What ball next?

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baumer
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Joined: December 2nd, 2022, 10:46 pm

What ball next?

Post by baumer »

Hello all,

I have recently started bowling again after quite a long time & have rediscovered why I loved this game so much. I am a 66-year-old righty. When I last bowled about 30 years ago in league my average was around 190. I am rapidly improving in my current league (7 weeks in) and have gone from 152 to 185 avg. and in the last couple of weeks I've been bowling as good as I ever did. (Multiple 200+'s)
I'm currently seeing about adding another (stronger reacting) ball. I am currently using the Ocean Vibe by Hammer exclusively. No spare ball. I am using it for both. I have had no problems making spares with it & have been hooking it like crazy from the outside where it is typically dry...So where do I go next? I've been looking at the Zen's.
Any insight is greatly appreciated as this game has changed drastically since I last bowled seriously!
Thanks👍!
Steve
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EricHartwell
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Joined: April 5th, 2011, 12:24 am
Positive Axis Point: 4-3/4" and 1/2"up
Speed: 16 off hand
Rev Rate: 330
Axis Tilt: 12
Axis Rotation: 45
Heavy Oil Ball: Radical Tremendous, EVO solid, Hammer Obsession
Medium Oil Ball: EVO pearl, True Motion, Columbia Command, DV8 Intimidator
Light Oil Ball: Blue Hammer
Location: Michigan

Re: What ball next?

Post by EricHartwell »

Welcome to BowlingChat and back to bowling.

What color ball do you want?
Kind of a standing joke with me...
Color is the most important ball spec.
Shelf appeal sells a lot of bowling balls.

The Vibe is an excellent entry level type ball.
I am assuming you are playing it Shiny, not sanded?
You could complement it with just about anything today that has a dull to matte finish.
My best 2 ball bag has one shiny and one dull ball. It increases my odds at matching up.
My thought, a bag with 2 shiny balls and there is too much oil or 2 dull balls on dry lanes and all I want is a 3 ball bag.
Fast forward to today and I have 10 balls to choose from and I tote in my 4 ball roller each week. 2 shiny 2 dull.
When we get too much snow here in Michigan I pair down to the 2 ball bag so I can carry them.

I hope you have a good Proshop to drill up the next weapon in your arsenal.
Eric Hartwell

Right Handed
PAP 4.75" up 1/2"
45* rotation
12* tilt
330 rev rate
16 mph off hand
baumer
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Joined: December 2nd, 2022, 10:46 pm

Re: What ball next?

Post by baumer »

Thanks for the welcome. I have it sanded to 500 (abralon)…so, not shiny...
Considering a Phase 5...
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EricHartwell
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Posts: 4080
Joined: April 5th, 2011, 12:24 am
Positive Axis Point: 4-3/4" and 1/2"up
Speed: 16 off hand
Rev Rate: 330
Axis Tilt: 12
Axis Rotation: 45
Heavy Oil Ball: Radical Tremendous, EVO solid, Hammer Obsession
Medium Oil Ball: EVO pearl, True Motion, Columbia Command, DV8 Intimidator
Light Oil Ball: Blue Hammer
Location: Michigan

Re: What ball next?

Post by EricHartwell »

Your choices so far, Zen or Phase V, have shiny surfaces and fits the bill with my thinking on a 2 ball bag.
Between the 2 I would go with the Phase V because of the time tested R2S coverstock.
Eric Hartwell

Right Handed
PAP 4.75" up 1/2"
45* rotation
12* tilt
330 rev rate
16 mph off hand
baumer
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Posts: 6
Joined: December 2nd, 2022, 10:46 pm

Re: What ball next?

Post by baumer »

Thanks for the input, Eric.
I have none of that important info or an easy way to get it...no pro shop close to me really. The one that did my Vibe is 30 mins. away & did no such intricate measurements as PAP, etc. at all. Hate to buy great ball and not do it correctly...
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EricHartwell
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Posts: 4080
Joined: April 5th, 2011, 12:24 am
Positive Axis Point: 4-3/4" and 1/2"up
Speed: 16 off hand
Rev Rate: 330
Axis Tilt: 12
Axis Rotation: 45
Heavy Oil Ball: Radical Tremendous, EVO solid, Hammer Obsession
Medium Oil Ball: EVO pearl, True Motion, Columbia Command, DV8 Intimidator
Light Oil Ball: Blue Hammer
Location: Michigan

Re: What ball next?

Post by EricHartwell »

Did you have them model the Vibe grip from a different ball or did they measure your hand?
A first ball there is no information to go on.
You get a very generic layout that keeps the track off the gripping holes for most bowlers.
As you add balls to an arsenal layouts become more important to separate the reactions

Check out this link for assistance in doing it right...
Even if you don't go as far as getting exact measurements you will gain insight as to how your delivery compares.
Speed, Tilt and Rotation need to be known.
Even if you can generalize between Low , Medium and High is better than nothing.

https://forum.bowlingchat.net/viewtopic.php?t=373

This time when you go to the proshop ask them to watch you bowl with the Vibe before just laying out the new one.
Make an appointment.
Purchase the ball through the proshop.
Internet balls can cut into their profitability.
Most often they honor internet pricing anyway.
Eric Hartwell

Right Handed
PAP 4.75" up 1/2"
45* rotation
12* tilt
330 rev rate
16 mph off hand
Glenn
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Re: What ball next?

