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

[Amyers]

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.

For your first one pick any entry level to mid level ball you like the looks of and throw it. The differences between balls doesn't really become apparent until you reach a relatively high level of bowling anyway and if you become one of those of us addicted to the sport your going to have multiple balls anyways. I do agree avoid asymmetrical balls until you really get your release down pat and I would lean more towards balls geared towards medium oil as that is what you will see on the lane most of the time.

[samdasham]

It's my understanding that Track has been under the Ebonite umbrella for a bit. Here's a link from a monthly bowling mag that could prove helpful.

http://www.bowlingthismonth.com/ball...acturer/track/

At the bottom is a graph and on the bottom right of the graph you'll see the new LX05. Move your mouse to the edge back & forth at it reveals the earlier 706T lurking in the shadows. They aren't exact duplicates, but it's close enough for a guy as myself that wouldn't be able to distinguish the least amount of difference. I'm nowhere near skilled enough, so the older more economical ball is the best fit for me.
[The 706T has an asymmetrical core and I offer this merely as an example. Please do not confuse my misguided odyssey w/your search for improvement as I'm quite mad requiring professional help.]

BowlerX and Buddies Pro Shop are competitive in closeouts w/Bowling/Bowlingball though the former doesn't seem to have the inventory of the latter. Do your research whilst attempting to avoid the mental gridlock paralysis by analysis.

Folks that are qualified, I'm not one, can tell you over and over, but until you purchase that ball and bowl w/it you are not going to fully appreciate their sound advice. Instead of looking perhaps for a particular manufacturer/model you might snoop around and see what is available for no more than 90 clams that came out in the last few years. You might consider going a pound lighter as a ball, that if nothing else, to go to if fatigued or to use as a warm up ball. If you buy a NOS mid-range ball for around 70 simoleons what if it doesn't do anything that your current ball does? I consider it an inexpensive expenditure and part of the learning curve.

I bought three and if the cheapest/older ball at $70 proves to work as well as the newer, yet still NOS, 90 buck balls it will come as no surprise. Still, I feel I've done my homework, to the best of my ability, and have eased in waist deep from the wading pool instead of blindly diving into the deep end. YMMV Good luck.

ETA Ameyers: The magic slipper only fits Cinderella, yet every gal wishes to go to the ball in the horse drawn carriage and feel as if she is the one. My best games are when I'm wore smooth out. I cannot overcompensate/steer the ball. I ignore the arrows and focus on the pins. Mentally I know where I want to place the ball. I let go of my reasoning no longer overriding the controls. I hurl my ball w/confidence as a caveman chunking a spear for dinner. Sometimes I'm caught up in repetition trying to deduce progress when I just need to let go and bowl.

Anywho, everyone needs an arsenal and the sweet part is it only takes two. Unless one of those show improvement and then the quest to grasp the brass ring continues.

[manke]

Mike White has forgot more about bowling than i will never know. He is the RULER of bowingboards.com. He knows all. LOL

[Aslan]

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.

All of that fancy 1500s speak doesn't make a 130 bowler a 170 bowler because they got a ball to go a hair straighter. Thats nonsense Charles Dickens.

And sure, maybe her getting a shiny new ball will make her psychologically feel like a "cowboy" and thus become more like a "cowboy". But for every example of that 'magic'...there are 40 idiots that buy a new ball every 3 weeks looking for 'magic' and all they do is get frustrated because their fancy ball isn't doing what it does in the video when Chris Barnes or Brian Voss throws it.

Welcome to reality. Or shall I say, "Welcome youeth, to thus reality...may it resonate non-stoically."

[samdasham]

All of that fancy 1500s speak doesn't make a 130 bowler a 170 bowler because they got a ball to go a hair straighter. Thats nonsense Charles Dickens.

And sure, maybe her getting a shiny new ball will make her psychologically feel like a "cowboy" and thus become more like a "cowboy". But for every example of that 'magic'...there are 40 idiots that buy a new ball every 3 weeks looking for 'magic' and all they do is get frustrated because their fancy ball isn't doing what it does in the video when Chris Barnes or Brian Voss throws it.

Welcome to reality. Or shall I say, "Welcome youeth, to thus reality...may it resonate non-stoically."

Well, chicken little comes out of his shell to profess the sky is falling on hopes of picking up a few pins w/new ball purchased as a spare. For starters you attempt to engage me, rather clumsily I might add, by announcing the ridiculousness of an entry level player to achieve over a thirty percent increase in score merely by purchasing THE, apparently magic, spare ball.

No ****e Sherlock. There is nothing astounding in your meager deduction. Though I find it quaint that you pulled forty pins out of your arse in order to substantiate the validity of your less than brilliant conclusion. Then into the mix you throw in the ability of a couple of pros that I'm sure could fairly well wipe the floor w/most using rubber balls out of Dick Weber's artifacts.

