Expert: Chip Aki - 12/9/2005

Question
Everything! I just joined a league for the first time, everybody makes fun of me because I am the only bowler without my own shoes and ball. I am thinking about buying a ball and shoes. Can you tell me what the difference is from ball to ball? I am completely clueless. Also, I am using a 14 pound house ball right now and I am hearing a lot of amazement from people learning that I throw a 14 pound ball at an average 15-18 miles per hour and I am not a "big" girl, I am totally comfortable with my ball, but people are starting to make me think that it is too heavy, could it be?
Thanks for your help!

Answer
If you are using a 14# ball and it is not causing you any problems, I would not worry about it.  If you want to perform a little test, place the ball you are using int he palm of your bowling hand.  Keep your elbow by yourside, bent at 90 degrees.  If you can hold it there for 15-20 seconds, you should have no problem using it.

The difference in balls can be pretty extreme.  The coversocks come in plastic and urethane.  Urethane can be standard, resin, or particle.  In each of these coverstocks will be several different core designs.  What is different between all of this is the hook potential of the ball.  There is not a ball that hooks by itself, but if you get a little movement out of the ball you are using, then you will get more movement out of any upgrade.

Since this is going to be your first ball, I would doubt if you would want to jump into high perfomance, and I would advise against it.  If you want to test the waters a bit, then there are several balls that will get you into the entry level perfomance type of ball.

Here is a list.  I sell them for around 110 here.  What you pay may vary.  This is in no particular order.

Brunwick Power Groove
Columbia Scout and Scout High Flare
Ebonite Tornado
Storm Tropical Storm

If you want to stay in the performance level of the ball you are using, these will be what to look for.  My price is around 65.00

Brunswick Target Zone
Columbia White Dots
Ebonite Maxims


Good luck,
Chip