too slow & old to throw newer gen balls,

[nevergiveup]

Old guy, good bowler, and break 230's with ancient rubber ball but can't even begin to throw the reactive stuff. I need a ball to get me over the consistent hump so I can go for the CanAm games. I throw about 12 to 13 mph and can force a bit more at the risk of bottoming out of energy too soon. I'm amputeed below the left knee so I walk to the line and throw with a one step delivery. This eliminates ALL approach problems and doesn't cost much in speed over what I used to develop. I've been oversold all brands of balls and have given them all away to military trainees where I practice. I'm shopping for the performance rubber balls of the 70's and 80's on the internet but no luck so far. I did buy a 13lb Manhattan that I am waiting for but don't expect much from it. I've lately had a thought about trying an even lighter used reactive ball, 10-12 lbs., that I can really send down the lanes with a lot of revs on it and just see what happens. I throw a revved up 12 lb. Ebonite Proline straight ball from the right corner to the pocket and it skates over any kind of oil and hits fairly hard. But rubber balls are super touchy about the impact point; just a hair off is the difference between a strike or an ugly split. I hope to find a good used 12 or 13lb. Black Angle and try that out. I don't need a super hooker for I throw with left momentum added to my swing plane so that .it delivers the ball not far away from where it needs to hook in for the final penetration angle. Appreciate any informed advice from experienced adapters. (You gotta do what you gotta do!) I'm also asking for a line on these hard to find old balls that aren't as aggressive as todays are. I don't want these balls that do it all themselves. I want to drive, not ride.

[LyalC52]

the great thing about bowling, is there is a place for everyone
I hope you find what you are looking for

several years ago, i bowled in a league with an amputee
he took a little hop with his swing, low revs and low speed, but deadly accurate
he was throwing a mix of polyurethane and reactive
his gear had very little hook in it, just rolled up into the pocket

[Stormed1]

When I was bowling with a cast on my right foot my ball speed was in the 10-11 mph range. Now days my speed is in the 12-13 mph range. What balls will work varies based on the center and a out of friction present on the lane bed. With your slower speed on THS you will need to move in and find some oil to be able to throw resin. My recomendation would be an Ascent Pearl with a weaker drilling as it uses the same shape core in 12# as it does in heavier weights. I have mine drilled 65x4.5x65. I picked the ball up used and left the same layout in it. As a result it is a little stronger than I was looking for. I will be re drilling it this summer to 70x5.5x50 to allow me to play much straighter

[Jessiewoodard57]

First of all Welcome to the boards. I am old and warn out myself (I actually bowl from a wheelchair) even though when I was younger I threw a 16# ball I have had to drop to 13# to save my shoulder. I Just picked up a 13# Storm Ride and am loving it ..It is rather tame as reactive balls go but so am I (even though I am looking at a Crux Pearl) depending if I come off the back of the ball or the side determines the hook or lack of so It works well as a spare ball too. Best of luck too you and just enjoy.

[Aslan]

Not sure why you're having as much trouble with the reactive balls as you are at 13mph. I've seen elderly, 9-10mph bowlers throw everything from Cyclones to the pearl Optimus and the can get to the pocket.

[Mike White]

Not sure why you're having as much trouble with the reactive balls as you are at 13mph. I've seen elderly, 9-10mph bowlers throw everything from Cyclones to the pearl Optimus and the can get to the pocket.

Probably because you missed the part where he said "I throw a revved up 12 lb. Ebonite Proline"

With revs, the ball doesn't lose it's angle of axis rotation as fast as a low rev bowler.

When the elderly that throws 9-10 mph, the ball loses is axis of rotation almost the instantly when it exits the oil pattern, so it doesn't change direction much.

With an older ball (rubber/plastic/polished urethane) the friction between the lane and the ball is quite low compared to resin balls.

This allows the older ball to slide forward towards the pins much further after leaving the oil pattern compared to resin.

For me, a resin ball snaps left the moment it exits the oil, which is fine if I don't mind occasionally hitting the 7 pin, while ending in the gutter the rest of the time.

[Aslan]

Probably because you missed the part where he said "I throw a revved up 12 lb. Ebonite Proline"

So he's essentially throwing a light plastic ball thumbless…like I would if I was messing around with a house ball. Kinda like Mark Roth used to throw it?

I mean…your revs are near 400…and you have a fair amount of ball speed…but nothing insane. And you can keep a urethane or plastic ball right on most patterns. So, in other words, I think if he's revving it up crazy and the ball is too reactive…either:

A) Don't rev it up so much. Change some of the axis rotation to axis tilt…
OR
B) Downgrade from urethane to plastic…experiment with polishing, etc…

The hardest thing with older players is you really have very little you can do to manipulate "speed". Nobody wants to be the one to tell an older player to increase ball weight or speed…because it could result in an injury that ends the person's bowling career. So you have to manipulate either revolutions or the ball.

I've rarely seen anyone outside MikeW that can't keep a reactive ball right of the headpin. And he could fix that with a change to his release or increased speed…but again…history of injury…you don't want to aggravate anything and end the career…especially when I'm on an undefeated streak against him in the ABHMAVZSCI!! :cool: