having multiple balls and being 175-190 average bowler

[fokai73]

with some high handicap bowlers, I see them drag multiple bowling balls into leagues. Beside the normal two ball and spare, I see many bring in 4 to 6 balls. Yet, their game stays in the range of 175-190 average.

I noticed a bowler in a first shift league, whom I've rarely seen shoot 600 series, bring 6 bowling balls. He couldn't pick up left side spares with his spare ball, and some times he tries to hook at it. Then I noticed several other high handicap bowlers bringing 4 to 5 bowling balls in the same league. The highest league average in this 80 plus ppl league is 205!! Granted though, this house you don't know what you'll get week to week. But, it's not the only house I see this happening. I know of 3 guys I do ball work for who all carry 4 bowling balls, one 5. Their Average range is 179 to 192 and the house is a high scoring house. They've been at those averages for the decade I've known them.

I was on the same boat over decade ago. I brought 4 balls and couldn't get passed 193. And I remembered a gold coach giving me advice one day when I visited his proshop. (he didn't want to sell me a NIB) He told me to have a spare system, which he introduced me to the 4th arrow system. Then he told me to bring one strike ball - "the benchmark" lol. After lessons about understanding my footwork , adjusting hand, roll, and speed, blah blah blah... I broke 200 the last half of the season. And then gained 18 more pins the next season even playing away from my comfort zone, around the 4th arrow.

Also, about 5 or 6 years ago, my good friend was also stuck at 190's. I helped him with his game, advised him to get his gripped rechecked, and also gave the same advice about condensing his bag. He brought 2 balls for summer leagues that year, a spare and a strike ball. To make a long story shorter, today he can adjust his hand, revrate, speed, and such...he can stay on the track or just outside the track all night long week after week by adjusting - not switching balls. His average increased in the last few years every year, to now, HIGHER THAN MINE. He and I both credits bringing one strike ball which helped elevate our game.

Finally, maybe some bowlers will benefit with less balls being brought to leagues. I mean, lessons by the pros are important, but using one ball may help a bowler learn to adjust speed, roll, rev rate, to name a few. Reading ball motion and the lanes are things I learned too with this "method". Not everyone will agree, but with bowling balls being pump out every few months, it gets confusing. Every new ball out hooks the last, yet the conditions don't change???

Edit: My good friend brings 3 balls these days. but the extra ball is for "just in case"..... :D

[NewToBowling]

I agree. I'm guilty of buying more balls than I should but honestly I only use two (Haywire and Respect). And can probably get a way with just one. I think work on physical game is far more important than working on an arsenal. Not to say they should be mutually exclusive but bringing 5-6 balls really is going to just stunt your physical game as you mentally think a new ball will magically make your game better.

[fokai73]

I agree. I'm guilty of buying more balls than I should but honestly I only use two (Haywire and Respect). And can probably get a way with just one. I think work on physical game is far more important than working on an arsenal. Not to say they should be mutually exclusive but bringing 5-6 balls really is going to just stunt your physical game as you mentally think a new ball will magically make your game better.


Coaching from the right person is of the upmost importance. I've seen so many coaches over the years and less than half are great coaches. Of the coaches I've seen, my top 3 coaches that I've worked with are... Baker, Jasnau, and Somoff.

I do have to credit other non paper coaches who were/are in the industry as well...

[sharkey53]

I've been on the fence about buying another ball. I've only been bowling for about a year, use one ball that I love and have put up great scores with. It's a Brunswick Strike King (entry-level performance) but I was thinking about upgrading to something that is higher performance. Not sure if its really necessary but its very tempting to want more equipment.

I'm also one of those people with a 170's average so I don't want to get too carried away right now.

[KYDave]

I have 3 balls I always take. But I also bowl a few different centers and the shot is a lot different place to place. Even the same center is different day to day depending on who is running the machine and who you are bowling behind.
I have never used a spare ball. I just change angles and my release. Very rare I ever hook at a spare unless it's double wood or a wicked washout/split

[fokai73]

I've been on the fence about buying another ball. I've only been bowling for about a year, use one ball that I love and have put up great scores with. It's a Brunswick Strike King (entry-level performance) but I was thinking about upgrading to something that is higher performance. Not sure if its really necessary but its very tempting to want more equipment.

