On average how many new balls do you buy a year?

[NewToBowling]

And why do you buy new balls. Is it to replace old stock or trying to get latest and greatest.

Are you technical when you research and buy new ball or buy for looks or whatever PSO recommends.

I'm pretty non-technical when it comes to ball technology. I'll be honest, color gets me first (yeah, not smart). If it looks cool I'll be more drawn to it. Bowling on THS it hasn't hurt me much.

I do prefer polished balls probably due to drier house at my home center. Haywire is a sanded ball and wasn't usable to me OOB so now it's 3000 grit polished and basically that's the only ball I use.

[dmet225]

When I first returned after an almost 20 year layoff, I bought 3 balls within the first 1.5 years (including a spare ball). Since then, I generally buy a new one for myself each Christmas.

I'm more of a stroker with decent speed, so I don't typically get into too much trouble with a ball hooking too much. For that reason, I've found myself getting asymmetrical balls with lots of hook potential. I don't get too worked up about pearl vs. hybrid vs. solid or polished vs. matte. vs. sanded.

[mc_runner]

1 or maybe 2 a year depending on if I end up lucking into a bit of extra money (win the 50/50 raffle or something). When I buy them it's need-based and I do go on numbers and ball characteristics. I also almost never get a new ball when it first comes out, I wait to see reviews both online and if possible judge in real life. This has worked well for me so far. Recently have stuck with storm/roto and have a pretty decent idea of how a ball will behave based on its core and cover... one of the pluses of being a bit brand-dependent.

[fokai73]

I used to be a ball whore. I used to be addicted to buying balls, new or older new ones on clearance. Or get free balls. Even when I knew a lot of the fancy words these ball companies used for their "NEXT BIG THING" it's all MARKETING, I still bought balls. I just liked buying balls.....

Because of my other hobby, kids, and garage space, I sold or gave away many of them - all of them. The current stock of 6 balls in the garage right now, I feel it's taking up space. I gave away 2 balls two weeks ago and I plan on giving away another - med/high end balls too with low games.

The last 5 years I get 2 balls a year (last year I didn't get any) on average. This year I got a new release (didn't pay for it) and I just recently bought a clearance ball from buddies just to try out.

A lot of time I don't need these balls and they just sit... entry level balls and urethane balls are all I need for the conditions I bowl on for leagues. but it is nice to get a fresh smelling new ball, or not so smelly nice looking new ball in your hands. it can be addicting......

[zacks]

I had about a 4 year layoff and came back last winter. I used my old ball which was about a 10 year old Storm Ace (which to today's standards wasn't even legal on side weight), and that ball only last winter. That ball actually performed well for it's age, but I knew there was better technology and I couldn't imagine how many games were on that ball.

I spent the summer updating my arsenal. I bought two new strike balls and eventually added a plastic spare ball. I will likely stick with these balls for a couple seasons and would only replace if a ball became damaged.

I will probably add a ball or two depending on conditions I intend on dealing with. I currently bowl multiple leagues at one house on a very predictable house shot. I'm going to eventually bowl tournaments and possibly a different league that will require different equipment, so I know I will need to get at least one more ball, probably two.

Other than that, once you have a reliable arsenal for the conditions you think you will encounter, I don't see a need for constantly buying new balls unless the ones you are using are old or damaged.

And I always try to research what I want to buy, then decide what layout I'd like, then consult the PSO. It's always best going to the PSO with a plan and then listening to his thoughts rather than just going in blind. It gives him an idea of what you're looking for so he doesn't just pitch you what he has on the shelf with a standard benchmark layout. You really should know the technical aspects of your arsenal, especially if you're throwing multiple balls. It's pointless to have 2, 3, or 4+ strike balls if you can't properly accesses when to use each one and know how it will react to the conditions. If you don't want to get technical, it's best to keep it simple.

Oh, and to answer the main question, once I have established a full arsenal of about 5 balls, I bet I will probably be replacing one per year on average. The heavily used THS league balls will be replaced more frequently than the lesser used sport/tournament balls.

[Mike White]

I had about a 4 year layoff and came back last winter. I used my old ball which was about a 10 year old Storm Ace (which to today's standards wasn't even legal on side weight), and that ball only last winter.

Can you clarify on the side weight issue.

The rules haven't changed related to side weight for a lot of years.

It's possible that if you don't use your thumb, the new rule there could alter what portion of the ball is considered left vs right compared to the same ball if you do use the thumb.

[Amyers]

I bowl quite a bit so I tend to replace my most used THS balls every year and it's kind of fun to buy them. My lesser used sport shot balls tend to last a couple of years.

I don't care about color (currently have 2 black balls). I generally prefer mid line balls with surfaces 3k to polished with at least moderately higher RG sue to my lower speed. I usually spend a lot of time researching what I want before I buy it.

[zacks]

Can you clarify on the side weight issue.

The rules haven't changed related to side weight for a lot of years.

It's possible that if you don't use your thumb, the new rule there could alter what portion of the ball is considered left vs right compared to the same ball if you do use the thumb.

I believe, and I may be wrong here, that back in the mid 2000's there was no rule on side weight. The ball was drilled with the grip to the left of the CG and MB, pin up and just right of ring. To make it legal, I just need to add a weight hole.

I use my thumb.

[collinwho]

Generally 1 a year. I've found that I can bring 1-2 balls to league and be just fine, so anything else is for tournaments and sports shots and I don't currently bowl enough tournaments and sport shots to make it worthwhile to have an 8 ball arsenal.

[SAbowler]

I average a couple of balls a year. Usually one around Christmas (after I get my yearly bonus) and one during the summer after some leagues pay out.