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Date: 19 May 2005 15:56:20
From: twobirds
Subject: Spare Ball - keep it in my bag or throw it away?
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For several weeks, I was having a horrible struggle with the ten pin. I had
early success picking it, but as my hook release improved, my ability to
flatten out and roll for spares on the right went in the toilet. - The short
term solution was to drill a plastic ball and just go ahead and use my
normal release but throw harder and let it skid all the way to the ten.
I want one ball on the return rack. So, I've been working on flattening out
and picking that ten with whatever ball is in my hand and abandoning the
"spare ball". I've about got it. For the last week, I've been 80% or so
successful.
A fair majority of the pros on TV seem to use a spare ball. Some guys I
bowl with do and some don't. I can't seem to notice a difference in success
ratio between those who do and those who don't. What's the general opinion
here?
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Date: 09 Jun 2005 13:04:51
From: PromptJock
Subject: Re: Spare Ball - keep it in my bag or throw it away?
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> FWIW I'm not that good (123 avg, high game 167) but I use a houseball as a
> spare. My main ball, a Hit, is still fairly new to me and is too
> unpredictable to use for spares.
I agree with Mark on this one., In addition, I STRONGLY suggest you
"ditch the HIT" for awhile, ensure your PLASTIC ball (i.e. "White Dot")
is properly fitted and "feels good" on your hand, then ** GET SOME
COACHING LESSONS** to develop your "fundamentals" using just your
PLASTIC ball!
Once you're able to gain a little consistency in your shooting (i.e.
consistent timing, targeting, releasing, delivering, etc. - it'll take
a few lessons here), THEN you can unpack the HIT and, working WITH THE
COACH, work on "being a hooker" while still honing your fundamentals.
Once you've done this, you'll see your CONSISTENT average DRAMATICALLY
RISE 30 or more pins. THEN, you can start working on the "finesse"
stuff to get that CONSISTENT average over the "deuce" mark. Again,
WITH COACHING!
Good luck, etc. :)
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Date: 09 Jun 2005 08:20:31
From: Mark
Subject: Re: Spare Ball - keep it in my bag or throw it away?
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I hope this won't be taken as mean spirited, but with a 123 average
*every* shot you throw is unpredictable. And that is perfectly fine
given where you are at with your game. Going back and forth between a
ball that fits and a house ball is a bad idea in my opinion.
Rather than worrying about equipment and switching balls, at this time
you would be better off having one ball that fits well and trying to
get it off your hand in a repeatable fashion each time. To develop a
strong game you should focus all of your time on the lanes toward
developing good footwork, balance, armswing and timing. Once you can
get to the line properly you start to worry about release and rotation.
At that point you ought to be in the 175 average range. For most folks
with decent coordination it takes 6-12 months of work with a good coach
to develop strong fundamentals. During this period scoring is something
you just cannot be worried about.
Once you have developed good fundementals you can start to think about
changing equipment and what equipment can do to help you score. Even
then, until you are really comfortable delivering solid shots thinking
about equipment is just a distraction. Worrying about equipment prior
to having basic skills in hand is rather like having a car that can go
200 mph but not knowing how to enter and exit a corner.
Take home is that spending the time upfront to develop good
fundamentals is an investment that will pay dividends for the rest of
your life and it's well worth the time and effort to do that early
rather than try to unlearn bad habits later on.
FWIW, the HIT is an excellent ball for where you are at with your game.
Mark
Spammy Sammy wrote:
> FWIW I'm not that good (123 avg, high game 167) but I use a houseball as a
> spare. My main ball, a Hit, is still fairly new to me and is too
> unpredictable to use for spares.
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Date: 23 May 2005 17:41:53
From:
Subject: Re: Spare Ball - keep it in my bag or throw it away?
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Use a plastic spare ball, save $$$. Fewer throws with your strike ball
will add some life to it. (Something to consider in these times of
disposable, expensive balls.) Use your same release and worry less
about going across changing oil patterns for corner spares, too.
Ed
twobirds wrote:
> For several weeks, I was having a horrible struggle with the ten pin.
I had
> early success picking it, but as my hook release improved, my ability
to
> flatten out and roll for spares on the right went in the toilet. -
The short
> term solution was to drill a plastic ball and just go ahead and use
my
> normal release but throw harder and let it skid all the way to the
ten.
