Reddit mentions: The best bowling equipment

> Thanks for the reply! The bowlingball.com scale helps a lot when comparing different manufacturers.

Pleasure! And yes, it does. I've found it's pretty dang accurate so it's helpful for comparing apples to oranges (or C300 to Roto Grip, but you get the point haha)

EDIT I'd go with 15# if I were you. No real reason to be throwing 16# unless you just throw everything else 25mph or something lol

> Would you recommend going with a symmetric core?

Yes, I would definitely recommend a symmetric core for your first ball. It won't be as flashy as an asym, but will also be a bit easier to control and work well as a ball to build around as you expand your arsenal.

> I have looked at the Storm Rocket Ship and am considering that one but will definitely talk to the pro shop next time I go. I have a friend who has the Storm Code Black which I tossed a few times and liked; do you think that would be harder to control due to its core?

I actually had a chance to throw the Rocket Ship, Code Black, and a bunch of other stuff at a Storm/RG demo day last week (write-up is here). The RS would be a fantastic ball to get - I'd also take a look at the new Motiv Chronic Paranoia (releases today, IIRC) and the Ebonite GB2 MVP. The Code Black is an awesome ball as well, but it's a bit more specialized - it definitely has a much more violent reaction due to the polished pearl reactive coverstock and asymmetric core.

> Regarding the finish on the balls and how long they will last: I have read people saying they have had a ball "die" and stop hooking after several games. Any tips on a type of ball that would be less prone to this, or does it just require proper cleaning?

Usually it's more like several hundred games, but yeah proper maintenance is key. This is the maintenance schedule that I follow for all of my reactive gear:

• every shot: wipe off with some sort of towel (I personally use a leather pad like this one, but a microfiber shop towel works too if you want to save a few $$$).
  
  
• after every bowling session: clean everything with a specifically made bowling ball cleaner. I personally use That Purple Stuff, which is on the pricey side but works better than anything else I've used. Tack-Up is another great option.
  
  
• Every (40ish for sanded gear, 60ish for shiny) games: resurface on a ball spinner. This helps to keep fresh coverstock in contact with the lane, leading to a better ball reaction. Also, sanded balls get an effect called "Lane Shine", where the sanded texture essentially wears off after repeated use.
  
  

• Every 75ish games or as needed: have my PSO run the ball through his Jayhawk Detox machine. This is an ultrasonic deep-cleaner machine that does a great job of extracting oil. Brings a ball back to truly like-new performance levels.
  

  
  

  Doing this, I have several hundred games on a few balls in my bag (Ebonite GB2 MVP, Track Paradox Pearl, Motiv Graffiti Tag) and they're still going strong with no signs of quitting. :)
  

  
  

  > Without knowing much about cover stocks in general, to me it seems like a ball with a polished coat like the Code Black would be easier to clean the oil off than the matte ones, but I have been unable to find anything on that.
  

  
  

  No, not really. If you use a dedicated ball cleaner, this isn't something to worry about.
  

  
  

  > When shooting spares I usually get a house ball and chuck it straight at the pin. I was planning on picking up a T-Zone or Ice Storm to carry as my own spare ball for more consistency and so I could have a proper fit.
  

  
  

  YES absolutely. 100% recommend this for anybody.
  

  
  

  > Would you recommend getting the same drill dimensions and weight as my strike ball? I usually throw a lighter house ball because due to the finger placement on house balls I don't have as much control over the heavy ones.
  

  
  

  Same weight, same drilling measurements, same everything. The fit & weight should be identical across everything in your bag.
  

  
  

  > Also is plastic the way to go just to pick up straight shots or would it be worth investing in something like the Pitch Black or BTU which could posisbly be more versatile? From what I have read so far, plastic should hook less but can slide where urethane will have a nicer roll but may hook down lane.
  

  
  

  Your assessment of plastic vs urethane is correct, and honestly comes down to personal preference. I generally recommend plastic for most bowlers.
  

  
  

  )

my friend has the same problem. he has issues because he squeezes the ball on his approach. this makes the thumb flare (get larger from side to side) and the ball sticks on the release.. he has a tendency to develop blisters on the inside and outside of his thumb. this causes swelling too, which makes the problem worse.

he has reslugged his ball 3 times just because he kept asking the driller to open it up, against the driller's advise, and had to close it back because the hole was simply too large and forcing him to squeeze the ball.

important to note that your thumb hole should be an oval and not a perfect circle. this is a common issue, but it depends on your thumb's shape and your driller.