I'm not a midway barker hawking moonbeams, dreams or magic beans. Nor am I providing prayer cloths that through minimum donation/seed offering will generate ungodly returns beyond your wildest theological dreams. I suggested hope of marginal success for minimal investment. Substantiated on my understanding of the situation. On that premise I base my case on the power of positive thinking, faith, belief and confidence to pick up a few pins w/new ball exclusively used on spares. Certainly nothing as brash or asinine as anything near forty. Yet I did find it entertaining that you sidled up to that tidbit as your anchor of argument.

Well, that and painting me as a Svengali possibly capable of projecting transcendental kinetic energy to struggling bowlers at will mentally guiding them to higher scores. Your Cliff's Notes version of my comments was regaled, "Buy another pick up forty". You seem a wee bit jaded and bitter. Perhaps your acidic tongue retains the foul aftertaste of disappointment from having purchased too many balls to no avail save fail.

I hear your cry into the wilderness unto me for guidance and am moved. You would most likely benefit more from picking up a forty of malt liquor and proceeding to the local massage parlour for THS. Should that prove too much weight for your delicate frame perhaps a mimosa and goat cheese quiche to drown your drama laden sorrows.

As her partner Amyers, through purchase and encouragement, could boost her will to improve, her belief in herself, her ability and him. So he drops a few bucks on her wishes. Even if her score doesn't improve all I see is a win/win. What do you see in your future other than my dominate skills surpassing your measly average?

[Amyers]

Well, chicken little comes out of his shell to profess the sky is falling on hopes of picking up a few pins w/new ball purchased as a spare. For starters you attempt to engage me, rather clumsily I might add, by announcing the ridiculousness of an entry level player to achieve over a thirty percent increase in score merely by purchasing THE, apparently magic, spare ball.

No ****e Sherlock. There is nothing astounding in your meager deduction. Though I find it quaint that you pulled forty pins out of your arse in order to substantiate the validity of your less than brilliant conclusion. Then into the mix you throw in the ability of a couple of pros that I'm sure could fairly well wipe the floor w/most using rubber balls out of Dick Weber's artifacts.

I'm not a midway barker hawking moonbeams, dreams or magic beans. Nor am I providing prayer cloths that through minimum donation/seed offering will generate ungodly returns beyond your wildest theological dreams. I suggested hope of marginal success for minimal investment. Substantiated on my understanding of the situation. On that premise I base my case on the power of positive thinking, faith, belief and confidence to pick up a few pins w/new ball exclusively used on spares. Certainly nothing as brash or asinine as anything near forty. Yet I did find it entertaining that you sidled up to that tidbit as your anchor of argument.

Well, that and painting me as a Svengali possibly capable of projecting transcendental kinetic energy to struggling bowlers at will mentally guiding them to higher scores. Your Cliff's Notes version of my comments was regaled, "Buy another pick up forty". You seem a wee bit jaded and bitter. Perhaps your acidic tongue retains the foul aftertaste of disappointment from having purchased too many balls to no avail save fail.

I hear your cry into the wilderness unto me for guidance and am moved. You would most likely benefit more from picking up a forty of malt liquor and proceeding to the local massage parlour for THS. Should that prove too much weight for your delicate frame perhaps a mimosa and goat cheese quiche to drown your drama laden sorrows.

As her partner Amyers, through purchase and encouragement, could boost her will to improve, her belief in herself, her ability and him. So he drops a few bucks on her wishes. Even if her score doesn't improve all I see is a win/win. What do you see in your future other than my dominate skills surpassing your measly average?

LOL This made me laugh!!! But in reality Sam you better be putting your big boy pants on if you plan to challenge Aslan on the lanes.

[Perrin]

Well, chicken little comes out of his shell to profess the sky is falling on hopes of picking up a few pins w/new ball purchased as a spare. For starters you attempt to engage me, rather clumsily I might add, by announcing the ridiculousness of an entry level player to achieve over a thirty percent increase in score merely by purchasing THE, apparently magic, spare ball.

No ****e Sherlock. There is nothing astounding in your meager deduction. Though I find it quaint that you pulled forty pins out of your arse in order to substantiate the validity of your less than brilliant conclusion. Then into the mix you throw in the ability of a couple of pros that I'm sure could fairly well wipe the floor w/most using rubber balls out of Dick Weber's artifacts.

I'm not a midway barker hawking moonbeams, dreams or magic beans. Nor am I providing prayer cloths that through minimum donation/seed offering will generate ungodly returns beyond your wildest theological dreams. I suggested hope of marginal success for minimal investment. Substantiated on my understanding of the situation. On that premise I base my case on the power of positive thinking, faith, belief and confidence to pick up a few pins w/new ball exclusively used on spares. Certainly nothing as brash or asinine as anything near forty. Yet I did find it entertaining that you sidled up to that tidbit as your anchor of argument.

