Posted: 1/17/2007 9:44:50 AM EDT
| I'm wanting to start bowling more often as a physical activity, and I'm not very good at this point. My fiance has a ball and shoes and its something we could do together or with other couples. Rather than using rental shoes and a crappy ball I was thinking of getting my own. Is there an Arfcom of bowling where I can get good info on what I should and shouldn't think about buying? |
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A few things: 1) the balls in the pictures above are plastic. They will go down the lane straight as an arrow. Fine for spare attempts, but read on.... 2) The real skill in bowling is learning to throw a curve. For this you need a ball drilled "fingertip" or "semi-fingertip". As was posted previously, have the bowling alley's pro shop measure you and drill a ball for you. 15lb or 16lb, depending on how comfortable you are.... most men prefer 16. Fingertip feels odd at first, but you will attain much higher scores throwing a curve. 3) Once you have a properly drilled ball you need to learn to impart spin. Start by holding the ball palm up. As you follow through you will rotate your wrist ~1/4 turn until, at release, your hand is on the side of the ball. Your thumb will be facing up and fingers extended, like you are shaking hands. 4) Most important, don't aim at the pins. Aim at the arrows on the lane. (Assuming you are right-handed) If you hit your intended arrow and the ball strikes too far left, start your next approach farther to the left. Aim at the same arrow. Repeat until you are rolling over the intended arrow and hitting the "pocket" (between 1 and 3 pins). Have fun and good luck! -dawg_killer |
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I joined a league a few months ago for the first time and was in the same boat you are. I went to a local bowling supply store and picked up a ball for 96 bucks, a pair of shoes from Dick's for 30 bucks or so, and have been having fun ever since. I've always thrown a straight ball and am now just learning to hook it a bit. Go ahead and join a league and listen to all advice people give you...it will help! |
hmmm... I guess it's conceivable you could buy an undrilled ball on the 'net and have it drilled at the pro shop. However, shipping may be excessive and the pro shop will charge to drill the ball. Verify they will drill a 3rd-party ball before going that route. My bet would be that it's just easier to buy it from the pro shop. They will drill it for free. -dawg_killer |
Easiest way to learn to throw a curve? Take a lesson. I rolled a straight plastic ball for a long while and decided that I wanted to go up a level. Bought a super grippy ball (Ultimate Inferno) and figured I would instantly start hooking.  Didn't happen.Got a lesson from the pro-shop and that single hour changed things drastically. I roll basically like this. Grip the ball (semi-fingertip drilled) with my palm facing inwards, on my approach I drop the ball and just let it swing back and naturally swing forwards, very little effort, very little grip on the ball. At a natural point I release the ball and just let my hand finish the swing. Depending on oil, the ball either hooks a little or OMG. At that point you have to adjust. Go ahead and get a package deal that most pro-shops offer, those are GOOD deals. They're generally plastic balls which work great as a 'spares' ball, i.e. a ball you use to pick up spares with. The shoes are decent imho. Tell the guys that you want the ball drilled for a fingertip or semi-fingertip grip as you'll eventually want to learn to hook a ball. If they're any good, they'll point out that the plastic ball won't hook much and will probably try to 'upsell' you, don't go for it. Use the plastic for awhile. When/if you get a second ball with real hook capability, you'll have it drilled so it feels the same as the first ball. (Important) Then take a lesson. It will make a HUGE difference and it's cheap to do. As far as weight? My plastic ball is 14 lbs and my Inferno is 15. I CAN roll a 16 but the 14-15 just seems to swing better for me. |