Language of the Pins:

[Geneo2u]

They say that bowlers that practice with the WII bowling, actually increase their REAL bowling average by 10.3 pins!
Are you going to purchase that Bowling enhancing WII game from Diane??

10.3, u just made that up... didn't you?

[josheaton16]

I'm not saying you guys are wrong, I agree that being able to change hand positions, speed, revs, etc is a good thing to know, and do, if you can consistently throw a good shot that way. But the average bowler is probably going to hurt their game more than anything else by doing that. So in that case, if the goal was to be able to throw the exact same shot he wasn't wrong on changing balls.

[Aslan]

Bowling is a combination of balls and lanes and technique. It's that simple.

I feel like many pros, ball reps, and the like seem to "minimize" technique by hinting that a new ball or a larger ARSEnal will make you a better bowler. If it was that simple…anyone with $200 would immediately be better. And thats not the case. Bowl et al will claim "thats not what they're saying"…but it sort of is. Or at least, they're being intentionally obtuse.

The funny thing (ironic thing) is…the balls have made more balls necessary. By having balls that hook SO much…you've created a "need" where one previously did not exist. It would be like a car company making a car that didn't work on dirt roads so that you'd need to buy one car for dirt roads and one for paved roads. You never "needed" more than 1-2 balls in the old days. You threw straight. Balls went relatively straight. Then…ball manufacturers realized something…if you could get them to hook more drastically into the pocket…you could increase your strike rate. And if you could make the BALLS do it easier…it wouldn't take a "cranker" to get that angle. And…as a side benefit…people would buy more balls…because sometimes they wouldn't need that hook…or it would be too much hook. You'd need a "spare" ball. And a "medium" ball. And a "medium/medium" ball. Etc…

But…it's all good. It's interesting. I still preach technique. I think the answer is in the technique. I still think Walter Ray with a house ball could beat me. I don't want to think that bowling has devolved into an "equipment war". I saw that happen to paintball…and it was kinda fun at times…but ultimately was more bad than good…in my opinion.

[Blacksox1]

Thanks to the OP. I liked the videos and may have picked up a tip ! Good post and repped !

[the_grimace]

Im gonna call BS on that I have played that game and if i try and throw the ball like i would a real bowling ball the ball i will be in the gutter every time

A ball change is usually one of my last resorts, especially if I'm bowling in a series or game where it matters if I win or lose! Making a ball change mid game is a scary thing, and it's hard to tell how that ball will react. Even if you watch the pros on TV, when they aren't getting optimal ball reaction you'll see them make adjustments first to their speed, revs, line, etc. If all else fails, you'll see a ball change in the 5th frame or so after all else has failed. That's the same approach I would take, adjustments first, then the ball change because I don't have a fresh look at the line of that new ball and until I throw it I can only GUESS what it will react like. That guess could be a disaster if the ball change goes light or high and leaves a split mid game as well.

All and all, I'm not fond of changing balls unless I get at least one or two shots of practice. Sometimes if I'm bowling a series with no breaks, I'll use opportunities such as the last shot of the last frame to throw a new ball. Or if it's match play and I have my guy shut out, I might get a few frames to practice a ball change in prep for the next game.

[Aslan]

I agree Grimace. I've made ball changes (rarely) during games. And with me being a beginner/early intermediate bowler…it takes me 4-5 frames just to figure out what board I should be starting on and what target I should be aiming at.

Thats actually one of my biggest fears on league night…that I won't get enough practice shots in on the fresh oil to know where to start.

[tccstudent]

A ball change is usually one of my last resorts, especially if I'm bowling in a series or game where it matters if I win or lose! Making a ball change mid game is a scary thing, and it's hard to tell how that ball will react. Even if you watch the pros on TV, when they aren't getting optimal ball reaction you'll see them make adjustments first to their speed, revs, line, etc. If all else fails, you'll see a ball change in the 5th frame or so after all else has failed. That's the same approach I would take, adjustments first, then the ball change because I don't have a fresh look at the line of that new ball and until I throw it I can only GUESS what it will react like. That guess could be a disaster if the ball change goes light or high and leaves a split mid game as well.

All and all, I'm not fond of changing balls unless I get at least one or two shots of practice. Sometimes if I'm bowling a series with no breaks, I'll use opportunities such as the last shot of the last frame to throw a new ball. Or if it's match play and I have my guy shut out, I might get a few frames to practice a ball change in prep for the next game.

First I dont get why you quoted me when I was responding to a post about the WII video game.
A ball change does not need to be a last resort. You just need to be very familar with what is in your bag. It is better to drop down to a weaker ball then make adjustments if it means you can still play your A game.

[Hampe]

I thought it was a pretty cool video series. I think all but one of the corrections was what I would have done in that situation as well.

I used to be the same way (changing balls only as last resort), but after getting more and more experience and confidence in reading the lane and making adjustments, it's something I've gotten comfortable doing even during the middle of an important game. But it's like I've said before, it's not just about changing balls for the sake of it, you should know WHY you are changing balls and what advantage you are gaining by changing.

[bowl1820]

Bowling is a combination of balls and lanes and technique. It's that simple.

That's true enough.

I feel like many pros, ball reps, and the like seem to "minimize" technique by hinting that a new ball or a larger ARSEnal will make you a better bowler.