another option is pitch. some PSO's won't bother with it. the short of it is... you can have your thumb hole (and finger holes, far less commom) pitched forward, back, left and right. normally, a PSO will drill the thumb hole straight into the ball, resulting in a hole where the centerline makes a 90 degree angle with the line tangent to the ball. this angle can be adjusted to optimize your release. i would suggest this as a last option because its kind of hit or miss. you need a good PDO/driller to know which way to go based on you grip. my friend did end up getting a slight pitch adjustment, but jury is still out (after like 16 weeks) if this helped or not. his release has improved over time.

idk where you live, but consider finding a PSO with IBPSIA certification. enter your state in the following link and try to find an advanced certified technician, or better. not to say a driller must be IBPSIA certified, but i stand by my PSO, who happens to be. he fit all three of my drills perfectly just from an old ball, its track, and checking my natural thumb position and thumb grip pressure when i squeezed his wrist. i can't tell the difference between any of the three balls and i have had zero issues. take this with a grain of salt because i would consider myself an advanced bowler with a relatively smooth and consistent release.

https://ibpsia.com/find-a-pro/technicians/find-a-technician-in-your-area/#

also..try to use some release tape, this stuff was a game changer for me..

https://www.amazon.com/Storm-S570-P-Thunder-Tape/dp/B00BUICA0O

> What's the best way to clean them?

A spray cleaner like this or this would work for a basic clean up, but the balls may need a full detox and resurface at a pro shop depending on their condition. With 30 balls, I'd probably just clean them up with a spray cleaner and let the future owners have the resurface done when they plug and re-drill them. (See below)

> Anything I should check for besides cracks?

Cracks and big divots in the surface of the ball are the big ones. Minor scrapes and scratches can be worked out at the pro shop when the new owner has the ball plugged and re-drilled.

> I think they may have custom finger holes. Anything I can do about that?

If any of the balls get sold (depending on age/condition, many of them may not be worth the hassle), the new owner would need to take the balls to a local pro shop and have them fill in the holes (known as plugging) and then redrill to their hand's measurements. Nothing for you to do about that.

> I notice a lot of these balls have another hole besides the three finger holes. What is the purpose of it?

You're referring to a balance hole/weight hole. You can read more about them here.

> What's the best way to sell? eBay? Craigslist? Bowling forum?

Like anything else, take lots of pictures and try to be as detailed as possible about the specifics (brand, model, etc.) Many of the balls may not be worth anything, so it could be a diminishing rate of return. I think you can post for sale items here as long as you don't spam the boards. Might be worth checking with the mods to be sure. Craigslist would be another good option. Ebay also.

I'd love to see pictures of what you've got just out of curiosity.

Someone commented that this bag tips easily? I took a test drive today after loading it up with three 15 lb balls and gear and misc bull crap and didn’t see that issue. It’s 109 for this color and ten more for others on Amazon in case your wondering. Here’s the link hope it works.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EJCC69I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_LUa2AbJHR42SP

You may get lucky with your PSO maybe they have an old demo. Also check 5 miles app and letgo. Good luck. I’m very pleased with the bag. The storage is great.

It does not have ball strap in it. I’m going to rig something up parts from my old ebonite bag which has them. I loved that bag i got it for 30 used and it served me great. Even flew with it.

Like i said you may get lucky. Those deals go fast because bags are hella expensive.

Makes sense, summer is awesome for vitamin d, sucks when you want to look cute in layers. You could always get a little sheer with the snake print, something like this, plus it gives it golden girls vibe with your necklace.
Or a leather belt with a snake buckle.

Meeting the Tennant sounds awesome, every interview I've seen/heard makes him seem like a pretty nifty guy. Plus he's got the Scottish charm thing going on.

Whatever look you end up with, have fun!

Yeah man, I was thinking of doing my Lebron Sprite 8s but I just couldn't convince myself to touch one of my all time favorites, here is a pic of the soles.

http://ibb.co/n9ZOHc

I found the best pairs that work are anything that has a flat bottom like these pair. Next what you do is get the soles from dexter now they have a bunch of different slide types just buy whats best for your game, I like more slide so I bought these for the slide shoe and you see what I got for the stop shoe.


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000V7ZXH2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Cut them to size then take some 00 steel wool and scuff up the soles of the shoes, basically just enough so the glue can grip better, Youre going to need some velcro as thats how the dexter soles go on and off I got some from a local shoe repair place. from there you just cut the velcro to size glue it on the sole and add the dexter soles and boom you are you have the freshest pair of shoes in league.

I'll give you 2:

Between sets I use Neo-Tac Hook-It. Stuff works amazingly well but you can't use it during USBC play. You can use it before or after USBC play. Make sure you use a paper towel with this stuff and throw the paper towel away after each use. I've left a regular towel with this stuff on it and it will eat through some plastics.

During USBC play I use That Purple Stuff. Does a pretty good job of getting the most gunk off my ball but isn't as good as Hook-it.

