Do you own more than 6 balls? [Archive]

NewToBowling

11-30-2015, 06:07 PM

I own 5 (4 strike and one spare)

Ebonite Cyclone = first ball ever. Now it's beat up and sits in the basement
900 Global Respect = purchased because it has cool colors (hey, I'm shallow sometimes). But now is my benchmark ball and use it exclusively most of the time
Unhinged = won here. Use it sparingly. Sits in locker at alley in case I want to just drop by and bowl
Spare ball = enough said
Haywire = purchased due to great deal locally. Am working on making it more usable for me and the lanes I play on. Verdict is still out.

Honestly, I don't see myself buying another ball for a long time (years). The balls I have now work fine for me and my game as I bowl exclusively at one alley and no need to really ball up.

Average first league = 160
Average second and current league = 183 with high series of 697 (3 away from first 700 series)

vdubtx

11-30-2015, 06:21 PM

Yes, I have more than 6 balls. Some are retired though, so doesn't count.

I almost always carry 6 with me in my car, sometimes carry 7-8 with me in my car to tournaments.

Typical league I go in with just my 4 ball roller and 2 ball tote.

I will be getting 2 3 ball tournament totes soon and that will be my usual method of transport along with a 2 ball tote for tournaments.

It is probably over kill as I sometimes only use 2 balls(including spare) in a night depending on how I am doing and reaction I am getting.

I like having different options and each ball that I have reacts differently. Have some hook monsters and then others that help tame the lane for me. Then ball for really dry lanes that will still hook and hit with at least some authority.

I just got 2 new balls. One of them because it is a cross between two of my favorite balls and I like how it looked by some friends who have one as well. The other was bought on a whim to try a manufacturer out(Brunswick Nirvana) that I had not tried before.

Average this season is 231 in one house and 227 in another.

Blomer

11-30-2015, 06:29 PM

I have 7 including a spare ball. Two retired. One I won from here. My most recent purchase I needed something more aggressive. Average is 183 currently.

Timmyb

11-30-2015, 09:13 PM

I have six in the house (three retired), and four outside as lawn ornaments! One is an original LT48.

mc_runner

11-30-2015, 09:47 PM

I normally have 4 with me... a solid/early reading ball, a midrange ball, a pearl, plus a spare ball. Any more than that and I don't see any benefit, depending on the lanes one should work (if it doesn't its probably me, not the reaction). If you talk about retired balls I have more than 6 total but not really any point in considering them part of my current arsenal as they are worn out/not used now.

Edit... forgot a couple things you asked. I buy balls based on what I'm looking for them to do, plus the numbers (RG, diff). Don't care about what other people throw unless they are magically throwing with my release, but always worth it to hear "why" someone likes or dislikes a ball. Here's an example, everyone here who has one, and the people at my alley who have them love the new LT-48. Smooth, controllable, not overly aggressive, hits hard, etc. I have had it drilled, redrilled, messed with surface - just can't seem to get the right feel for it and really just don't like the ball all that much for my game. Would my experience be indicative of everyone else's? Definitely not, I do think it is a great ball, just not for me! Book avg. is a 200, down somewhat from there in leagues this fall.

AngieHall

12-01-2015, 12:29 AM

JasonNJ

12-01-2015, 01:40 AM

I have currently have 7 bowling balls but I only bring 4 with me at any one time. For me it was just trying to build an arsenal and get a good range of balls. I prefer pearl and high RG balls for the length they give me but I recently bought a C300 Swerve and won a Haywire from the site to complete the arsenal since I wanted to get some solid lower RG balls. I don't see myself buying another ball for a while. Below are the list of balls I currently own all of them are 15 lbs.

Rotogrip Unhinged - Pearl
Rotogrip Haywire - Solid
C300 Swerve - Solid
C300 Blur Pearl - Pearl
Storm Pitch Black - Urethane
Storm Mix - Pearl Urethane (spare ball)
Ebonite Pursuit-S - Hybrid (semi retired) Bought this on clearance last year when I got back into bowling.

I usually bring the Unhinged, Haywire, Blur Pearl and my mix with me for league and the Haywire and Unhinged are the first balls out of the ball depending on the lane conditions. Only averaging 181 right now after 11 weeks, hoping to get it to around 200 by the end of the season.

Amyers

12-01-2015, 09:19 AM

I currently own 8 but 2 are retired and 2 are semiretired or test balls. I usually take 2 strike balls and 1 spare ball to league except my travel league where you aren't familiar with the lanes or the conditions then I take 4 strike balls and one spare. I bowl on quite a bit variable conditions between my houses (2 wood and 2 synthetic 2 of the houses have newer oil machines that put out consistent patterns one of the houses has a 1970's freak show of a machine that you never know what it's going to do) so I have to be able to have some adjustability in my equipment.

Current Averages 170-197 depending on the house.

