Its All in the Approach

[Ludeth]

billf,

So my girlfriend is going to get me this ball: http://www.bowlerx.com/DV8-Misfit-Bo...SFITORGBLU.htm. I am not sure what weight to get. I normally bowl with a 10lbs ball and that is fairly comfortable. But this seems light. Should I be worried about that? I find if I throw a heavier ball I don't have as much control. Also do I need to do anything with the pin placement or top weight or should I leave those unchecked?

--Ed

[Big Nick]

You'll be surprised by how a properly fitted ball will feel in your hand. My wife and I joined our first league earlier this year, and we both got our own balls a few months before league started so that we could get some good practice in before our league started. Like you, I'd been using house equipment and I was scared to move up in weight since I always threw 12 pound balls. I could tell that the pro I was talking with really wanted to put me in a 14 pound ball, but he could sense my hesitation and ordered a 13 pounder for me. It was more than apparent in the first game that I threw that I could have gone with a heavier ball right off the bat. I've since moved up to a 15 pound ball, but I recently picked up a 14 pound spare ball and I really like that weight. I'm seriously considering getting a 14 pound ball when I make my next hook-ball purchase.

My recommendation, given that I feel I've just traveled the road your about to travel, would be to go ahead and get a 14 pound ball and have it drilled for fingertip grips. If you're serious about your bowling, you'll eventually want to move to fingertips anyway and the transition is an easy one. Also, like you, I work with computers a lot at my job, and I experience some wrist pain due to the early stages of carpal tunnel syndrome. I highly recommend a wrist brace of some type. I have three: a Storm Gadget XF, a Robby's Revs II, and a Robby's Cool-Max. Out of the three, my favorite is the Cool-Max. The other two change my span too much and I have trouble holding the ball with them on sometimes. The Cool-Max is also the cheapest and most proshops will have them in stock.

[AZBowla]

Yep, the Cool Max is what I have and after I raved about mine my GF got one too the same day we drilled her spare ball for fingertips. The brace will REALLY help you stay consistent - my average has gone up 20 pins easy just from being able to consistently release the ball down the same line rather than spraying it all over the place. It was cheap too, only $25.

Next thing to consider - shoes. House shoes suck. My GF actually fell on her hip last weekend because the house shoes were so bad. She's getting new bowling shoes this weekend as an early Christmas present from me. You can get a decent pair of bowling shoes for $40 at most pro shops (or you can go all out and get the ones with interchangeable soles and all that for a couple hundred) but if you're just starting out you don't need that - a basic pair will do, and they pay for themselves by not having to rent house shoes for $3 or more each time you bowl.

[sprocket]

The ball fitting your hand is absolutely A+ #1 important. Stay home if you don't have that. Find a pro shop that can really drill you something that fits. It might feel wrong at first, but trust the pro shop more than yourself because it might feel much tighter than you are used to. Next are shoes. They are your link to the approach. You need decent bowling shoes.

Another tip is to understand the meaning of the word "focus". It means exactly that. Your target should always be in perfect focus in your field of vision. That can only happen with a steady approach. The target can only stay in perfect focus with perfect balance at the line. Make yourself keep that target in FOCUS. NEVER take your eyes off it until that ball is well down the lane. ALWAYS see the ball cross your target. I'm serious, you need to get it in your head that you would rather have someone kick you in the nads than to lose FOCUS on your target.

[billf]

billf,

So my girlfriend is going to get me this ball: http://www.bowlerx.com/DV8-Misfit-Bo...SFITORGBLU.htm. I am not sure what weight to get. I normally bowl with a 10lbs ball and that is fairly comfortable. But this seems light. Should I be worried about that? I find if I throw a heavier ball I don't have as much control. Also do I need to do anything with the pin placement or top weight or should I leave those unchecked?

--Ed

Ed, I would suggest visiting a reputable pro shop. There are things they can do to determine your proper ball weight. I wouldn't go any higher than 14 lbs if you've only been using 10 lbs though. With the correct fit and finger tip grips, you will be able to handle more weight than with a house ball. If you want or need a wrist brace to help stabilize yourself or work with a carpal tunnel effect job, then definitely use a brace.
The pro shop, hopefully, will watch you bowl, take the measurements and drill the ball to compliment your delivery. By the time you purchase a ball on-line and then take it to the shop to be drilled, it's about the same price. Although on-line shopping is easy, for a first fitting, I wouldn't suggest it. Ask for a copy of your measurements and then you will have them for your next ball. www.bowlingball.com as well as www.bowlerX.com are both reputable on-line bowling retailers. Pin placement and top weight are beyond what you will need for the time being.

[GeoLes]

Depends on the pro shop. I would ask the front desk what the deal is. Some pro shops have weird hours and others are appointment only. Also buy yourself some bowling shoes online for $30-$50 and start reaping the benefits of not having to pay $2-$3 a trip to the alley's.

Do a little bit of internets search for a lane near you that does have an available pro shop. Make a trip, even if you have to drive a distance and talk to the pro shop guy about options.

[Tampabaybob]

Start with a 14# ball as Bill suggests. Keep in mind you're rolling a 10# ball at 35 pounds of wood and you're getting a lot of deflection because the ball is too light. With a minimum 14# ball you will be amazed at the difference. While you're at it have them drill the ball as a fingertip.....it's much more comfortable, easy to get used to, and will give you more roll on the ball. Good luck, let us know how you make out.