Playing Your "A" Game by Rob Mautner

[Aslan]

In the mid 80's to early 90's I had at least ten good, usable balls. Now I have maybe 5. I needed a variety of balls then, and if I want to bowl in tournaments or at other houses, I need a variety of balls now. The only bowlers who can remember walking into a bowling alley with a single bag and having that be all that was needed are those who bowled in the 70's or earlier. I'm 49 and would have been a kid in the 70's. An adult still clinging to those days would have to be close to 60 yrs old.

I don't know man...I can't remember anyone carrying more than 2 balls even as late as the early 90s. Roller bags weren't even invented until when? I saw my first roller bag in hockey in about 2004. According to the NYTimes, the first actual "roller bag" as we know it was invented in 1987. So the first roller bag in bowling probably didn't appear until around 1991. Up until last year, I still carried my ball in the ole 1970s style vinyl/leather 1-ball bag. Now I have a 2-ball shoulder bag. I can't imagine anyone carrying more than 2 balls without a roller bag. I'm fairly young and in good shape an I have to admit I can barely carry a 16 and a 15lb ball + shoes and accessories on one shoulder. I personally feel that along with reactive resin technology and lane conditions...the BIGGEST invention that has led to "arsenals" is the roller bag.

But all you guys playing leagues in the 80s would know more so than me. Back then I was just a kid going and watching my Dad, Grandpa, and Uncle. My Dad and Grandpa only had one ball. My uncle was a more serious bowler and he may have had at least 2. But that preceeded reactive resin. Why would you need multiple urethane balls? But, to sprocket's point, my dad, grandpa, and uncle all started bowling in the 60s and primarily bowled in the 70s into the early 80s. My Dad stopped bowling in the early 80s, my Grandpa gave it up due to health concerns in the mid-90s. My Uncle still bowls regularly.

[classygranny]

I don't know man...I can't remember anyone carrying more than 2 balls even as late as the early 90s. Roller bags weren't even invented until when? I saw my first roller bag in hockey in about 2004. According to the NYTimes, the first actual "roller bag" as we know it was invented in 1987. So the first roller bag in bowling probably didn't appear until around 1991. Up until last year, I still carried my ball in the ole 1970s style vinyl/leather 1-ball bag. Now I have a 2-ball shoulder bag. I can't imagine anyone carrying more than 2 balls without a roller bag. I'm fairly young and in good shape an I have to admit I can barely carry a 16 and a 15lb ball + shoes and accessories on one shoulder. I personally feel that along with reactive resin technology and lane conditions...the BIGGEST invention that has led to "arsenals" is the roller bag.

But all you guys playing leagues in the 80s would know more so than me. Back then I was just a kid going and watching my Dad, Grandpa, and Uncle. My Dad and Grandpa only had one ball. My uncle was a more serious bowler and he may have had at least 2. But that preceeded reactive resin. Why would you need multiple urethane balls? But, to sprocket's point, my dad, grandpa, and uncle all started bowling in the 60s and primarily bowled in the 70s into the early 80s. My Dad stopped bowling in the early 80s, my Grandpa gave it up due to health concerns in the mid-90s. My Uncle still bowls regularly.

When I bowled leagues/tournaments in the late '70s early '80s (I quit in '82) we would take two 2-ball shoulder bags to league...one on each shoulder. For tournaments, sometimes we had to make two trips if we wanted access to more than 4 balls. Sorry, but if you're young and in shape and can barely carry one, you must be kinda wimpish. I was younger then to, but could probably still carry two bags today if I was so inclined - and I had too in order to bowl competitively. Just glad they came up with roller bags!

[Aslan]

When I bowled leagues/tournaments in the late '70s early '80s (I quit in '82) we would take two 2-ball shoulder bags to league...one on each shoulder. For tournaments, sometimes we had to make two trips if we wanted access to more than 4 balls. Sorry, but if you're young and in shape and can barely carry one, you must be kinda wimpish. I was younger then to, but could probably still carry two bags today if I was so inclined - and I had too in order to bowl competitively. Just glad they came up with roller bags!

You throw 15-16lb balls?

[bowl1820]

Ball toting!!

Let's see I've carried a two ball bag on each shoulder along with a seesaw holding a fifth ball (all 16# + shoes etc.).

and I use to have the "Macho Mule" 6 ball carrier and I would lift the whole thing in and out of my van in one piece.

and of course the typical tournament tote of having to jump lanes from one end of the house to other carrying a ball in each hand and trying to hold another under arm while kicking the 4th along the floor with your foot because your bag is 6-8 lanes back where you started.

[zdawg]

Interesting stuff, I'm gonna go ahead and just buy a triple roller, I have one ball and another on the way, and at some point I'm going to buy a spare ball. That should hold me for a while *hopefully*

[bowl1820]

Interesting stuff, I'm gonna go ahead and just buy a triple roller, I have one ball and another on the way, and at some point I'm going to buy a spare ball. That should hold me for a while *hopefully*

If you get a 3 ball bag, don't get the long one where the balls are all side by side. Get the one where theres 2 balls on the bottom and one on top.

The long one is a problem to maneuver when pulled in a crowd, if it has a extendable handle and you drop it they tend to get bent more often (in or out).

A guy gave me one that had got bent like that, took some work but I fixed it.

[tccstudent]

If you get a 3 ball bag, don't get the long one where the balls are all side by side. Get the one where theres 2 balls on the bottom and one on top.

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I dont think I have ever seen a bag like this unless you are talking about a two ball bag and a kangaroo pouch that goes over the handles

[classygranny]

You throw 15-16lb balls?

Always threw 15 lb until about last May, I dropped to 14 lb due to too much working on the computer took a toll on my elbow - so in order to enjoy bowling I decided to try the 14 lb. I currently have a 3 ball roller and have no problem lifting it in and out of the car/truck.

[bowl1820]

I dont think I have ever seen a bag like this unless you are talking about a two ball bag and a kangaroo pouch that goes over the handles

No kangaroo pouch they make 3 ball bags, Google 3 Ball Triple Roller Bowling Bag. Your better off just getting a 4 ball bag anyway, if you have 3 balls you'll wind up with 4 anyway.

The long one (which I still have) is a Athletech 3 Ball Triple Roller Bowling Bag. The big problem is that its narrow so is real tippy
and if you drop it right it can bend the handle tubes.

[dnhoffman]

If you get a 3 ball bag, don't get the long one where the balls are all side by side. Get the one where theres 2 balls on the bottom and one on top.

The long one is a problem to maneuver when pulled in a crowd, if it has a extendable handle and you drop it they tend to get bent more often (in or out).

A guy gave me one that had got bent like that, took some work but I fixed it.

This only happens/is a problem with the cheaper bags. My storm rolling thunder 3-ball is like an alley Cadillac...