SAbowler

12-01-2015, 12:19 PM

I have 5 balls currently, 4 of which I use regularly. I had 7 or 8, but a few of them cracked, so I pitched 'em in the trash. Luckily the ones that cracked were not in my current rotation.

fokai73

12-01-2015, 12:33 PM

I don't know what "NIB" means. I only have 2 balls though. I have a Karma Solid and I have a Pyramid Blueprint. My average has gone down to 118. This is due to rheumatoid arthritis in my thumbs though, as it is difficult to grip right now and I drop the ball a lot.

NIB means New In Box, basically it's short for new ball. karma is a good ball!

Good luck searching for a solution for your RA. I'm sure there's is one for you so you can bowl and not drop it and/or bowl with pain. I'm 43 and I have OA, my sister was 45 when diagnosed with RA. I had my span redone and I bowl pain free. Plus, I also changed my diet completely..... good luck and good bowling.

Tony

12-01-2015, 12:54 PM

I have exactly 6 bowling balls, 2 are 15lb and rarely use them anymore,(Brunswick Fury pearl. Hyper cell skid) of the others 3 are strike balls and one is a spare ball.
I usually bring 3 balls, 2 strike balls and the spare ball.

Primary strike ball Hy-road 4000 no polish
Spare ball DV8 black oob

Ball for dry / less hook DV8 outcast oob

Ball for more hook DV8 Diva Divine oob

Next ball will probably be a pearl ball of some type. Possibly a Hy-road Pearl.

foreverincamo

12-01-2015, 03:10 PM

foreverincamo

12-01-2015, 03:12 PM

and Brunswick Gold Rhino Vintage. I average 208 at a very tough old house with the original wood lanes from 1962.

bobforsaken

12-01-2015, 05:10 PM

I own more than 6. As for NIB balls I have
Cyclone, IQ Tour Fusion, Optimus, Tropical Breeze, and Thug Unruly.
Cyclone was my first ball and is a locker queen now, in case I want to stop by on my lunch break.
The IQ Fusion and Optimus were bought as part of a 10 week "buy a ball league" where they were heavily discounted and drilled for free. Tropical Breeze was a birthday gift to fill a need when the lanes are all burnt. The Unruly was the ball of choice for a "Ball upgrade" to the Brunswick Minicamp I attended last year.

I also bought used a Hyroad and Hyroad Pearl as a package deal. I Ebay'd a Marvel Pearl and Marvel S, Used.

My current Arsenal for League is:
Hyroad, Hyroad Pearl, Marvel Pearl, Marvel S. With a Joey bag carrying either my Optimus or Tropical Breeze
Spare Ball is in the Locker.

The IQ Tour Fusion is just for Sport Conditions at this point. The Thug Unruly is waiting for a right condition.

The Breeze and Hyroad(s) I bought because there were times the Optimus and Fusion were just too much ball for the lane condition.

The Marvel Pearl I bought because they retired it and I wanted one. It ended up being my favorite ball and I wasn't liking the Thug Unruly for my heavy oil ball so I bought a Marvel S on Ebay.

I average 186 currently... I've been really struggling the last 2 months.

Aslan

12-01-2015, 07:47 PM

:cool:

why?
:confused:

Are you addicted to NIB's?
No. Although, I'm as guilty as anyone of an occasional binge buy.

Do you think the next NIB will increase your scores long term?
Nope. Nothing but the "Gift" can do that.

Because the guy on TV or at your local house averages 225 with it?
Sometimes I might see a ball in use on the PBA and think I'd like to give it a try. But generally I have no idea what the 215 average bowlers are using. Probably Hyper Cells or really old Storm balls.

And, what is your average?
See signature.

I'm must curious what you folks on this board have or do?
I try to create a 4-ball arsenal (+ 1 spare ball) and that's primarily just because I have a 4-ball roller with a joey. But usually I end up with an extra ball somehow. Last year it was me trying my Encounter Project and this year RobM game me one he didn't like. So I'm back to lugging the 2-ball shoulder bag and 4-ball roller.

I actually OWN an additional 5 used/retired balls (would be 7, but two cracked recently). I have 1 old Columbia300 Blue Knight that belonged to my Grandpa that I carry in my trunk just in case I need to bowl somewhere on short notice. And I have...wait for it....wait for it....an additional 9-11 (can't remember) balls that are undrilled/NIB. All of those were purchased at a fairly severe discount...only one of my bowling balls cost more than $79.99 shipped...one of them was free (won it on bowlingboards)...one I did buy on bowlingball.com last year at this time for like $105.99 shipped.