I'm also one of those people with a 170's average so I don't want to get too carried away right now.

IMHO, I think your next ball should be a true spare ball. You can increase your average by improving your spare game and other parts of your physical game. If you have access to a coach, go see him or her. Develop a spare system that works for you. Talk to you PSO for advise too.

I know someone in the 186 range, another person besides the ones I've already mentioned. well, he thinks every ball will fix his problems. I don't know who his PSO is, but he bowls in a high friction house, but he was told to get a Black widow, then vivid, and nano.... the last three balls he purchased were the lock, snap lock, and scandal..... some PSO's are shady I guess.... all about the Deuces....

[sharkey53]

IMHO, I think your next ball should be a true spare ball. You can increase your average by improving your spare game and other parts of your physical game. If you have access to a coach, go see him or her. Develop a spare system that works for you. Talk to you PSO for advise too.

I know someone in the 186 range, another person besides the ones I've already mentioned. well, he thinks every ball will fix his problems. I don't know who his PSO is, but he bowls in a high friction house, but he was told to get a Black widow, then vivid, and nano.... the last three balls he purchased were the lock, snap lock, and scandal..... some PSO's are shady I guess.... all about the Deuces....

I've thought about that as well. Right now I'm trying to shoot straight at spares instead on hooking the ball in. Finding a lot more success doing that even with the ball I have.

Was at the shop today and the PSO watched me roll a few balls so at least he has an idea of my style when it comes time to make a decision.

[Blomer]

I'll be honest, I bring 4. I bring a hybrid, peatl, a ball for the dry and a spare ball. It has helped, but also hinder my game as I would at times flip through all the balls as I'm struggling, instead of sticking with one.

[JasonNJ]

That was me for a while. I was bringing about 4 balls to league plus my spare ball. I have now cut it down it down to 2 balls, one solid and a pearl and my spare ball. This just simplifies everything for me so on the nights I do struggle, I'm not switching balls every shot.

[Blacksox1]

On league night, I will bring 3,4 or 5. A plastic 14#, pearl 14#, hybrid 14#, solid 14#, solid 15# for heavier oil. I use a triple roller and carry a two ball tote when bringing 5. Once practice time ends, I seldom use more than 2, plastic and another.

[dmet225]

A woman in my summer league this year averaged in the 120's, and always dragged in a 3-ball bag with high performance balls (I specifically remember a Storm Phaze). She would toss it down the lane, skid for the majority of the way, and then start a quasi backup roll.

[LOUVIT]

I have 2 balls I bought one and then won the other one on this site. I would only have one if I didn't win the second. My big issue is not having a spare ball. As I said in many other posts I have a Track (bought) and won the Storm Phaze here. As much as I try to use the Phaze I always go back to my Track. I might actually try to sell or Trade the Phaze for a spare ball. The Phaze is still like brand new. It seems that I know exactly how the Track will react yet the Storm seems to react differently every time I throw it....

the Phaze is 155.00 on BB.com

[KYDave]

Have you tried a surface adjustment on the phaze? It may be something that simple that would improve how it rolls for you. I had a ball several years ago that I didn't care for. Changed the surface a couple times and it was like a different ball once I found what worked for me.

[Stormed1]

I will finally be starting back to league next week after being out for 7 onts with foot surgery. Knowing that they changed oils fom last year I will probably bring 6 including my spare ball. Foza GT just in case there is oil, Redline, Venom Cobra, Dream (with surface change to 3k + polish as it burned up last year)Wrecker, and Taboo spare. After my first week and having an idea what to expect it will be back to 4. I may sub Monday to have a better idea as my league is Wednesday night. Just drilled an Asylum and a Deranged with there in mind as i have had good success there with that core.

