Switching from a house ball

[theMac77]

I have been throwing a house ball for my whole life and recently I have started playing a lot more regularly. I routinely throw 140+ avg over three games using a house ball. I have been researching getting a reactive ball for both myself and my wife. I am considering the following balls for us.

For my wife:
Rotogrip Dark Star
Storm Tropical Heat

For myself:
Brunswick Massive Damage
Track 607A SE

The alley we ball at is medium to heavy oil. I talked a long time with the guy that oils the lanes and plays in several leagues. He said I wanted a medium or medium-heavy oil reactive ball. Looking at all of these balls I can drill them to be less reactive and then drill them to be more reactive later if I want. Anybody have any thoughts on these balls.

Thanks in advance.

[Trex]

Just my opinion.....For both you and your wife, I would go with these two....

(1) Dark Star
(2) Nomad

http://www.bowlingball.com/products/bowling-balls/RotoGrip/8014/Dark-Star.html

http://www.bowlingball.com/products/bowling-balls/RotoGrip/7205/Nomad.html

Reason.....

(1) They are for medium/heavy oil.....One is a Pearl and One is a solid...They will compliment each other!!
(2) The Nomad flares more than the Dark Star, so if the Dark Star is not hooking enough you could then throw the Nomad.
(3) The Nomad and Dark Star would be a better match up combination in my opinion.

The balls that you listed in my opinion are too similar to warrant buying all four as they all... are for medium oil.

If you are only going to buy one ball for both you and your wife then.....I would just buy the Nomad.....unless the condition you bowl on is more medium than heavy oil.....if it's more medium.....Then I would go with the Dark Star.


Also.... The Nomad is Great on Medium/Heavy oil.....I have personally witnessed three 300 games from three different bowlers using the Nomad listed on the link above. One of these bowlers has never had a 300 game until using the Nomad bowling ball, and this guy is a great bowler who has used many bowling balls, but The Nomad gave him his first 300 Game!!!!!

I'm not saying that you will get a 300 using the Nomad bowling ball, I'm just saying the chances are greater for it to happen with The Nomad!!!!! I know a guy who has had many 300 games with other balls and bought the 607SE and did not get a 300 with that ball, not saying it can't happen, but he has not gotten one yet with that ball and he has bowled with it all year long.....

The above is only Just my opinion....Based on what I see going on at the Bowling Center's where I bowl.


Good Luck....... :)

[The Mayor]

Out of the choices you listed, I would go with the Dark Star and the Massive Damage. These are two very good bowling balls. I really like the Dark Star for your wife (not knowing anything about how she bowls, with more info like ball speed, revs I could be more specific). The Massive Damage is a good medium oil ball. It's not suited as much for the heavier stuff. You could take a look at the Storm Hy-Road. This is the best all-around ball on the market. It's so versatile, and that's what you need when you only have one ball at first.

Don't put so much stock into the drilling layout. You can always make the ball hook more or less by changing the surface. The coverstock and surface are the biggest determining factor in ball reaction, not layout.

[vgw]

will you be drilling with a conventional layout or a fingertip? do you hook the ball or roll relatively straight? if it's conventional/straight, i would personally go with something that doesn't hook all that much.