Why? I figure eventually I'll need to retire the current arsenal...might as well buy pieces at a discount...keep em until I need them. So far, none of the undrilled ones have cracked. But I have slowed down my buying frenzy as of late...I was starting to get so many with similar specs where they'd be difficult to put together in a useful way (arsenal-wise)...I thought I'd use up what I can. I also might be moving in 2016 and moving 20 bowling balls is a bit of an annoyance.

dnhoffman

12-01-2015, 09:12 PM

Aslan

12-01-2015, 09:53 PM

That being said, I battle myself not to buy a new ball every week...it's like red necks and sparkle finish speed boats...I just want em'.....

True dat. Although I'm not a redneck and I've always found sparkle finish amazing.

Also, that may have been the ***est thing I've ever said to date.

fokai73

12-02-2015, 12:54 AM

My turn...

Second shift league:
1. medium reactive
2. urethane
3. spare ball

210 ave.

NIB: 2009 hy-road (sold 2 other hy-roads) - I love the hy-roads

2 balls in a locker at the alley for a quick practice or side action after work.

Balls in a storage unit: Track Slash, Storm Depth Charge , Brunswick twisted fury, C300 Jazz, Roto Grip Clear tire, Ebonite TurboX and a V2.

Stormed1

12-02-2015, 01:47 AM

# of balls...... too many lol
I have a 4r ball arsenal + spare ball I take to league (Protocol,Forza,Cobra se, Wrecker). I also have a locker at the center with a Hook,Long Shot and my Rebel Tank for when we bowl the couple high rev teams and the lanes are torched by the third game. I have a second 4 ball bag set up for the other house I bowl in (2 Covert Revolts,Moxie,Respect)

Jessiewoodard57

12-02-2015, 08:38 AM

I finally got rid of all but 3 that I carry for a THS league, no reason for others.

Carry a primal rage, yeti uncaged, and mix spare - if you're bowling at a single house on THS and carry more than "strong, medium, spare" it is my opinion that you're kidding yourself....

That being said, I battle myself not to buy a new ball every week...it's like red necks and sparkle finish speed boats...I just want em'.....

Bowling ball idise I call I have the same problem with Storm and Roto Grip balls. Do I need another ball?? Like I need another hole in the head but I find myself wanting the Roto Grip Hectic

J Anderson

12-02-2015, 10:56 AM

Have 2 drilled for my left hand, although I usually just use the storm HyRoad for everything lefty.
Have 7 drilled for my right hand, two are definitely retired, one may back a brief return to action on the Cheetah pattern.
Generally, I only bring four balls to the alley.
I've had good luck with used balls, buying two from the local pro shop before they decided there wasn't enough profit in stocking them, and two that I'm still using from a friend.

Ptnomore

12-02-2015, 02:57 PM

I have accumulated 9 in 6 or so years. One has been in use for 30 years. A couple are very condition specific, and were just "fun" pieces to play with.

I typically take 4 with me to my to weekly league nights, including a dedicated spare ball. I feel like I NEED to bring all 9 with me just because from night to night, the lanes are so different at this house. It's pretty frustrating some nights.

But initially started (when I came back to bowling about 6 years ago) with a medium ball (Columbia 300 Freeze) which was my first finger tip ball also, and my old Columbia 300 White Dot I got when I was just 15 years old and that combo worked great for me for a couple of years while I was learning, getting pro coaching, getting my form and release under control.

Then the house started flooding the lanes making that Freeze pretty dang useless. So I purchased the Brunswick Wicked Siege, and did well with those two for a couple of years, then the lanes dried up and I couldn't keep those two on the lanes, so I got a Storm Natural.

I was set. had my 3 ball set up. Then I got bored. Started picking up a ball here and there just to try different ball motions (Hammer Taboo Jet Black, Hammer Arson Hybrid, Hammer Nail Smoke and Fire).

Then I experienced ball death, or so I thought, with the Wicked Siege. So I replaced that 2 years ago with the Motiv Cruel Intent. But then this year out of frustration with the league patterns this season, I pulled the Wicked Siege back out of retirement, and tried something different with the surface, and it worked great, even threw a 700 series (rare for me) with it. It worked, for a couple of weeks. And I did hear comments about "that old purple ball". Wierd. But then the pattern changed again.

My current league average is 197. Summer league I carried a solid 207 average the entire season.

I'm a skeptic. I never believed the hype of the ball advertisements, the video's or even league mates comments on the latest and greatest. I go into everything with my eyes wide open. When I buy a ball, I have a specific purpose in mind, not just cuz I'm hoping for better. My Dad is in his 70's and hasn't purchased a ball in almost 20 years. He still averages over 200, and still throws a solid 300 from time to time.

if I throw a bad game now, I know it's 100% my fault. Not the lane, not the ball, not the oil or the machine. It's me. I have the equipment and enough know how to over come whatever the lanes throw at me. For some conditions though, I know, I'm just not good enough. And I'm ok with it. But, I know from just dealing with my teammates, that that type of thinking is much too rare at league night.