>
> I want one ball on the return rack. So, I've been working on
flattening out
> and picking that ten with whatever ball is in my hand and abandoning
the
> "spare ball". I've about got it. For the last week, I've been 80%
or so
> successful.
>
> A fair majority of the pros on TV seem to use a spare ball. Some
guys I
> bowl with do and some don't. I can't seem to notice a difference in
success
> ratio between those who do and those who don't. What's the general
opinion
> here?
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Date: 04 Jun 2005 03:13:42
From: Spammy Sammy
Subject: Re: Spare Ball - keep it in my bag or throw it away?
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FWIW I'm not that good (123 avg, high game 167) but I use a houseball as a
spare. My main ball, a Hit, is still fairly new to me and is too
unpredictable to use for spares.
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Date: 11 Jun 2005 12:54:53
From: Spammy Sammy
Subject: Re: Spare Ball - keep it in my bag or throw it away?
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Thanks fellas.
I'm due for a new plastic ball over the next 4 weeks anyway (have-a-ball
league). Although my scores have slightly improved since obtaining the Hit I
shall probably use the plastic alone for a while and see how it goes.
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Date: 29 May 2005 01:08:34
From: leo gone
Subject: Re: Spare Ball - keep it in my bag or throw it away?
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i have a spare ball its a ebonite maxim iv the beginning of 04-05 season
i started useing it and now my 10 pin spare percentage went up from at
least 55% of the time to at least 95% of the time so im glad i got a
spare ball
the spare percentage increase also helped me raise my average from a 152
to a 183 ave.
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Date: 20 May 2005 19:21:29
From: mhood
Subject: Re: Spare Ball - keep it in my bag or throw it away?
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I *never* bowl without my precious Blue Dot...If I'm lucky, I don't need
it ;-)
mhood
twobirds wrote:
> For several weeks, I was having a horrible struggle with the ten pin. I had
> early success picking it, but as my hook release improved, my ability to
> flatten out and roll for spares on the right went in the toilet. - The short
> term solution was to drill a plastic ball and just go ahead and use my
> normal release but throw harder and let it skid all the way to the ten.
>
> I want one ball on the return rack. So, I've been working on flattening out
> and picking that ten with whatever ball is in my hand and abandoning the
> "spare ball". I've about got it. For the last week, I've been 80% or so
> successful.
>
> A fair majority of the pros on TV seem to use a spare ball. Some guys I
> bowl with do and some don't. I can't seem to notice a difference in success
> ratio between those who do and those who don't. What's the general opinion
> here?
>
>
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Date: 23 May 2005 11:09:21
From: Ken
Subject: Re: Spare Ball - keep it in my bag or throw it away?
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I think a lot of people still use the Columbia Blue Dot. I'm told it is the
hardest ball ever made. I had one drilled up just for ten pins and went to
about a 98% conversion rate. If you don't want the extra ball practice
shooting the ten pin with just one finger. Take the ring finger out of the
hole. Makes you slow down and kills the lift on the ball. Just be careful of
where you point the follow through :)
"mhood" <mhood@adently.com > wrote in message
news:118svq9j87gal41@corp.supernews.com...
>I *never* bowl without my precious Blue Dot...If I'm lucky, I don't need it
>;-)
>
> mhood
>
> twobirds wrote:
>> For several weeks, I was having a horrible struggle with the ten pin. I
>> had
>> early success picking it, but as my hook release improved, my ability to
>> flatten out and roll for spares on the right went in the toilet. - The
>> short
>> term solution was to drill a plastic ball and just go ahead and use my
>> normal release but throw harder and let it skid all the way to the ten.
>>
>> I want one ball on the return rack. So, I've been working on flattening
>> out
>> and picking that ten with whatever ball is in my hand and abandoning the
>> "spare ball". I've about got it. For the last week, I've been 80% or so
>> successful.
>>
>> A fair majority of the pros on TV seem to use a spare ball. Some guys I
>> bowl with do and some don't. I can't seem to notice a difference in
>> success
>> ratio between those who do and those who don't. What's the general
>> opinion
>> here?
>>
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Date: 20 May 2005 13:33:41
From: BowlerCentral.com
Subject: Re: Spare Ball - keep it in my bag or throw it away?
