Monte
02-16-2015, 04:31 PM
Ok, as it stands, I do think that when I upgrade, I'm going with 15# equipment, based on the other thread I started (http://www.bowlingboards.com/threads/18034-Ball-weight-16-vs-15-and-mix-n-match).
That said, I have not bowled with very many different BRANDS of bowling balls.
Back when I was in Junior Leagues (a LONG time ago), I bowled with a 12# Columbia 300 Yellow Dot. Shot my first 200, and my first 250+ with that ball.
Then somehow or another, I acquired a black Hammer (back when they were Faball, I believe). I think this one had a "pancake" core, or at least that's what I was told. I think it was given to me.
I stuck with that for the longest time, until just recently when I bought my Elite Traitor. My "spare" ball is an older Brunswick Reactive BKH5318, which I believe is discontinued.
With guitars (I play guitar a little bit) it's easy. I can just go in the music store, pick a few up, and play them. I can go into Guitar Center and pick up a $1,000 Les Paul, and compare it to a $1,000 Stratocaster. Or I can pick up a $700 Ovation and compare it to a $700 Martin.
With Bowling balls, I can't do that.
The big issue I have is that a lot of the high-performance balls are comparably priced, and they all market themselves as "the best" on the market...
My cousin likes the Motiv brand, I believe. I'm not sure he'd know why if I asked him.
I'm honestly not sure which direction to go. I really don't have the money laying around (and the Mrs. probably wouldn't be too happy) to buy one of each brand, drill it, and see if I like it. I suppose I'm partial to Hammer because I had one for such a long time, but I don't want to eliminate other brands simply because I don't know much about them.
Right now, with my Elite Traitor, I lay the ball down (on a house shot at my local center) anywhere from 12-14, float it out to about 8, and have it hook in from there.
I don't necessarily have to/want to take this line. Depending on oil, I may play a little more inside or outside, obviously.
When I got my Traitor drilled, the pro shop guy didn't really look at a drill sheet or really ask me what kind of reaction I wanted. He just took measurements, and started using those drilling tools (that arc ruler and such) to draw the lines on my ball. So when I get new equipment, I may either bring a drill sheet with me, and say "This one", or take it to a different pro shop.
But I digress.
So I'm really up in the air on what brands to look into.
For example, why is a hook rating of, say, 250 (on a 300 scale) for a Brunswick product better/worse than a 250 hook rating for Ebonite or Hammer?
I'm not sure if I need a skid/flip reaction, or something a little more smooth. And if multiple products offer both, what's the real difference in which one I choose?
I'd really only be using the equipment for recreational/open bowling (no leagues or anything like that at this time).
Thoughts, please?
That said, I have not bowled with very many different BRANDS of bowling balls.
Back when I was in Junior Leagues (a LONG time ago), I bowled with a 12# Columbia 300 Yellow Dot. Shot my first 200, and my first 250+ with that ball.
Then somehow or another, I acquired a black Hammer (back when they were Faball, I believe). I think this one had a "pancake" core, or at least that's what I was told. I think it was given to me.
I stuck with that for the longest time, until just recently when I bought my Elite Traitor. My "spare" ball is an older Brunswick Reactive BKH5318, which I believe is discontinued.
With guitars (I play guitar a little bit) it's easy. I can just go in the music store, pick a few up, and play them. I can go into Guitar Center and pick up a $1,000 Les Paul, and compare it to a $1,000 Stratocaster. Or I can pick up a $700 Ovation and compare it to a $700 Martin.
With Bowling balls, I can't do that.
The big issue I have is that a lot of the high-performance balls are comparably priced, and they all market themselves as "the best" on the market...
My cousin likes the Motiv brand, I believe. I'm not sure he'd know why if I asked him.
I'm honestly not sure which direction to go. I really don't have the money laying around (and the Mrs. probably wouldn't be too happy) to buy one of each brand, drill it, and see if I like it. I suppose I'm partial to Hammer because I had one for such a long time, but I don't want to eliminate other brands simply because I don't know much about them.
Right now, with my Elite Traitor, I lay the ball down (on a house shot at my local center) anywhere from 12-14, float it out to about 8, and have it hook in from there.
I don't necessarily have to/want to take this line. Depending on oil, I may play a little more inside or outside, obviously.
When I got my Traitor drilled, the pro shop guy didn't really look at a drill sheet or really ask me what kind of reaction I wanted. He just took measurements, and started using those drilling tools (that arc ruler and such) to draw the lines on my ball. So when I get new equipment, I may either bring a drill sheet with me, and say "This one", or take it to a different pro shop.
But I digress.
So I'm really up in the air on what brands to look into.
For example, why is a hook rating of, say, 250 (on a 300 scale) for a Brunswick product better/worse than a 250 hook rating for Ebonite or Hammer?
I'm not sure if I need a skid/flip reaction, or something a little more smooth. And if multiple products offer both, what's the real difference in which one I choose?
I'd really only be using the equipment for recreational/open bowling (no leagues or anything like that at this time).
Thoughts, please?