Psychology goes a LONG way in this sport. When you lose confidence in your equipment, NOTHING will change it, short of time with a professional coach to prove you wrong ( and I have used that method a couple of times). But a new ball seems to cure so much, that logic just can't compete with. I see it way too much. And it's one of the VERY few things that frustrates me at league night with my team mates.

scottymoney

12-03-2015, 01:34 PM

I currently own 6

Motiv: Forza, Shock, Primal Rage, Tribal, Tag

Track 100P Spare Ball

At First it was buying because it was what I wanted, now I buy for what fits in my arsenal and what my needs are. I am looking at a Motiv Jackal or Maybe a Revolt Havoc next. But those are balls I am looking for to fill the need of something a bit more aggressive for longer/heavier oil patterns that I may face as I start bowling tournaments.

I currently average 199. After starting the year in a slump I have rebounded nicely and have not bowled under 600 for over 6 weeks now in this league.

I have learned enough about my game with taking a BowlU class over the summer. Part of the reason I had an early season slump was thinking too much, but after talking with Brad Angelo and working out what I was doing, I have been bowling very well. Well enough to catch the eye of some good bowlers and finding myself now bowling on a more competitive league. It is nice at times to have a few guys who you can talk to and discuss what is going on. 2 of the guys that happen to also work at the bowling alley as well as bowl with me now, have really given me a good support system to discuss and figure things out.

Knowing my equipment and the purpose of each ball as well as the differences between each allow me to make decent ball changes. Having multiple balls will get you nowhere especially when they all match or are built for the same purpose. I see so many guys with balls that all have the same surface, same RG cores and they wonder why ball changes do not work. I am one of those guys who shows up with 5 balls every night and hears the guys trying to joke how I have too many. But the scores don't lie, it works if you know what you are doing.

I have really only used NIB balls now as in most cases the used balls I want are not cheap enough to bother with, especially if you have to get them plugged and redrilled.

larry mc

12-04-2015, 12:54 AM

i have 17 and use them in different leagues ,, i just like trying new stuff and it doesnt hurt that my pso is a friend who gives me stuff and lets me pay it of in small increments ,

Lefty651

12-04-2015, 04:14 AM

I own 1. I'm far too poor to justify buying myself more although I would really like a spare ball sometime in the future. The ball i own now (Motiv Venom Panic) is not great for my style

TonyInPortland

12-07-2015, 10:12 AM

I own 7, but only actively use 4 at this time.

The 3 retired are: Columbia: The Beast & Black Chaos and Mor-Rich Minotaeur.

The 4 I take to league are: Radical Reax-2 & Reax Gusto, Storm Red Hot & Columbia Blue Dot spare ball.

I bought both Radical balls in the last 2 years and I am tempted to keep buying more new balls, but, for the conditions I am currently bowling on, it does not seem to be necessary. Both my leagues this year are in the same house, although one is a late league, the shots so far this year have not been that different. I have had success mostly using the Reax-2. The Gusto is still nearly brand new. The Red Hot I have not used this season. I only bring it in case the lanes end up being very dry, which I thought may happen in a late shift league, but so far, this has not been the case.

I have not bought any because of people on TV or other high average bowlers.

Current average is 204 in early league and 208 in late league.

Tony

12-07-2015, 10:20 AM

I have 9, of which 3 are still in their dusty boxes awaiting drilling. I just got two Hammerflage 3-ball totes so I can take my 6 drilled balls to league now. All are 16 pounders and all OOB surfaces.
Black Widow Legend, Brunswick Melee Cross and Platinum Pearl Ringer, DV8 Marauder Mutiny, Thug

I can't imagine waiting more than a few days before getting a newly acquired ball drilled and taking it out for a test drive!

vdubtx

12-07-2015, 01:23 PM

I can't imagine waiting more than a few days before getting a newly acquired ball drilled and taking it out for a test drive!

Go ask Aslan how many he has sitting in his closet waiting for a good time to introduce them to his arsenal. :cool:

Jessiewoodard57

12-07-2015, 01:35 PM

Go ask Aslan how many he has sitting in his closet waiting for a good time to introduce them to his arsenal. :cool:

From what I keep hearing about Aslan's bowling balls I think he could build a wall for a good size house with them.

manke

12-07-2015, 03:34 PM

I have 7 but take 3 with to league.

Aslan

12-07-2015, 06:45 PM

Go ask Aslan how many he has sitting in his closet waiting for a good time to introduce them to his arsenal. :cool:

1) I can only carry 6 at a time, and only have 2 hands, and only have one hand I can come close to bowling with....so having all 23 bowling balls drilled would serve relatively little purpose.

2) It cost me just over $1500 to purchase/acquire the 23 balls...it'll cost me over $1200 to drill them. Just cuz can I can afford to buy them...doesn't mean I can also afford to drill them.

