning" problems aka bad release.

Idk what your plan is to change the holes but you could just put a slug or an interchangeable thumb in there to save money on plugging and redrilling a hole

[Aslan]

Aslan I don't think you even took the time to read my post. I was asking about the Lbs of the balls I own and the type of ball in relation to my "spinning" problems aka bad release.

Ohhhhh...!! Okay. Yeah, I went down to the first post on the page; didn't see the page before it. My bad.

[tr33frog]

Thanks to every one for the info Etank I'll do that I know I need to get my other balls thumb holes fixed ASAP. Aslan I don't think you even took the time to read my post. I was asking about the Lbs of the balls I own and the type of ball in relation to my "spinning" problems aka bad release.

You may already understand this from some of the other posts, but in general you should be able to pick up just about any ball and get the right rotation on it if you can get your fingers in it. The issue has nothing to do with your equipment or the weight of it. I don't want you wasting money when it really sounds like it is the way you throw your ball. Good luck!

[Jaescrub]

I know that much but if a 16lb feels the same as a 15 to me should I stick with my 15lb or move up to 16lb and use that? What's the best?

[Stormed1]

An improperly fitted ball can cause many problems such as topping it due to your need to "grab" the ball yo hang on to it

[tr33frog]

Really, from what I have read there isn't much difference, I've heard there are advantages/disdvantages to both. I switched from 16 to 15 a year ago and really haven't noticed any noticible difference in the way they hit. Personally, I'd go with the heavier ball when you need to upgrade, but I wouldn't sweat it.

[tr33frog]

Thinking about it an extra minute, I would add that until you get your hand underneath the ball consistently, you don't really know the weight you can handle. If you find yourself cheating a lot with hand on top, or even hand off to the side to early, then moving up is just going to make it harder.

Stormed1 - I see your point with a heavier ball, though I think your cheat would be to roll your hand off to the side early instead of coming all the way over to spinning it like a top. Seems that would be a completly different motion.

[Aslan]

I know that much but if a 16lb feels the same as a 15 to me should I stick with my 15lb or move up to 16lb and use that? What's the best?

The age old philosophy was to throw the heaviest ball you could comfortably control…which is why most every pro throws 16lbs. A heavier ball gives you more pin carry.

However, some new philosophies on the subject are that while a 16lb may give you more pin carry…a 14lb ball may give you more pin carry in terms of "deflection".

I have a 15lb ball now. I plan to move up to a 16lb and give it a try. I might even get a 14lb ball and try that out. I'm nervous about moving to 16 because my move from 14-15 was noticeable…more so than I thought it would be. So I'm scared that after buying about 5 16lb bowling balls…I may use one and have to start Ebaying the rest if it doesn't go well. :(

[dnhoffman]

I went back through this whole thread and I still think your primary problem is that your are coming around the ball too much (vice staying behind it) from either gripping the ball, over compensating, and/or poor mechanics.

I highly suggest that you find a certified coach (preferably associated with an IBPSIA association) and work with them on many of these issues.

1) Proper fit
2) Equipment matchup (including proper weight)
3) Release
4) Body mechanics

You can find a coach at www.bowl.com

[Stormed1]

Asian, Actually now days MOST pro's throw 15# equipment.I know Norm Duke still throws 16 but he told me that he's kind of the odd man out there

[noeymc]

prob coming over top of your ball

[e-tank]

Asian, Actually now days MOST pro's throw 15# equipment.I know Norm Duke still throws 16 but he told me that he's kind of the odd man out there

i heard some were making a move back to 16? I forgot where it read it though

[Aslan]

Asian, Actually now days MOST pro's throw 15# equipment.I know Norm Duke still throws 16 but he told me that he's kind of the odd man out there

I know 15lb is the most popular for male players…has been for awhile. But I thought pros were still throwing 16lbs.

ETA: I'm not asian.

[e-tank]

I know 15lb is the most popular for male players…has been for awhile. But I thought pros were still throwing 16lbs.

ETA: I'm not asian.

3 months later, the asian thing still gets me lol :D

[Hampe]

3 months later, the asian thing still gets me lol :D
Haha....me too.