Bowling balls doing all the work?

[extraacount]

Honestly what do you guys think about all the new bowling balls coming out? They all have a mean hook. Do you think its unfair for you because of the ball? Does it seem like bowling takes no more skill at all to play? What are your opinions?

First when i thought this way, my opinions were, bowlings getting easier and easier because of the new bowling balls. The mean hooks they have etc... It seems like theres no point in bowling because of these balls. Players that have these ball can turn into a stroker / cranker just because of the bowling balls.

Then i thinked about it some more and kinda just ignored the ball and thought, you have to have a good control over that hook and a decent release to get strikes. Reading the lanes and understanding how it works is a MUST to play with a ball that hooks so much. So then the skills come back.

[Strike Domination]

In my opinion, there's no substitute for good execution. For the most part, the easy house shots are making bowling easier than the balls. But the balls allow the player to do less and still get results.

[StormGirl712]

You also have to look at the drilling on the ball. I mean you have people out there who can control a big hook and those that cant. That's why there are all the different layouts so you can decide what you want the ball to do. The person still has to be able to relativly hit the same area each time and have a consistant arm, the ball can't do all the work. The person just sometimes over powers it and tries to make the ball do what they think it should and not what it really does...

[branstew]

I still think it comes down to the player otherwise we would all be up there playing the big tours

[Graaille]

What everyone said is true, the ball is a tool - but unless you know how to use it, you can still roll a score of 8 due to having no skills with the ball. It's the archer who's skills cause the arrow to hit the target. To extend the analogy - it doesn't matter if the arrow is made of wood, plastic, or metal - a good archer will compensate to hit the bullseye.

[extraacount]

Yes, good point... maybe its cause im still a kid and im just jealoused of these new bowling balls and the mean hooks they have. But atleast i re-thought about it and figured it out :) or thought another way

[StormGirl712]

It's okay, I still learn new stuff everyday(: that's what we're here for.

[extraacount]

Yeah and thats why i love this site so much :) cause of the people here

[bowlermangigity24]

they are doin all the work....to a extent...you still gotta make the shot and get it to the pocket....just the new equipment nowadays kinda gives you a litle extra room to miss.

[WhirligigHD]

Exactly...if you cannot execute a repetitive shot, it doesn't matter. Consistency is key. Oil patterns make us all look good, but you still have to hit the pocket.

A local guy here has been bowling with the same junk "spare" balls forever - most of them are old rubber balls. He turns it like nobody else and is Mr. Consistent.

What does he score? I believe last year he was at 60+ sanctioned 300 games and a large handful of 800 series...never a new ball. They guy is truly amazing.

[pvellenga]

Okay some people are not going to like this but the balls are doing way too much of the work as far as I am concerned. I worked hard when I was younger to have a strong release and be able to play all over the lane. I cannot even throw the new equipment unless I tone it down on the drilling or tone it down with my release. I see too many low rev players that are now able to compete with me and other high average players. Where it has helped is that I can execute my shot AND I have a high rev rate and high ball speed but now the weaker release players can get closer to me because the ball is helping them close the gap on me because it is "helping" them by opening the lane up for them and also letting them throw with my speed and still get a good amount of angle into the pocket to help them with their carry rate. I do also believe that modern lane conditioning machines have made the game way too easy. I have carried a 220 plus average since 1987-1988 so the new stronger balls and easier lane conditions have not helped me out that much. I am glad that the USBC has changed the rules to make the new balls in the future to be weaker. So I do think the balls have helped in closing the gap between the average bowler and the upper level bowlers. Do any of your remember when the first reactive resin ball came out? OMG! I could kill the rack. I could throw as hard as I wanted out to the gutter and it was always strong enough to make it back. Reactive resin balls changed the sport forever and are still changing the sport. But all in all it is just my opinion.

[bowlermangigity24]

well the standard house shot is becoming easier each year....its all cause of the oil build up in the middle that allows us to miss and still hit the pocket....the newer bowling balls are makin it that much easier...now you put these on the sport shots and the pba patterns and then its a fair game...to an extend....jus now you get more upper level bowlers rising to the top that have the accuracy with the high powered bowling balls. then you get the even harder shots and the true top bowlers like chris barnes,norm duke,parker bohn, and opther legends that always win.

[WAC4504]

I got to think of it as NASCAR the equipment may be the same but the driver wins the race.

[JAnderson]

Responding to a number of previous posts ...


In my opinion, there's no substitute for good execution. For the most part, the easy house shots are making bowling easier than the balls. But the balls allow the player to do less and still get results.

Well stated, SD. Even the modern equipment can be taken out of play with "poor" lane conditions. However, modern core and coverstock make it much easier to get a ball to hook and create that magical six degrees of entry angle that produces maximum carry.


That's why there are all the different layouts so you can decide what you want the ball to do.

Layout has much less to do with ball reaction than the bowler, lane conditions, and ball surface preparation.


Honestly what do you guys think about all the new bowling balls coming out? They all have a mean hook

This has been true since at least the late 1990's. I have equipment from then that out hooks equipment being produced today.


Players that have these ball can turn into a stroker / cranker just because of the bowling balls


You are using the terminology incorrectly. Stroker/Cranker has nothing to do with the number of boards the ball covers. They refer to a release style. A bowler can "crank" a rubber ball from 50 years ago.


Okay some people are not going to like this but the balls are doing way too much of the work as far as I am concerned

I think the modern equipment that allows the bowler to do less and still create proper entry angle a great benefit to our aging bowling community. I love seeing 80 and 90-year-olds still able to bowl and enjoy some degree of success on the lanes. None of us are getting any younger and I'd certainly like to be able to bowl and compete for years to come.


