Roto Grip Nomad vs. Nomad Pearl

[NYCNative]

As a followup to this thread (http://www.bowlingboards.com/showthread.php?8228-Back-after-20-years-away-looking-for-new-equipment), I asked my local guy about the Rising Star and he said he was out but offered me either a Nomad or Nomad Pearl for $100 which seems like a great deal.

Not sure which one is best though - I know the Nomad hooks more and given my weak physical game (weaker with my relatively advanced age and disuse, no doubt) I would want something like that but I also don't want to get too MUCH ball and be unable to handle it which might also be a problem having been away from the game for so long. Plus even in my prime, I was a stroker who was best playing a straight-up shot on the outside.

I don't have a budget for several balls. I can afford only one ball (aside from a plastic spare ball) and want it to be the right one to hopefully last me a few years.

[The Mayor]

Out of those two, I would definitely go with the Nomad Solid. A great all around benchmark ball, which if you're only going to have one ball is exactly what you want. I would have your driller drill the ball with more of a mild layout. You can always change the surface to make the ball hook more. Does the $100 price include drilling?

[NYCNative]

It will cost another $20 for drilling and plugs.

[bowl1820]

I agree with whiskey go with the solid. I have it and have love it.

[The Mayor]

That's a good deal then. Go for it!

[Trex]

I agree with Whiskey Basin also!! But....As soon as you can afford it, go ahead and buy the Rising Star if at all possible!! also if you are a right handed bowler,opposite for a south paw... Have the ball drilled with the Pin to the right of ring finger with cg pointed towards the grip center like the old 1:30 control type layout. A teen girl was seen throwing this ball set up this way, and it was on a shot that did not allow you to play right of the 15 board. She stroked the ball straight down the 15 board and the ball would glide down the lane and turn every time and strike 8 out of 10 times!! She averaged over 200 on this shot with this ball setup this way, when other high roller men were having a real hard time getting there ball to even move right of the 15 board and if they tried to play her line, the guy's balls would go through the nose or slide past the break point. On this shot that was giving some of the best a hard time, this teen girl made it look easy as Pie!!

As far as the layout, don't ask anyone such as Mo Pinel about a 1:30 layout as he thinks that it means to drill the ball at 1:30 pm in the evening/or 1:30 Am in the Morning....LOL!!!!

I remember the old 10:30 = skid flip, 12:O'Clock Stacked = Hook set, and the 1:30 = control arc type layouts!! As for Mo, he thinks that he came up with something new calling it his duel angle layout system which goes into detail about how to do what I have been doing since late 1996.

Sorry, I don't mean to step on any toes with my above opinion, I could not help myself....LOL


But...I could not help but laugh watching this teen girl beat a team of high rollers who normally beat most everyone else in the league most of the time, but what it showed me was that I need to get at least one of those Rising Star balls to go along with my nomad solid as well, and have them setup the same way as I too can use the control layout when needed on shots like that.

Good luck with your new ball NYCNative!! let us know how it works out for you :-)

[jaydee]

For some reason, for me as a stroker my hybrid cover ball (Virtual Energy) is more versatile than my solid (original Mission). Just can not get my Mission to move in the heavy oil (PBA Scorpian for example) even though its been recently rejuvanated, is drilled stronger and has been sanded down to a rougher grit (1000). On a house shot though, the Mission is money.

Seeing that you're a stroker, I'd suggest something strong with hybrid coverstock and a strong core if you're looking at heavy oil some of the time. If you're mostly looking at THS, Nomad Solid is a good ball.