Playing the outside line...anybody?

[tccstudent]

The idea of buying a ball that "hooks more" based on the perfect scale or any other scale for that matter, is that it encourages bowlers to buy balls that hook early (because they cover more boards), that often results in bowlers try to use balls that are way too aggressive (early) for a given lane condition which results in the ball losing energy before it gets to the pins. This was the whole idea of the article I wrote entitled, Weak Ball, Strong Ball, Right Ball, Wrong Ball. This, by the way is the exact reason why I am so excited by the Zero Gravity: it's high rg (2.55) helps to get it down the lane so that its aggressive cover and asymmetrical core retain its power to transfer to the pins.

This is true several years ago that all I would buy the newest hook monster. Now days If I go into a pro shop to look at balls I have blinders on I cant even see the top shelf. Unless I am thinking about a tournament I know is going to be heavy oil.

[J Anderson]

I am a firm believer (in slight contrast to Rob's "you can't out bowl a bad ball reaction" mantra) that you CAN make any ball work. But it's harder.


I'll have to read "Weak Ball, Strong Ball, Right Ball, Wrong ball." I thought I read all the articles on the site but I think missed one or two.

I think, at least on my better days, I can make any ball I own hit the pocket. The question is, "will it carry?" While I'm busy figuring out where to stand, whether to speed up or slow down, how to adjust my release, etc.with the 'wrong' ball, "Mr. or Ms. Arsenal" has found a ball that gets to the pocket with their standard release and is hitting at the optimal angle and at the right phase of ball motion and is throwing multiple strikes. Who do you think is going to win this game?

"Weak ball, Strong Ball, Right Ball, Wrong ball." may have been a Bowling This Month article.

[bowl1820]

I am a firm believer (in slight contrast to Rob's "you can't out bowl a bad ball reaction" mantra) that you CAN make any ball work. But it's harder. And I'd rather use the ball the matches up well than get out the stronger ball...and either loft it further down the lane or try to play the inside (my C-game) or God forbid mess with my approach to make the ball speed increase (which Fs with my timing).

"And I'd rather use the ball the matches up well than get out the stronger ball"

Your kind of contradicting yourself here.

Yes most bowlers want to use the ball that matches up, but if you have to make big changes to your normal release (your A game) to get a ball to work.

Then that says it probably doesn't really match up and maybe you should get out the stronger ball.

[Aslan]

I think, at least on my better days, I can make any ball I own hit the pocket. The question is, "will it carry?" While I'm busy figuring out where to stand, whether to speed up or slow down, how to adjust my release, etc.with the 'wrong' ball, "Mr. or Ms. Arsenal" has found a ball that gets to the pocket with their standard release and is hitting at the optimal angle and at the right phase of ball motion and is throwing multiple strikes. Who do you think is going to win this game?

"Weak ball, Strong Ball, Right Ball, Wrong ball." may have been a Bowling This Month article.

I see that JA...I understand that reasoning. But thus far I've actually seen more of the OPPOSITE situation where a person struggles hitting their target, or pulling the ball, or struggling with their release...and after a few shots they go to their roller bag and pull out ball #2. And ball #2...may be not much different than ball #1. Thats'why I would recommend to anyone that really believes in the "ARSEnal" approach...to read Rob's articles about "knowing your arsenal". Because if you're going to take that approach rather than make small adjustments to your overall delivery...then it's a MUST that you can explain WHY you are switching from one ball to another...and that answer CANNOT be, "because that one wasn't working."

Using the arsenal approach is certainly fine...especially in tournaments where things change or if you're a person that bowls in multiple houses/conditions. But you HAVE to know a LOT about the balls in your bag. You have to know things about rg and drilling patterns and surfaces so you know EXACTLY WHY you are making that ball change. Guys like Rob can throw ONE ball and immediately know what ball in their arsenal is going to be a better choice and can explain that to anyone that asks. But the average bowler?

I've been guilty MANY times of getting in a "funk" and thinking to myself, "screw it. Just use the other ball. This one aint workin." But it's often times not the BALL...its that I'm not really playing the optimum line or my timing is off or maybe I'm not "releasing" consistently the right way. Thats why I think "arsenals" are better left to the elite level bowlers who already have their mechanics perfect. Because then, when they miss or don't get optimal carry, they KNOW it's a matter of a ball change...and they KNOW what ball to go to.

I do a lot of lateral movements when I start missing. And I have to STOP myself sometimes and say, "No...you didn't miss that one because of where you started your approach. You missed your target...or the ball slipped off your hand...or you pinched it." So I have to stop myself from making a lateral adjustment sometimes when it's "something else" that I did wrong.

[bowl1820]

I think, at least on my better days, I can make any ball I own hit the pocket. The question is, "will it carry?" While I'm busy figuring out where to stand, whether to speed up or slow down, how to adjust my release, etc.with the 'wrong' ball, "Mr. or Ms. Arsenal" has found a ball that gets to the pocket with their standard release and is hitting at the optimal angle and at the right phase of ball motion and is throwing multiple strikes. Who do you think is going to win this game?

"Weak ball, Strong Ball, Right Ball, Wrong ball." may have been a Bowling This Month article.

"Weak ball, Strong Ball, Right Ball, Wrong ball." is on Rob's site it's under the ball section.