thoughts wanted on spare ball

[taxexpert2]

My son says I should get a spare ball. Due to an injury to my right hand I have a great deal of difficulty pickup up any spares in the right corner of the lane. I can't put the right motion on my regular ball to get these pins any more without risk of injuring the hand more. Of course my goal in life is to never leave a 10 pin but I don't think that is really going to happen. I bowl a 15 lb Roto Grip Unhinged as my regular ball and have an average of about 170. Not great but also not bad for a 70 year old. Son says I should get something in plastic and only 14 lbs. Well I have an old 14 lb ball - a Storm Punch Out that did not work out too well for me. Would this be a viable option to have it plugged and redrilled for a spare ball? Just not sure what way to go and I don't want to invest a lot. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[RobLV1]

Yes, get a plastic spare ball. No, don't ever change weights among the balls you use; either strike balls or spare balls. Changing weights messes with your timing and can really play havoc with your game. This little titbit is about the only thing on which a great majority of coaches and PSO's agree.

[Hot_pocket]

spare ball for sure because it wont hook unless the lanes are scorched. Plugging and re-drilling will cost almost the same for a Columbia white dot or Ebonite maxim spare ball ($50-$60). I hope I can still bowl when I'm 70.

[Amyers]

The guys have nailed it here. Don't switch weights unless your going to change all of your equipment to 14 lbs. and get the plastic. It will cost almost as much to redrill the Punch Out and it still won't be the proper tool for the job.

[Tony]

I would be in favor of going with a 14lb ball, and then replacing the current 15 lb stuff with all 14, with a hand problem and age, rolling 14lb equipment is certainly a good idea.
I went to 14 lb this year, and all it did was reduce the stress on my arm, my average is a little higher and going up.
Also just get a plastic ball, with the low cost of the balls you can get one fully done for around 100, I like my black DV8 spare ball and it's kind of nice to have just a basic black ball.
I really only use mine on 10's and I can't tell you how many of the one's I've picked up would have been misses if the ball hooked even a slight amount.

[Aslan]

I agree with everyone else.

It sounds like due to your advanced age and physical limitations, a switch to 14lbs would probably be best. Never mix weights...it's possible but detrimental and usually unnecessary. And there's no sense in drilling a non-plastic/non-urethane ball to be a spare ball. Plastic balls are made by every company for next to nothing and last nearly forever. You can get a Pyramid or Columbia spare ball for $40-$55, get it drilled, and your problem is solved. Like anyone else...I get tempted at times to get an Arctic Sniper as a spare ball...but at the end of the day...why pay an extra $45 for a ball that is essentially a spare ball when Pyramid and Columbia offer perfectly good and effective plastic spare balls for half the cost?

I bought a Slingshot to be my spare ball when I first started...and it was a mistake. Too much movement...especially on the backend...where you don't want it. I have a Track300A that I plan to use as my dry ball option in my next arsenal...it's about as weak a ball as you can find...but I'll be using my plastic ball for spares regardless. My reasoning is simple...I miss way, way too many 10-pins and 6-pins...throwing straight at them...I don't need to add a degree of difficulty to the process by flattening my wrist or trying to "play the hook".

And Rob is 100% correct...while you may find bowlers that advocate one weight or another...or that don't use a spare ball...I've never heard or read any COACH actually teaching that you shouldn't use a urethane/plastic spare ball and I've never heard or read a coach advocate switching weights. I tried using both 16 and 15 pound balls concurrently when I first started...and it's a timing disaster.

[Blomer]

Yup agree with all. Any plastic ball will work. As far as I know, they are all the same. Could be wrong. I've picked up a spare ball mainly for the 10 pin and has helped a lot!

[Aslan]

My only spare ball dilemma is I have my arsenal drilled for VISE IT but not the spare ball. The layout and everything is similar...I just hate the idea of switching out inserts mid-frame and I also don't want to invest another $125 in duplicate inserts that are hopefully "similar enough" to duplicate the feel from the strike ball.