All that being said, who we bowl determines how many balls I will go through. We have about 10 no thumb/2 handers in the league so the nights we bowl them i will go through 3-4 balls compared to my normal 2. Thelanes are synthetic but they are a high fiction synthetic

[LOUVIT]

Have you tried a surface adjustment on the phaze? It may be something that simple that would improve how it rolls for you. I had a ball several years ago that I didn't care for. Changed the surface a couple times and it was like a different ball once I found what worked for me.

I don't want to mess with it to try to make it like the track, That's a waste of money. If I decide to trade or sell it I want it to be like brand new it may have 30 games on it, it's still pretty...lol. My decision is do I trade it for a spare ball or another ball that maybe will give me issues.. I am 80-20 on trading it for a spare ball...

[got_a_300]

I am 80-20 on trading it for a spare ball...

If you trade the Phaze for a spare ball just make sure you get some cash
in the process as the Phaze costs a lot more than a plain old spare ball.

[drlawsoniii]

If you trade the Phaze for a spare ball just make sure you get some cash
in the process as the Phaze costs a lot more than a plain old spare ball.

If the spare ball is new and includes drilling, i'd say it would be an even trade.

[foreverincamo]

I bring 6 with me every night. Partly becuse I have stuff in each bag that I may need and I'm too lazy to condense into one 3-ball bag. But I also like to use a different ball or two each night. Some nights I use a different ball each game just for fun. The league I'm in isn't serious, and we won the first half so this half there isn't any need to press so I'm experimenting with changing surfaces on my equipment and trying them out.
As for some guys who can't average any higher no matter how many balls they have, well, everyone maxes out to their ability but some refuse to believe they are the problem. So they keep buying new balls hoping for that magical one that catapults them into a new average bracket.

[Hammer]

I have two balls that I have had for years. I have a Raw Hammer Anger ball with a 2000 surface unpolished and a urethane Blue Hammer ball with a 2000 surface unpolished. When dry lanes I use the Blue for a strike ball and for picking up spares from center left. I am left handed. The Anger ball I use when oily lanes and for picking up spares right of the center pin. I have done this for years. I keep the surfaces up to date and keep them clean. I thought of a new ball not long ago but thought why. These guys are working just fine.

[fokai73]

I bring 6 with me every night. Partly becuse I have stuff in each bag that I may need and I'm too lazy to condense into one 3-ball bag. But I also like to use a different ball or two each night. Some nights I use a different ball each game just for fun. The league I'm in isn't serious, and we won the first half so this half there isn't any need to press so I'm experimenting with changing surfaces on my equipment and trying them out.
As for some guys who can't average any higher no matter how many balls they have, well, everyone maxes out to their ability but some refuse to believe they are the problem. So they keep buying new balls hoping for that magical one that catapults them into a new average bracket.

I never brought that much to leagues nor to a tourney, but I did bring 5 (without a spare) one year to see what each ball did on the easiest house shot I've bowled that year. I'd switch balls after each game which actually helped me understand my equipment more. Overlapping was so obvious. The next year, I just brought one strike ball, the old Track Slash...

[foreverincamo]

One of 6 balls is a spare ball so I really have 5. I carry a variety from heavy oil to burned up lanes. There's no consistency to the oil pattern and some nights I go thru my arsenal just to find something that works. Last week I started with my Hammer Black Widow Legend and only moved two boards left for the night. Shot 684 with two missed spares and one split. Other nights that ball won't stay on the right side of the headpin. Other nights I can't get it to the pocket. Crazy place.

[Tony]

I never brought that much to leagues nor to a tourney, but I did bring 5 (without a spare) one year to see what each ball did on the easiest house shot I've bowled that year. I'd switch balls after each game which actually helped me understand my equipment more. Overlapping was so obvious. The next year, I just brought one strike ball, the old Track Slash...

Do you carry a single ball currently, what ball are you using? With the spare system you're using do you roll a plastic ball at all the spare shots or just select spares. Thanks