When you buy a new bowling ball...

[ALazySavage]

Typically when I get a new bowling ball I do not have a full practice before bowling in league. After I receive the new ball I will throw 3-5 shots with the new ball up the track just to make sure that the span, pitch, and fingertips feel correct but after that I will put the ball away for league. My thinking for this is that by not using the ball before a league session I get to somewhat mimic a tournament situation. This provides me with only warm-up to figure out how the ball will match the current pattern (essentially changing the variable from the oil condition to the bowling ball). Thus I can go through some of the same struggles that one may encounter during a tournament session; reading an unfamiliar line, seeing a different type of lane breakdown, etc. Exception to this would be sport shot leagues (because they provide more of a challenge already) and position round (because explaining this to teammates may not be good).

[circlecity]

I try to throw some games with it before league. Worst case I throw it on my Monday league which is almost my practice league anyhoo before my serious league.

[Stormed1]

I do it a lot. Using IT's I don't worry about fit and I have a good idea of expected ball reaction before I throw it.I drilled up 2 balls Sunday night and threw them this Monday in league. The First ball (Reax Pearl) was too strong as I expected but I threw it anyway. The second ball (Manic) fit right where I expected it. Struggled with spares in first 2 games as the lane took a chunk out of my thumb on my spare ball.

[manke]

My personel opion is if you are a good bowler you can pick up a new ball and figure it out pretty quick. So if you throw it in practice you get before bowling starts that should be enough time, but if you are a lower average bowler you need to throw a couple of games with it before you use it in league.

[circlecity]

My personel opion is if you are a good bowler you can pick up a new ball and figure it out pretty quick. So if you throw it in practice you get before bowling starts that should be enough time, but if you are a lower average bowler you need to throw a couple of games with it before you use it in league.

probably true...

[Mudpuppy]

Do you use it in league before practicing with it? Why or why not.

I try to throw at least 3 games practice with it before I throw it in the league but that is not always the case. My last 3 balls I have just brought out on league night. Usually takes 2-3 weeks for them to break in and be consistent (or maybe me to be consistent)

[Cdolcejr]

Generally, no I don't use a new ball in league before practicing with it. For me it all depends on the ball. For instance, I usually throw a Columbia 300 Freeze and bought a Freeze Hybrid for when the lanes burn up. The ball is drilled the same way as the Freeze so in this case I was able to throw it in league before actually practicing with it. I need to have confidence that the ball I am throwing will do exactly what I need it to. To gain that confidence, usually I have to practice a lot to learn the ins and out's, do's and don'ts. For example, I bought a Karma Urethane ball back in 2012 for super dry lanes that I see in one particular house on a 2nd shift. I rarely threw it in league because I didn't fully know how to use it (since urethane is a different reaction). Fast forward to 2014. I've been practicing with the ball and have gained confidence. I now throw it in league every week and know when to pull it out.

[mc_runner]

I always practice before throwing in league. If nothing else than to get used to the slight difference in feel in the new ball.

[RobLV1]

I always practice before throwing in league. If nothing else than to get used to the slight difference in feel in the new ball.

If you always use the same driller, you shouldn't have any difference in the feel of a new ball. If you do use the same driller all the time and feel slight differences from ball to ball, it's time to find a new driller IMHO.

[Amyers]

If you always use the same driller, you shouldn't have any difference in the feel of a new ball. If you do use the same driller all the time and feel slight differences from ball to ball, it's time to find a new driller IMHO.

At the very least the thumb hole on every ball is slightly different unless you are using IT system. It is impossible to bevel a hole and use a sander and get exactly the same feel from ball to ball. I guarantee you that you could blind fold me and bring my balls over one by one and I could stick my hand in it and tell you which ball it was site unseen. Span same, pitches same, grips same but the thumb is always slightly different.