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Twobirds,
You have to be comfortable and you have to go with what works.
Personally, I find myself in a different mind set when I grab the spare
ball off of the ball cup I have on the counter. I know that the ball
is supposed to go long and straight and that is what I am thinking
about when I grab that ball. Also, I picked a color that is unlike any
other ball in my bag to help enforce that. An old coach taught me that
trick.
Once I am in the groove with my strike ball, I don't necessarily want
to risk a chip or a gouge by shooting at a 10 pin or change the track
of the ball.
Since I made the recomendation on your last ball purchase...I would
suggest a nice Columbia White Dot : )
But it boils down to what works for you. A good spare shooter going
flat should be equally as effective as a plastic ball hurler.
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Date: 31 May 2005 07:57:16
From: Eldred Pickett
Subject: Re: Spare Ball - keep it in my bag or throw it away?
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On 20 May 2005 13:33:41 -0700, "BowlerCentral.com"
<marc@bowlercentral.com > wrote:
>You have to be comfortable and you have to go with what works.
>Personally, I find myself in a different mind set when I grab the spare
>ball off of the ball cup I have on the counter. I know that the ball
>is supposed to go long and straight and that is what I am thinking
>about when I grab that ball. Also, I picked a color that is unlike any
>other ball in my bag to help enforce that. An old coach taught me that
>trick.
I don't use a spare ball, but I like the 'totally different color'
idea...
Eldred
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Date: 21 May 2005 10:57:20
From: twobirds
Subject: Re: Spare Ball - keep it in my bag or throw it away?
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BowlerCentral.com wrote:
> Twobirds,
>
> Since I made the recomendation on your last ball purchase...I would
> suggest a nice Columbia White Dot : )
I want to thank you again for your suggestion of that TI Traction. That
ball has a lot of benefits and some of those benefits are unadvertized. The
call the coverstock "Enhanced Superflex". It doesn't soak oil.
It is a little hard to describe, but it doesn't soak up oil at all, but it
still gets some traction in the oil. I'm playing a dozen games a day and
therefore I have a very regular maintenance schedule. I use old T-Shirts to
clean with and Tenth Frame Ultraclean... Every other ball I have will leave
filth on a white T-Shirt I clean them with. There will be a spot where the
oil stains all the way through. - When I clean the TI-Traction, it doesn't
do that. There will be a little lane grime (mostly from the subway, I
think) but it doesn't soak up oil so it doesn't leave a big stain on a
T-Shirt like any of my other balls do.
Now that I have a good release, that ball is also the most predictable ball
in my bagl. I can find a break point faster with that ball than the rest of
them, and I can even create a breakpoint where others can't find one. - The
one I bought has a three and a half inch pin and I had it drilled label with
the pin outside and slightly above my ring finger with CG almost dead center
of my grip. I usually put about 13 to 15 revs on it at slow speeds (13 to
15 mph) and as long as there is some oil, it reads nicely, stays stable, and
I can control the breakpoint.
I wish I could get it to go longer on dry lanes, though. It's too much ball
if the oil ends before 38 feet. My Jeckyl is the alternative when I find
dry lanes... and today, I might even use a urethane for where I'm going.
I'm bowling my State tournament today and tomorrow. Todays house doesn't
own a Kegler machine and they put out conditioner with something that looks
like a dust mop... It's always bone dry there, and to make matters worse,
I'm bowling fifth shift. Tomorrow's house is a different story. It is a
place that has the stones to call themselves "The Bowl"... Well, they live
up to their name. It is a nice center with a tough shot. Tomorrow I'll
either be rolling that TI-Traction or my Reaction Arc. I'm bowling the
third shift tomorrow, so it will probably be the TI-Traction so I can try to
create my own break point in the carry down.
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Date: 20 May 2005 09:06:15
From: Starbucksbowler
Subject: Re: Spare Ball - keep it in my bag or throw it away?
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First off, you can't compare the pros. They're being compensated to
throw the spare balls.
Secondly, the mantra "do what works" applies here. If throwing a spare
ball increases your spare percentage, great. I prefer to use my strike
ball and flatten, but I have a spare ball for when that doesn't work.
