Ordered my first new ball in 20+ years tonight

[Phonetek]

I put some money down and had my PSO order me a 15lb Hammer Rip'd. I won't get it until a week from Thursday. Not because he can't get it sooner but because I need a paycheck first LOL I'm kinda pumped to try out something from this century. I'm very curious how I'll do with it. It's going to be too much ball for where I work but that's not why I'm getting it. The place closer to home throws down a sport pattern I want to use it on. Of course you know I have to try it out at work anyway. I should probably do it right after I oil.

I'm also dropping off my wife's old Original Black Faball Hammer to have that re-drilled for me since she won't throw it anymore. I'm gonna have him polish the heck out of it and I'll use it as a spare ball. Two down, two to go for the new arsenal. I'm interested to see just how much dropping one pound will make a difference. So a week from Thursday, I'm pumped and I can't wait.

[boatman37]

Awesome! I may be in the market for a new ball. Looked like my new Black Widow Gold was cracked tonight. PSO is resurfacing it to see if it was a scratch or crack but looks jagged like a crack. Let me know how you like the new ball in case I need to get another one.

[RobLV1]

It's not real clear from your post whether you are dropping a pound from 16 to 15, or if your wife's ball is lighter. If the later is the case, please consider that one of the very few things that coaches and PSO's agree on is that changing between balls of different weights is a real bad idea. The reason is that the change in weight often results in really screwing up your timing.

[J Anderson]

It's not real clear from your post whether you are dropping a pound from 16 to 15, or if your wife's ball is lighter. If the later is the case, please consider that one of the very few things that coaches and PSO's agree on is that changing between balls of different weights is a real bad idea. The reason is that the change in weight often results in really screwing up your timing.

Rob, I think in one of Phonetek’s earlier posts he said that his wife rolled 15# balls before having back problems.

[Jeeper_12]

Congrats! It's a great feeling. I went 18 years between balls. A month ago I picked up a Hammer Diesel. Amazing how better my game got when I used a more modern ball lol

Then I took my old Red Hammer Faball as a spare ball for 3 weeks but just recently purchased my second new ball, Storm Pitch Black, which will be my new spare ball. The Red Hammer will now be retired.

[Phonetek]

It's not real clear from your post whether you are dropping a pound from 16 to 15, or if your wife's ball is lighter. If the later is the case, please consider that one of the very few things that coaches and PSO's agree on is that changing between balls of different weights is a real bad idea. The reason is that the change in weight often results in really screwing up your timing.

Yes Rob, both balls will be 15 lbs. I'm happily retiring the RPM Swirl and Blue Hammer both 16 lbs. I would have never considered throwing multiple weight balls. They should have been before I came back to bowling but I can't complain. On the same token I wouldn't have even thought of dropping a pound had I not decided to join here back in Jan. I'm expecting that fact alone to really help my game or at least change it for the better.

Although the black hammer is from the 80's, it was originally my mothers ball and she bought it new. It has probably less than 100 games on it. Mom couldn't control it so she shelved it pretty much right away. Wifey never bowled much. I think it will make an excellent spare ball. I never threw a 15 in my life. When I was 12 I kinda skipped right from a 12 lb to a 16. Who knows, one pound may not make any significant difference at all but I'm certainly willing to give it a shot since I don't foresee any negatives in doing so.


Boatman, your BWG cracked already and from the sounds of it wasn't caused by improper drilling? I'd be jumping up and down flipping out until you get a free replacement. From the way you described it, it seems to be a defect. These things cost way too much to just chuck it and buy a new one if the PSO can't fix it. Then again I don't have a fat bank account like I once did. I know going in these newer balls die after a couple years, not like the old days. I should hope they last longer than a dozen flowers though LOL

No, that wasn't a pun about scented bowling balls either. Plus, you paid for a Hammer which is one of the top name brands not a bargain ball. I'd definitely go to the manufacture and see if they stand behind their product. Unless of course you let it sit in your car in the cold or something then game over.

[boatman37]

Nope. The longest that ball was in the weather was my 10 minute commute to and from the center. It always came in the house with me when I got home and stayed there until I left the following week.

We will see if it is a crack or was a scratch. After he started sanding it looked like it could have been a scratch but the way it was shaped looked more like a crack. I'm sure if it is a crack it will reappear after a game or two. And yeah, the crack is on the opposite side from the drilling so doubt the drilling had anything to do with it. Wish I had got pics but like I said, if it is cracked I'm sure it will show up after a game or so.

[vdubtx]

Congrats on the new ball. The Rip'D ball looks really good. Have seen the solid and pearl versions down the lane and they both look strong.

On the drop in weight, that is one major factor/decision I forget that I made several years ago that helped my game tremendously. Making that drop made me more accurate and gave me more revs on the ball in addition to the increase in stamina.