Post by Glenn »

WARNING: Thread is being high-jacked. LOL!
Eric,
In looking over your inventory, I noticed that a lot of your equipment falls in the RG 260 DIFF 0.041 iDIFF 0.014 category in either solid or pearl.
Looks like a dull and shiny urethane pair, too.
If I remember correctly, you moved to 13# bowling balls.
OOB solids are 500/1500 and OOB pearls are 500/1000/compound.
So, are you getting your separation with surface changes and layouts?

Asking for a friend.

Glenn
Bowling Is More Art Than Science
"Glenn is not an expert..."
baumer
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Joined: December 2nd, 2022, 10:46 pm

Re: What ball next?

Post by baumer »

Gotcha.... thanks Eric👌
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EricHartwell
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Posts: 4080
Joined: April 5th, 2011, 12:24 am
Positive Axis Point: 4-3/4" and 1/2"up
Speed: 16 off hand
Rev Rate: 330
Axis Tilt: 12
Axis Rotation: 45
Heavy Oil Ball: Radical Tremendous, EVO solid, Hammer Obsession
Medium Oil Ball: EVO pearl, True Motion, Columbia Command, DV8 Intimidator
Light Oil Ball: Blue Hammer
Location: Michigan

Re: What ball next?

Post by EricHartwell »

Glenn wrote: December 5th, 2022, 7:52 pm WARNING: Thread is being high-jacked. LOL!
Eric,
In looking over your inventory, I noticed that a lot of your equipment falls in the RG 260 DIFF 0.041 iDIFF 0.014 category in either solid or pearl.
Looks like a dull and shiny urethane pair, too.
If I remember correctly, you moved to 13# bowling balls.
OOB solids are 500/1500 and OOB pearls are 500/1000/compound.
So, are you getting your separation with surface changes and layouts?

Asking for a friend.

Glenn
Rather than diluting baumer's thread ...

https://forum.bowlingchat.net/viewtopic.php?t=15131
Eric Hartwell

Right Handed
PAP 4.75" up 1/2"
45* rotation
12* tilt
330 rev rate
16 mph off hand
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stevespo
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THS Average: 225
Positive Axis Point: 5.75" x + 3/8"
Speed: 17+ off hand (camera)
Rev Rate: 375
Axis Tilt: 12
Axis Rotation: 45
Heavy Oil Ball: Phaze II, Altered Reality
Medium Oil Ball: IQ Tour Nano, Zen, Phase III
Light Oil Ball: Electrify Pearl

Re: What ball next?

Post by stevespo »

A Zen (pearl) has been my first ball out of the bag since it was introduced. The cover is stronger than you might think, and I have issues getting it to hit if my ball speed is suffering that day (back, hip, knee...).

FYI, my 3 ball tote is Zen, Phase4, Purple Hammer.

If you have more tilt or ball speed, the Zen strength may not be an issue. I really like my Phase 3/4 as a step down, and also throw an Electrify pearl or Hyroad fairly often. The Hustle series is a great value

Very hard to go wrong with an IQ tour solid if you want a reliable benchmark ball. These are all Storm offerings, but no doubt great options from Radical, Motiv, Hammer, Track, etc...

Steve
16 mph (14-14.5 on monitor), 375 rpm, PAP 5 1/2 x 3/8 up, AT: 12*, AR: 45*
turbotwister
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Re: What ball next?

Post by turbotwister »

erichartwell.... you use shiny balls on too much oil lanes and sanded balls on dry lanes? Is that a typo or why would you use that type of equipment on those conditions? please explain because I'm in the learning stages .... thanks
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EricHartwell
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Posts: 4080
Joined: April 5th, 2011, 12:24 am
Positive Axis Point: 4-3/4" and 1/2"up
Speed: 16 off hand
Rev Rate: 330
Axis Tilt: 12
Axis Rotation: 45
Heavy Oil Ball: Radical Tremendous, EVO solid, Hammer Obsession
Medium Oil Ball: EVO pearl, True Motion, Columbia Command, DV8 Intimidator
Light Oil Ball: Blue Hammer
Location: Michigan

Re: What ball next?

Post by EricHartwell »

turbotwister wrote: December 27th, 2022, 11:55 pm erichartwell.... you use shiny balls on too much oil lanes and sanded balls on dry lanes? Is that a typo or why would you use that type of equipment on those conditions? please explain because I'm in the learning stages .... thanks
Correct me if I am wrong. I am assuming you are referring to this ...
EricHartwell wrote: December 3rd, 2022, 6:07 pm
My best 2 ball bag has one shiny and one dull ball. It increases my odds at matching up.
My thought, a bag with 2 shiny balls and there is too much oil or 2 dull balls on dry lanes and all I want is a 3 ball bag.
Meaning if all I had with me on oily lanes is a 2 ball bag with 2 shiny balls I would want a 3 ball bag so I had a dull ball too.
Or conversely 2 dull balls on dry lanes I would want a 3rd ball that was shiny.
Trying to explain why I would want 1 dull and 1 shiny ball in a 2 ball set up.
Eric Hartwell

Right Handed
PAP 4.75" up 1/2"
45* rotation
12* tilt
330 rev rate
16 mph off hand
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