Expert: - 1/29/2008

Question
QUESTION: I haven't bowled in many years (averaged 180 when I stopped),25 to be exact. My last ball was a gyro(purchased in 1974). Recently went bowling and plan to continue (realized how much I miss it) and the ball was totally flat. Spoke to a pro recently and explained how different the lanes are and conditions as well as the balls. He recommended a 15 vs. 16 lb. ball claiming the new balls hit much harder and don't need 16 lbs given my size...5'6'' 160 lbs. and 51 years of age now. He also recommended the Brunswick Fury discontinued as it was on sale. Your comments are appreciated.  Thanks,  Mark

ANSWER: Mark,
When you averaged 180 was your game built on spares and consistency? or did you strike 4 or 5 times a game, but split or miss spares periodically?

Your (gyro) ball from 25 years ago, does not have anywhere near the performance potential that a Fury would presently. The Fury is one of the strongest high performance balls on the market. Because it could provide surface and core effects, for your opening shot each frame versus a full rack of pins, the ball may provide the help you desire for todays slicker lane oils. You'd benefit from keeping the old ball around, for straighter spare shots if you opt for a big hook potential first ball. Is it 16lbs (two different weight balls won't work as well)? But we didn't touch on lane conditions.

What are the conditions like in the center you bowl in? Do others feel the lanes are oily? Dry? Your old ball won't give you much even on a fairly dry lane with todays slicker oils.

The ball may suit you fine, but the Fury is now three balls old, in the Brunswick high performance ball line-up, while still a current product. The operator may just be trying to move a ball that's not the latest. Do you have a sense of this? How many balls are displayed in the store? 10 or 100? Give me a sense of what you feel from the operator.

Most pro shop people should suggest the best product(s) to suit your game. Occasionally, in preparing a merchandise mix they may over buy a product and then need to dump it. The operator might suggest a little more ball to a customer seeking more hook and take a hit on the price to move the inventory, which ultimately gets more ball in your hand for less money. But if it is to much ball you'll struggle in the other direction. Instead of little or no hook you'll get way more than you need, POSSIBLY.

There are other products more middle ground than the original dull Fury. But without knowing your ball speed, rev rate, and the lane conditions where you play (plus some other contributing factors to your game), it would be tough to recommend anything with no real information on you.

Did the operator take you out on a lane? Does he have a sense of how hard you throw? How much you turn the ball? Did he gather up positive axis co-ordinates, axis tilt, etc? The more information the store has, the easier it is to target in on the right type of product (dull vs. shiny, strong core vs. weaker, high differential vs. low diff, etc). Let me know the answers to the above questions and we can get an idea of what direction you need to go.

Thanks for the question. I look forward to hearing back from you.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks so much for your timely and comprehensive response. To answer the first part I was more of a spare bowler with strikes mixed in. Occasionally, I would put together 3-4 strikes for higher scores. The lane conditions were described as synthetic with heavier oil. I don't know if that is true at every alley in the area, but he suggested that.   I think the sales person did the best he could with the information I provided. The fury is on sale..159 from $200. There was no 16lb available, but he strongly suggested that a lot of people are going to 15lbs given their performance. I didn't feel he muscled me into this one...he showed a range of balls(reactive)and seemed to leaned toward this ball because I did throw a big hook with the gyro (16lb finger tip). He asked for speed and I had no idea..and axis,etc. thats foreign to me and did not come into the conversation. He did not ask to watch me bowl. Amazing how much more technical the game has become. Maybe he was trying to simplify as to not confuse matters at this point, I don't know. It was a small shop in a bowling alley, maybe 50 balls total, some were non performance I assume. My sense is that I have to get started somewhere and perhaps he is getting me to a starting point.  Thoughts on shoes would be helpful too!   Thanks again for you interest and obvious extensive knowledge base.  Mark

Answer
Mark,
The Fury being on sale, seems like a good option. Your sense of the operator giving you choices and sounds like, as you mentioned, a guy trying to keep it simple. For more ball speed, oily lanes, etc. the Fury could be a good choice.

Dropping from 16lbs to 15lbs, will typically add ball speed to how you throw. The stronger core and cover of a Fury will suit you well while lanes are oilier. You may find it to be hooking a lot by the end of the third game, but the lighter weight could help control that.

Hi tech balls can be drilled and thrown without all the info I asked you about. I guarantee my work, so I want to know as much as I can before putting a ball in someones hands. But being unable to see you throw, the statistics help me understand the elements of your game that I can not observe.

To get back to the initial question, the Fury, for the price is an excellent opportunity. You may tire of the strength of the ball, if your spares get tougher, or if you stay with the gyro as a spare ball, and it feels like it throws you off (because of the weight difference). I would guess with modest success with the Fury, a less aggressive ball for spares or when lanes are dryer could be in your future.

With a comfortable fit, where you don't need to work to hard to deliver the ball, you are on the right track. Good luck and good bowling.