I worked hard when I was younger to have a strong release and be able to play all over the lane. I cannot even throw the new equipment unless I tone it down on the drilling or tone it down with my release. I see too many low rev players that are now able to compete with me and other high average players

I can completely relate to how you feel. It sounds like you're bowling on the wrong lane conditions, in the wrong organizations, or at the wrong level. Sport bowling eliminates almost all of what is aggravating you.


I have carried a 220 plus average since 1987-1988 so the new stronger balls and easier lane conditions have not helped me out that much.

Taken in the context of your entire post, I have to ask: you haven't worked hard on your game much since when you were younger? I'm not picking on you, but being a high average bowler, I'm sure that on any given night, when the lane conditions start to change, you make adjustments to maintain your scoring pace. Why should the general bowling "world" be any different? As equipment and conditions and lane surfaces trend in new directions, you must make the appropriate changes to your game. Consider that one of the first lessons the exempt pros learn out on the national tour is to learn how to take revs off the ball and how to take advantage of the modern cover stocks.

Yes, the easy house conditions and modern equipment have closed the gap between the advanced and intermediate bowlers, but I would urge you not to consider a bowler's house average an indication of true bowling talent. Anytime you want to vent about this or anything in your post, drop me a PM - I'll vent right back at ya!


Reactive resin balls changed the sport forever and are still changing the sport. But all in all it is just my opinion.

My friend, that's not an opinion but a simple statement of fact.

[extraacount]

You are using the terminology incorrectly. Stroker/Cranker has nothing to do with the number of boards the ball covers. They refer to a release style. A bowler can "crank" a rubber ball from 50 years ago.


Oh i'm sorry i have just realized this after you posted it... I guess what im trying to say is im refering to how the balls hooks like a cranker. Or something like that...

[JAnderson]

Oh i'm sorry i have just realized this after you posted it... I guess what im trying to say is im refering to how the balls hooks like a cranker. Or something like that...

No need to apologize, maybe I could have worded that a little better :rolleyes:

Yes, as far as how much a bowler can hook the ball, today's stuff can make a stroker's ball motion look like that of a cranker from 30 years ago. One wonders just how much a ball needs to hook!

[messenger87]

Well my dad is a member of the PBA and bowls in tournaments in the eastern shore. He gets a new ball that is more "high tech" Or "Responsive" than anything else out there. I have been using the same ball for the past 8 years, and I'm only 22. I have better accuracy and control over my ball than his "high tech responsive balls". I think that if some people want a ball to do all the work then they are in for a rude awakening. The ball may be good. But i believe it is your skill with not just that ball, but with any and all balls that make it a good ball.

[extraacount]

If you think about it, its about you understanding how the ball you have works. It's like you cooperating with the ball. If you dont know anything about the ball then how are you going to use it? You have to fully understand how the balls works in every condition... Thats why i want to go bowling more with my furious... i've only used it on dry dry lanes and oil flooded lanes :)

[Strike Domination]

Thanks JAnderson, I do try my best to give a valid opinion on these kinds of subjects.

Marco, that's about right. But that goes back to proper execution as well. Even if you know what to do with the ball, it takes some talent to actually do it. I think this is why bowling is a game now where you don't just want to focus on the technicalities or just the physical game, but it's actually best to have a balance of both. Pretty much any successful bowler does, look at JAnderson :D.

[Stormed1]

Bowlers need to adapt to the technilogical advances Bak in the late 80's (urethane era) I had developed a quite powerfull release witha lot of axis rotation to allow for the ball to have a powerfull motion on the backend. Wth the introduction of resin balls i was in deep trouble as now that release created too much reaction so adjustments to release were required to adapt to the new equipment.As the balls have developed and the lane conditions have gotten easier it has become less the bowler and more the equipment and lane conditions. It helps those who like to "spray and pray" and in some ways the new balls hinder the more accurate player as they tend to burn up the shot quicker for the more accurate player

[poflobo]

I went back and checked the date this thread was started... On 9/15/09 "Let's Go Bowling Show" interviewed Carmen Salvino And they asked him the very same question. I thought his answer was very informative concerning the equipment of today vs. 25 years ago.
Check it out here:http://www.gobowlingshow.com/listen/091509_carmen_salvino.mp3

I also have a question. Is the house shot where you bowl really that consistent? At our lanes, one week light oil. Next week there's oil in the pits. Also varies in that the oil pattern might get thinner from one side of the house to the other. In our house, each week IS like a box of chocolates. We never know what we are getting in to!:eek:

Thanks guys!

[extraacount]

My centres oils the lanes every morning i think... or whenever the lanes break down and people complain. Since i dont bowl like 3 - 4 times a week i dont know... but i do remember them oiling up the lanes in the morning.

[Strike Domination]

Our shot didn't seem consistent for a while. I think in the summer they put down a little less oil, and they forgot to increase it once fall leagues started. But the second week they did and it was similar the week after. So I think they'll be sticking with that pattern.

[poflobo]

On league night they usually finish oiling about 1 1/2 to 2 hours before we start. Some of us bowl a couple of games to loosen up ( not on a league pair), but all lanes have been oiled. Last week I shot a 203 with a Super Freak that we sanded with 800 grit (no polish). No problem making it down... nice turn on back end... ball picked up plenty of oil off the lanes. Bowled 2nd game with my Venom... worked fine.

Moved to league pair... totally different story. Couldn't hardly keep those balls on the right side of the head pin. Pull out my Stomp Pearl and go back to my normal line... 255, 244, 185... 684. Our pair were the last lanes oiled that night, so they should have been the freshest.:confused: We wondered if the guy let the machine run out of oil or just accidentally short oiled them.

Little side note... This guy (young helper) who works at and maintains the lanes DOESN'T EVEN BOWL!:eek: Figure that one out.