Improving on my 20 year comback

[LOUVIT]

So I came back after 20 or 25 years about 4 months ago. now I am using the outdated Ebonite NVS which will roll but not hook or carry. The first 2 months I was shooting from 100 to 160. This week I shot 186, 154, and a 190. I am starting to string some strikes. What I need to know is at a ball speed of about 13mph with a #16 ball should I buy a hammer 15# scandel, from what I hear this is a big hooking ball. I averaged 190 25 years ago but we all know this game has changed . I'm afraid it may hook too much. I have other posts here but I decided to start my own thread for advise.

thanks, Lou
oakfield lanes Brandon Fl.

[1VegasBowler]

I had a 25 year hiatus until the end of 2014, and I use the DV8/Brunswick line.

My Ruckus Schizo, Thug Unruly and Vandal have some sweet hook to them.

Check out Lane Side Reviews on youtube.com to see what ball(s) you might be interested in. They are my "go to" when I look at a new ball. And if I have a dead tie for what I want, I go to my PSO Johnny Petraglia, Jr. to break that tie. lol

[Amyers]

It's hard to say if your wanting to switch weights and working on your game I always suggest starting from the middle and not the top. Honestly if you need a scandal to hook the ball on a THS pattern you need to work on your game not buy the ball in my opinion. We all see people throwing balls like this on league but in my opinion I see it do more bowlers harm than good. The Scandal is one of the most aggressive heavy oil balls on the market it wasn't really designed for use on THS. I see more of these type of balls burning up and hitting poorly for bowlers because they aren't using them on the condition they were designed for.

Lower ball speed and super aggressive balls tend to = train wreck. This comes from a guy who hit's 13 on a good day and average much closer to 12-12.5. I would suggest looking for something more in the medium category preferably with a middle amount of surface 3k to 4k is optimum for lower speed bowlers bench mark ball. The Hammer Arson High Flare solid, Brunswick Melee Hook or Mastermind Einstein, or Storm Rocketship would all be choices that will most likely be more useful for you than the Scandal.

It's a lot easier and more useful to start in the middle and move up and down than it is to find what you are looking for if you start at the top or the bottom and try to find the middle. If you buy a Scandal and it's way to strong then where is the ball that you need on the scale is it a dark legend or do you need to go down to a arson or viral to get something that's controllable for you if you need to go to the arson for it to be useful your not going to get much use out of the Scandal. You start with the Arson and need more then it's for sure Dark Legend or Scandal need less it's Viral or Nail and either way the Arson is still useable as a move up or a move down in aggressiveness. At 13 mph your much more likely to be on the less aggressive end of the scale than you are on the more end. Also don't over estimate the ball speed your going to get by moving down in weight I've seen bowlers who going down a pount gamve them .75-1 mph for me I tried moving to 14 lbs. and got .25 mph . Hope this helps.

[LOUVIT]

I am still hoping it's the ball I'm using now that is the reason for the no hook situation. i am still trying to learn all these new ball specs. What is the opinion of the outdated Ebinote NVS? Should it be working on league oil conditions. I feel I'm throwing the ball right but it don't move more than a few boards on the late backend. Also the ball is drilled with the pin way right of the finger holes. What does hat cause the ball to do, all other balls I see the pin is close to the finger holes. ( I bought it maybe 10 years ago used and started to bowl and then had no time anymore).

[Amyers]

I am still hoping it's the ball I'm using now that is the reason for the no hook situation. i am still trying to learn all these new ball specs. What is the opinion of the outdated Ebinote NVS? Should it be working on league oil conditions. I feel I'm throwing the ball right but it don't move more than a few boards on the late backend. Also the ball is drilled with the pin way right of the finger holes. What does hat cause the ball to do, all other balls I see the pin is close to the finger holes. ( I bought it maybe 10 years ago used and started to bowl and then had no time anymore).

The Ebonite NVS was before my time but I looked it up on Ebonite's website it's was a mid rg higher differential core and since it was in their value line I would figure it's a weaker cover even by 2007 standards. My guess would be it's probably less than most of the balls on the market today. From what I seen of the older reviews people were not fans of the entire NV series of balls.

The placement of the pin doesn't really tell you much. The reaction really has more to do with the pin to your pap than where it is located in relationship to your fingers. Was the ball redrilled or drilled since you've came back to bowling? If not it's possible your pap has changed and that could be a small part of the issue.

Either way I would suggest starting with something new in the medium category. If nothing else it'll let you know for sure if it's a ball issue or a you issue.

[1VegasBowler]

It's hard to say if your wanting to switch weights and working on your game I always suggest starting from the middle and not the top. Honestly if you need a scandal to hook the ball on a THS pattern you need to work on your game not buy the ball in my opinion. We all see people throwing balls like this on league but in my opinion I see it do more bowlers harm than good. The Scandal is one of the most aggressive heavy oil balls on the market it wasn't really designed for use on THS. I see more of these type of balls burning up and hitting poorly for bowlers because they aren't using them on the condition they were designed for.

