What mid-range (somewhere around $150) bowling ball would you buy right now?

[Aslan]

Aslan, I find it very hard to believe that the difference between an ebonite cyclone and roto-grip hysteria is negligible. I know you didn't exactly say that, but saying the ball you use"doesn't matter" kind of implies that. I mean, yeah, if you're throwing them in the gutter, it's negligible, and of course form matters, but if the ball "didn't matter" wouldn't everybody be throwing cheap-o balls and not messing around with surface adjustments?

How does one ball matter more than another?

1) Coverstock

Okay...what about all the other stuff like cores, RG, etc..???

Throw a ball end over end. ANY ball. It will sorta roll straight down the lane. Now throw a more expensive ball end over end... Guess what? They did the same thing. One cost $75 and the other $225. And they did the EXACT same thing.

"But I don't throw end over end!! I throw [insert style]!!"

Okay...then what is your rev rate? You don't know? Then go find out. Because the smaller the number...the closer the ball will be to doing that end over end thing...and the LESS the difference from one ball to another. The GREATER the rev rate...the MORE difference you'll see.

"But what if I have a high rev rate? Then what ball should I get?"

Again, it doesn't matter. If you're having trouble getting the ball back to the pocket with a high rev rate...then you need to change the line you're playing. If you don't want to do that...and you're "building an arsenal"...then okay...you'll either want a ball that hooks sooner or later....etc... There's a whole bunch of things you'll want to take into consideration...and once you do...you'll have like 20-30 different possible balls that will meet your needs.

But see...THAT isn't what most people are looking for when they start a "what ball should I buy" thread. They don't want numbers or physics or situational explanations. They want someone to say, "Either a Brunswick Edge II or a Storm Crux...probably the Crux because it smells like a pomegranate."

Yes...balls matter. But they are absolutely limited by the person throwing them. Thats why the ball doesn't roll strikes while sitting in a box. For a BEGINNER...a STROKER...someone lets say < 130 average...the ball doesn't really matter. Actually, getting a really aggressive ball is probably a BAD idea because it'll magnify the problems with your release. I know this first hand. My Encounters are probably the least useful balls in my bag...because my release is too inconsistent to take advantage of their more powerful cores, more assymetric cores. I don't even really advocate a person getting a SPARE ball until they have a 150 average. I personally think there's some advantage to a new bowler learning lateral adjustments.

[samdasham]

I'm probably the last person on this forum that you should consider for advice. Howevah, I was in your shoes just a few weeks ago. I wanted to move up in a ball. My limited research sez all the brands are alike more or less. Everybody has entry/mid-level/top shelf balls that perform similar to the other guys cahones.

I snooped around lookin' for deals and settled on one manufacturer. I found a chart on their products over the last few years and picked three different models w/one 16 & two 15 pounders. The oldest model was 70 clams and the two more recent were 90 each.

The older 16 is very close in specs, same hook one a bit more/less in length, to one of the 15's and the other 15 exhibits considerably more hook than those. I'm not suggestion you go out and buy three, but for around 150 simoleons I can buy two.

It should come as no surprise that the one that hooks the most is identical in performance specs as a brand new model that's on the same chart. I have to slowly move my mouse over the edge of the new offering to pull up my "old" NOS ball lurking behind. That new ball sells for $145, so I roughly saved right at 40% by going w/NOS. The balls I bought were sale items that have gone back up to 125-150. They'll fall again though at times close-outs are limited in available weights.

The cores are still on the floor in cardboard as I've yet to find my grip w/proverbial sweet spot. And they'll stay there whilst I continue to bowl, having adjustments made to my old Blue Light urethane special from the last century, until through trial/error & even more pluggin'/drillin' I find the comfortable/versatile grip that suits moi.

Then I'll have them all drilled alike and be able to make an evaluation of them against my style of delivery. As plenty of others way more qualified than I have stated previously, there isn't a nickle's worth of difference in last year's model save the price you pay and that's significant.

[Amyers]

How does one ball matter more than another?

1) Coverstock

Okay...what about all the other stuff like cores, RG, etc..???

Throw a ball end over end. ANY ball. It will sorta roll straight down the lane. Now throw a more expensive ball end over end... Guess what? They did the same thing. One cost $75 and the other $225. And they did the EXACT same thing.

"But I don't throw end over end!! I throw [insert style]!!"

Okay...then what is your rev rate? You don't know? Then go find out. Because the smaller the number...the closer the ball will be to doing that end over end thing...and the LESS the difference from one ball to another. The GREATER the rev rate...the MORE difference you'll see.

"But what if I have a high rev rate? Then what ball should I get?"

Again, it doesn't matter. If you're having trouble getting the ball back to the pocket with a high rev rate...then you need to change the line you're playing. If you don't want to do that...and you're "building an arsenal"...then okay...you'll either want a ball that hooks sooner or later....etc... There's a whole bunch of things you'll want to take into consideration...and once you do...you'll have like 20-30 different possible balls that will meet your needs.

But see...THAT isn't what most people are looking for when they start a "what ball should I buy" thread. They don't want numbers or physics or situational explanations. They want someone to say, "Either a Brunswick Edge II or a Storm Crux...probably the Crux because it smells like a pomegranate."