We always teach the kids we coach to flatten and throw directly,
however, once they've mastered that, we tell them to use what works.
twobirds wrote:
>
> A fair majority of the pros on TV seem to use a spare ball. Some
guys I
> bowl with do and some don't. I can't seem to notice a difference in
success
> ratio between those who do and those who don't. What's the general
opinion
> here?
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Date: 20 May 2005 22:44:03
From: Spammy Sammy
Subject: Re: Spare Ball - keep it in my bag or throw it away?
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"twobirds" <notareal@eaddy.com > wrote in message
news:OOGdneCsFvS1lhDfRVn-1w@bresnan.com...
> snip
I've only recently bought my first reactive ball - a Storm Hit and I'm not
really any good with it at present, but it helps me if I use a houseball as
a spare. I don't stand a chance of hitting one or two pin leaves with the
hit.
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Date: 20 May 2005 12:32:49
From: JohnO
Subject: Re: Spare Ball - keep it in my bag or throw it away?
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> I want one ball on the return rack. So, I've been working on flattening
> out
> and picking that ten with whatever ball is in my hand and abandoning the
> "spare ball". I've about got it. For the last week, I've been 80% or so
> successful.
I do it the same way, and when my mechanics are right, I miss about 5% of
them. Unfortunately, my mechanics are wrong about 15% of the time, so I miss
a few. :-)
Working with kids, I've had to teach them to flatten out their release with
their regular ball, mainly because they only have one ball, and a second
ball for spares is out of the question. What worked was to stand at the foul
line and do the 'one step with a pushaway, swing, and release.' Do that a
few times to get the wrist right and work on how it feels, then do it
several (10-15) times in a row with a full approach. This exercise really
helps accuracy, since our stike balls are usually played to an area, and the
spare requires a defined starting spot and a specific board/arrow target.
I see a lot of guys use their regular release with a plastic/polyester spare
ball, and I see a lot of those guys miss because the ball still hooks. The
pros all use plastic, but watch their release...they use a flat release, or
at least a LOT less hand.
-John O
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Date: 22 May 2005 23:20:59
From: Tony R Smith
Subject: Re: Spare Ball - keep it in my bag or throw it away?
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I use a plastic ball for 98% of my spare shots... I throw it just like
my strike shot... but it is drilled with the pin and CG (often the same
on a plastic ball) on my track. If it has too much negative side weight
I drill a balance on my NAP (negative axis point)
JohnO wrote:
>>I want one ball on the return rack. So, I've been working on flattening
>>out
>>and picking that ten with whatever ball is in my hand and abandoning the
>>"spare ball". I've about got it. For the last week, I've been 80% or so
>>successful.
>>
>>
>
>I do it the same way, and when my mechanics are right, I miss about 5% of
>them. Unfortunately, my mechanics are wrong about 15% of the time, so I miss
>a few. :-)
>
>Working with kids, I've had to teach them to flatten out their release with
>their regular ball, mainly because they only have one ball, and a second
>ball for spares is out of the question. What worked was to stand at the foul
>line and do the 'one step with a pushaway, swing, and release.' Do that a
>few times to get the wrist right and work on how it feels, then do it
>several (10-15) times in a row with a full approach. This exercise really
>helps accuracy, since our stike balls are usually played to an area, and the
>spare requires a defined starting spot and a specific board/arrow target.
>
>I see a lot of guys use their regular release with a plastic/polyester spare
>ball, and I see a lot of those guys miss because the ball still hooks. The
>pros all use plastic, but watch their release...they use a flat release, or
>at least a LOT less hand.
>
>-John O
>
>
>
>
>
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Date: 19 May 2005 22:18:38
From: Jeff Rife
Subject: Re: Spare Ball - keep it in my bag or throw it away?
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twobirds (notareal@eaddy.com) wrote in alt.sport.bowling:
> I want one ball on the return rack. So, I've been working on flattening out
> and picking that ten with whatever ball is in my hand and abandoning the
> "spare ball". I've about got it. For the last week, I've been 80% or so
> successful.
Use a spare ball. Even though I don't on most conditions, anybody I coach
gets told to use one. I don't ever miss the 10 pin because of the ball
hooking, but I've been praticing flattening the ball for nearly 10 years.
Bring a ball cup (the things pro shops use to display new balls) and
place it under the return (if there isn't a rack already there) to keep
your "extra" ball out of the way.
