Bowlers?

[Dr. FLK]

So I'm looking for a new ball...

I have one that's currently my "go to" ball, and I use it on all conditions. The problem is, it's best for dry-medium, and it doesn't do as well in heavy conditions. I'm looking for one that is aggressive a little earlier (as opposed to my current ball which rolls longer).

My current targets are:
Roto Grip Mutant Cell
Storm Anarchy
Hammer Plague
Hammer The Sauce
Ebonite Evolve

Thoughts or recommendations?

[Who's On 1st]

I have not bowled for a few years but, I've always used Ebonite!

[Jules]

So I'm looking for a new ball...

I have one that's currently my "go to" ball, and I use it on all conditions. The problem is, it's best for dry-medium, and it doesn't do as well in heavy conditions. I'm looking for one that is aggressive a little earlier (as opposed to my current ball which rolls longer).

My current targets are:
Roto Grip Mutant Cell
Storm Anarchy
Hammer Plague
Hammer The Sauce
Ebonite Evolve

Thoughts or recommendations?

I have always preferred a Hammer. They work well for my speed and I tend to overthrow alot.

[The Epic]

A fairly aggressive one for heavy-ish lanes would be most of the Storm: Dimension Group. (http://www.bowlingball.com/storm-second-dimension-bowling-ball.html) It might roll a little longer than you'd like, but it's the best one I can think of. Anarchy (http://www.bowlingball.com/storm-anarchy-bowling-ball.html) would also be a good bet, as you've already noted.

What's your go-to ball? I have an old Brunswick Rattler (http://www.bowlingball.com/brunswick-rattler-bowling-ball.html) as my A-ball.

[BaltBird 24]

Don't go with anything but Morich. I'd suggest either the Craze or Frenzy if you are looking for something to play in the oil.

[Dr. FLK]

A fairly agressive one for heavy-ish lanes would be most of the Storm: Dimension Group. (http://www.bowlingball.com/storm-second-dimension-bowling-ball.html) It might roll a little longer than you'd like, but it's the best one I can think of. Anarchy (http://www.bowlingball.com/storm-anarchy-bowling-ball.html) would also be a good bet, as you've already noted.

What's your go-to ball? I have an old Brunswick Rattler (http://www.bowlingball.com/brunswick-rattler-bowling-ball.html) as my A-ball.

My "go to" is the Hole Pounder by Banger. It runs fairly long and finishes pretty strong. And, I can control it in almost any oil pattern. But, I'm looking for something that can be more aggressive in the oil.

I've always wanted to have a Storm, and I never have,. The Anarachy sounds like a good choice, but I'll look at those others. And, as BaltBird pointed out, it looks like I'll have to check out some Morich too. I don't know anything about those.

[AgentOrange]

Just curious, for everyone.

What is your average?

High game?

High set?

[Dr. FLK]

So I think I've narrowed my choices down to the following:

Storm Anarchy
Roto Grip Mutant Cell
Morich Craze
Hammer The Plague

[The Epic]

Just curious, for everyone.

What is your average?

High game?

High set?

198

279, several times (ringing 10 in the seventh was my worst one)

737 (all three games between 240 and 250)

And seriously, if you saw the herky-jerky way I bowl, that's darned impressive. :)

[GotNitro]

Just curious, for everyone.

What is your average?

High game?

High set?

Last Avg 196

High Game 300 (just once) Using a Storm Hot Rod

High Set 746 Using an Insite Almighty, a legally approved ball that was designed by a former friend. Haven't seen him since I had to stop bowling.

Unfortunately I had to stop bowling a couple years ago after multiple back surgeries. I have several friends that bowl semi-professionally (Regularly at PBA Regionals) and one that actually was on the pro tour in the past. Some of them make me sick. I had to work hard at it just to get half-way decent, and it just comes so natural to them.

[GotNitro]

As for the OP, I am not up on the new stuff since I had to quit, but I used to throw Storm and RotoGrip. I had two friends, each sponsored by one of the two companies so I was always in the loop with the new stuff and they always knew the right layouts for me.

[Dr. FLK]

Just curious, for everyone.

What is your average?

High game?

High set?

Avg = 192
High game = 279 (one ten pin away)
High set = 753

[Jules]

Avg = 192
High game = 279 (one ten pin away)
High set = 753

AVG 189 (its been a couple of years since I bowled a league, it should be higher)
Game 279 (one ten pin)
Set 680-something.

