Took the plunge!

[Cajun]

Finally bought my first ball!!

Just getting into this sport... Went ahead and bought a Ebonite Maxim. Having never really played before except for fun over the years here and there. Looking to take it serious for league play and hopefully some local tournaments.....

Do yall think this was a good buy for a beginner?

Plannin on learning the fundamentals and upgrading much later and use the Maxim as a Spare ball....

Opinions?

[Bradski9]

Do you plan on throwing it straight for awhile before learning to hook it or do you plan on diving right in ? you can't really make a bad choice when it comes to plastic bowling balls and they make great spare balls when you do get that aggressive ball.

[fortheloveofbowling]

Congratulations on your first ball and i hope you enjoy our great sport! The maxim really is a entry level ball and will make a good spare ball for you as your game progresses. Because it is a entry level ball you won't see a lot of motion from it but that is ok. Starting out you really want to work on developing your balance and a good approach. As that gets better all aspects of your game will improve. Since you are just starting out you might consider finding a certified coach and also take some minor tips from some experienced players. You can find certified coaches in your area on bowl.com i believe. Good luck and keep us updated with your bowling!

[Mike White]

Finally bought my first ball!!

Just getting into this sport... Went ahead and bought a Ebonite Maxim. Having never really played before except for fun over the years here and there. Looking to take it serious for league play and hopefully some local tournaments.....

Do yall think this was a good buy for a beginner?

Plannin on learning the fundamentals and upgrading much later and use the Maxim as a Spare ball....

Opinions?

Perfect decision.

It's much easier to learn to hook the ball after you've developed the fundamentals, than it is to develop the fundamentals after you've learned to hook the ball.

Just concentrate on walking smooth, and rolling the ball.

Work on making spares be expected, and strikes be a bonus.

Then you are ready to advance to a modern ball to make strikes more common.

Just remember to always practice those spares as you progress.

[Cajun]

Thanks yall..

I have a very slight natural hook with house balls..

Right now my main focus is not to let me wrist break on my backswing and release. as well as being able to consistently roll straight.

Last saturday morning I did 7 games. 117-154-103-151-97-95-135.

I know my approach could use some fixing but watching videos of the pros and seeing the variety of players and how they roll is helping.. Main thing is balance and being comfortable right?

So much to learn... plenty of time to do it!

[MICHAEL]

Finally bought my first ball!!

Just getting into this sport... Went ahead and bought a Ebonite Maxim. Having never really played before except for fun over the years here and there. Looking to take it serious for league play and hopefully some local tournaments.....

Do yall think this was a good buy for a beginner?

Plannin on learning the fundamentals and upgrading much later and use the Maxim as a Spare ball....

Opinions?

It all starts out with the First Ball!! Yes, almost 4 years ago I was new to the sport, but now I own almost 20 balls, and am a Bowling God! LOL
A great adventure, and fun lays before you ,,, ENJOY the Ride!!

p.s. Its never too late, I got started at 62, now 66!! As in Route 66, just did that this last September on my birthday, rode my bike to Vegas, and took on another soon to
be bowling god on this site! ASLAN! I won't go into the details, but lets just say: "it wasn't pretty!!! (:)

[got_a_300]

Yeah you can't go wrong with a plastic ball to learn the game
with and as Mike White said learn to make those spares first
and all of the fundamentals of the game and then move on up
to a more aggressive ball and then the strikes will come a little
more often for you.

[Aslan]

Do yall think this was a good buy for a beginner?

Plannin on learning the fundamentals and upgrading much later and use the Maxim as a Spare ball....

Opinions?

No.

I'd have went with an entry level reactive ball like a Storm Tropical Breeze or Rotogrip Outcry. Maybe a Hammer Arson Low Flare. Or even a Ebonite Cyclone or Pyramid Chosen Path or Motiv Ascent. A Columbia Freeze or Eruption.

All low end reactives. Symmetric cores. Relatively inexpensive. They won't move much. They won't magnify your release inconsistencies. But they'll move a little, they'll carry better, and they'll give you a better path into the pocket.

The advantage of what you did, is you certainly will learn the game…you'll leave LOTS of spares…so thats LOTS of spare practice. And YES…you no have a spare ball for later.

But the DIS advantage to this strategy is you're really going to struggle out of the gate to score higher than the 150s. Hopefully that won't negatively affect your enthusiasm. AND, there's a high probability that you will decide to upgrade sooner than you would had you went with an entry level reactive ball. You could use a ball like a Strike King or Tropical Breeze…watch your average go from the 120s to the 160s…throw a couple 200 games…and it would work fine for spare shooting as well. Then, much later, when you decide to upgrade…you get a stronger ball and a plastic ball for spares.

And you mention "tournaments". You'll get laughed at throwing a plastic ball in tournaments. You'd have to find a handicap tournament that gives generous handicap…which are few and far between. And even if you do…you'll be the only guy throwing a plastic ball as a strike ball.

Is it the "RIGHT" way to do it? As a sort of fan of "the old days"…I think everyone should start with a plastic ball until they've gotten to 60% on single-pin spares. Develop the basics. Get a spare shooting system down and get it effective. Then…entry level reactive to learn to hook properly…plastic ball for spares. But that takes a level of patience and dedication I don't think anyone truly has anymore. Nowadays a bowler buys a plastic ball…struggles to break 100 in a few games…can't seem to strike…and after 3 weeks buys a Storm Optimus or RotoGrip Hyper Cell.

