Expert: Chip Aki - 1/16/2009

Question
I say I am new to bowling, but I play a handful of times a year and I am hoping to join a league this year. I try to be a cranker and I am looking to buy my first bowling ball. After taking a look at some different sites I realize just how much technology is out there and I have no idea what i need or should even be looking for. Any advise on how I can go about choosing a ball would be great. If it wouldn't be a hastle could you give a low, med, and high range ball suggestion. Thanks.

Answer
Low end balls would be in the Brunswick Power Groove, Columbia Jazz, Ebonite Tornado and the Storm Tropical Storms.  The Tropical Storms are probably the strongest.
Mid line balls would be the Brunswick Avalanche series, The Ebonite Clash/Bash, and the Storm Street Rods.
High range, and these are not the high end, would be the Storm T-Roads or the Hammer Raw series.

Solid coverstocks will be more versatile as  you can polish or sand them much easier.
Pearl coverstocks will be more skid/flip and more angular, but will be a bit harder to learn to control.

If you are really interested in the game and feel like you will stay in it for the long haul, I would go with the mid line equipment.  They will take awhile to master, but will grow with your game as you improve.

Good luck,
Chip