what influences you to buy use a certain ball?

[RobLV1]

How does this work for you? As far as core numbers go are there numbers you would like no one makes now? I'm not being a smart arse I'm no expert on numbers or the history over the last twenty years.

Core shape helps to determine the numbers does it not? How do you know one shape will be beneficial over another? Seem like this is the same as number one and is just as subjective picking by the color unless you've thrown that shape before and then it's not something new just a variation.

Cover material I understand although I hear some people think the newer covers make a difference others think there really hasn't been anything new in 15 years or more.

Just interested in hearing you expand on your thought processes a little more.

When I talk about core shape, I'm referring to two things: symmetry and overall shape. Some bowlers, particularly lower average bowlers, have a really hard time using balls with asymmetrical cores, primarily because asymmetrical cores tend to magnify differences between individual releases. For this reason, until a bowler develops a pretty consistent release, he is probably better off sticking with balls with symmetrical cores. By overall shape, I'm talking about the shape of core with which the bowler has had the most success. This is pretty much a function of axis tilt and axis rotation and the amount of control that a bowler has over each. Some bowlers have much more success with round(ish) cores, while others have more success with cylindrical cores.

Cover materials also match up better with certain bowlers' styles and preferences as to how to play the lanes. Personally, of the 14 balls currently in my arsenal, there are only two pearls, and I use them for very specific lane conditions. A good friend of mine who is a very high average bowler, naturally gravitates toward pearls. There have been ongoing advances in cover material technology. If you take a reactive resin ball that is produced now, and throw it next to one that was produced ten years ago, you will be amazed at the difference in ball reaction. The other issue with cover materials is that, because of their porosity to help the ball to hook, they just don't last anywhere near as long as we would like them to.

As to balls that I would like to see, no there are really no gaps left in what is available out there. For me personally, since changing over to using Brunswick equipment, the only ball that I really missed was the Storm IQ Tour Fusion (low rg, low diff., hybrid cover), and that gap has now been filled by the Brunswick Brute which is on a truck heading for my house as we speak!

[Amyers]

When I talk about core shape, I'm referring to two things: symmetry and overall shape. Some bowlers, particularly lower average bowlers, have a really hard time using balls with asymmetrical cores, primarily because asymmetrical cores tend to magnify differences between individual releases. For this reason, until a bowler develops a pretty consistent release, he is probably better off sticking with balls with symmetrical cores. By overall shape, I'm talking about the shape of core with which the bowler has had the most success. This is pretty much a function of axis tilt and axis rotation and the amount of control that a bowler has over each. Some bowlers have much more success with round(ish) cores, while others have more success with cylindrical cores.

Cover materials also match up better with certain bowlers' styles and preferences as to how to play the lanes. Personally, of the 14 balls currently in my arsenal, there are only two pearls, and I use them for very specific lane conditions. A good friend of mine who is a very high average bowler, naturally gravitates toward pearls. There have been ongoing advances in cover material technology. If you take a reactive resin ball that is produced now, and throw it next to one that was produced ten years ago, you will be amazed at the difference in ball reaction. The other issue with cover materials is that, because of their porosity to help the ball to hook, they just don't last anywhere near as long as we would like them to.

As to balls that I would like to see, no there are really no gaps left in what is available out there. For me personally, since changing over to using Brunswick equipment, the only ball that I really missed was the Storm IQ Tour Fusion (low rg, low diff., hybrid cover), and that gap has now been filled by the Brunswick Brute which is on a truck heading for my house as we speak!

Excellent response Rob Thanks it answered some questions. By the way I am enjoying your articles in BTM. Keep it up.

[RobLV1]

Glad to help.

[dnhoffman]

Definitely the scent.

[RobLV1]

I just think it's kind've a paradox.

I mean, if you're a beginning bowler...buying a better ball isn't going to help you. Yet, if you're an advanced skill bowler...you should be able to make any ball work well with a couple minor adjustments. So who does a "shiny new ball" help?

