Expert: - 9/28/2007

Question
hi.  i am looking online for a bowling ball for my boyfriend for his birthday next week.  the problem:  i know nothing about bowling balls.  could you please give me some recommendations.  Help!

Answer
Bowling balls are basic to very sophisticated. You want to match your boyfriends experience and skill to the tool that is a bowling ball. If your boyfriend is a new bowler, never owned a ball, start with a basic polyester ball (they’re like the house balls in most centers). House balls available in most bowling centers are pre-drilled requiring more effort to control and deliver them. Most bowlers, when fit for their own ball can handle more weight, typically a pound heavier. A properly fit bowling ball let's go of you rather than you having to let go (control/squeeze) of it. Basic balls must be drilled to. Often the online price, freight, plus drilling is more than cost at a bowling store (pro shop). Take advantage of the knowledge that a local driller has. His or her services will be very valuable as your boyfriend improves.

If he has experience and owns a ball(s), be sure the new one is the weight he's used to. The literally hundreds of available bowling balls demand that the inexperienced ball buyer have some input. So, thank you for your question. Unfortunately, online ball sellers almost depend on your lack of knowledge. The commodity offered online is just that, a commodity (the cheapest tomato). Don't buy a tomato if your boyfriend needs an apple. Both are fruit, but is the fruit you buy the one he likes? needs?  

The option of a more sophisticated ball should be examined if and only if your boyfriend has the skill to benefit from it. If your boyfriend averages less than 140, he doesn’t have the skills to control a more expensive ball. (“growing” into it, isn’t a good idea.) He’ll need something more controllable, better for strikes and spares. If he averages more than 140, a better ball, more aggressive surface, stronger core may benefit him. If your boyfriend has a ball, or an arsenal of balls, please write back and we can examine and evaluate his current arsenal, and get an idea of what might compliment his equipment.

You can't out execute BAD ball reaction.