3) I have a theory that much of the cracking of bowling balls has to do with the change to them post-drying/curing and after drilling. For a ball to crack without drilling, would theoretically/chemically be more difficult. Possible...for certain...and it's happened. But most balls that tend to crack do so after drilling and use. So....if I can keep them undrilled for a longer duration...it might prolong their life.

But yes....in retrospect...purchasing 21 in two years while only using 14 over that time....probably coulda "passed" on some of those bargains.

NewToBowling

12-07-2015, 07:30 PM

Yeah balls become less and less of a bargain when you have to spend another $70 to get it drilled. Which is why I was so excited to get free drilling on my Haywire

Ptnomore

12-08-2015, 10:50 AM

Yeah balls become less and less of a bargain when you have to spend another $70 to get it drilled. Which is why I was so excited to get free drilling on my Haywire

You guys need to find a house that includes drilling in their price of the ball. Mine does it such that he makes little to nothing on the ball, so his advertised prices include drilling and is usually very competitive if not cheaper than any place else. His prices usually beat the best price I can get online. But with that drilling come free surface adjustments, and hassle free returns if the ball should crack, discounted de-oiling, resurfacing and replacement finger inserts.

I only ever had to return one ball, and that was because after drilling, and bowling with it, I realized that it was a 14lb ball, when I ordered a 15lb ball. When we checked it, the ball was only 14 lbs, but was shipped in box marked "15lb". I've never had a ball crack in the 6 or 7 years that I've been back to bowling. The only ones that I have seen crack here were ones that were stored in the car.

Amyers

12-08-2015, 10:58 AM

You guys need to find a house that includes drilling in their price of the ball. Mine does it such that he makes little to nothing on the ball, so his advertised prices include drilling and is usually very competitive if not cheaper than any place else. His prices usually beat the best price I can get online. But with that drilling come free surface adjustments, and hassle free returns if the ball should crack, discounted de-oiling, resurfacing and replacement finger inserts.

I only ever had to return one ball, and that was because after drilling, and bowling with it, I realized that it was a 14lb ball, when I ordered a 15lb ball. When we checked it, the ball was only 14 lbs, but was shipped in box marked "15lb". I've never had a ball crack in the 6 or 7 years that I've been back to bowling. The only ones that I have seen crack here were ones that were stored in the car.

It varies by area but I can usually get a much better deal ordering from my PSO than ordering online then paying the PSO to drill unless the ball has been severely discounted. no supplies and thing like that I almost aways buy online.

NewToBowling

12-08-2015, 11:33 AM

You guys need to find a house that includes drilling in their price of the ball. Mine does it such that he makes little to nothing on the ball, so his advertised prices include drilling and is usually very competitive if not cheaper than any place else. His prices usually beat the best price I can get online. But with that drilling come free surface adjustments, and hassle free returns if the ball should crack, discounted de-oiling, resurfacing and replacement finger inserts.

I only ever had to return one ball, and that was because after drilling, and bowling with it, I realized that it was a 14lb ball, when I ordered a 15lb ball. When we checked it, the ball was only 14 lbs, but was shipped in box marked "15lb". I've never had a ball crack in the 6 or 7 years that I've been back to bowling. The only ones that I have seen crack here were ones that were stored in the car.

Pro shops price their balls competitively with online vendors. A Haywire is $129 local or online. You aren't saving any money. Pro shop will charge $50 to drill ball so that is $179 for drilled Haywire locally. Add $20 for grips/inserts and it jumps to $199.

So there is no discounted drilling. It's not like they're advertising $140 Haywire drilled. That would be a deal. But full disclosure I did get my Haywire drilled for $129 for Black Friday. But that is a definite loss leader for them.

taxexpert2

12-09-2015, 06:38 AM

Hmm. I have four balls in my apartment. Went to my son's house yesterday hunting for an old ball he had drilled as a spare to see if it would help me with the 10 pins I leave. Low and behold I found two older balls I had used way way long ago. I don't even remember one of them and it is in pretty good shape. The other one is realy beat up. So, I guess I "OWN" six balls. I found the spare ball my son had used so now I nominally own 7 balls. (Amazingly my son and I have very close drill patterns except my fingers are bigger than his - I can throw his balls comfortably but he can't throw mine). We will see tonight how this spare ball works out for me. I don't think he actually every used it but once or twice.

Tony

12-09-2015, 09:32 AM

1) I can only carry 6 at a time, and only have 2 hands, and only have one hand I can come close to bowling with....so having all 23 bowling balls drilled would serve relatively little purpose.

2) It cost me just over $1500 to purchase/acquire the 23 balls...it'll cost me over $1200 to drill them. Just cuz can I can afford to buy them...doesn't mean I can also afford to drill them.

3) I have a theory that much of the cracking of bowling balls has to do with the change to them post-drying/curing and after drilling. For a ball to crack without drilling, would theoretically/chemically be more difficult. Possible...for certain...and it's happened. But most balls that tend to crack do so after drilling and use. So....if I can keep them undrilled for a longer duration...it might prolong their life.