It's kinda laughable really. Twice a year (usually summer and fall) each ball manufacturer releases a few new balls. And EVERY video is the same. EVERY video talks about how you REALLY need this ball and it's gonna help you dominate the world and it's just so much better than any other ball ever made...a MUST own. Then 6 months later they release it's replacement because that ball wasn't so good but this NEW release...WOWSERS does it hit well!! Don't believe them? Watch this professional bowler with a 450rpm rev rate and pinpoint accuracy as he throws strike after strike after strike...after we edit out the ones that don't strike!! WOW!! Ya can't argue with that!!

The bottom line is; they haven't made a step change in bowling ball technology since reactive resin. And there's not a huge horizon to make the next great leap. There's only so much you can do to a round hunk of resin really. Especially when you take into account that the USBC has certain guidelines in terms of top weight and such. You could make the funkiest core in the world that causes the ball to zig-zag...but it likely wouldn't be leagal to use.

What really sucks...for a numbers geek like me is....it would be AWESOME to see a database where every score in the USBC is linked to the ball that was thrown. So you could go into the database right now and say, "okay, last 12 months...which balls had the most...X?"

Examples (fictitious):
- 900 Games- Rotogrip Asylum (1)
- 300 Games- Hammer Deadly Aim (143)
- Highest Average Score- Brunswick Fortera Exile (204)
- Highest Average Score/MSRP (Value Rating)- Storm Tropical Breeze (1.59)

Wouldn't that be interesting? Probably not something you could do for EVERY bowler in the USBC at EVERY center. But what about just the PBA? Couldn't their stats folks keep track of what balls were used during which matches? Oh well, just thinking outloud.

First, in terms of beginning bowlers, as long as they are currently using a reactive resin ball with a core inside, then you're right; a new ball probably isn't going to make a whole lot of difference. In terms of an advanced skill bowler who "should be able to make any ball work well with a couple of minor adjustments," you are way, way off base. There is a reason that PBA Touring Pros have dozens of bowling balls on the truck at any given time, and it's not because matching up doesn't make a difference. These are the best bowlers in the world who depend on their bowling to make a living, any any one of them will tell you that you can't outbowl a bad ball reaction.

What is laughable are the bowlers who actually watch those video and actually base their purchases on the reaction of a bowling ball thrown by a bowler with a totally different style than their own. If you learn about bowling balls, you can make your purchase decisions based on facts rather than video-induced fantasies.

While some changes/additions to manufacturer's lines of products are simple change-outs from older products to newer products, there indeed have been major changes to ball technology since reactive resin. The introduction of asymmetrical cores and hybrid cover materials were major changes, and the ongoing upgrading of reactive cover materials have had major influences on ball reaction. When you take into account the USBC guidelines in terms of static weights to which you refer, you must understand that their own ball motion study has shown that the static weight imbalances in bowling balls have less effect on ball motion than does the ambient temperature in the bowling center. Why, then do they keep the static weight requirements? I asked that very question at a USBC town hall meeting a few years ago. The answer I got, after considerable throat clearing, was that they keep them because they've always done it that way.

[Aslan]

Cover materials also match up better with certain bowlers' styles and preferences as to how to play the lanes. Personally, of the 14 balls currently in my arsenal, there are only two pearls, and I use them for very specific lane conditions. A good friend of mine who is a very high average bowler, naturally gravitates toward pearls.

I'm the same way. I use primarily Pearls right now, but it's been a struggle. It seems like Hybrids or esspecially solids work better for me and my lower rev rate. The Pearls don't seem to start hooking soon enough. But all the high rev guys I know tend to gravitate towards Pearls...probably because they don't want it to hook too soon.

I also agree that assymetric cores can be an issue for newer bowlers. As I've wrestled with my new assymetric line-up...many a game I spend hitting right, then left, then right, then left, etc... Seems like if my release, approach, timing, speed are not EXACTLY the same...the ball magnifies that variation.

