bowling ball video "reviews" on Youtube.

[rv driver]

Well,

1) Thats dumb.

2) What "properly"? Walter Ray has more titles than anyone alive or dead. He's easily the best bowler in the World. While there are camps that can make a case for a Mark Roth or an Earl Anthony who simply didn't have the longevity...I don't think a solid case can be made for anyone else. Some people point to Belmo's "at this time in his career" stuff...but since Belmo's back isn't going to last more than another 7 years tops...his fast start isn't going to matter.

So does Walter Ray bowl "properly"? She we all be emulating his game? He IS the best, right?

The answer most coaches would give you is, "No...WRW has a unique style that does a lot of things "wrong" but he can compensate for that. Kinda like John Daly in golf. Easily the most powerful driver. So should we adopt his swing? Good luck. That swing when broken down in slow motion looks like a person having a seizure.

There is not RIGHT way to bowl. "Behind the ball?" I watch guys carry 190+ averages that simply suitcase release that sucker...no axis tilt...mostly all axis rotation. Thumbless? Right or "wrong"? 2-handed? > 400rpms? I mean, there is no "right" way in bowling. There's just the way that you individually have perfected that gives you a shot at being elite.

I've mentioned this numerous times about Iceman. I've seen the accomplishments. I've heard about the accomplishments...over and over again. And I've bowled against him in person. His technique is COMPLETELY flawed...in numerous ways. Release, approach, stance, balance...all noticeably out of whack. But...HE has 2 300-games. I have NONE.

Of matter of fact...NOBODY at the AVI Challenge in Vegas has what I would say are "perfect" approaches/releases. Break down each one in slow motion if ya want. My form was garbage...my balance was garbage. Iceman's form was all kinds of wrong. Rob had knee issues limiting his delivery. Mudpuppy had an akward approach/release. YOUR approach/release was probably closest to "prototypical"...yet even YOUR approach resulted in the ball bouncing down the lane.

I'm not saying that to throw stones. I finished 5th of 5. Regardless of my "opinions"...all 4 of the competitors made me look silly even WITH their flawed approaches/releases. So what does that say? I'm just brining it up because there is not "perfect"...there is no "one way". There's YOUR way. And the true determing factor of whether or not YOUR way is going to be successful is simply how far YOUR way can take you. Rob has ridden his to the USBC Senior Masters. More ballz than any of the rest of us. Heck of a stage to walk up on. Mudpuppy has ridden his "way" to a pretty impressive average and a dominant performance in Vegas in qualifying. Iceman has ridden his WAY to not only a couple 300 games but also a "god" status. And you've ridden your's to 300-games and what...a 180-200 average even on tougher sport patterns?

The QUESTION is...has it taken you to your destination? At Ice and Rob's age...and this stage in their career...are they "happy" with where they are at? If they are...then there's no need to "reinvent themselves" or adopt a more Mark Baker/Chris Barnes style. They are at their destination...doing just fine...doing exactly what they're doing. And that makes their way, legitimate. YOU are happy with where you're at. Again...no need to re-invent or take lessons or eliminate the "ball bounce"...because why should you? You're at your destination. Now, Mudpuppy or myself? Who knows the black heart of a person living in Detroit? Who knows what his long term outlook is with several kids running around the house irritating him to no end? He may just be happy to have one night at the lanes where he can pretend he's single and not living in a cest pool. Or...he may have bigger dreams.

I obviously am NOT at my destination. I'm barely on the first van ride to the train station to my ultimate destination. There's still a grehound bus ride, multiple train rides...and at least 3 connecting flights still in front of me.

But there is no "perfect". If ball companies want to clone thumbless/high rev bowlers...then maybe they should admit that kind of stuff. Maybe even not be allowed to edit out all the frames where the ball didn't strike. Or maybe do a better job finding a diverse group of bowlers to throw the ball. I know ME personally...I've gotten to the point where I rarely even watch the videos...and IF I DO...and I don't see a low rev, low speed, stroker throwing the ball...I won't even bother CONSIDERING buying that ball. Especially a new release. Because to me, thats not HONEST. And if a ball manufacturer isn't being HONEST about their product...then is that really a good product or a manufacturer that you can trust to stand behind that product?

I'm STILL waiting for Ebonite to e-mail or call me back about the 4-ball roller bag with the handle that is half broken. I decided QUITE early in the process to not "hold my breath" while waiting.

As the great Warren Buffet says, "It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you'll do things differently."

It's sad to see the once dominant flagships of bowling; Brunswick and Columbia; now sitting on the sidelines and getting completely out marketed by Storm and Motiv. Most people would have to use Google to tell someone what the new releases are from Columbia, Track, and Ebonite. Those are 3 powerhouse brands...with decades of R&D and bowling experience...and they're being pushed around like 4th graders on a high school basketball court. And thats sad.

Yeah, I'm not much interested in what a ball will do for me if I learn to bowl like someone else. I'm interested in what the ball will do for me right now -- with my particular style.

[rv driver]

I watch their's quite a bit. But for older balls, they obviously havent done reviews or thrown every single ball. And it's not a huge variety there either. It's a pro-level rev player, a high rev player, and a senior/stroker. I must throw the ball like an old man or a woman because the only videos that actually show me anything worth watching are the seniors or the women.

I wanna see some down-and-in, slower examples, on THS.

[Aslan]

Yeah, I'm not much interested in what a ball will do for me if I learn to bowl like someone else. I'm interested in what the ball will do for me right now -- with my particular style.

Well, MWhite would argue you should learn to bowl like Mike Fagan and then those videos will be helpful…but…

yes. And whats even more annoying is when you see the bowlers actually change their releases on certain balls. Like, you can change the axis rotation on a ball and make it seem like the ball makes a more angular back end. They would usually NOT actually bowl that way…but they take out the shots they miss…so they can make it look like the ball has a Belmonte reaction when…if thrown PROPERLY would be a slight flare.

[Amyers]

Well it would be hard to show every style with every lane condition but I do believe most of the videos could benefit from using a grater selection of bowlers and conditions.

[rv driver]

Well, MWhite would argue you should learn to bowl like Mike Fagan and then those videos will be helpful…but…

yes. And whats even more annoying is when you see the bowlers actually change their releases on certain balls. Like, you can change the axis rotation on a ball and make it seem like the ball makes a more angular back end. They would usually NOT actually bowl that way…but they take out the shots they miss…so they can make it look like the ball has a Belmonte reaction when…if thrown PROPERLY would be a slight flare.

Whyizzit that they seem to have to show every ball as some kind of raging hook monster? Hook is a good thing, but it seems like it needs to be useful -- not just "really cool-looking."