Expert: Russ King - 9/28/2007

Question
Russ:  Been about 15 years since bowling on a league. I used an LT-48 15lb fingertip with some side and top weight, avg about 160 back then.  Dry lane conditions would kill me back then, as I am female and tend to throw the ball rather slowly.
I've just returned to bowling - will basically be bowling 1 night/week on synthetic lanes, still using the beat up LT. Everyone is telling me if I get a synthetic ball, I will do so much better.  Clearly, when the LT hits the pocket - the carry is just not there.  I am good at adjusting to lane conditions, typically would like to stand about 10 - 15 and roll the ball between 5 - 10 for a nice arc into the right pocket.
I do not want something that is going to go crazy and Icannot control.  I see other women with horrible form, etc, whose ball carries all sorts of pins when it just touches the pocket.
For not bowling for 15 years, I am currently averaging 175, and feel I might actually do better with a ball to meet current conditions.
Any suggestions?

Answer
I MISS THE LT-48 WOOD LANES DAYS!!!!!

 Todays conditions & balls are a world apart.Before you get crazy & buy a new ball, try to re-surface the lt & shine it up.The lt is a soft  rubber ball.It will shine up well. Then it will be controllable.Warm up to todays conditions this way for a while.This will give you an idea on what to buy next by looking at what the lt does & does not do.
 There are over 1000 balls out there. Many high tech/high performance balls that are well over $300 & are not worth $30 & there are balls at $10 & are worth $300 .You really want to think about bowling all over the lanes  with a high dollar ball with a lot of luck ? Or, a versatile controllable ball that is around $30 .You only see those lucky people when they score high. You do not notice when they crash.DO NOT RELY ON LUCK!!!
GET BACK IN THE SWING OF THINGS RIGHT NOW WITH A SHINED UP LT-48.FIND OUT WHAT YOUR STYLE IS NOW,WHAT WEIGHT OF BALL YOU NEED & WHAT THE LT-48 WILL TELL YOU WHAT YOU WILL NEED.

 IF YOU WANT AN ALL AROUND BALL THAT IS VERY VERSATILE, REGULAR URETHANE BALLS WILL DO FINE & COST 10% OF THE HIGH TECS.REACTIVE BALLS SKID A LOT ON OIL & HOOK OUT OF THE HOUSE ON DRY.URETHANES WILL MELLOW OUT THIS OVER/UNDER EFFECT.I LIKE TO USE THE URETHANES LIKE BRUNSWICK GROOVE CRANBERRY,DARK BLUE/LIGHT BLUE,COLUMBIA TROOPER ARE SOME. EBAY HAS THESE FOR $10 + SHIPPING.ADD DRILLING & YOUR WELL UNDER $75 .BOWLINGBALLREVIEWS.COM WILL HAVE SOME GOOD INFO. ON TODAYS EQUIPMENT.YOU HAVE TO DECIPHER WHAT THE REVIEWS ARE TODAY & WHAT THEY WOULD HAVE MEANT BACK 15-20 YEARS AGO.

IF YOU WANT TO ENJOY BOWLING AT THIS POINT,KEEP IT SIMPLE WITH CONTROL & SIMPLICITY.OTHERWISE YOU WILL GET FRUSTRATED & THINK ABOUT QUITTING.URETHANE WILL DO WELL FOR YOU.YOU CAN SAND IT DULL FOR MORE HOOK & SHINE IT FOR A STRAIGHTER LINE TO THE POCKET. FITTING THE BALL TO YOUR STYLE(CUSTOMIZE/PERSONALIZE)WILL HELP YOUR GAME,KEEP YOU IN CONTROL INSTEAD OF THE LANES & BALL CONTROLLING YOU.

TAKE YOUR TIME WITH GETTING A NEW BALL RIGHT NOW.YOU WILL MAKE AN EDUCATED CHOICE AFTER FINDING OUT ABOUT WHAT YOU WILL NEED IN TODAYS GAME.YOU CAN GO UP TO 190 & YOU CAN FALL FASTER TO 160.LET ME KNOW WHAT THE SHINY LT-48 TELLS YOU WHAT YOU NEED.GIVE IT 15-25 GAMES FOR YOU TO SETTLE IN.THEN GET BACK WITH ME SO WE CAN FIGURE OUT THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT FOR YOUR TODAYS GAME.