Do you use a plastic ball or other ball for spare pickup?

[CaptainXeroid]

There's a search feature on this site too. Didn't see that coming.

I use a Columbia 300 White Dot for all right side and most spares without a sleeper. I kill the hook and try to hit it dead center. Nothing fancy...just fill frames.

What I also didn't see coming was the passion some of the spare ball threads dredged up. The key is to do what you feel comfortable to knock down the remaining pins...change balls, throw faster, kill the hook, or any combination of these. Telling other people they're doing it wrong is only useful is you're picking up more spares than they are or on the internet.

[Aslan]

What I also didn't see coming was the passion some of the spare ball threads dredged up.

*&$%....this is nothing. The FIRST time this topic came up (this is thread #3 or #4 in the past year)....lets just say daggers were flying. I was actually told my opinion NOT to use a plastic ball was a "danger to new bowlers".

But this is nothing, go ahead and knock 2-handed bowling....THEN you're gonna see some PASSION!!!

I think the reason why this thread isn't as bad/passionate is the issue has already been argued to death..the dead horse has been kicked into futility by now.

[Mike White]

*&$%....this is nothing. The FIRST time this topic came up (this is thread #3 or #4 in the past year)....lets just say daggers were flying. I was actually told my opinion NOT to use a plastic ball was a "danger to new bowlers".

But this is nothing, go ahead and knock 2-handed bowling....THEN you're gonna see some PASSION!!!

I think the reason why this thread isn't as bad/passionate is the issue has already been argued to death..the dead horse has been kicked into futility by now.

Maybe because this time nobody used the argument....

"I've been bowling for 3 weeks now, based on my experience, and the fact that my strike ball goes straight, nobody should need a plastic ball for spares, it's a waste of money."

[Aslan]

Maybe because this time nobody used the argument....

"I've been bowling for 3 weeks now, based on my experience, and the fact that my strike ball goes straight, nobody should need a plastic ball for spares, it's a waste of money."

That wasn't the arguement. Also, the USBC called and said to watch their video where they spend half the time on spare shooting talking about using the strike ball and lateral movement. So maybe after 3 weeks I was just WAY smarter than the rest of you.

Again, I think the need for a "spare ball" depends on what type of arsenal you have. Before we were fighting about the spare ball, we were fighting about whether or not a casual bowler needed a 7-ball roller filled with their arsenal. And I still contend that if you have a 7-ball arsenal...then you probably should have ONE of those 7 balls be something that doesn't hook so much you can't use it to pick up a spare. Now, if you have ONE strike ball...and it hooks like a madman...then I concede that maybe a straighter ball (reactive resin, urethane, plastic, etc...) would be a good addition.

And I wasn't the only one that uses a strike ball as a spare ball...if I remember correctly...Mr. Smarty Pants. And for the record....I now USE a spare ball....it's just a low hook reactive resin rather than a urethane or plastic...but now that I went from a hybrid coverstock to a solid coverstock...a "spare ball" has become necessary. But as soon as I mentioned coverstocks I lost 75% of the audience and Mudpuppy has his hands over his ears yelling "LA LA LA I can't hear you!! I go on feel and gut reaction...LA LA LA...numbers...loud noises...!!"

ETA: And also...that arguement that new bowlers shouldn't have opinions is a slippery slope. I'm not saying you should let someone be wrong without correcting them...but much of this banter is "opinion"; not concrete fact. And if ya start saying new bowlers shouldn't be able to be passionate about their opinions (informed or less informed); then the question becomes, "What average do I have to have in order to have an opinion?" And thats a valid question. There are "other sites" where newer bowlers are a lot less tolerated...but remember...the PBA is dieing. We need to start opening up to some new and young voices rather than sit around like curmudgeons telling the new guys to "speak when spoken to."

[bowl1820]

That wasn't the arguement. Also, the USBC called and said to watch their video where they spend half the time on spare shooting talking about using the strike ball and lateral movement. So maybe after 3 weeks I was just WAY smarter than the rest of you.

While they did talk about using the strike ball for picking up spares.

You left out the sections where they did talk about using a plastic spare ball and it's advantages. Which were: it doesn't hook, it takes the lane conditions out of play and once you have your spare system down it will work anywhere.

And of the the two options, If all you did was bowl at one house, the same shot every week. Then using your strike ball for shooting spares was okay.

But if you were bowling tournaments, different houses, conditions, then the plastic ball was the better option.

[jnv32185]

I do not use a plastic spare ball. I have been thinking about getting one. I have been using my strike ball for so long for spares that I am pretty good at it and it has been so long since I threw a straight ball I do not know how well I would do with one. I do have a question for anyone who would like to answer. I realize this might sound silly but do you use fingertips on a plastic spare ball or a conventional grip? I have used fingertips since I was 10 and can not even remember ever using a plastic ball.

[bowl1820]

I do have a question for anyone who would like to answer. I realize this might sound silly but do you use fingertips on a plastic spare ball or a conventional grip?

You would use the same grip you have on your other ball.

[Mudpuppy]

The plastic ball I have is drilled out identical to my main ball - finger tips and all. I just don't ever use it - just because I don't feel like carrying a third ball to the bowling alley. I have 3 main balls that I use and I can rotate depending on conditions.

[Aslan]

While they did talk about using the strike ball for picking up spares.

You left out the sections where they did talk about using a plastic spare ball and it's advantages. Which were: it doesn't hook, it takes the lane conditions out of play and once you have your spare system down it will work anywhere.

And of the the two options, If all you did was bowl at one house, the same shot every week. Then using your strike ball for shooting spares was okay.

But if you were bowling tournaments, different houses, conditions, then the plastic ball was the better option.

Again, I understand the need for it and potential advantages. I spelled out where one might be beneficial as did the USBC video. I'm merely saying that it's not an automatic no-brainer as people who were vehemently arguing with me in earlier threads were making it out to be and my "unqualified opinion" actually did have some merit.

Also, I presume when we're giving advice, unless specified otherwise, we are giving advice to the 85% of bowlers that never bowl outside their home center except for an occasional sweeps or cosmic bowling in a nearby town. Even I'm sure Rob M. would agree...one difficulty with offering bowling advice (such as his modern release or Joe Slowinski's DYDS) is that advice will change depending on who is asking the question. Arsenals, spare balls, modern releases....all great advice for the 15% of bowlers at that level. Not as good advice for beginners or novice players bowling in beer leagues in one center. Do you agree?

[Mudpuppy]

Again, I understand the need for it and potential advantages. I spelled out where one might be beneficial as did the USBC video. I'm merely saying that it's not an automatic no-brainer as people who were vehemently arguing with me in earlier threads were making it out to be and my "unqualified opinion" actually did have some merit.

Also, I presume when we're giving advice, unless specified otherwise, we are giving advice to the 85% of bowlers that never bowl outside their home center except for an occasional sweeps or cosmic bowling in a nearby town. Even I'm sure Rob M. would agree...one difficulty with offering bowling advice (such as his modern release or Joe Slowinski's DYDS) is that advice will change depending on who is asking the question. Arsenals, spare balls, modern releases....all great advice for the 15% of bowlers at that level. Not as good advice for beginners or novice players bowling in beer leagues in one center. Do you agree?

Isn't this what I was saying before when you argued against me and how I said knowing RG, coverstocks, etc. is useless knowledge to the majority of THS bowlers?