But, if I were at a higher level...I'd probably bite the bullet and get it drilled VISE and get another set of inserts.

[vdubtx]

I did the Vise IT in my spare ball, but wish I hadn't. It's kind of a pain to switch out so often to the thumb being used at that time. I have 3 thumbs, and I ended up just leaving a thumb that is just barely bigger than my regular thumb so I didn't have to keep switching it out.

[Amyers]

I did the Vise IT in my spare ball, but wish I hadn't. It's kind of a pain to switch out so often to the thumb being used at that time. I have 3 thumbs, and I ended up just leaving a thumb that is just barely bigger than my regular thumb so I didn't have to keep switching it out.

Vdub your PSO should be able to make a cast of your IT so you can have one to leave in the spare ball that's the same as your regular one at my pro shop it's about $25.

[billf]

If you need a lower weight to keep bowling and having fun then by all means do so. However keep all your equipment the same weight. Enjoy!

[Aslan]

I did the Vise IT in my spare ball, but wish I hadn't. It's kind of a pain to switch out so often to the thumb being used at that time. I have 3 thumbs, and I ended up just leaving a thumb that is just barely bigger than my regular thumb so I didn't have to keep switching it out.
That's what I was planning to do if I did decide to drill the spare ball for VISE IT inserts. Just use the biggest one or 2nd biggest one for the spare ball. I have 6-7 inserts but usually use the same 1-2. In the summer or if I bowl a lot...maybe I get up into the 2 biggest ones...in the winter/colder weather maybe it get down to my second smallest. Rarely ever use the smallest one.

I also thought maybe having a second set...would be helpful if one broke or something. But usually when the VISE ITs fail, it's the part in the ball, not the inserts...so spare inserts don't help much in that situation.


Vdub your PSO should be able to make a cast of your IT so you can have one to leave in the spare ball that's the same as your regular one at my pro shop it's about $25.
I don't know if that's possible or not. Usually they drill the insert, you try it, then they drill it a little more, then you try it, then they smooth it out and maybe round it out a bit. It would be a hard process to 100% duplicate.

Although...that WOULD be a cool marketing idea...to make VISE ITs that are drilled for a specific Pro Bowler that you could buy. You could find a bowler with a similar sized thumb and then when you need another one for a spare ball..."yeah, can I get one of the Jason Couches and one of the Brian Voss'?"

[bowl1820]

I don't know if that's possible or not. Usually they drill the insert, you try it, then they drill it a little more, then you try it, then they smooth it out and maybe round it out a bit. It would be a hard process to 100% duplicate.

Yes you can have a cast/mold made

Once you have a thumb hole just the way you like it , You have a thumb mold made of it. Then they can make all the duplicates of that hole you want.

Ultimate Thumb Mold Kit
http://www.ultimatebowling.com/product/ultimate-thumb-mold-kit/

[taxexpert2]

Thanks to all who took the time to respond. It has been helpful and insightful.

BTW the right hand injury was not due to bowling, it could be aggravated by bowling. But it is getting better all the time.

[Amyers]

Yes you can have a cast/mold made

Once you have a thumb hole just the way you like it , You have a thumb mold made of it. Then they can make all the duplicates of that hole you want.

Ultimate Thumb Mold Kit
http://www.ultimatebowling.com/product/ultimate-thumb-mold-kit/

Bowl1820 nailed it I have molded thumbs in all of my balls now I don't use ViseIT but you could easily drill the insert out to accept the mold. My proshop does this all the time.

[Aslan]

Yes you can have a cast/mold made

Once you have a thumb hole just the way you like it , You have a thumb mold made of it. Then they can make all the duplicates of that hole you want.

Ultimate Thumb Mold Kit
http://www.ultimatebowling.com/product/ultimate-thumb-mold-kit/

Nice. I didn't even know that was a thing.