Finally decided to drop to 14lb ball - but what to get?

[taxexpert2]

Not such a happy camper right now. The Vandal Smash has such a different action than my other balls I am thinking I made an expensive mistake here. I can get strikes but I can never remember how I got them - brain fog setting in when I set up for the shot. So far my average has not suffered but that is partially because I am using both balls depending on what the lane is doing. Can't figure out what to do with the Smash when the oil changes. Guess I should have spent the extra money to get the operating manual but it won't do any good if the operator is not functioning properly. It makes life interesting anyway. Always up for a challenge.

[KYDave]

Well that's a bummer. I'm sure it is a good ball. But I'm not surprised it rolls quite a bit different, as I said earlier, it is quite a bit different ball.

Not at all what I would have expected them to offer. The unhinged is a high Rg polished symmetrical ball. Both Abs nirvana and smash are low Rg solid assymetrical balls.

That being said, what does it do that you don't like? Does it over hook or lay down in the back? Is it jumpy or unpredictable action?

Perhaps it will just take some time being that it is different. And different isn't necessarily a bad thing. Or maybe a surface adjustment can make it perform more to your liking.

Hang in there!

[taxexpert2]

Well, since I haven't been able to get my favorite coach out on the lanes with me since I got it it is a little hard to me to say what it is doing. In my mind it is over hooking. But also to me that is a function of the operator not the ball. Consistency in speed and point of release SHOULD resolve this for the most part but I haven't been able to get a good release point consistently so that make the speed idea moot. It is a work in progress. My hand feels better but there are other muscles that are being used that were not being used before. One must have patience in this game.

[Tony]

Well, since I haven't been able to get my favorite coach out on the lanes with me since I got it it is a little hard to me to say what it is doing. In my mind it is over hooking. But also to me that is a function of the operator not the ball. Consistency in speed and point of release SHOULD resolve this for the most part but I haven't been able to get a good release point consistently so that make the speed idea moot. It is a work in progress. My hand feels better but there are other muscles that are being used that were not being used before. One must have patience in this game.

Based on the difference in ball type from your previous ball it looks like it should move more boards than the old ball does, you will most likely have to play deeper and stay in the oil or change the surface to play in your normal spot with that ball. I used a Vandal Smash on a demo day and that's what it felt like to me, I didn't like the way it or the Absolute Nirvana played for me but you should be able to get your PSO to help you adjust it to be better for your game.

[taxexpert2]

YES!!! finally figured out the new ball. Couple of 200's and I am a happy camper again. Still have a little problem with figuring out spares but that will come with time. Thanks to all who posted here. A lot of the informtion really helped. A great place to get good (and bad, I suppose) advice.

[KYDave]

Awesome!!

Glad you stuck with it and got it working for you. I know the feeling of getting a new ball and having that sinking feeling that maybe it wasn't the right choice.

Are you happy about the weight or have you really noticed much difference?

[taxexpert2]

Surprising I do notice difference and my poor arthritic hand notices it a lot!!! Have much more speed and more rotation. Just have to remember what ball I am bowling. Managed to sell the old one the other day so it won't be a real problem.