Is it time for a change??

[The German Shepherd]

First off, please pardon the following ramble.....When I first began the road back into bowling (after an 18 year absence), I found that the game has undergone some serious changes. Here are some examples of what I mean - When I quit bowling in 1994, the reactive resin bowling ball revolution was just beginning; lanes were made of wood; while bowling, if you missed your target to the outside, you ball would not usually hook back enough for a strike and if you pulled your first ball you could expect to cross over or at least end up on the nose. NOWADAYS, if you miss ur strike shot to the outside you end up on the nose and of you pull the ball, you might slide past the head pin.

Because of this, I decided that it would suit me best to invest in highly aggressive bowling equipment. My rev rate and ball speed had diminished in my hiatus (not to mention the onset of middle age!) and I needed a little help from my equipment to make it hook up like it used to. My "comeback" began at the end of 2011. Since then, I have acquired a Vivid, a couple of Defiants and Lucids, a Nexxus and a Critical Theory - all highly aggressive balls. I have liquidated some of my equipment (one Defiant, the Nexxus and one of the Lucids). I am finding that my strike ball (when using these more aggressive pieces) is leaving MANY corner pins and often these are flat 10s (being a right hander). In my last 4 league series (totally 12 games, no duh) I have left a grand total of 33 tens, 6 eights and a few 7s. I am getting tired of this.

I make adjustments to my speed, hand position, foot position and even using polish but I am still burning up on entry. I am beginning to wonder if it is time for a change to less aggressive equipment! Perhaps less aggressive equipment that retains it's energy better would be a good answer? I know I am throwing harder these days and my rev rate is on the rise. Maybe I have reached a point where I need to use less aggressive balls? What do you think??????????? What would you do???

Jay

[ecub]

If the balls too aggressive, I'd go with a less aggressive one or maybe a less aggressive layout. Where are your feet and where do shoot the ball at?

[ecub]

Also to add, how about plugging and redrilling one of your least used balls with a less aggressive layout?

[Flyer41]

Having some less aggressive equipment is always a good idea, but for the 10 pin problem, do you bounce the ball off the outside or keep it tight? Usually if you're burning up too early due to throwing it out wide, you could try keeping it tighter and in oil longer to retain some energy to carry into the pins.

[Zothen]

I have same problem and thus I went to symmetrical core bowling balls(Beserk,Bullwhip,Shout,Slingshot,300C and the new VOW). I still have asymmetrical balls(Defiant,neXus & neXXXus,919C & Epidemic).

I find symmetrical balls to be not as jumpy or aggressive as some of my asymmetrical balls are. Also I will move 1/2 board left of where I stand and up to 2 boards and if the 10 is still left I will switch balls to a lesser aggressive oil ball.

Zothen

[The German Shepherd]

Well, I think I am going to "gear down" and see what happens. I have been taking a highly aggressive ball (Lucid or defiant), a spare ball and a Medium action ball (usually a Crossroad) to my leagues, but I think I am going to go with medium balls in two different shot shapes and a spare ball. My carry the past few weeks has been dreadful and a good % of the time I am leaving sleepy 10's. Going with balls that retain more energy and see what happens...

Jay

[ecub]

I keep mine simple. All my bowling balls have the same layout. The only difference is the coverstock. I normally start off with my Hammer Taboo Original if it's oily, which is at 2000 grit. At 2000 grit, it's going to read the lane early. I make the proper moves when I need to, but if it's too much, then I go with my Hammer Taboo Blue/Silver, which is at 4000 grit. At 4000, it will give me some extra length. When it becomes really dry, I switch over to my Storm Natural Pearl, which is an urethane ball with a weight block. It's a good ball, but if I miss right, it doesn't come back as strong compared to my other balls. I'm waiting on a Hammer 1st Blood, which is a polished ball. This should be a better ball for mid to dry lanes.

Well, I think I am going to "gear down" and see what happens. I have been taking a highly aggressive ball (Lucid or defiant), a spare ball and a Medium action ball (usually a Crossroad) to my leagues, but I think I am going to go with medium balls in two different shot shapes and a spare ball. My carry the past few weeks has been dreadful and a good % of the time I am leaving sleepy 10's. Going with balls that retain more energy and see what happens...

Jay

Depending on what type of 10 pin leave you have, a slight adjustment maybe the only thing required.

[Hammer]

Being lefty if I start leaving 7 pins with my urethane Blue Hammer when the lanes are medium dry I can usually get away with a one board move to the left using my same alley target arrow. This gives a better angle into the pocket and usually a strike. Sometimes depending on the alley oil all I need is a half board move. In my life I would never have thought that a half board move would do any good but it does. I think I heard about that when pro bowling was on free TV on Saturdays. Bo Burton Jr. was the announcer. He would sometimes say the adjustments these guys make to correct a ball coming in too light. So half board moves sometimes work. I know that I have tried it when I bowl.