But yes....in retrospect...purchasing 21 in two years while only using 14 over that time....probably coulda "passed" on some of those bargains.

What is the purpose served with having 20+ balls that aren't drilled ? It has sounded at times that you're not satisfied with the current selection of drilled balls so why not drill up a couple new one's and give them a chance ?
I can honestly say I could never just buy the balls and leave them in the box, every ball I have purchased so far has been drilled and used within a week or two. I just ordered a Storm IQ tour 30 and it arrived in 2 days instead of the 5 to 7 days quoted, I am trying to wait until after Christmas to get it drilled but it's more likely I'll get it drilled next Tuesday or before ...... I might try and see if I can trade my PSO my used a half year 15lb Hyper cell Skid in exchange for the drilling setup for new ball....

Amyers

12-09-2015, 09:59 AM

What is the purpose served with having 20+ balls that aren't drilled ? It has sounded at times that you're not satisfied with the current selection of drilled balls so why not drill up a couple new one's and give them a chance ?
I can honestly say I could never just buy the balls and leave them in the box, every ball I have purchased so far has been drilled and used within a week or two. I just ordered a Storm IQ tour 30 and it arrived in 2 days instead of the 5 to 7 days quoted, I am trying to wait until after Christmas to get it drilled but it's more likely I'll get it drilled next Tuesday or before ...... I might try and see if I can trade my PSO my used a half year 15lb Hyper cell Skid in exchange for the drilling setup for new ball....

Not to put words in Aslan's mouth but we've talked about this enough I feel I can comment for him. He purchased these balls early on buying balls that were discontinued that he was getting at reduced prices which he felt made them a good deal. Unfortunately he went crazy with it making multiple arsenals in two different weights to experiment and without any clear plan on how the balls would fit together. It's a very hard way of making an arsenal as I think he would admit. it's much easier to have one ball you like and go in and say I want something more/less aggressive, more/less angular, or handles more/less oil and build that way or walk in and have a PSO help you pick out 4-5 balls that work together than it is to bring a rag tag collection balls in that have mostly been purchase at random and tell him to make it work.

I will say the economics of his ball purchasing is different than mine. I can purchase most balls fully drilled and slugged for less than $150 and can get anything for $175 complete. In Aslan's So. Cal. form what he has said those prices are more like $200-300. Which might make me think differently too. At this point in my opinion he would be best off to take a couple of those that makes sense for his next arsenal and keep them sell the rest on ebay or racks on bowling facebook and take what he makes to get balls that actually complement each other but to each their own.

NewToBowling

12-09-2015, 10:34 AM

Tony

12-09-2015, 10:44 AM

Not to put words in Aslan's mouth but we've talked about this enough I feel I can comment for him. He purchased these balls early on buying balls that were discontinued that he was getting at reduced prices which he felt made them a good deal. Unfortunately he went crazy with it making multiple arsenals in two different weights to experiment and without any clear plan on how the balls would fit together. It's a very hard way of making an arsenal as I think he would admit. it's much easier to have one ball you like and go in and say I want something more/less aggressive, more/less angular, or handles more/less oil and build that way or walk in and have a PSO help you pick out 4-5 balls that work together than it is to bring a rag tag collection balls in that have mostly been purchase at random and tell him to make it work.

I will say the economics of his ball purchasing is different than mine. I can purchase most balls fully drilled and slugged for less than $150 and can get anything for $175 complete. In Aslan's So. Cal. form what he has said those prices are more like $200-300. Which might make me think differently too. At this point in my opinion he would be best off to take a couple of those that makes sense for his next arsenal and keep them sell the rest on ebay or racks on bowling facebook and take what he makes to get balls that actually complement each other but to each their own.

I can see how one might get to that point of having all these balls, via the it's a deal so buy it method. It would be / is very hard for me to put together a good working complementary ball arsenal and using random ball purchases it would be even harder. Most of what I have learned about different balls and building a arsenal of balls to gain optimal results has been learned here and with the assistance of a couple of different PSO's. I certainly have a long way to go with gaining knowledge in this area and can appreciate that the vast quantity of balls is more of a collection with selected ones being used in an arsenal. I can see where weeding out the balls that don't make sense and are different weights would be a good plan, I still have 2 balls from my 15lb days, one has some value since it's a popular model and just came out a year ago and the other I will give away when I come across someone just starting out and it will make a cheap starter ball for them.

Tony

12-09-2015, 10:54 AM

And from what I gather Aslan mostly bowls on house patterns with a few weekend tournaments on sport. For house I can safely say two strike balls max with a spare thrown in the mix. Once you start gravitating towards more advanced sport patterns I can see a need for 3-6 balls. "Most" house patterns have so much hold area you really don't need a full arsenal.