[Aslan]

First, in terms of beginning bowlers, as long as they are currently using a reactive resin ball with a core inside, then you're right; a new ball probably isn't going to make a whole lot of difference.

YES! I was finally right about something!

In terms of an advanced skill bowler who "should be able to make any ball work well with a couple of minor adjustments," you are way, way off base. There is a reason that PBA Touring Pros have dozens of bowling balls on the truck at any given time, and it's not because matching up doesn't make a difference. These are the best bowlers in the world who depend on their bowling to make a living, any any one of them will tell you that you can't outbowl a bad ball reaction.

Interesting. This seems contradictory to me. I mean, for example, lets say Mika is throwing a ball and it's working well in practice but after a couple frames he or his ball rep notices it's hooking just a tad too early. Mika could switch balls to something a bit more polished...maybe go from a solid to a hybrid or a hybrid to a pearl. But he also could adjust laterally or he could adjust how far down the lane he projects the ball. Or, he could add a touch of speed.

As you are researching in another thread about ball changes...I would be almost certain that Mika in that case would choose to project slightly further down the lane since he's arguably the best bowler when it comes to loft manipulation. So did Mika in that example "outbowl a bad ball reaction"? Not really. It was a good ball reaction but due to eventual lane oil breakdown became "less good". Maybe Norm Duke or Chris Barnes would have preferred a 2-1 or 3-1 lateral adjustment to stay ahead of the changes. PDW might have made that ball change. Are any of them wrong or right? Depends on how it ends up working for them or not working for them.

Don't get me wrong...I AGREE with you to a certain extent. I don't have a huge rev rate..as you know. And often during practice, my low level reactive resin spare ball will start to hook more as the lanes dry up. Sometimes it gets to the point where unless I completely flatten my wrist on the release...I simply can't hit the 10-pin. And I do very poorly when flattening my wrist on my release. In THAT case...I need a urethane or plastic ball because I can't "outbowl that bad ball reaction". Fortunately, that almost never occurs in league or tournament play on fresh oil. But to me that is the most clear example of when I see a ball reaction I can't "outbowl". "Could" I? Flattening of wrist....20-30ft loft...7-9mph speed increase...sure, there are ways to do it...but they are ways that would be very difficult for me to do accurately and consistently.

And THATs why as my release and rev rate continue to improve...I am certainly open minded about changing my spare ball to a urethane or plastic ball. I would prefer that to learning how to change my release when shooting at single 10-pins.

[Shaneshu87]

And THATs why as my release and rev rate continue to improve...I am certainly open minded about changing my spare ball to a urethane or plastic ball. I would prefer that to learning how to change my release when shooting at single 10-pins.

my grandfather taught me a trick a long time ago to get single pins with out crazy speed or spare balls (pull out your ring finger) since that is the rotation finger. it worked for many years (i laugh now that i've switched to the Sarge Easter) however changing my release for one pin seemed to cause more inconsistency with my next strike ball. since, when i would pull out my ring finger, i tended to come out on top of the ball, this would throw off my next release with out me realizing it, until recently when i got a plastic spare ball. it was very nice not to have to change the way i release the ball and just shoot like i normally would

[Aslan]

Yeah, thats an interesting technique/adjustment.

But right now I'm really working hard on my release and getting it smooth, effortless, with the thumb coming out cleanly. So I certainly don't want to mess with it. I still have 1 15lb ball in my bag. I still have 2 balls not drilled tri-grip. And I have an old conventional drilled urethane at 14lbs. But I don't even like throwing THOSE because with all me concentration on release right now...I don't want to add any variation.

A urethane/plastic ball is certainly on the horizon if I stick with bowling. I don't think I can avoid it forever. But I need to improve my release and thus generate that "need".

[manke]

So Rob what research should a person do to figure out which ball a person should use? Do you go to your pro shop, or how is the regular bowler suppose to figure that out. Most pro shop now are sponsored so they only have a maybe one or two companies to choose from?