1) The % of people that play multiple houses and tournaments is about 3.5%. And the OP is not one of them.
It's like a guy taking his car in for service and asking about whether he should take the passenger seat out of his car, switch to slick tires, and add a roll cage...because thats how all the Nascar guys are set up. It's not that it's a "bad idea"...it's just unnecessary for a daily commute. Not saying it won't come in handy if he finds himself in a drag race or rollover crash...but really?? You're giving advice to a new player, making the case that a spare ball is essential, and using the arguement that it's very advantageous on different houses and sport patterns...which really only applies to advanced bowlers.
2) If throwing a plastic ball was SO much of an advantage....because it practically follows a track to whereever you're aiming...why not throw it as a strike ball? I mean, if you're THAT precise...you should be able to easily hit the ideal spot in the pocket.
Again, I'm not saying it isn't advantageous if you're using "big hook" equipment to have a ball that goes straighter (whether low level reactive, hybrid, urethane, or plastic). And obviously if you're a tournament level player or playing on pro level patterns...the game may require it. And I agree that it's better to have that "lesser ball" than to mess with your release and mechanics. But if on a standard THS (irregardless of center), you can't throw a Tropical Breeze or Strike King or Scout and hit your target...that seems "odd". Maybe not. If you're a high rev player...and there's just too much movement with reactive resin coverstocks...then I stand corrected. But low level reactive balls move so very, very little and for most (non-split) leaves you have such a wide margin of error...I don't see how someone can say it's a "necessity" to throw a plastic ball on a THS. I've seen just as many people missing after switching to the plastic ball as I do miss because there ball hooks to much...actually I'd say it's 3-1 or 4-1.
My spare shooting isn't great....but that has NOTHING to do with my ball. I actually threw a Columbia WD as by "spare ball" for quitre some time and was even WORSE at picking up spares. The only time I miss spares "because of my refusal to use a plastic ball" is "sometimes" on a 6-10 leave I'll chop or "sometimes" on a 1-2-4 or 1-3-6 I'll chop. But compared to how many single 10s I leave and catch a "break" because the ball hooks a little bit into the 10 rather than hitting the gutter in front of the 10...plastic doesn't make sense for me. Doesn't mean there aren't people that benefit from it...just not for me. And I have no problem with people going that route...it just makes me a little skeptical when people phrase the debate that you NEED a plastic spare ball or when people say "the FIRST THING you need is to get you a plastic spare ball"...I think those statements are misleading to newer/non-tournament players. Learning how your ball reacts and how to make lateral movements or even changes to your swing/approach/etc... in order to pick certain leaves up...I personally think is far more important for a newer player than building arsenals and adding a plastic ball...IMO.
Originally Posted by dpatrickv
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