Overthinking can definitely mess you up. Sometimes the reason why one roll reacted different than another may have to do with your release, approach, speed, hand variations, target, lay down point than anything to do with the ball and/or oil transition.

I think I will end up with 3 or 4 strike balls, not because I need them but because I want to have them, too many different ball choices can certainly mess me up and I realize my primary strike ball a Hy road is adaptable to many different conditions. I am certainly a victim of overthinking at times, most of the time when I am having trouble it can be traced back to issues with me rather than the ball.

Aslan

12-09-2015, 06:42 PM

There are a couple points here:

1) Online vs PSO.
2) Why keep balls undrilled?

As to #1, most pro shops can sell you a CURRENT model ball for slightly more than you'd pay online and then charge you $55-$70 to drill it...OR...they can charge you $225 for a CURRENT model ball and tell you it includes drilling, fitting, etc...

If I were buying a CURRENT model ball at market price...I would buy from a PSO to support my local pro shop and because at the end of the day the price is usually about a wash. I end up with a $179 ball drilled out the door for $229 and I can feel good about supporting my local pro shop.

However...if you're NOT that interested in CURRENT balls and would like DISCOUNTED balls (still first quality, but older models)...those can be had for $69-$109...almost HALF the price of a comparable new ball in a pro shop. By the time you add $55 for drilling (still supporting my local PSO)...it's roughly $135 out the door per ball....less than you'd pay for most balls in a pro shop even without drilling.

2) Why keep balls undrilled?

#1 A drilled ball will likely crack within 1-5 years even if you don't throw it. I believe that drilling the ball makes it more likely to crack over time. I've had two balls purchased in 2013 that both cracked in 1.5-2 years. More of a problem in the cheaper balls...but still.

#2 Once they are drilled, they lose 2/3 of their value even if you haven't thrown it on a lane. There are sites on the internet selling used bowling balls and it's absurd from a price standpoint. They get the balls for lets say $15...they pay $25 to ship them. So they got $40 invested. So now they gotta sell it at a mark-up to make money...and then $25 on top of that to cover the shipping. So you end up paying $75-$125 for a used ball when most modern balls only last 100-400 games before "ball death". So you're paying nearly 73% what a new ball costs (if the new ball has free shipping) when a ball with just 75 games has roughly 25-325 games left on it...and you still need to pay to have it drilled for your hand. You just paid $155 for a used ball (after drilling). If your local pro shop is overpriced...that may only be 55% of a new ball cost. But for MOST PSOs with reasonable prices...you've paid closer to 75% of what you'd get with a new ball.

#3- What if you want to change your thumb pitch? What if you decide you'd prefer a ball to be pin up versus pin down? Plug and re-drill at $15-$25 per ball?? Why not wait till you have a better idea what kinda layout you might want before just drilling for the sake of drilling and risk another $150-$200 to "fix" all of them?

Think of it like a new car. If your buddy has 10 new cars on his lot and offers you all 10 for 55% cost and you buy them.
1) You can't drive more than one at a time.
2) Once you drive them, they've lost 10% of their value (at least).
3) If you plan on driving them, you need to insure them differently ($$).

I have undrilled bowling balls...because I have no present need for them. I assume, at a later date, I will have a need for them. Until then, I'm not in any hurry to spend $550 to drill bowling balls.

Is it harder to create an arsenal this way? Depends.

It would probably be easier and perhaps more cost effective to each year construct a "perfect arsenal" and just take the $800 hit each year. Had I done that, I'd have had a better couple arsenals...but I wouldn't have any extras laying around. It all depends how much faith you have in bowling ball companies being honest about their technological advancements. If you truly believe...that the Deadly Aim or Optimus or Crux or Guru is just so technologically superior that you'd only be hurting yourself throwing anything else...then you know the path to take. If you feel that the difference every 6 months is minimal...you can wait 1.5 years and get a Guru or Deadly Aim for $79....brand NIB undrilled. Granted, it won't be as "cool" then. Because by then the new 2017 Guru Suprme Mighty Brawny Master will probably be released...which is guaranteed to go long and snap harder than anything the world has ever or will ever know....but I'll take my chances that said ball/hype is FOS.

taxexpert2

12-14-2015, 04:58 AM

I tend to get a new ball about every two years - so old ones build up. Not addicted to buying new ones, just when it feels like the right thing to do. What do you do with the old ones? Most of the time I have taken my son's discarded balls as mine and had them redrilled for myself. However, this year I bought my own brand new ball. It has been a satisfactory investment. It suits me - Roto Grip Unhinged 15 lbs. What do you do with the old ones? I bowl with them occasionally, but not often.

