Newbie needed advice
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Hi! i new to bowling, and would really appreciate if i can get any advice on which entry-level bowling ball to purchase. I'm learning straights rather than hooks. When are the terms reactive and extra-length applicable? Which proshop and where? Thanks a million!!!!
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Mr Harmzuay,
I believe the man's looking for you. Take it easy on him, though.
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prat
hey man, you're getting lazy AND sluggish!! You used to relish these questions too. Now you're deflecting all the arrows to me.
Fighter
If you're looking to work on a straight game first, then the bundle (shoes + bag + ball) packages of the various Proshops should be sufficient to get you off the ground. Most of them won't charge more than $230. Might be even less nowadays, i haven't been keeping an eye on prices for quite a while. :p
Regarding the terms reactive and extra-length. i believe you're refering to Brunswick bowling's website - they are the only one's to use the x-tra length term. Anyway, they are not of any concern to your straight game.
Reactive means the cover is more aggressive and 'bites' the lane surface more than a regular plastic ball. This translates into more friction and more hook. Extra-length is a non-universal term that refers to a ball that is designed to hook later (closer to the pindeck) than other balls. It's very subjective, so it's not used to evaluate the balls of seperate companies.
Hope that helps. -
Once again, thanks guys!Originally posted by harmzuay:prat
hey man, you're getting lazy AND sluggish!! You used to relish these questions too. Now you're deflecting all the arrows to me.
Fighter
If you're looking to work on a straight game first, then the bundle (shoes + bag + ball) packages of the various Proshops should be sufficient to get you off the ground. Most of them won't charge more than $230. Might be even less nowadays, i haven't been keeping an eye on prices for quite a while. :p
Regarding the terms reactive and extra-length. i believe you're refering to Brunswick bowling's website - they are the only one's to use the x-tra length term. Anyway, they are not of any concern to your straight game.
Reactive means the cover is more aggressive and 'bites' the lane surface more than a regular plastic ball. This translates into more friction and more hook. Extra-length is a non-universal term that refers to a ball that is designed to hook later (closer to the pindeck) than other balls. It's very subjective, so it's not used to evaluate the balls of seperate companies.
Hope that helps. -
Well, the proshop that I go has the $165 package of 1 plastic ball, 1 pair of shoes and 1 ball bag. I think that's a pretty good deal for a newbie!
As what Harmy says, don't worry about bowling terms like that just yet... most of it is just mambo jumbo anyway. -
i think i paid $220 for my 'bundle' years ago. My first ball was a shadow!
It's always exciting to get new equipment. -
i think i paid $280 for my 'bundle' years ago. My first ball was a Messenger! It's always exciting to get new equipment.
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Don't marry a person you can live with, marry someone you can't live without... -
I didn't get a bundle!! I can't remember how much I paid for my ball, but it's always exciting to get new equipment!
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Air
You have hereby been charged with plagarism. I'm disappointed in you, Jordon... but it's always exciting to get new equipment! :p
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Yo!
Anyone knows which proshop still carries the Ebonite Gemstone (spare ball)?? -
For my starter kit, I only paid for shoes, coz the rest were passed down from ian. Now that i'm picking up bowling after a 2 month break, it feels like i'm doing everything all over again.
And it's always exciting to get new equipment. -
jae
I believe ken (victor's) still has one. The sapphire gemstone (blue). The Pro Shop at bukit panjang bowl HAD one the last time i was there. Can't remember what colour that one was.
Which colour are you looking for anyway?
Can always try Silverbowl - they have a clearwolf, they may have anything. -
Jae:
Yes, the last time I saw, the Bukit Panjang Plaza pro shop carried a GREEN gemstone. Now I'm not so sure.
The one at silverbowl doesn't have the Gemstone nor the Clear Wolf anymore.
And it's always... ahh never mind. -
...and it's always exciting to get new equipment!!!
I'm looking for the blue one! Any idea of the cost of that ball?? And hey, Prataman, any lobang for oily lanes balls, 14lbs, particle, reactive?? -
Sorry Jae,
The only 14 I have left is a Trauma. 14 lbs 7 ounces. Not really that keen to sell it...
Otherwise the only thing I've got left is a 15lb Super Power.
That's it! Shop empty liaoz. -
Same here. My first ball was a rhino pro teal. my first pair of shoes was a taurus shoes.then win voucher and buy a linds shoes. been wearing this since then...
Since then..never buy new balls liao
Jae,i dun have a 14lbs ball, but i do have a 15lbs particle ball for heavy oil conditions. In fact its design for heavy oil plus carrydown.but it belong to an earlier generation of the particle ball though.. -
anyone got a old rhino or urethane 14 pound for sale? i dun really care about the surface condition...
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Daemon
You're trying to offload your Chaos?
