First Bowling Ball

[Perrin]

A Breeze is definitely a step up from a plastic ball. Plus they smell good.

Saves you from having to buy an air freshener for the bag..... Just make sure whatever one you get is a scent you can deal with..... for instance I hate the smell of Vanilla so any ball with that scent would drive me nuts.

[josh83]

Saves you from having to buy an air freshener for the bag..... Just make sure whatever one you get is a scent you can deal with..... for instance I hate the smell of Vanilla so any ball with that scent would drive me nuts.

Do pros at the pro shops after they have watch you bowl do they usually give you one recommendation of which ball to get or a number options. I just feel reluctant to go with a spare ball I don't feel like am getting the best bang for the dollar. I feel like if I go with a tropical breeze at least it gives me a room for advancement so when I am at the stage I can hook the ball I don't have to run out and buy another ball. Don't know if that makes sense.

[fortheloveofbowling]

Do pros at the pro shops after they have watch you bowl do they usually give you one recommendation of which ball to get or a number options. I just feel reluctant to go with a spare ball I don't feel like am getting the best bang for the dollar. I feel like if I go with a tropical breeze at least it gives me a room for advancement so when I am at the stage I can hook the ball I don't have to run out and buy another ball. Don't know if that makes sense.

The tropical breeze would be a good choice at your current level. That would save you some money and maybe you could use those extra dollars to find a certified coach in your area and get a few lessons. Money well spent for someone at a beginning level especially. Good luck to you.

[josh83]

The tropical breeze would be a good choice at your current level. That would save you some money and maybe you could use those extra dollars to find a certified coach in your area and get a few lessons. Money well spent for someone at a beginning level especially. Good luck to you.

I just hope the pro who watches me bowl agrees with you. Otherwise am probably stuck with a spare ball which I don't think is money well spent

[ALazySavage]

Some pro shop staff will watch you throw before they recommend a bowling ball, but there are going to be some difficulties in your exact situation. Since you would be using a house ball that doesn't fit your hand properly your release will not be the same as your release when you have a ball that properly fits (as some have expressed in this, ball feels lighter and you won't have to "grip" the ball). Typically what a pro shop person would be looking for is your PAP (the axis in which the ball rotates around when you throw it, this varies from bowler to bowler and is more for fine tuning...not what you should be focused on at this time).

Thus the main decision would be what level of ball you should get, this decision has already been narrowed down to either an entry level reactive ball (tropical storm, etc.) or a plastic ball. Also as stated previously stated you are going to want to throw either 14lb or 15lb. Personally, I would go with the entry level ball over the plastic ball. You can still pick spares up with an entry level ball, it is not going to take off so much that basic spares are going to become un-makeable and you will gain more area (miss room) on your strike shots. Essentially this will not be a make or break decision in your bowling development so I wouldn't worry too much about the specific ball you are getting, right now the most important part is getting a ball that fits properly and makes you happy.

If you decide to get an entry level ball (not plastic), there isn't going to be too much difference for you in this matter. For higher level bowlers there may be some brand loyalty or a specific aspect of the ball that will make a small difference, but since this is your first ball this shouldn't be an issue.

[Perrin]

Do pros at the pro shops after they have watch you bowl do they usually give you one recommendation of which ball to get or a number options. I just feel reluctant to go with a spare ball I don't feel like am getting the best bang for the dollar. I feel like if I go with a tropical breeze at least it gives me a room for advancement so when I am at the stage I can hook the ball I don't have to run out and buy another ball. Don't know if that makes sense.

Any pro-shop that won't discuss ball choice with you when you ask for their ideas I wouldn't go to. They should be not only able to suggest a ball but explain why they are suggesting it and offer options for you.

The problem is I don't know how you bowl.. if you are a low to medium rev guy and/or higher speed then I would say to start with the entry level resin. Breeze being a good example of the category. With bowling specs like that plastic won't do much if anything on a normal house shot. If you put a lot on the ball and even with plastic house ball are getting a good amount of hook then I would say go with the Plastic ball or you will likely struggle with right side spares.

Do you know any of your release specs? speed, revs, rotation?

[josh83]

Perrin I really wish i could answer your questions but i have no way of knowing. I could only estimate as to how fast the ball speed is when i throw and that would be somewhere between 13-15 but that's just a guess. Revs I have no idea couldn't even estimate. Rotation I don't even know what that is.

[josh83]

Some pro shop staff will watch you throw before they recommend a bowling ball, but there are going to be some difficulties in your exact situation. Since you would be using a house ball that doesn't fit your hand properly your release will not be the same as your release when you have a ball that properly fits (as some have expressed in this, ball feels lighter and you won't have to "grip" the ball). Typically what a pro shop person would be looking for is your PAP (the axis in which the ball rotates around when you throw it, this varies from bowler to bowler and is more for fine tuning...not what you should be focused on at this time).

Thus the main decision would be what level of ball you should get, this decision has already been narrowed down to either an entry level reactive ball (tropical storm, etc.) or a plastic ball. Also as stated previously stated you are going to want to throw either 14lb or 15lb. Personally, I would go with the entry level ball over the plastic ball. You can still pick spares up with an entry level ball, it is not going to take off so much that basic spares are going to become un-makeable and you will gain more area (miss room) on your strike shots. Essentially this will not be a make or break decision in your bowling development so I wouldn't worry too much about the specific ball you are getting, right now the most important part is getting a ball that fits properly and makes you happy.

If you decide to get an entry level ball (not plastic), there isn't going to be too much difference for you in this matter. For higher level bowlers there may be some brand loyalty or a specific aspect of the ball that will make a small difference, but since this is your first ball this shouldn't be an issue.

The thing is I don't know that its really my place to make that decision especially if it goes against what the pro recommends.

[rv driver]

The thing is I don't know that its really my place to make that decision especially if it goes against what the pro recommends.

At this point in your game, you really can't go wrong with a Tropical Breeze. Only thing you need to worry about is color/scent (Storm balls are scented -- a different scent for each different color scheme). Go to www.stormbowling.com and take a look. There are currently five color schemes in the Tropical line (and I think the black/cherry is a hybrid coverstock!). I think the blue one is melon(?); the teal/orange is chocolate/orange; the purple/gold is cinnamon, or some pastry; the pink/purple is (I think) birthday cake; the black/cherry is cherry.

[josh83]

At this point in your game, you really can't go wrong with a Tropical Breeze. Only thing you need to worry about is color/scent (Storm balls are scented -- a different scent for each different color scheme). Go to www.stormbowling.com and take a look. There are currently five color schemes in the Tropical line (and I think the black/cherry is a hybrid coverstock!). I think the blue one is melon(?); the teal/orange is chocolate/orange; the purple/gold is cinnamon, or some pastry; the pink/purple is (I think) birthday cake; the black/cherry is cherry.

Thanks RV driver I feel better about this now. After doing some more research my bowling style is: Stroker. Anyways thanks again.