Aslan

12-14-2015, 02:13 PM

My old ones sit on my bowling ball rack that I constructed in early 2014.

http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q616/Aslan2014/93d83184-8f10-430f-97f8-527458c9571b_zpsvqdfvuw6.jpg (http://s1166.photobucket.com/user/Aslan2014/media/93d83184-8f10-430f-97f8-527458c9571b_zpsvqdfvuw6.jpg.html)

See thread about specifications here (http://www.bowlingboards.com/threads/18109-Bowling-Ball-Rack/page2).

However, once I run out of room on the display, I'll probably just bring some to league some night and ask if anyone wants them. Fortunately/Unfortunately, about 2-4 crack each year so my arsenal retirement is only a faster pace than ball destruction.

Not sure if I'll keep the Rhythm or not though. It was my only 300-game (non-sanctioned) so I might keep it for sentimental reasons.

Perrin

12-14-2015, 02:52 PM

Aslan

12-14-2015, 02:55 PM

Consider finding a local youth league to donate the balls to? since most of the kids over 13-14 throw 14 or 15 lb there is a pretty large demand

The first batch of "giveaways" will be 16lbs. Not a huge demand for 16lbs among adults much less youth.

Perrin

12-14-2015, 03:20 PM

The first batch of "giveaways" will be 16lbs. Not a huge demand for 16lbs among adults much less youth.

you never know... at least here in the Midwest there is a contingent that still thinks it more 'Manly' to throw the heaviest ball allowed :)

Aslan

12-14-2015, 06:24 PM

you never know... at least here in the Midwest there is a contingent that still thinks it more 'Manly' to throw the heaviest ball allowed :)

Being from the Midwest originally; I agree with that statement.

Ptnomore

12-14-2015, 06:58 PM

For your cracked ones, or others that you want to discard, make your wife happy and paint them to look like Christmas ornaments, or give them to someone else that can/will. Throw them outside on the lawn for a few weeks out of the year, then back to the corner of the garage.

fokai73

12-14-2015, 10:46 PM

Everyone has a reason or another to collect or not to collect bowling balls. Even though I get balls drilled ($20-$34) for cheap and get balls at cost or free, I don't buy much anymore. The last NIB I got earlier this year I gave it to a newbie for free. Get him to bowl more and spread the interest of bowling with his friends. I've also donated balls to those bowlers who cannot afford a new or used balls at leagues. They pay for plug and re drilling.

I gravitate to balls that are smooth, but it's important to have balls with different shapes.

shadd

12-15-2015, 08:23 AM

scottymoney

12-15-2015, 12:28 PM

I don't think I could function properly if I owned so many balls. I'm afraid I'd fall into the viscous cycle of "paralysis by analysis" so I just stick with a main ball and make adjustments accordingly.

I hear that a lot but there is something to be said about knowing your equipment and being able to change balls and know what you are going to get. I know my arsenal well and when I start leaving the 10 I know exactly my moves and ball changes to kick the 10 out. It definitely pisses off the old guys in my league when I walk back to my bag grab a different ball in the 10th for my fill ball and strike. I see it in their eyes how much they despise it. And I always get the comments of why I lug 5 balls into the alley each week to bowl. Their usually left speechless when I tell them I do it 3 times a week not just Mondays.

Aslan

12-15-2015, 03:54 PM

I'm afraid I'd fall into the viscous cycle of "paralysis by analysis".

:cool: :cool:

TVan

12-17-2015, 03:03 PM

Let's say I have 5 1/2 balls in rotation and that's counting the spare ball. I take 3 to one house (wood) totally defiant, uproar and plastic. The other house (synthetic and a tough house shot for a stacked league) I add the Haywire and a Motiv Jackal. The last ball that I consider in rotation even though I don't take it to league night is for tournaments. It's a ball that rolls very early and drilled to tame for when I need to play down and in. It's a track 9something. Very rarely used but in a sport shot league this summer I grabbed late in warm ups and ended up shooting +65 over three games before I had to change balls. Probably haven't pulled it since though.

dougb

12-18-2015, 11:53 AM

I don't think I could function properly if I owned so many balls. I'm afraid I'd fall into the viscous cycle of "paralysis by analysis" so I just stick with a main ball and make adjustments accordingly.

I've had that problem in the past. Fluctuated between 4-20 balls at different points. When I had a lot there were times when I would stand before my rack and get stuck on what to bring.

Now I am down to 4 drilled balls:

1. Melee Cross for fresh shot/first game
2. Melee Jab for when the shot breaks down and I want to open up the backend more
3. LT-48 for when it gets more beat up amd dry and I want to move back right again
4. Highly polished OG Melee for the dry and spares

With the surface adjustments I keep on the balls with my spinner I know when I make a ball change that I need to move 3 boards between each ball. And being smooth and predictable symmetrical balls, it is easy to read the reaction with each.

This set up has taken almost all the thinking out of it for me, which in my case is a good thing!

I'm also sitting on an undrilled Motiv Forza for heavier oil, but I never ever see that.