--
Jeff Rife
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Date: 19 May 2005 23:22:49
From: Lisa
Subject: Re: Spare Ball - keep it in my bag or throw it away?
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"Jeff Rife" wrote:
> Bring a ball cup (the things pro shops use to display new balls) and
> place it under the return (if there isn't a rack already there) to keep
> your "extra" ball out of the way.
If you can't get hold of a ball cup for your spare ball, use a roll of
masking tape. It works just as well.
I would NEVER leave home without my White Dot.
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Date: 20 May 2005 00:51:55
From: Jeff Rife
Subject: Re: Spare Ball - keep it in my bag or throw it away?
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Lisa (eyeshot300@yahoo.com) wrote in alt.sport.bowling:
> If you can't get hold of a ball cup for your spare ball, use a roll of
> masking tape. It works just as well.
Damn...I guess I lose some of my "MacGyver" ranking. Duct tape is
something I always have handy, but I didn't think of using the roll for
this.
--
Jeff Rife
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Date: 19 May 2005 22:05:42
From: Edward \(300\) DeGraaf
Subject: Re: Spare Ball - keep it in my bag or throw it away?
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"twobirds" <notareal@eaddy.com > wrote in message
news:OOGdneCsFvS1lhDfRVn-1w@bresnan.com...
What's the general opinion
> here?
>
Use a spare ball. This is a different era. We need balls for different lane
conditions and we need different balls for different shots.
The golf analogy applies: You wouldn't use the driver for a putt - don't use
your hook ball for a 10 pin.
Edward DeGraaf,
USBC Certified Bronze Level Instructor.
Latest 300 Game - 09/30/2003.
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Date: 20 May 2005 01:33:11
From: Blue Hound Technologies
Subject: Re: Spare Ball - keep it in my bag or throw it away?
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I use a spare for that 10 pin. I see no need why you couldn't take it up
and put it back when you need it.
"twobirds" <notareal@eaddy.com > wrote in message
news:OOGdneCsFvS1lhDfRVn-1w@bresnan.com...
> For several weeks, I was having a horrible struggle with the ten pin. I
> had
> early success picking it, but as my hook release improved, my ability to
> flatten out and roll for spares on the right went in the toilet. - The
> short
> term solution was to drill a plastic ball and just go ahead and use my
> normal release but throw harder and let it skid all the way to the ten.
>
> I want one ball on the return rack. So, I've been working on flattening
> out
> and picking that ten with whatever ball is in my hand and abandoning the
> "spare ball". I've about got it. For the last week, I've been 80% or so
> successful.
>
> A fair majority of the pros on TV seem to use a spare ball. Some guys I
> bowl with do and some don't. I can't seem to notice a difference in
> success
> ratio between those who do and those who don't. What's the general
> opinion
> here?
>
>
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Date: 19 May 2005 23:23:35
From: Ryan Press \(NI\)
Subject: Re: Spare Ball - keep it in my bag or throw it away?
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Use a spareball.
Why worry about having to flatten the ball out completly? With a plastic
ball, you can release it almost anyway and it will still go gairly straight.
Plus, you can use vertually the same spare lines in al centres...
If you want only one ball on the rack, just lift the others off....
You sound like your fairly newe to bowling but believe me, after a while
youl have 5 strike ball and a spareball to choose from!
Ryan
"twobirds" <notareal@eaddy.com > wrote in message
news:OOGdneCsFvS1lhDfRVn-1w@bresnan.com...
> For several weeks, I was having a horrible struggle with the ten pin. I
had
> early success picking it, but as my hook release improved, my ability to
> flatten out and roll for spares on the right went in the toilet. - The
short
> term solution was to drill a plastic ball and just go ahead and use my
> normal release but throw harder and let it skid all the way to the ten.
>
> I want one ball on the return rack. So, I've been working on flattening
out
> and picking that ten with whatever ball is in my hand and abandoning the
> "spare ball". I've about got it. For the last week, I've been 80% or so
> successful.
>
> A fair majority of the pros on TV seem to use a spare ball. Some guys I
> bowl with do and some don't. I can't seem to notice a difference in
success
> ratio between those who do and those who don't. What's the general
opinion
> here?
>
>
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