About Russ King Expertise 21 years in drilling balls,9 years running Pro Shop,cure grip problems,Fix approach problems,coach handicaped bowlers, certified coach instructor, coach Crankers,Tweeners,Strokers,Ex Ball Tester,A Mechanic on Bruswick machines,B Mechanic on AMF,Resurfaced lanes (Wood),change oil patterns for different ball reactions to train & test on.Hints on ways to clear/relax your mind on the lanes.
Experience American Bowling Congress 32 yrs.,PBA 20 yrs., I learned from 3 Ball Drillers & then, develped my own styles of drilling.I EXPERIMENT ALL THE TIME (THE BEST WAY TO LEARN!).
Expert: Russ King Date: 7/17/2008 Subject: what ball?
Question well i know synthetic lanes are alot of difference in the shot today but what ball and when do i buy it!
well my local lanes are synthetic and i like bowling on them but i need to know what ball to use i think i have the right on that i have ben bowling with!
but im not all sure well the ball is a ebonite called the ONE is that the right ball for a synthetic lane?
and also if not then do i try to find out if i can work with it on these lanes or do i just go buy a different ball if so what ball?
thanks,
Curtis
Answer A lot of this depends on what your style can put up with.Urethanes work very well on wood. Reactives work better on Synthetic OVERALL.
I MISS WOOD !!!!
On wood, you had to be accurate,control the ball,consistent & good to win.On Synthetic with Reactive resin,you really can just kick the ball to get a big hook with power.SHUT YOUR EYES & TWIST OUT.THIS IS WHY MOST ARE INCONSISTENT IN SCORING. A 245 WITH A 147 & 200 MEANS UNTESTED BALL THAT IS NOT TWEAKED TO FIT THE BOWLER.MOST RELY/USE AS A CRUTCH A HIGH PRICED BALL WITH COMPLICATED LAYOUT ON SPAN THUS GETTING LAZY WITH THE STYLE/FORM BUILDING INCONSISTENCIES.A VERY COMPLICATED LAYOUT ON A PBA MEMBERS BALL CAN BE USED TO ENHANCE PERFORMANCE. OTHER THAN THAT, IT IS JUST A GOOD GIMMICK FOR A SOLD EXPENSIVE BALL.YOU DON'T HAVE A REP. STANDING BEHIND YOU KNOWING YOUR NEEDS DETERMINING WHAT WILL WORK ON THE CONDITION THAT IS KNOWN BEFORE THEY START BOWLING.IN LEAGUE BOWLING, YOU HAVE MANY DIFFERENT SHOTS PUT ON THE LANES WITH LITTLE CONSISTENCY.MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF BOWLERS CROSSING YOUR LINE THAT SEEMS TO CHANGE BIGTIME EVERY 3 FRAMES.THEY DRILL MANY BALLS (25+)PER WEEK KNOWING THE 1 OF 6 LANE CONDITIONS THEIR THROWING ON MOST FOLLOWING THE SHOT BREAKING DOWN THE SHOT WITH PREDICTABILITY .THIS GETS EXPENSIVE IF YOUR PURCHASING THEM AT RETAIL PRICE.A SIMPLE LAYOUT THAT CAN COVER 50%-70% OF CONDITIONS WILL BE WORTH MORE TO YOU.
I GET 25 BALLS OUT OF ONE!!!
FIRST, I MAKE SURE THE SIMPLE LAYOUT WORKS FOR MY GAME. THEN I MAKE SURE THE GRIP FEELS VERY GOOD WITH NO PROBLEMS TO MESS WITH.THIS CAN TAKE AS LITTLE AS 2 GAMES OR MANY FOR SOME.ANYTHING THAT YOU DO WILL FALTER(GETTING FALSE READS) IF THE GRIP IS NOT CORRECT.
HERE IS WHERE YOU GET 25 FROM 1.
THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT GRITS OF WET/DRY SAND PAPER.YOU ALSO NEED ACCESS TO A BALL SPINNER.THERE ARE MANY POLISHES(FINESSE IT)FOR THE SHINY SIDE.EACH DIFFERENT GRIT/POLISH >> WILL << GIVE YOU A DIFFERENT BUT SIMILAR REACTION FROM ONE BALL.A BALL HAS A THUMB PRINT REACTION.SOME ARE BETTER FOR CRANKERS & OTHERS BETTER FOR STROKERS.UNFORTUNATELY, THIS HAS TO BE LEARNED BY THROWING THEM. THE SPECS ON THE DESCRIPTION OF A BALL,ARE GENERIC.THEIR GENERALIZED.YOU WILL HAVE TO FIND 2 OR 3 SURFACES THAT WORK. THE MAIN ONE IS FOR THE HOUSE YOU DO LEAGUE IN. IF YOU VENTURE OUT TO TOURNAMENTS, TRY PRACTICE IN OPEN PLAY TO LEARN THE THUMB PRINT OR CONSISTENCIES OF THE LANES. THEN GO TO ONE OF THE 3 SURFACES/SHOTS THAT WILL WORK.
YOU WILL ALSO NEED A GOOD VERY SHINY PLASTIC SPARE BALL THAT JUST GOES STRAIGHT & SPARES.
THE BALL WILL TELL YOU IT'S LIMITS & WHAT IT DEVOURS.THEN, JUST FILL IN THE GAPS WITH ONE OR 2 OTHER BALLS.I LIKE TO SET A GROUP OF 4 IN MY SMALL ARSENAL. 1. THE MOST IMPORTANT IS THE SPARE BELL. 2. A SHINY FOR DRY CONDITIONS. 3. A BALL THAT WORKS WELL ON OIL. 4. THE WILD CARD. A BALL THAT JUST WORKS & FEELS GOOD.
THEN DEVELOP 3 DIFFERENT LINES.THROW & GET CONSISTENT WITH ALL 3 BALLS ON ALL 3 SHOTS. MAYBE 1ST ARROW,SECOND ARROW & A DEEP SHOT.
THE RULE OF THUMB ON WOOD/SYNTHETIC ARE,WELL! FORGET THE COMMON RULES!!!! ANYTHING CAN WORK ON BOTH.DEPENDS ON YOUR STYLE.I USE URETHANE ON SYNTHETIC & REACTIVES ON WOOD IF IT WORKS AT THAT TIME.THE KEY IS TO EXPERIMENT A LOT. TWEAK THE EQUIPMENT TO FIT YOUR GAME EXACTLY. MAKE THE GRIP PERFECT.KNOW THE BALL!!!!! FIND WHAT IT DOES ON MOST CONFRONTED CONDITIONS.THEN, TEST IT ON OTHERS.
THE KEY IS NO SURPRISES!!!!!
BE READY FOR ANYTHING & EVERYTHING.
TRY YOUR BEST SHOT & VENTURE OUT FROM THERE.
TRY ALL 3 SHOTS IN PRACTICE TO FIND THE BEST REACTION. THEN, IF THAT SHOT GOES AWAY, YOU KNOW WHAT THE OTHER PARTS OF THE LANE DOES SO YOU CAN BE IN THE POCKET ON THE FIRST THROW THEN, SETTLE IN.
ONE BALL CAN BE MANY!!!!!
GET TO KNOW WHAT IT WANTS TO DO & WHAT IT HATES.THEN, TWEAK TO FIT WHAT YOU NEED.SURFACES & SPEEDS TELL THE STORY!
WHEN I FIND A WEIGHT BLOCK WITH A COVER STOCK THAT FITS INTO MY GAME, I BUY 4-8 & DRILL THEM A LITTLE DIFFERENT BUT WILL WORK OFF OF EACH OTHER. LIKE, ONE THAT HOOKS BIGTIME , ONE THAT HOOKS 3-5 BOARDS LESS & SO ON.YOU CAN SWITCH BALLS WITHOUT LOOSING THE POCKET IN THE MIDDLE OF A GAME.THIS IS WHERE THE EXCEPTION OF THE WILD CARD BALL. IT JUST FEELS GOOD & STRIKES FOR YOU.I CALL THIS MY MONEY BALL. WHEN I NEED 3 IN THE TENTH, I GO TO THE MONEY BALL IF I HAVE DOUBTS.
SO, A NEW BALL WON'T CURE THE PROBLEM IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE SYMPTOMS.TEST WITH SURFACES & SPEEDS.THEN, IF YOU NEED A NEW BALL, YOUR READY TO MAKE A WELL THOUGHT OUT CHOICE.
