Expand your arsenal without any new equipment

[classygranny]

I'm gonna agree with Bob. In just one session with my coach, he convinced me that he could teach me to make a 3 ball arsenal work for me. First we worked a bit on my stance, footwork, and balance. Then he sent me off to his proshop guy with a list - the new balls are on order, and my next lesson is mid-June. I am sure, from the first lesson conversation, that a lot of my lessons will be on this very subject. I already use some finger dancing to make minor adjustment.

Also, I'm not one that enjoys trucking eight balls around to every bowling center I bowl in, so he agreed there was no problem in building my 3 ball arsenal to work. I already "know" the basics, but like swingset and got_a_300 said, it will take practice. Although, I'm sure most of us have already experienced the difference affect the release has just in the "mistakes" we have made learning to be consistent. Sometimes I think the biggest mistake bowlers make is not "watching" their ball as it travels down the lane and into the pins. They watch to see if they hit their mark and then what reaction the pins are giving, but not what the ball is doing on its way down the entire lane.

[Tampabaybob]

Gayla, You hit the monster right on the head. When bowlers "don't watch there ball" all the way down, they are missing out on a great deal of information that the ball will tell you. For example, where does the ball "start to hook up", where is the break point, why am I leaving weak tens or seven pins, why am I leaving 8 or 9 pin leaves ? With out watching your ball, you will never be able to fix these things and make the proper adjustments to overcome them.

Glad you were able to hook up with a good coach. It's invaluable, and you will see the results. Stick with him.

[billf]

I will openly admit I go through stages. Stage 1, I bring only two balls to the center. I grab a bag and use whatever balls are in there. Stage two, I bring three bags (6 balls) and use what I want.
I bowl for fun. Could I average a little higher if I would consistently play the same line? Sure but what fun is there in that? Don't get me wrong, there isn't a whole lot of times I grab the Misfit and on a sport shot say I will play from 40 across 18. But if I want to use a ball, I do and just adjust to what I think it will take to score well. It helps me a lot with tournaments.

Tournaments or any time I'm bowling for money is a different story. Then it's the best ball, best line to carry the highest percentage. Very, very seldom is a 90° axis rotation the best rotation for me, to carry well on a sport pattern. For me, 90° is too snappy at times while 60° seems to read the lane great and carry also. I'm talking the longer or heavier patterns. The short, dry ones are more like a modified house shot.

[GeoLes]

Again I can't thank you enough for the assist.

I bowled this weekend on dry lanes with a reactive resin ball. After moving a far left as I could and playing as much oil as I could find, I finally snugged in the undex finger. The ball still went Brooklyn but hit the 1-2 pocket in a good spot (got a couple of strikes and a couple of splits). I tucked in the picky and the ball found 1-3 pocket.

I love new tools.

[Tampabaybob]

Again I can't thank you enough for the assist.

I bowled this weekend on dry lanes with a reactive resin ball. After moving a far left as I could and playing as much oil as I could find, I finally snugged in the undex finger. The ball still went Brooklyn but hit the 1-2 pocket in a good spot (got a couple of strikes and a couple of splits). I tucked in the picky and the ball found 1-3 pocket.

I love new tools.

There are many, many of these "little tricks" that you can use from time to time. They won't always work in every instance, but as you found out it worked for you in your circumstance. Read all that you can and put these tips in your bag of tricks. While others struggle on a particular shot and you've made a slight change, you can smile, because you "Knew" what to change.

One source of finding these "tricks", and I can't stress this enough, is to subscribe to 'Bowling this Month'. It should be called the bowlers bible. It will give you more information than you'll ever believe. Try it, you can get a trial issue for free.

[Gunz1911]

With a 3 ball arsenal, does that include a spare ball for most of you? I plan to sell my motorcylce as I do not get to ride it much anymore, and my wife agreed, If I do I can buy 1-2 balls, then the rest goes to other things. I have a DV8 Brutal Nightmare right now and I am thinking to go with a DV8 Diva (Yeah, I will rock that Pink and black beast) or a Too Reckless, then a Mistfit or Mistfit Pearl.

I do not really want to get beyond a 3 ball arsenal right now, so if I did pick up a spare ball I would probably drop the Misfit out of my line-up. Anyone have decent success with shooting spares with a mistfit/pearl?

[Tampabaybob]

I've carried 3 balls for years, including a spare ball. Then I bought a "joey and started carrying 3 balls + the Joey. last year my Wife bought me a new 4 ball bag for my birthday (the old 3 ball bag was about10 years old and showing the wear & tear). I can say that the 4 ball bag is much easier to handle and having 3 strike balls has definitely worked to my advantage. So I guess my suggestion, if you have a 3 ball bag start with 2 strike balls and one spare ball. If you eventually decide to get another strike ball, just buy a Joey (they're cheap) and start carrying 4. Or if you want to go all in, buy a 4 ball bag.

[billf]

I have used a plastic ball for spares three weeks out of the last 52. As long as your able to create 0° of axis rotation you can use any ball and shoot straight at spares. The BN, Diva and Misfit Pearl would make a great three ball arsenal, in my opinion. The Misfit and Diva combo would leave too big a gap on the drier end of the spectrum if three is the limit.

[Tampabaybob]

Bill, I'll agree with you to a point. I also, used to use my BVP Punisher as my spare ball. All I'd do is kill the ball so straighten it out. In most circumstances I had a good percentage with the right hand corner shots. Then the backends at our house started getting drier and I'd miss a few of those key shots. (cost me some points in the league)I had given away my spare ball to one of the guys on my team, so I went looking for a new one. Bought a used Roto Grip "World Ball" (for $20 bucks) and have been using that for the past couple of years. Every couple of weeks I put a coat of polish on it, so I make sure it'll slide further and my corner percentage is in the high 90"s.

Some people have trouble flattening out, killing the ball, or breaking their wrists, to be able to make those spares. That's where the polyester balls come in handy. IF, they can learn to kill it, then there's no need. IF they're bowling in a house with exceptional dry backends, then I'd say, spend the money and by plastic. Just my 2 cents !

[billf]

Bob, I spent the little bit of money for a T-Zone but still working on getting the thumb to fit correctly. That's the downside to being on staff when you have to use them exclusively and they're not close by. My old spare ball I gave to a teammate so if need be, it's available to me.
Also, I was talking strictly league bowling. I wouldn't dream of doing a tournament without a plastic spare ball. No reason to chance it when money is at stake.