Newbie looking for a new ball

[Bgyfz450]

I have been bowling with a fingertip ball for a month now, it's a hammer jigsaw corner. I bought it used for the house I bowl at in a beginner league. The pro there helped me and it fits my hand ok. I bowl straight using the far right arrow and it hooks in. I was wondering what ball would be good for a new purchase? I want a good ball so I can learn how to use is for a long time without having to buy a new ball again in a year or so. The lanes where I bowl are about medium lanes. Thank you for any help possible. Of and btw I was looking at the new hammer viral solid cause it's kind of similar to the jigsaw corner I'm currently usin now but it's pretty banged up. Thank you again.

[JasonNJ]

I would tell you to stay away from the really high end balls. While it may sound like a great idea to get something with massive hook potential, they are also much harder to control and honestly don't match up well with regular house shot conditions. I personally like Pearl coverstock balls because they tend to go longer before hooking and that helps retains energy when it hits the pocket. I would recommend a C300 Deep Freeze, Storm Sky Rocket, Hy Road Pearl, Motiv Venom Panic or anything with similar RG and Diff ratings. Good luck and let us know which ball you get and if it helped your game.

[Bgyfz450]

Jason isn't the ball that I'm using now a really high end ball the hammer jigsaw corner?

[Tony]

The Jigsaw Corner was one of the stronger balls back when it came out 5 or 6 years ago but
they have released quite a few balls since them that are more aggressive.

[JasonNJ]

Jason isn't the ball that I'm using now a really high end ball the hammer jigsaw corner?

I just looked up the specs and yes it does seem to be a really aggressive ball. How have you been bowling with it?

[Bgyfz450]

I'm decent with it. Like I said I hit the far right arrow and let it hook in. I don't have a huge curve on the ball right now. My average right now with it is a 155. I was looking at the hammer viral solid would that be to aggressive? I just have a slow rotation so I didn't know if a polished ball would carry it down the lane more cause the jigsaw is a matte finish.

[Tony]

http://www.bowlingthismonth.com/ball...cturer/hammer/

Here is the ball matrix for hammer, your current ball is not listed but if it were it would be in the GENERAL area of the
Blue/ silver taboo / purple taboo/ taboo / amp . The Viral solid is longer and weaker on their scale ending up in the 17/49 area. Of course that's with the OOB surface on the ball.

[Bgyfz450]

So what could be a good ball to get then? I just want a ball that will work good for me being a beginner and will work once I get better

[JasonNJ]

So what could be a good ball to get then? I just want a ball that will work good for me being a beginner and will work once I get better

The Viral Solid is rated as a medium to light oil ball and the Jigsaw Corner is considered a medium to heavy oil ball also the Viral like Tony said should go a little bit longer and has less flare potential but to me that isn't necessarily a bad thing. For example I went from throwing a Storm Crux Pearl to a Columbia 300 Blur pearl that is a $160 ball to a $60 ball undrilled and I've increased my average maybe 10-15 pins. I'm pretty much a down and in bowler as well. I throw the 8th board between 1st and 2nd arrow straight down and let it hook to the pocket. I don't know what my revolutions are but I would guess I'm on the lower side with speed around 16-17mph.

I think the reason why I got better with the weaker ball is that the Crux Pearl was too strong for the lane conditions I normally bowl on. Also it had so much natural hook that even if I didn't release it well it still hooked. With the weaker Blur Pearl, I've been a lot more consistent to the pocket and it made my learn to release better since it had less natural hook.


So if you think the Viral Solid is the ball for you, I would say get it but I think my best advice for you would be to find a good pro shop and work with them to figure out the best ball for you. Maybe they even have some balls you could try out.

[Tony]

The Viral Solid is rated as a medium to light oil ball and the Jigsaw Corner is considered a medium to heavy oil ball also the Viral like Tony said should go a little bit longer and has less flare potential but to me that isn't necessarily a bad thing. For example I went from throwing a Storm Crux Pearl to a Columbia 300 Blur pearl that is a $160 ball to a $60 ball undrilled and I've increased my average maybe 10-15 pins. I'm pretty much a down and in bowler as well. I throw the 8th board between 1st and 2nd arrow straight down and let it hook to the pocket. I don't know what my revolutions are but I would guess I'm on the lower side with speed around 16-17mph.

I think the reason why I got better with the weaker ball is that the Crux Pearl was too strong for the lane conditions I normally bowl on. Also it had so much natural hook that even if I didn't release it well it still hooked. With the weaker Blur Pearl, I've been a lot more consistent to the pocket and it made my learn to release better since it had less natural hook.


So if you think the Viral Solid is the ball for you, I would say get it but I think my best advice for you would be to find a good pro shop and work with them to figure out the best ball for you. Maybe they even have some balls you could try out.

I wasn't suggesting the Viral Solid is the wrong or right ball, just showing you how it compares to the ball you have. The ball manufacturers and pro shop operators (PSO) usually suggest bowlers starting out use the lower cost less radical starter to mid level balls, they are easier to control and you will get a more consistent reaction from the ball. Finding a good PSO and having them help you find a good ball to begin with is a good idea. If you tell them you're an inexperienced bowler they should suggest a ball that suits your game now, in time you might want to add a more aggressive ball. There are several guys around here who are very knowledgeable on many of the different balls and might be able to suggest some of the models that might suit your game.