Jae
I believe the gemstones retail like a mid-end ball. don't expect anything too far below the $300 mark. -
Whao! When talking about new equipment, everyone starts to get kinda excited about it huh? You rarely get such spontaneous response.
Think I spent less than a $100 for my starting kit all thanx to kind souls like kevin for his free Black rage n Ian for his shoes n mechatacter. Not until I splurged on my brand new Columbia Roll-X 2. I guess its really exciting to get new equipment.
Now I'm just looking fwd to get my main strike ball. Looking for a ball that is consistent for mid to wet conditions and only need to produce a gradual arcing entry. Since Im still quite a newbie who is not too good with all the technical jargons, these are probably the best I can come up with.
Im poor n probably lazy so I was hoping for a ball with a longer lifespan. Heard that particle balls usually live a short life so tot that I might fancy a ball that is not too condensed with particles. Tot might overhook sometimes too although need particle ball to survive in oil.
Have a preference for either storm or columbia balls. Actually like to have Trauma ER but understand not easy to get a exact used one.
Hope those seniors out there can offer their precious recommendations n advice. -
jae
bowl at bt panjang tdy. Didn't think I saw any gemstone left at the proshop. Might wanna try other proshops.
Tit@n
Think the most important to prolong the life of a ball is to clean it after every session, paying attention to the tracks. After every 200-300 games, depending on the amount of revs you impart to the ball, the track area usually wears out faster than the rest. That's the time to get the ball resurface. A ball can usually lasts 1 to 2 resurfaces. After that, it's time to get another one. I have a friend who resurfaces his ball so many times till you can barely make out the "Ninja" on the coverstock. (I think it was "Ninja")
My 2 cents worth.
rdgs
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Don't marry a person you can live with, marry someone you can't live without... -
Chaos is a good ball, glad i got it from prata's friend.
It's revvy, plus it hits like a 3-tonner. -
airgrinder
200-300 games?!? I think it's wiser to resurface more regularly. Even for a noodlearm, that's too many games - the oil would have set in the cover waaay before any process can help. And a ball is good for more than 2 - 3 'recons'.
I have my gear recon-ed about once every 6 months. i play about 150 games?? if i use it often, then 4 months. Anyhow, your driller should be able to properly inform you of how many more recons one's ball can take. Walter tells me, for instance, that my Rage can take only about 2 more before it becomes illegal (too small) in diameter. Obviously, some balls DO react at different rates to reconditioning, but i think the more you put it off, the more has to be 'done' during the recon... more eventual damage. An analogy can be drawn with visiting the dentist.
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Always remember: It's easier to spare from a channelball than a split. -
Offload my chaos? nah...its no longer with me anymore...
On the contrary,particle ball shld last longer than reactive ball. Proactive balls are make up of different material. As a result u can't use normal sandpaper to recon the ball, u need a even finer sandpaper that are of micro-grit to sand the ball.
Reactive ball are far softer. Thus they are less resistant to wear and tear.AFter the first 20games, the initial wear will be seen. AFter 50games, the surface start to break down.Also reactive balls are pretty porous, that's why they can grip the lanes better than paricle balls. However a porous ball will mean that they absorb a lot of oil. When it cannot absorb oil anymore, that's the end of its lifespan.
Resanding the ball removes some of the tracks so that ball can grip the lanes.but when the ball is unable to absorb the lane oil, the ball will not be able to react as effectively as before. hence u might get unpredictable reaction. couple with our inconsistent release..the result? we won't know what went right or wrong...
Unless u can change ball every 3-6mths..otherwise guess we just have to be contend with the present situation.That's why ppl say bowling's for the rich..i would say its for the rich if u wanna play seriously and competitively.... -
Get a black weapon. It's Urethane, it's great!!Originally posted by Tit@n:Im poor n probably lazy so I was hoping for a ball with a longer lifespan. Heard that particle balls usually live a short life so tot that I might fancy a ball that is not too condensed with particles. Tot might overhook sometimes too although need particle ball to survive in oil.
Have a preference for either storm or columbia balls. Actually like to have Trauma ER but understand not easy to get a exact used one.
Hope those seniors out there can offer their precious recommendations n advice.
It's definitely worth the money
I bought mine when I first step into SIM/UOL Bowling Club. That was like 5 YEARS ago in Oct1997. 5th anniversary soon......
5 games a week... 52weeks a year... 5 years ... that works out to a conservative figure of 1300 games. WoW! Talk about long lifespan...
Although many bowlers are suspecting a rotten core with a serious case of worms infestation and waiting for the day that it will split into two on impact REALLY!!
Hopefully it doesn't break before it breaks a pin
ChEeRs
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I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life
does go on, it will be better tomorrow. -
Thanks man, Dinghua. Whao..What a ball. sure I can save by getting one.
Worms? Nah..I doubt any living thing can survive the rocket's impact.