Back after 20 years away, looking for new equipment

[NYCNative]

Background: I am 42 years old. I bowled as a youth through my early '20s in leagues at the Bowl America in Manassas, VA until I moved to New York. I was able to average in the mid 170s at the time. When I moved there I tried to bowl but it cost too much and I wound up having my equipment left in the locker of a Brooklyn bowling alley that closed its doors forever. Since then, I have wound up with friends bowling once in a while and used a house ball with the usual results.

Recently, I went bowling with the family and wound up in a local house which had some house balls drilled for a fingertip grip and I was able to find a ball that approximated my hand pretty well. Although I was quite erratic, It was refreshing to be able to hook the ball again. I ended my last game with seven marks in a row and it felt like how I felt when I would bowl a 650 series back in the day!

So I miss the competition (mostly against myself though I enjoyed league play) and at my age can use the fitness aspect of the game plus my family is also enthused so I want to get back into the sport. Which means I need to get equipment and I would welcome suggestions...

When I bowled back in the day I had two urethane balls that I used. My main ball was a Blue Rhino and I had a polished Angle for when I was on drier lanes. I used an old Columbia White Dot for spares.

I am looking for a Reactive ball that I can use on a wide variety of lane conditions. I am a right-handed stroker who preferred to play outside but was able to move my line inside if necessary so I didn't need to use my backup ball very often.

I am also not looking to spend a fortune - I am hopeful I can get a ball for $100 or less.

At a local shop they have the following options within my price range:
Brunswick Diamondback
Brunswick Slingshot
Brunswick AnacondaThe shop owner said the Diamondback would probably be best for me. What do you guys think, or are there any other balls I should strongly consider?

Also, for a spare ball, I am fine with getting a plastic ball however I saw on eBay a lot of people selling the rubber High Skore for almost nothing (http://cgi.ebay.com/5-99-16-lb-Hard-Rubber-Bowling-Balls-INDESTRUCTIBLE-/190545796380?pt=Bowling&hash=item2c5d6a1d1c) so maybe that would be a good spare ball? I don't think rubber balls hook and are on par with plastic for hook ability, am I correct about that assumption?

I welcome all feedback and thank you for your time!

[The Mayor]

Welcome to the site! Glad you're looking to get back into bowling!

I personally don't think the Diamondback would be the best choice for you, I'd go with the Anaconda over that. As for what I would suggest, the Roto Grip Rising Star is one of the best all-around balls on the market. It's a hybrid, which means the coverstock is part pearl and part solid. The Rising Star will have the length of a pearl with the smooth controlled reaction of a solid. It makes this ball usable on many different lane conditions! At $94.99 right now, you really can't go wrong! Here's the link: http://www.bowlingball.com/products/bowling-balls/RotoGrip/9216/Rising-Star.html

As for the spare ball, I would go with plastic. It's not that the rubber ball couldn't/wouldn't work, it's that most pro shops won't touch that with a 10 foot pole. Rubber is the biggest pain in the butt to drill. The residue gets all over everything and it's really not good to breathe in. I just think you'd be better of going with a plastic ball, they have less chance of hooking up early on you while shooting a 10 pin. It's easier to keep the surface up to par as well.

[DanielMareina]

I agree completely with not going with the anaconda or the rubber ball. I would suggest the Rising Star or Tropical Heat Hybrid. Both are hybrid coverstocks, affordable, and excellent balls for most house conditions. Good luck and we are glad to hear you are back in the game!

[J Anderson]

It's not that the rubber ball couldn't/wouldn't work, it's that most pro shops won't touch that with a 10 foot pole. Rubber is the biggest pain in the butt to drill. The residue gets all over everything and it's really not good to breathe in.

Its not really a good idea to breathe in any small particles that get drilled out of any kind of bowling ball. Or anything else for that matter!

[kev3inp]

Well, you know me. An outside line stroker screams Slingshot to my mind. I'm really impressed with this ball for drier or outside line conditions. It won't hook or recover in oil, but it's not supposed to.

And I use a White Dot for spares. Still have my LT-48, but it's an antique now. :)

[NYCNative]

I was pleasauntly surprised to find out that my purchases needn't be limited to this shop's eBay store and that he has many more discounted items at his website. Because he is local, I can buy it and pick up in person and get a $10 discount on drilling and plugs (he sells his balls with free shipping) so that will cost me only $20 a ball.

My options now include, with their price not including drilling, in order of the least expensive:

Brunswick Diamondback - $67.99
Brunswick Slingshot - $69.95
Brunswick Avalanche Solid - $70
Columbia 300 Freeze - $79.95
Hammer Plague - $79.95
Brunswick Wild Ride - $80
Brunswick Avalanche Slide - $80
Columbia 300 Complete Bedlam - $80
Columbia 300 Total Bedlam - $80
Brunswick Karma Solid - $84.95
Brunswick Karma Pearl - $84.95
Motiv TX1 - $84.99
Motiv SX1 - $84.99
Track 300C - $87.50
Roto Grip Riot - $89.95
Roto Grip Rising Star - $89.95
Storm Tropical Heat - $89.95
Ebonite Vital Sign - $90
Ebonite Magic - $90

So far, the Rising Star, Tropical Heat and Slingshot have some love. Anyone else have an opinion?

[Dirtfanz]

I was pleasauntly surprised to find out that my purchases needn't be limited to this shop's eBay store and that he has many more discounted items at his website. Because he is local, I can buy it and pick up in person and get a $10 discount on drilling and plugs (he sells his balls with free shipping) so that will cost me only $20 a ball.

My options now include, with their price not including drilling, in order of the least expensive:

Brunswick Diamondback - $67.99
Brunswick Slingshot - $69.95
Brunswick Avalanche Solid - $70
Columbia 300 Freeze - $79.95
Hammer Plague - $79.95
Brunswick Wild Ride - $80
Brunswick Avalanche Slide - $80
Columbia 300 Complete Bedlam - $80
Columbia 300 Total Bedlam - $80
Brunswick Karma Solid - $84.95
Brunswick Karma Pearl - $84.95
Motiv TX1 - $84.99
Motiv SX1 - $84.99
Track 300C - $87.50
Roto Grip Riot - $89.95
Roto Grip Rising Star - $89.95
Storm Tropical Heat - $89.95
Ebonite Vital Sign - $90
Ebonite Magic - $90

So far, the Rising Star, Tropical Heat and Slingshot have some love. Anyone else have an opinion?

I too quit bowling about 15 years ago and just started back up in Feb. I purchased a Burgundy Hammer way back in the early 90's that I still used until this summer. I bought the Tropical Storm Heat and absolutely love it. It does great. I am currently using the Hammer as a spare ten pin ball but am considering getting the Tropical Ice for a spare ball. Any one have thoughts on that one?

[DanielMareina]

The Tropical Heat is a great ball! It comes in Pearlized or Hybrid (black/silver) coverstocks, and a solid core. As for the Ice Storm, it is a great spareball. I don't notice any difference between the polyester balls from each company though. Columbia's Whitedot, Brunswick's T-Zone, and the Ice Storm are all basically the same.

[HunterRunsIt]

I'm currently throwing the Ebonite Vital Sign and its been treating me well lately I would suggest the Ice for a spare ball and The Vital Sign for everything else!

[DanielMareina]

The Vital Sign is an Asymetrical core, and is very aggressive. Neither would be good for someone that hasn't had a reactive ball yet. It is a great ball, but not for this situation.