New to the sport. What is a great way to begin.

[jrmc114064]

I have recently gone into the sport of bowling and have been looking on the web for equipment. What is the best ball to get. And also where is a good place to purchase the beginning equipment.

[littlelegs]

I love bowlingball.com for online purchases. However, if just starting out, your local pro shop may be a better choice as they can offer advice tailored to you.

'Best ball' is very subjective and depends on the individual. As your're just starting out, spending 100's on a top of the range 'pro performance' ball probably isn't a good idea. Personally I think the Brunswick Slingshot works well for many beginners but then again your pro shop could probably advise better after chatting to you and watching you bowl.

Oh and welcome to the boards. I daresay someone else will follow shortly with even better advice. There are some top level coaching types that tend to hang around here

[jrmc114064]

I have been using bowlingball.com and have been thinking of a C·(SYSTEM) ULTI-MAX at 150 bucks because i want to start off strong. The only thing to me is that i am ordering a 12 pound ball that has a generic core. Is a generic core bad.

[tumblebug1949]

Hi jrmc114064,

Welcome to the forum. I am sure others will say hello and give there thoughts but littlelegs has provided excellent information.

I shop a lot on the internet but also use a pro-shop in the area. Check out your local pro-shop and explain to them where you are with bowling and where you want to go. Let them give you advice about what they recommend. I would suggest doing this with no intention of purchasing that day. Have them show you what they recommend. Find out how you will be fitted for a ball. And find out the cost for everything you are getting. Then, give it a couple of days to think it over or maybe check around at other shops. The pro-shops almost always give you free or at least discounted price for drilling. To give you an idea of that cost, I recently had two balls drilled at two different shop. I had purchased these balls on the internet so I paid full amount for drilling. The cost of one ball drilling with finger and thumb grips was $70.00. The second ball setup the exact same way at a different shop cost $35.00. As you can see, the price can vary a lot.

There are a lot of youtube training videos available that can help you make an informed decision. Don't let the sometimes overwhelming number of choices scare you. If you just learn a little and stick to the basics, I am sure you will find what you want.

I can't say much about what ball is best but I have heard a lot about the "Slingshot" and think it is an excellent entry level ball. It has what it needs to curve but is not super aggressive.

Good luck in your endeavors and don't be afraid to ask a lot of questions both here and at the pro-shops.

Tom

[littlelegs]

For what it's worth 'starting off strong' isn't realistic until you have at least a little technique in place (IMNSVHO of course ). Seeking pro shop advice really is the way to go even if (as Tom suggests) you don't purchase. Again a personal opinion, but an over-aggressive, mega-reactive ball would cause more problems than it solves used right out of the gate. But then if that's the way you choose to go maybe it'll work for you as everyone's different so who knows?

The C-Systems are all good balls, but as with every ball are suited to certain styles of play and lane conditions more so than others. If you haven't developed a style yet then you may simply end up with not quite the right tool for the job so to speak. For example if your local house lanes are fairly dry and you develop a decent sized hook you may well find that ball too strong. A less aggressive ball to start will be a good way to gauge all of that otherwise you're simply crossing your fingers and hoping for the best.

[got_a_300]

jrmc114064 welcome to the forum and to the Wonderful World Of Bowling.

As for your question about the generic core being bad I wouldn't want to pay the high dollar price
tag on a ball that uses a generic core as you are in my opinion just getting ripped off on getting a
high performance ball with a high performance price tag and getting a generic core. I wouldn't go
below 13lbs. that way most of the time but not always you still get the good core and after it is
drilled it will be in the mid to high 12lb. to low 13lb. range anyway.


I'll have to agree with the others on this topic, as starting off with a very aggressive ball such as the
ULTI-MAX might not be your best choice for a starter ball. If you are not throwing a fingertip hook ball
and you are pretty much throwing a conventional grip straight ball then you will be more or less in my
opinion wasting your money at this time on a high dollar bowling ball such as the ULTI-MAX but that's
just my opinion.

I would have to suggest starting off with maybe a mid level - mid priced - mid performance ball such as
the Slingshot as the others have suggested or another thought would be to give the Ebonite Cyclone
series ball a look it is just a little more aggressive than the Slingshot but not overly aggressive as the
ULTI-MAX would be for a starter ball.

As the others have already said maybe talk to your local Pro shop guy/gal and let them watch you throw
a few shots and then they can give you some pretty good suggestions on what kind of bowling ball would
fit your game right now.

You can always move up to more aggressive equipment later on as your game progresses to get better and
your scores start to climb. You have to remember that if you start off with the wrong equipment right off of
the bat and you're not getting the ball reaction / scores that you were hopping for after spending all that big
money on your high dollar equipment starting out than you might just get really discouraged too easily and give
up the sport as I've seen it happen to new bowlers before.

[HunterRunsIt]

Hi, Welcome to the world of bowling.

Assuming you've gotten comfortable with a house ball, I would suggest that you inquire at your local pro shop about a ball. Whether your looking for a ball that will hook or a straight ball your best bet would be the pro shop assuming he's reputable. Most Pro Shops are located inside your bowling alley.