Lower ball speed and super aggressive balls tend to = train wreck. This comes from a guy who hit's 13 on a good day and average much closer to 12-12.5. I would suggest looking for something more in the medium category preferably with a middle amount of surface 3k to 4k is optimum for lower speed bowlers bench mark ball. The Hammer Arson High Flare solid, Brunswick Melee Hook or Mastermind Einstein, or Storm Rocketship would all be choices that will most likely be more useful for you than the Scandal.

It's a lot easier and more useful to start in the middle and move up and down than it is to find what you are looking for if you start at the top or the bottom and try to find the middle. If you buy a Scandal and it's way to strong then where is the ball that you need on the scale is it a dark legend or do you need to go down to a arson or viral to get something that's controllable for you if you need to go to the arson for it to be useful your not going to get much use out of the Scandal. You start with the Arson and need more then it's for sure Dark Legend or Scandal need less it's Viral or Nail and either way the Arson is still useable as a move up or a move down in aggressiveness. At 13 mph your much more likely to be on the less aggressive end of the scale than you are on the more end. Also don't over estimate the ball speed your going to get by moving down in weight I've seen bowlers who going down a pount gamve them .75-1 mph for me I tried moving to 14 lbs. and got .25 mph . Hope this helps.

I certainly agree here. Whether it's the Scandal or the Grudge, balls like this are far too much for a THS. When it breaks down they get even worse yet to control.

Start in the middle of the road and work your way up, along with working on all of the other aspects of your game. It will make your game better in the long run and boost your confidence. Starting too strong will make you wonder why you came back! lol

[1VegasBowler]

I am still hoping it's the ball I'm using now that is the reason for the no hook situation. i am still trying to learn all these new ball specs. What is the opinion of the outdated Ebinote NVS? Should it be working on league oil conditions. I feel I'm throwing the ball right but it don't move more than a few boards on the late backend. Also the ball is drilled with the pin way right of the finger holes. What does hat cause the ball to do, all other balls I see the pin is close to the finger holes. ( I bought it maybe 10 years ago used and started to bowl and then had no time anymore).

I would start with something like the new Vintage Danger Zone or something that is equivalent. It's above starter level and if drilled properly it can be a ball you can use for a long time. I use my VDZ for Sport shots only because it's my first time doing Sport, and my PSO drilled it for such.

While my other balls could be good for Sport later on, starting smaller than my Vandal and Thug Unruly is the better bet until I get better at the Sport patterns.

Same thing applied to the THS.

[JasonNJ]

One other thing, where did you get the Ebonite NVS? Maybe it just need a de-oiling and a resurfacing. I started bowling 2 years ago and I bought a Ebonite Pursuit-S on clearance and it was a pretty high end ball but after about 90 games, it just stopped hooking. At first I thought it was me but it was the ball full of oil. I baked it and get about 2 teaspoons of oil out and the ball reaction came back to life.

[LOUVIT]

The Ebonite NVS was before my time but I looked it up on Ebonite's website it's was a mid rg higher differential core and since it was in their value line I would figure it's a weaker cover even by 2007 standards. My guess would be it's probably less than most of the balls on the market today. From what I seen of the older reviews people were not fans of the entire NV series of balls.

The placement of the pin doesn't really tell you much. The reaction really has more to do with the pin to your pap than where it is located in relationship to your fingers. Was the ball redrilled or drilled since you've came back to bowling? If not it's possible your pap has changed and that could be a small part of the issue.

Either way I would suggest starting with something new in the medium category. If nothing else it'll let you know for sure if it's a ball issue or a you issue.

thanks that's the info I was looking for,Makes me feel a bit better about the way I'm throwing it. It seems the ball may be more of a problem than me. i will be buying a new ball in 2 weeks and have that long to secide which one to go with. I also notice most people (at least in my age bracket, I'm 61) are throwing the outside line. I am still an inside shooter and looking for the bend not the stright and in shot from the gutter I stand on the left side and throw it out and wait for it to hook back which the NVS doesn't,,lol. I did the soapy hot water wash and a few other things and no change.

[LOUVIT]

I'll probably be buying the new ball in a week and a half. I'd appreciate if you guy's could come up with a ball that will hook but not destroy me at 12 or so MPH. I do notice that my release vary's but I know when I'm coming off the side like my thumb at 9 o'clock because my thumb sticks, so I do correct it. I was all set on the hammer scandel until I was told it may be too much for me.I've had advise to "start with" a certian ball. Hate to say but in my position I can't be spending 200.00 at a time until I find one that works. I think my NVS will be my spare ball if I think I need one. I never used a strike and different ball.

Here's my original thread back in March just for FYI. I now have a better approach and timing, at least I do not feel like I'm going to fall on my face like I did a few times back them=n...lol

http://www.bowlingboards.com/threads...-the-new-stuff