Well, that and painting me as a Svengali possibly capable of projecting transcendental kinetic energy to struggling bowlers at will mentally guiding them to higher scores. Your Cliff's Notes version of my comments was regaled, "Buy another pick up forty". You seem a wee bit jaded and bitter. Perhaps your acidic tongue retains the foul aftertaste of disappointment from having purchased too many balls to no avail save fail.

I hear your cry into the wilderness unto me for guidance and am moved. You would most likely benefit more from picking up a forty of malt liquor and proceeding to the local massage parlour for THS. Should that prove too much weight for your delicate frame perhaps a mimosa and goat cheese quiche to drown your drama laden sorrows.

As her partner Amyers, through purchase and encouragement, could boost her will to improve, her belief in herself, her ability and him. So he drops a few bucks on her wishes. Even if her score doesn't improve all I see is a win/win. What do you see in your future other than my dominate skills surpassing your measly average?

This reminds me of epic rap battles on youtube... a partially archaic english verbal slap to the face...

Let's just call it a difference of opinion

[Aslan]

LOL This made me laugh!!! But in reality Sam you better be putting your big boy pants on if you plan to challenge Aslan on the lanes.

I can't even read that nonsense. It's like reading a post my noeymc or striker where they have some "thesaurus app" activated so every mispelled word turns into some archaic synonym.

It's gotta be intentional...because nobody...definitely nobody from the state of Arkansas...speaks like that. If it was a word here or there (to or fro)...then okay...maybe it's a guy with a big vocabulary and he likes to use fancy words once in awhile. But when it's every sentence...it's either an app or he got a new thesaurus from Santa...which would honestly be a disappointing Christmas gift.

I'll argue all day long if he wants to (and Bowl1820 tolerates it)...but not if reading his post is like reading some Shakespearian sonnet. I mean, it's like the reading the bible. I read through it and think, "Well, I'm sure that means something important...but I'm not interested enough to really explore what in God's name that means."

And who does that impress. Listen man...there's like 4 girls on this site and 3 of them are married. I don't know if the other one is impressed by someone that has an intimate relationship with a dictionary or not...but thats a lot of work to pick up one potential girl...who only logs in about 14 times a year to win a ball contest.

Tone it down John Quincy Adams. Save that app for Google chat or a lesbian poetry night or something.

[fortheloveofbowling]

If you are going to be a bowler you can't reference things like goat cheese quiche or mimosa.

[rv driver]

Well, chicken little comes out of his shell to profess the sky is falling on hopes of picking up a few pins w/new ball purchased as a spare. For starters you attempt to engage me, rather clumsily I might add, by announcing the ridiculousness of an entry level player to achieve over a thirty percent increase in score merely by purchasing THE, apparently magic, spare ball.

No ****e Sherlock. There is nothing astounding in your meager deduction. Though I find it quaint that you pulled forty pins out of your arse in order to substantiate the validity of your less than brilliant conclusion. Then into the mix you throw in the ability of a couple of pros that I'm sure could fairly well wipe the floor w/most using rubber balls out of Dick Weber's artifacts.

I'm not a midway barker hawking moonbeams, dreams or magic beans. Nor am I providing prayer cloths that through minimum donation/seed offering will generate ungodly returns beyond your wildest theological dreams. I suggested hope of marginal success for minimal investment. Substantiated on my understanding of the situation. On that premise I base my case on the power of positive thinking, faith, belief and confidence to pick up a few pins w/new ball exclusively used on spares. Certainly nothing as brash or asinine as anything near forty. Yet I did find it entertaining that you sidled up to that tidbit as your anchor of argument.

Well, that and painting me as a Svengali possibly capable of projecting transcendental kinetic energy to struggling bowlers at will mentally guiding them to higher scores. Your Cliff's Notes version of my comments was regaled, "Buy another pick up forty". You seem a wee bit jaded and bitter. Perhaps your acidic tongue retains the foul aftertaste of disappointment from having purchased too many balls to no avail save fail.

I hear your cry into the wilderness unto me for guidance and am moved. You would most likely benefit more from picking up a forty of malt liquor and proceeding to the local massage parlour for THS. Should that prove too much weight for your delicate frame perhaps a mimosa and goat cheese quiche to drown your drama laden sorrows.

As her partner Amyers, through purchase and encouragement, could boost her will to improve, her belief in herself, her ability and him. So he drops a few bucks on her wishes. Even if her score doesn't improve all I see is a win/win. What do you see in your future other than my dominate skills surpassing your measly average?

Too much Absinthe will do that to ya. Just sayin'...