[The Epic]

I call for an OH bowling tourney. :)

[ccbird]

I throw Storm and Roto Grip. Take a look at the Storm: Invasion. It's the one I like the best for heavy oil. The only thing is it's pretty much a heavy oil only ball. If you throw it on medium patterns it will use up all it's energy early and won't carry as well. If it's more med/heavy the Mutant Cell would probably be the way to go as it's versatile enough to carry well on a med pattern too.

Of course a lot depends on the way you set the ball up. How it's layed out, how far it's sanded down, etc. Make sure you explain to your pro shop guy exactly what you want and or let him watch you throw to get an idea of how to set it up best for you.

[Dr. FLK]

From reading a bunch of reviews, I think I've been sold on the Mutant Cell. It sounds like the Anarchy rolls longer and hooks sharper, where the Mutant Cell starts reacting earlier and finishes a little stronger. But, like everything...I need to make sure I drill it right (and throw it right!).

Thanks for all the advice guys.

[Jules]

Well, it's been a couple of weeks. How's it working out for you?

[Dr. FLK]

Well, it's been a couple of weeks. How's it working out for you?

Don't have it yet...it's a Christmas present. So far all I did was suggest the ball I wanted. It's up to Mrs. FLK to come through with it for me. :D

[The Epic]

I guess I can put it here as a catch-all bowling thread.

I swear to goodness, I'll never get a 300. I keep crushing the front half, then completely falling apaprt afterward. Three of the last six games, I've gotten the front 5 and missed the sixth. Ugh.

I just want one. One. Is that too much to ask for?

[Dr. FLK]

I guess I can put it here as a catch-all bowling thread.

I swear to goodness, I'll never get a 300. I keep crushing the front half, then completely falling apaprt afterward. Three of the last six games, I've gotten the front 5 and missed the sixth. Ugh.

I just want one. One. Is that too much to ask for?

I'm right there with ya. I crushed the pocket every shot the other night...but two of the frames left me splits, including a 7-10. That was the night I decided I wanted a new ball that could finish better in heavier oil patterns.

And did I mention...that same night, some dude shot an 858 series against us? 300-279-279...he left 2 10-pins the entire set. Ridiculous!

[ccbird]

I guess I can put it here as a catch-all bowling thread.

I swear to goodness, I'll never get a 300. I keep crushing the front half, then completely falling apaprt afterward. Three of the last six games, I've gotten the front 5 and missed the sixth. Ugh.

I just want one. One. Is that too much to ask for?


I'm right there with ya. I crushed the pocket every shot the other night...but two of the frames left me splits, including a 7-10. That was the night I decided I wanted a new ball that could finish better in heavier oil patterns.

And did I mention...that same night, some dude shot an 858 series against us? 300-279-279...he left 2 10-pins the entire set. Ridiculous!

I threw at least the front 9 probably ten times before I got my first 300. It was progressive too. The first 4 or 5 times I threw the front 9 I choked in the 10th. Then I finally threw the 10th and missed in the 11th. Then threw the 11th and choked in the 12th. Talk about torture. FInally did it, and what a relief to get the monkey off my back. I'll tell you if you guys ever do get it done you'll probably throw many more. The 2nd one is much easier.

[The Epic]

Real quick, before I go on about that...

...anybody have real trouble with ten pins? I've tried plastic balls, throwing straight, moving all of the way to the left...nothing has consistently worked. Any ideas?

[Dr. FLK]

Real quick, before I go on about that...

...anybody have real trouble with ten pins? I've tried plastic balls, throwing straight, moving all of the way to the left...nothing has consistently worked. Any ideas?

I hate them. I've gotten better lately. I move left and shoot across the lane, and I just try not breaking my wrist to keep the ball sliding and not hooking. I've really improved this season, but I missed 5 this week. All 5 would have run right over the 6 pin...very, very frustrating night.

[The Epic]

I hate them. I've gotten better lately. I move left and shoot across the lane, and I just try not breaking my wrist to keep the ball sliding and not hooking. I've really improved this season, but I missed 5 this week. All 5 would have run right over the 6 pin...very, very frustrating night.

I went 0-4, and we lost total pins by 36. So yeah, that pisses me off. Funny thing is I made the one in practice.

Oh! I left a 6-10 on the last ball in the last game. I convert, but I end up hitting the 10 pin DEAD ON and barely swiping the 6. It's like, "Oh...I can do that NOW!"

