GaryP
01-09-2018, 01:19 PM
Got into bowing a bit when I was 15-16. My parents got me a plastic 14# ball that was drilled for finger tip. Unfortunately, it was also drilled for thumb tip. I always had anxiety about putting my thumb or fingers way inside a heavy ball I'm about to throw. Since the ball was drilled poorly, I always got a bad blood blister on my thumb. It was redrilled after a while, but I lost my hook (never had it properly anyway) and lost interest in bowling.
I've bowled here and there over the past 12 years but just bowled straight. I was unable to break a hundred the last time I bowled, that was a year ago, it was disheartening and it has taken me a while to get out there and try again.
My Dad gave me my grandfathers old ball. It is 16#s and fits my hand perfectly, it actually feels lighter when I'm bowing it than my old 14#. The 16# ball is a columbia 300 yellow dot, it's a deep burgundy. I bowl pretty good with it and I feel like I'm learning how to hook the ball for the first time all over again and it is going well... on dry lanes. If the lanes are freshly oiled, the ball never hooks and just hits the pins while it is still rotating. I have settled in at 15mph ball speed and a 160 average. First game with my grandfathers ball was an 212 game with no open frames. Really cool way to honor him as he was a 200 average bowler in his time.
I was hoping I could be pointed in the right direction as far as a new ball choice. I pick up spares handily with the yellow dot, but I would like a ball that could hook more on wetter lanes. I bowl with more old school form and have little interest in learning the crazy hooks that the pros do. I also live in a little nothing town and my local alley is geared more towards classic bowling. But sometimes the lanes are still a bit wet for my ball to be able to hook.
Thanks for reading all that haha, sorry for the long intro. I'm pumped for bowling right now! Going today!
I've bowled here and there over the past 12 years but just bowled straight. I was unable to break a hundred the last time I bowled, that was a year ago, it was disheartening and it has taken me a while to get out there and try again.
My Dad gave me my grandfathers old ball. It is 16#s and fits my hand perfectly, it actually feels lighter when I'm bowing it than my old 14#. The 16# ball is a columbia 300 yellow dot, it's a deep burgundy. I bowl pretty good with it and I feel like I'm learning how to hook the ball for the first time all over again and it is going well... on dry lanes. If the lanes are freshly oiled, the ball never hooks and just hits the pins while it is still rotating. I have settled in at 15mph ball speed and a 160 average. First game with my grandfathers ball was an 212 game with no open frames. Really cool way to honor him as he was a 200 average bowler in his time.
I was hoping I could be pointed in the right direction as far as a new ball choice. I pick up spares handily with the yellow dot, but I would like a ball that could hook more on wetter lanes. I bowl with more old school form and have little interest in learning the crazy hooks that the pros do. I also live in a little nothing town and my local alley is geared more towards classic bowling. But sometimes the lanes are still a bit wet for my ball to be able to hook.
Thanks for reading all that haha, sorry for the long intro. I'm pumped for bowling right now! Going today!