[Blomer]

Nice. Congrats on the new rock. Just picked up a new Hustle yesterday.

[Phonetek]

Congrats on the new ball. The Rip'D ball looks really good. Have seen the solid and pearl versions down the lane and they both look strong.

On the drop in weight, that is one major factor/decision I forget that I made several years ago that helped my game tremendously. Making that drop made me more accurate and gave me more revs on the ball in addition to the increase in stamina.

I'm certainly looking forward to all of that. I gotta admit it's gonna be hard to shelf my old AMF. Last night I used it and I finally wasn't hanging up in it for the first time in quite some time and I did extremely well. I'll get a few more times to use it before it's shelved but it's like saying goodbye to an old friend.

[Phonetek]

My new ball has been done since Thursday but unfortunately I haven't been able to pick it up yet. My hours at work have been during the PSO's hours and it looks to be that way most if not all this week. Oh well....it's not going anywhere. At least it's paid for. It doesn't help that my Tahoe is down and I have to get rides to and from work from wifey. Her's is better on gas anyway, she goes through less to and from twice than I do once.

[Phonetek]

What a tease! I was going to get my ball tonight since I was off, got a call a bit ago and they want me to work tonight. LOL Looks like next week now. The anticipation is killing me. I can't complain though. I do want to say my PSO (my friend) really took care of me on the ball. I didn't know but he charged me only what he paid for the ball from the supplier. I was shocked what they mark up REALLY is. I won't divulge the price of the Rip'd but I will say that even if I ordered it online would have cost much more not even taking drilling into consideration. Drilling he wasn't going to charge me anything for including inserts but I couldn't do that.

If he don't want to charge for the drilling that's one thing but no free inserts. Now he'd be losing money, not much but that's not the point. I threw a 20 by his drill press when he wasn't looking. I realize he knows I'm not rolling in money but I won't let him lose it on me. He already said I can walk in and use his spinner and oven anytime I want no charge. What he don't know is I talked the boss at work into printing up a sign to advertise his shop.

I grabbed a stack of business cards and flyers when I was there and placed them on our counter at work. I put my name on the back of them all. I also carry a stack in my wallet also with my name on them. I hand them out and tell them to mention me when they see him. Boss has been best friends with him for years, I couldn't believe he hasn't done this on his own in all that time. It's the least I can do and I've handed out quite a few already. He's doing well at his location, always busy. Hopefully I can add to it for him.

[Amyers]

What a tease! I was going to get my ball tonight since I was off, got a call a bit ago and they want me to work tonight. LOL Looks like next week now. The anticipation is killing me. I can't complain though. I do want to say my PSO (my friend) really took care of me on the ball. I didn't know but he charged me only what he paid for the ball from the supplier. I was shocked what they mark up REALLY is. I won't divulge the price of the Rip'd but I will say that even if I ordered it online would have cost much more not even taking drilling into consideration. Drilling he wasn't going to charge me anything for including inserts but I couldn't do that.

If he don't want to charge for the drilling that's one thing but no free inserts. Now he'd be losing money, not much but that's not the point. I threw a 20 by his drill press when he wasn't looking. I realize he knows I'm not rolling in money but I won't let him lose it on me. He already said I can walk in and use his spinner and oven anytime I want no charge. What he don't know is I talked the boss at work into printing up a sign to advertise his shop.

I grabbed a stack of business cards and flyers when I was there and placed them on our counter at work. I put my name on the back of them all. I also carry a stack in my wallet also with my name on them. I hand them out and tell them to mention me when they see him. Boss has been best friends with him for years, I couldn't believe he hasn't done this on his own in all that time. It's the least I can do and I've handed out quite a few already. He's doing well at his location, always busy. Hopefully I can add to it for him.

Apparently Bowling and marketing just don't travel in the same gene pool. The opportunities missed and the general inability to adjust outstand me

[Phonetek]

Apparently Bowling and marketing just don't travel in the same gene pool. The opportunities missed and the general inability to adjust outstand me

In all fairness my PSO is in a different bowling alley. There isn't enough serious bowlers where I work to warrant a pro shop. They always recommend this PSO when someone inquires but until now never advertised for him. We have a show case behind our counter with some misc items. Towels, several varieties of tape, new skin, sticky rosin bags and some "I love bowling" t-shirts. A pathetic selection and sad calling it a show case is a huge stretch but in the time I've worked there I've sold one package of tape. Most of that stuff has been collecting dust for eons. They sell more candy bars than bowling stuff.

I told the boss, why not put that stuff in a vending machine and turn the show case into a place to put top shelf alcohol instead? They'd make a heck of a lot more money off of that. It raised his eyebrow but I doubt it will happen. At least he agreed to help out the PSO more.