I keep a spreadsheet of my scores, to figure out averages, st devs, strike percentages, and whatnot. I stay around 55-60% on strikes, and well above 90% on all other "makeable" spares. If I'm at 33% on ten pins, I'll be shocked.

I swear I'd be a 210 with a consistent 10 shot. It's so, so frustrating.

[ccbird]

SO much of the corner pins is confidence. I'm left handed but for the 7 I go cross lanes, flatten the wrist out and throw hard.

I guess the advice I would give is don't put your thumb and fingers as far into the ball as you normally would. That should naturally flatten your wrist out. Then on the release deadened your wrist and follow through at the line.


.

[Dr. FLK]

Got Roto Grip Mutant Cell for Xmas. I got it drilled today.

Threw 2 practice games before league started: 226, 249.

Used it in league: 200, 179 (boo spares), 219.

The lanes were drying out by the end, and I probably should have switched balls...but I was having fun playing with this one. This ball finishes really strong. If you get it to the pocket, it's going to finish. So far...so good.

[ccbird]

Got Roto Grip Mutant Cell for Xmas. I got it drilled today.

Threw 2 practice games before league started: 226, 249.

Used it in league: 200, 179 (boo spares), 219.

The lanes were drying out by the end, and I probably should have switched balls...but I was having fun playing with this one. This ball finishes really strong. If you get it to the pocket, it's going to finish. So far...so good.


Good to hear. It is a very nice ball. Just a reminder to try and clean your ball every week when you are done. It really does help preserve the life of the balls now days.

[Pasadena Paul]

Bowl Duckpins. Its more of a challenge!!!!!!!!!

[GotNitro]

I'm right there with ya. I crushed the pocket every shot the other night...but two of the frames left me splits, including a 7-10. That was the night I decided I wanted a new ball that could finish better in heavier oil patterns.

And did I mention...that same night, some dude shot an 858 series against us? 300-279-279...he left 2 10-pins the entire set. Ridiculous!

A good friend of mine shot that same set last week, also only letting two ten-pins. It was at Nellie Fox Bowl up here in PA though.

[The Epic]

I went 0-4, and we lost total pins by 36. So yeah, that pisses me off. Funny thing is I made the one in practice.

Oh! I left a 6-10 on the last ball in the last game. I convert, but I end up hitting the 10 pin DEAD ON and barely swiping the 6. It's like, "Oh...I can do that NOW!"

I keep a spreadsheet of my scores, to figure out averages, st devs, strike percentages, and whatnot. I stay around 55-60% on strikes, and well above 90% on all other "makeable" spares. If I'm at 33% on ten pins, I'll be shocked.

I swear I'd be a 210 with a consistent 10 shot. It's so, so frustrating.

I’ve been keeping a spreadsheet (I wish I could link it here somewhere, but oh well) to track my overall progress.

Some things I noticed:

1) I bowl significantly better in the second game than the other two (206.5 in the second, 195.0 in the first and third…199 average). This means…I have no clue what it means. I can see feeling out the lanes in the first game and finding my stride in the second game, but the third game makes no sense to me. I’m confused.
2) Median’s a 201. Mode’s a 202.
3) 39% on ten pins. I think it’s becoming mental now.
4) STDEV of almost exactly 25 through 78 games. Only one game two STDEVs over, and one game two STDEVs under. Sounds pretty on-par with what you’d expect, given a normal curve.
5) 52.5% strikes, 12% splits (8% converted), 8% leaving the ten pin, and the rest are “makeable” spares (of which I make 87%). That gives me about an 81% chance of a mark each frame, a 9% chance of a clean game (assuming about 11 “frames”), and a 0.07% chance of a clean set (which I’ve only done once in my life).
6) The chance of a 300 game is a little below 0.045%, or about 2,335 games.
7) Without really going into it (because I haven’t), I throw an off-target ball about 25% of the time. By off-target, I mean either (1) Brooklyn, or (2) thrown at a spot where a strike would not be expected. 1-3 strikes, be they light or heavy, count as on-target. It’s a judgment-call stat, but whatever.

Some of you might say I have too much time on my hands.

Some of you may be right.

[Dr. FLK]

I’ve been keeping a spreadsheet (I wish I could link it here somewhere, but oh well) to track my overall progress.