Yes...balls matter. But they are absolutely limited by the person throwing them. Thats why the ball doesn't roll strikes while sitting in a box. For a BEGINNER...a STROKER...someone lets say < 130 average...the ball doesn't really matter. Actually, getting a really aggressive ball is probably a BAD idea because it'll magnify the problems with your release. I know this first hand. My Encounters are probably the least useful balls in my bag...because my release is too inconsistent to take advantage of their more powerful cores, more assymetric cores. I don't even really advocate a person getting a SPARE ball until they have a 150 average. I personally think there's some advantage to a new bowler learning lateral adjustments.

Wow Aslan something about a ball from you that I somewhat agree with!!! You are correct it is different from bowler to bowler most people should start with entry level to lower mid-level equipment. On the spare ball it really depends on how much movement they get on the ball, If you have enough movement that even standing far to the left and throwing back across the ball is still hooking away from the ten pin you need plastic. My wife before her wrist injury was up to averaging about 150 she kept asking me about a spare ball since I have one. My wife maybe hooks the ball 5 boards on dry lanes. I kept asking why do you need one. They are both just going to go straight.

[manke]

Aslan I am surprised that your not a 200 average bowler with all your knowledge of balls and bowling!! The guy is just trying to figure things out. I do not know why everyone on here are asses all the time.

[Aslan]

Aslan I am surprised that your not a 200 average bowler with all your knowledge of balls and bowling!! The guy is just trying to figure things out. I do not know why everyone on here are asses all the time.

I'm surprised too manke. But...I guess I gotta wait for my skills to catch up with my knowledge.

And I'm not bashing the guy. I AM trying to help him out.

Do you think me telling him to buy a Rotogrip Outcry is "being helpful"?? How is it helpful? I've never seen him throw a ball...I know nothing about his game other than the small bit of information he mentioned. I have NO IDEA what ball he should buy. The difference between me and everyone else is I say THAT...instead of telling him to buy Brunswick because I personally like Brunswick.
'
It's not being a 'donkey'...it's being honest and not just throwing out a stupid opinion that at the end of the day costs him $150 and he gets likely nothing out of it.

I don't care either way. There's a nice price on a Meanstreak Beatdown on BowlerX and a nice price on a Fortera Exile on bowlingball.com. Someone also mentioned a good deal on a Brunswick Mastermind on Bowlersmart. All aggressive balls in his price point. There...I just saved him a google search. Will that help him? I don't know. Is that a more "manke approved" response??

[Mike White]

Aslan I am surprised that your not a 200 average bowler with all your knowledge of balls and bowling!! The guy is just trying to figure things out. I do not know why everyone on here are asses all the time.

You're confusing knowledge and opinion.

[Aslan]

You're confusing knowledge and opinion.

Theres no need to correct the man! I like his wording.

[samdasham]

was up to averaging about 150 she kept asking me about a spare ball since I have one. My wife maybe hooks the ball 5 boards on dry lanes. I kept asking why do you need one. They are both just going to go straight.

I have to respectfully disagree. Regardless, if she alters grip/approach/backswing/weight or not, psychologically the spare ball becomes the needed cog in the clockwork. It isn't merely a ball it is THE spare ball. It's the Billy Baroo you reach for when in a tight spot and the game hinges on one shot.

It isn't going to go straight as the other ball. It will go straighter to picking up a spare. Your reasoning is sound and resonates w/others of similar ilk and skill. However, it belongs not unto her. Why do you force your stoic logic on your better half that strives to peer beyond the boundaries of your box?

As children we needed a hat/holster/cap gun to become the cowboy. A different colour transforms us into the good or bad guy. All she needed was a ball. Not just any ole ball, but a spare ball. She wants an arsenal that contains a spare ball that she can believe in/count on/have faith that it will roll straighter to the mark than the regular ball.

[Hendu71]

Thanks samdasham, I honestly never thought about it as year models like cars before. Great tip. Problem is, it's hard for me to make direct comparisons between bowling balls, whenever they were made.

The only manufacturer website that I find GREAT at making comparisons with is Roto Grip, even if it is only against their own balls. That graphical comparison overlay for how they handle the lanes is sweet. Can I do that with Ebonite, of which I own two balls? Nope...

And I did appreciate the advice on avoiding asymmetrical at my level. Once explained, it made sense.

[Amyers]

I have to respectfully disagree. Regardless, if she alters grip/approach/backswing/weight or not, psychologically the spare ball becomes the needed cog in the clockwork. It isn't merely a ball it is THE spare ball. It's the Billy Baroo you reach for when in a tight spot and the game hinges on one shot.

It isn't going to go straight as the other ball. It will go straighter to picking up a spare. Your reasoning is sound and resonates w/others of similar ilk and skill. However, it belongs not unto her. Why do you force your stoic logic on your better half that strives to peer beyond the boundaries of your box?

As children we needed a hat/holster/cap gun to become the cowboy. A different colour transforms us into the good or bad guy. All she needed was a ball. Not just any ole ball, but a spare ball. She wants an arsenal that contains a spare ball that she can believe in/count on/have faith that it will roll straighter to the mark than the regular ball.

Sam this was well though out and in a lot of ways you are correct. My wife does suffer from bowlingballitis in its most dangerous form where she believes she the next ball away from being a better bowler but I am a big fan of believing in your equipment. In reality the difference between her throwing her Tropical Breeze at spare or a plastic ball at a spare is nil but If she believes their is a difference it could make a difference I'll think about it.