It's not that they trying to "minimize" technique, it's about matching up to conditions to get the optimum performance. As they say "You can't out bowl a bad ball reaction"

If it was that simple…anyone with $200 would immediately be better. And thats not the case.

Yes, a ball in of itself won't make you a more skilled bowler. But with the right ball in hand for the conditions, you can score better.

Bowl et al will claim "thats not what they're saying"…but it sort of is. Or at least, they're being intentionally obtuse.

When I said "thats not what they're saying" it's about you saying that the reps/pros are saying all bowlers need to wheel in dozens of balls to bowl and adjust to every little change.

You take things out of context and to extremes, Someone says to make a ball change for a certain situation and you take it the extreme "Oh they are saying you need a different ball for every single frame."

When you say the pros on tv only have a couple of balls out there, you didn't see what all they used to get there and on different conditions those won't be the same balls used again.

The funny thing (ironic thing) is…the balls have made more balls necessary. By having balls that hook SO much…you've created a "need" where one previously did not exist. It would be like a car company making a car that didn't work on dirt roads so that you'd need to buy one car for dirt roads and one for paved roads.

Just because because you can drive a car down a dirt road, doesn't mean that's what it was designed for.

Let's look at tires (ball coverstocks are often compared to tires) you have tires for wet roads, dry roads, roads with ice, dirt roads, off road, racing slicks, tires for different temperatures etc. etc.

Why do they make so many different ones? To match up to conditions to get the optimum performance.

Using your reasoning a skilled NASCAR or Formula One driver wouldn't need special tires he could just put some on from walmarts and he wouldn't need to change them during the race, he would just change speed and drive on a different part of the track.

The same thing is true for bowling balls just because you can roll a polyester ball down a lane conditioned with heavy oil, doesn't mean that's what it's designed for and it will work at its best all the time just because your a good bowler.

You never "needed" more than 1-2 balls in the old days. You threw straight. Balls went relatively straight.

It's not 50 years ago, Get over it.

Then…ball manufacturers realized something…if you could get them to hook more drastically into the pocket…you could increase your strike rate.And if you could make the BALLS do it easier…it wouldn't take a "cranker" to get that angle.

To a extent true.

And…as a side benefit…people would buy more balls…because sometimes they wouldn't need that hook…or it would be too much hook. You'd need a "spare" ball. And a "medium" ball. And a "medium/medium" ball. Etc…

That is not exactly the reason why the balls were made in the first place.

Resin balls were designed (after talking with the pros) for the Pro's back when they first came out, Resin was to give the pro's those one or two extra strikes the Pro's felt would make the difference in winning. And they figured only the Pro's and some high level amateurs would buy them because of the high price.

And what happened was the regular league bowler saw them being used in league by the pros and/or got to try them. They found that they when they used those balls, their scores and averages went up 10-20-30 pins just by using those balls.

So they started buying them, the manufacturers said "hey everyone wants these hook in a box balls so we'll make them." Then as a consequence of the new balls, they started changing the conditions. Then new lane types came out which changed the conditions more.

The manufacturers didn't create the market for the balls, the bowlers did that's how we got to where we are now. Where matching up to conditions with balls is just as important improving levels of skill.

But…it's all good. It's interesting. I still preach technique. I think the answer is in the technique. I still think Walter Ray with a house ball could beat me. I don't want to think that bowling has devolved into an "equipment war". I saw that happen to paintball…and it was kinda fun at times…but ultimately was more bad than good…in my opinion.

Yes,Skill, Technique are important and bowlers should work at improving their skills and becoming better bowlers.

But using the right equipment to match up to conditions to get the optimum performance is important too.

If all you want to do is bowl one house, one or two nights a week, have fun and drink beer (which is fine). One or Two balls is plenty.

But if you want to compete at a higher level, in different house, tournaments etc. there's more to it than just one ball and moving back and forth on the lane.

[Aslan]

I used to be the same way (changing balls only as last resort), but after getting more and more experience and confidence in reading the lane and making adjustments, it's something I've gotten comfortable doing even during the middle of an important game. But it's like I've said before, it's not just about changing balls for the sake of it, you should know WHY you are changing balls and what advantage you are gaining by changing.

I watched a great deal of the fusionrealtors 2013 tournament online over the holidays and watched guys switch balls. It was actually funny because I'd say 90% or more of them that decided to switch balls immediately shot an 8 /. Some of them were hitting the pocket fine...then decided to make a ball change... 8 /. And these are GOOD bowlers...guys that are amateur hall of famers and bowlers that work for the ball companies.

It was kinda've a long tournament...they pretty much covered it beginning to end so you're talking 9 hours of qualifying and then 3 hours of cashing round and then another over 2 hours of stepladder finals. I was kinda bored so I just cheered against anyone throwing 2-handed (there were only a couple that did) and anyone that made 1 or more ball changes. And I also cheered against anyone that was too "full of themselves" (like Jeff Richgel) or anyone with an overly "funky" delivery. One guy did some weird "holding the ball in front of him/circular motion" which was distracting as hell. I tried cheering FOR anyone that had at least a little loft...kinda like how I throw it. I wanted to watch them carefully to see how far they are actually lofting it and how it was working/not working.