And that leads me to my final piece of advice. WHEN you make the upgrade….depending on how patient you are…DON'T get a ball with an asymmetric core. You're going to be tempted to get something top of the line…asymmetric. DON'T. You need to get your release perfected before going down that route. The asymmetric core balls will amplify your inconsistencies. A reliable, yet strong, symmetric core ball will be your best bet. And the Storm Hy Road is not "probably", but undoubtably the most reliable choice.

[Cajun]

Thanks.


My pro shop guy had suggested a Reactive at first when I asked about getting my first ball... Cost wasnt bad and not that much higher than the Maxim. But he recomended I go with plastic to learn on first. Honestly he saved me some cash and fitted me for the ball which should come in this week.

They have some handicap tournaments here bout once-twice a month. Im not looking for glory lol.. more so to have fun.......

[J Anderson]

No.

I'd have went with an entry level reactive ball like a Storm Tropical Breeze or Rotogrip Outcry. Maybe a Hammer Arson Low Flare. Or even a Ebonite Cyclone or Pyramid Chosen Path or Motiv Ascent. A Columbia Freeze or Eruption.

All low end reactives. Symmetric cores. Relatively inexpensive. They won't move much. They won't magnify your release inconsistencies. But they'll move a little, they'll carry better, and they'll give you a better path into the pocket.

The advantage of what you did, is you certainly will learn the game…you'll leave LOTS of spares…so thats LOTS of spare practice. And YES…you no have a spare ball for later.

But the DIS advantage to this strategy is you're really going to struggle out of the gate to score higher than the 150s. Hopefully that won't negatively affect your enthusiasm. AND, there's a high probability that you will decide to upgrade sooner than you would had you went with an entry level reactive ball. You could use a ball like a Strike King or Tropical Breeze…watch your average go from the 120s to the 160s…throw a couple 200 games…and it would work fine for spare shooting as well. Then, much later, when you decide to upgrade…you get a stronger ball and a plastic ball for spares.

And you mention "tournaments". You'll get laughed at throwing a plastic ball in tournaments. You'd have to find a handicap tournament that gives generous handicap…which are few and far between. And even if you do…you'll be the only guy throwing a plastic ball as a strike ball.

Is it the "RIGHT" way to do it? As a sort of fan of "the old days"…I think everyone should start with a plastic ball until they've gotten to 60% on single-pin spares. Develop the basics. Get a spare shooting system down and get it effective. Then…entry level reactive to learn to hook properly…plastic ball for spares. But that takes a level of patience and dedication I don't think anyone truly has anymore. Nowadays a bowler buys a plastic ball…struggles to break 100 in a few games…can't seem to strike…and after 3 weeks buys a Storm Optimus or RotoGrip Hyper Cell.

And that leads me to my final piece of advice. WHEN you make the upgrade….depending on how patient you are…DON'T get a ball with an asymmetric core. You're going to be tempted to get something top of the line…asymmetric. DON'T. You need to get your release perfected before going down that route. The asymmetric core balls will amplify your inconsistencies. A reliable, yet strong, symmetric core ball will be your best bet. And the Storm Hy Road is not "probably", but undoubtably the most reliable choice.

This is the last answer I'd expect to hear from you Aslan. Are you just incapable of agreeing with Mike W. about anything?


"And you mention "tournaments". You'll get laughed at throwing a plastic ball in tournaments. You'd have to find a handicap tournament that gives generous handicap…which are few and far between. And even if you do…you'll be the only guy throwing a plastic ball as a strike ball." Really? Are we back in middle school or junior high school when we thought "everyone" was watching us like hawks to catch us doing something dorky? My advice is for Cajun to sign up for some tournaments as soon as he has an established average (usually >21games in a sanctioned league) and some confidence that his skills are improving.

[Cajun]

This is the last answer I'd expect to hear from you Aslan. Are you just incapable of agreeing with Mike W. about anything?


"And you mention "tournaments". You'll get laughed at throwing a plastic ball in tournaments. You'd have to find a handicap tournament that gives generous handicap…which are few and far between. And even if you do…you'll be the only guy throwing a plastic ball as a strike ball." Really? Are we back in middle school or junior high school when we thought "everyone" was watching us like hawks to catch us doing something dorky? My advice is for Cajun to sign up for some tournaments as soon as he has an established average (usually >21games in a sanctioned league) and some confidence that his skills are improving.

Its all good J.

Everyone is entitled to their opinions and you jsut have to take them all with a grain of salt..


I can kinda relate to this with Pool.

I shot pool for about 12 years... serious pool.....gambling and tournaments. Just same thing could be had with seeing a guy gamble for $500 with a $45 production made stick compare to his opponent using a $1200 custom made cue......and the guy with the cheapsie coming out winner!.

But I wont take it personal... Im hear to learn and perhaps if Im lucky...get decent :).


Half the league players and people in this area use Plastic.... so if anything.. Im just a new face ;)....and when they arent looking..... I will sneak in and rob the tournament :)

[Aslan]

"And you mention "tournaments". You'll get laughed at throwing a plastic ball in tournaments. You'd have to find a handicap tournament that gives generous handicap…which are few and far between. And even if you do…you'll be the only guy throwing a plastic ball as a strike ball." Really? Are we back in middle school or junior high school when we thought "everyone" was watching us like hawks to catch us doing something dorky?

Yes. We only thought we left middle school/high school behind us. It's still there. And even JAnderson knows that. Everyone know that.

No? Then why don't we just wear boxer shorts and sweat pants? I mean, boxers and sweatpants…VERY comfy! Weddings, Funerals, job interviews…I mean, if we're truly not concerned about how others view us.

Don't care. Please. Billion dollar industries exist globally that ONLY exist…because what others think is still important to us.