Will a brand new ball improve my game?

[IlsonBowler24]

Hey I'm new to the forum and would be grateful if anyone can give me some advice.

I have been bowling approximately a month now, and I've learnt how to get some hook on a ball (throwing it down the second arrow and letting it hook in to the pocket). I am using a fingertip grip, and I think that gradually I am improving the amount of hook that I can get on a ball.

The balls that I have currently are:

Storm - Fired Up (been using as a spare ball because it is my least reactive and I have had it polished up to take away a little more of the reactivity)

Brunswick - Scorching Inferno (Using as my strike ball because it is slightly more reactive and I've got my first 200 using this ball)

AMF - Hook Monster (only just got this ball today but not really had a chance to use it yet, but apparently it is supposed to be more reactive than the Scorching Inferno)

All of these balls were second hand and I haven't had to pay a thing. Do you think these balls being second hand will have a huge effect on my game? and will a brand new ball give me better results? baring in mind that I have only recently started bowling.

I've been looking at the DV8 hell raiser brand new but is quite pricey.

Thank you for taking the time to read my post, any help or advice would be greatly appreciated

[DaveAyotte]

Welcome to the site!

Don't let anyone knock second hand equipment, it's a great thing. My first 7-8 balls were all second hand, and they did the job just fine. If you're just starting out, use your money on practice and a coach if you can. It'll be money better spent than new balls that you don't need yet. If you're already learning how to throw a curve effectively, take your time and build that muscle memory. Check out this site for some great drills and exercises that will help you along.

After you take the time to do that, or if you feel your at this level now - then I would say go ahead and get your new ball. I wouldn't recommend jumping right into the hardest hooking ball to ever hit the market though. But maybe that's just me.

[IlsonBowler24]

That's great thanks, I was kind of hoping someone would say something like that, I tend to throw money at new hobbies when its not needed because I think that it will help me and it hardly every gives the desired results. I am quite fortunate with bowling because I know the manager in my local centre so I can get games for cheaper, also my brother used to be a decent bowler his average was about 220 and he's been giving me tips which has been useful.

I can easily get 150 in a game (I realise this isn't a great score), so I'm aiming to make 180 a score which I can achieve easily.

Then maybe I should look into new equipment

THANKS FOR THE HELP

[MFein]

A new ball isn't the answer. A ball drilled for your hand is. I shot my first 200 with a 2nd hand ball. I bowled my first 600 with a 2nd hand ball. My first 800 / 300 with a 4 year old ball. It's all about technique. Like Dave said, a coach is something to save your money for. That way when you start developing a form and style, you can start drilling up new equipment. If you have the money, by all means, but I find learning the game first was a much better thing for me. I started getting lessons when I was throwing a plastic ball. I just did the fundamentals. Nothing more because I just wanted to keep it on the lane.

[IlsonBowler24]

I have had my hand measured and things and I have had the balls drilled properly so that they are comfortable, I think that maybe I need a slightly tighter finger insert on my ring finger. I've been trying to go to the bowling alley 3 times a week, I usually have 3 games a time, I'm trying not to over-do it because the more games I have in one session the worse my scores become and I feel like I'm getting nowhere, I'm trying to learn steadily.

Thanks for your comment!

[DaveAyotte]

Good idea - because you start bowling 10 games at a time without direction, you can develop bad habits. If you haven't heard of low-ball, that's a drill worth looking up when you can squeeze out another game, but need a break from trying to achieve higher scores. It's designed specifically to help you with your spares, because I'm sure you know, but you don't need any strikes to hit 180.

[IlsonBowler24]

That's my main problem, I can now consistently hit the 1st pin and my first ball nearly always gives me 8-9 pins, but I often leave the 10 pin, my sparing has slightly improved, but I am very hit and miss with spares, some games I can hit all of them, others I struggle badly, I think a little bit of it is to do with lane conditions and my lack of understanding of them. The 205 game that I achieved I had two open frames in it so I could have had a higher score had I been able to spare better. I will take a look at that drill though!

[J Anderson]

Don't worry about scores in practice. Focus on one or more goals for each session. For example if your primary concern is making 10 pins you could try a variation of low ball. Shoot for the ten pin on the first ball and then throw your strike ball. Your goal would be a not very impressive 110, but you would be judging yourself by; "did I hit the ten cleanly?", and " was my second ball in the pocket?" You can focus on any part of your game, being on balance at the line, follow through, etc.
The only worthwhile thing I learned in statistics was that I can define success and failure. So can you!

[DaveAyotte]

Unless you have a washout or a split, you should try going straight at all your spares. Use your spare, or however you go for you 10 pins and what-ever... and use that same ball for your non-split spares. This cuts down on margin for error, and takes the lane condition factor out of the equation entirely.

[IlsonBowler24]

I'll have to have a try at low ball sounds like a good way to practice, I'll also have to see if I can get hold of somebodies old spare ball or a cheap second hand one so that I can bowl it straighter for spares