Some things I noticed:

1) I bowl significantly better in the second game than the other two (206.5 in the second, 195.0 in the first and third…199 average). This means…I have no clue what it means. I can see feeling out the lanes in the first game and finding my stride in the second game, but the third game makes no sense to me. I’m confused.
2) Median’s a 201. Mode’s a 202.
3) 39% on ten pins. I think it’s becoming mental now.
4) STDEV of almost exactly 25 through 78 games. Only one game two STDEVs over, and one game two STDEVs under. Sounds pretty on-par with what you’d expect, given a normal curve.
5) 52.5% strikes, 12% splits (8% converted), 8% leaving the ten pin, and the rest are “makeable” spares (of which I make 87%). That gives me about an 81% chance of a mark each frame, a 9% chance of a clean game (assuming about 11 “frames”), and a 0.08% chance of a clean set (which I’ve only done once in my life).
6) The chance of a 300 game is a little below 0.045%, or about 2,335 games.
7) Without really going into it (because I haven’t), I throw an off-target ball about 25% of the time. By off-target, I mean either (1) Brooklyn, or (2) thrown at a spot where a strike would not be expected. 1-3 strikes, be they light or heavy, count as on-target. It’s a judgment-call stat, but whatever.

Some of you might say I have too much time on my hands.

Some of you may be right.

I've found that I bowl much better when I think a whole lot less. You seem to think too much.:D

[The Epic]

I totally agree, but I'm a stat-head. I love doing these things. Makes me feel like my brain's still sharp.

[GotNitro]

I’ve been keeping a spreadsheet (I wish I could link it here somewhere, but oh well) to track my overall progress.

Some things I noticed:

1) I bowl significantly better in the second game than the other two (206.5 in the second, 195.0 in the first and third…199 average). This means…I have no clue what it means. I can see feeling out the lanes in the first game and finding my stride in the second game, but the third game makes no sense to me. I’m confused.
2) Median’s a 201. Mode’s a 202.
3) 39% on ten pins. I think it’s becoming mental now.
4) STDEV of almost exactly 25 through 78 games. Only one game two STDEVs over, and one game two STDEVs under. Sounds pretty on-par with what you’d expect, given a normal curve.
5) 52.5% strikes, 12% splits (8% converted), 8% leaving the ten pin, and the rest are “makeable” spares (of which I make 87%). That gives me about an 81% chance of a mark each frame, a 9% chance of a clean game (assuming about 11 “frames”), and a 0.07% chance of a clean set (which I’ve only done once in my life).
6) The chance of a 300 game is a little below 0.045%, or about 2,335 games.
7) Without really going into it (because I haven’t), I throw an off-target ball about 25% of the time. By off-target, I mean either (1) Brooklyn, or (2) thrown at a spot where a strike would not be expected. 1-3 strikes, be they light or heavy, count as on-target. It’s a judgment-call stat, but whatever.

Some of you might say I have too much time on my hands.

Some of you may be right.

The third game goes down because of the oil drying up and / or moving down the lane. I always found the first two games were similar, but there was a bigger difference the third game. Make sure your moving appropriately the third game, it's best to try to predict what's happening and move as soon as you see the angle changing instead of waiting until it's too late.

[GotNitro]

Anyone bowling in the big tournement in New Jersey in two weeks? My one buddy is going up early in the week. I am going to go watch on Friday if he qualifies for that portion.

[Dr. FLK]

First 300 last night using a Roto Grip Mutant Cell. The last strike was entirely too dramatic, as the 4-pin took what seemed like 5 minutes to decide to fall over.

[AgentOrange]

First 300 last night using a Roto Grip Mutant Cell. The last strike was entirely too dramatic, as the 4-pin took what seemed like 5 minutes to decide to fall over.

Congrats! Sounds like getting the new ball was the right choice!

[Tank]

Thats awesome Pess! My dad bowled a 264 or something a few years ago, three pins away. My highest is a 198 but I haven't bowled in years.

[ccbird]

Congrats on the 300. MD State tourny starts this week out in Cumberland. Anyone going out??

[SammyBirdland]

I remember a couple years ago that everyone wanted an Ebonite "The One". Is that still a popular ball?

http://i.imgur.com/84xxt.jpg

[Catch 8]

My "go to" is the Hole Pounder by Banger. It runs fairly long and finishes pretty strong. And, I can control it in almost any oil pattern. But, I'm looking for something that can be more aggressive in the oil.

Hahahahahaha