Bend your wrist backwards, you mean?

Depends on wrist strength and personal preference, I think. I, personally, wear one for league nights/tournaments, partially for consistency's sake and partially because my wrists are already sad from working as a keyboard jockey. It can help reinforce proper form so you know how to go without it as well.

I'll take it off about 50/50 for practice, though, to work on keeping a strong wrist as well as having more degrees of freedom to work on release.

I'm sure it's telling that nearly 0% of pros wear one, I can tell that it (by design) limits what I can do with my hand/wrist, but if it works for you, it works for you. I ordered several from Amazon and kept the one I liked. Ones like Robby's Revs (II and III) were too bulky and complicated; glove-style doesn't let me feel the ball, the small wrister style didn't feel like enough. Ended up with a Mongoose, I particularly like the open palm to let me feel the ball.

• I’d recommend a three ball bag. They are a little pricey up front but typically it’ll allow you to bring two reactive balls and your spare ball of choice. You can go to your pro shop to buy it or because of our neat little overlords at amazon you can get one there.
  
• Brunswick Crown Triple Tote with Shoe Pouch Bowling Bag, Royal https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01H47D0J4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_GUHgDbKWKNH0H
  
• Pyramid Path Triple Tote Roller Plus Orange https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LZBH560/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_rWHgDbJEYXCFS
  
• Hammer Triple Bowling Ball Tote with Removable Pouch, Black/Orange https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005O0H7BQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_QWHgDbEP9KP3R
  
• The ones above all have an above pouch for your shoes. If you don’t want that extra pouch and already have something to carry your shoes in and just want like a three ball tournament tote here are some good options:
  
• Hammer Premium Triple Tote Bowling Bag, Black/Carbon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0721R38VC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_xYHgDbVT8C618
  
• Vise Three Ball Tote Roller Bowling Bag, Orange https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EREJF74/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_LYHgDbP1B7876
  
• Hammer Premium Triple Tote Bowling Bag, Black/Orange https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009SE5LWG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_0YHgDbW2VKGX3
  
• DV8 Tactic Triple Tote No Shoe Pouch Bowling Bag, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01H65W0K4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_mZHgDbXZE4AJX
  
• sorry if I gave way to many options I just wanted to diversify it a bit with different colors and stuff depending on what you may have wanted. There are even more options on amazon besides these if these don’t suit what you want.

Dealt with a wrist problem that ended up in surgery here:

1. Are you sure your ball fits correctly? after 4-5 years of inactivity, definitely need to have grip checked by a professional. An incorrect fit can cause all kinds of issues.
   
2. If the above is good, do not ignore the wrist pain, I waited to long. see a qualified hand/wrist Dr.
   
3. I dropped down from 16 to 15 because of this and it was helpful.
   
4. I had my PSO "relax" my grip before I ultimately ended up with a partial wrist fusion surgery.
   
5. Tried a brace prior to surgery which helped some. https://www.amazon.com/McDavid-Elastic-Wrist-Support-Medium/dp/B0000AU1ZX/ref=asc_df_B0000AU1ZX/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309760615398&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=14056218406979525327&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9018801&hvtargid=pla-422937106462&psc=1
   
6. Ended up with this brace before and after surgery which helped as well , similar to this https://www.amazon.com/Mongoose-Optimum-bowling-Support-Medium/dp/B00IK1902A/ref=asc_df_B00IK1902A/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167133777536&hvpos=1o4&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10940306235034529195&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9018801&hvtargid=pla-309677451016&psc=1
   
7. Good luck, PM me if you have additional questions

here is some good ball at good prices. pending on how much it cost to get it drilled in your area it should be within that price range, amazon also has the lower end stuff under$70, if you have prime then it's a good deal. my son just picked up the original track tactix for $88 at amazon and that ball is well worth the price.

https://smile.amazon.com/Roto-Grip-Idol-Bowling-Magenta-13lbs/dp/B07BBPQQWQ/ref=sr_1_104?fst=as%3Aoff&qid=1565300963&refinements=p_n_size_browse-bin%3A2637524011&rnid=2637519011&s=sports-and-fitness&sr=1-104

https://smile.amazon.com/Radical-Bowling-Intel-Pearl-13/dp/B07DR2LP7G/ref=sr_1_145?fst=as%3Aoff&qid=1565301023&refinements=p_n_size_browse-bin%3A2637524011&rnid=2637519011&s=sports-and-fitness&sr=1-145

there are three standard outer diameter sizes for grips: 7/8", 31/32", and 1-1/32". the first and last are very rare; you have to have extremely tiny or extremely large fingers to need a grip in a size that only comes in those ODs so i wouldn't worry about it. 99% of bowlers use 31/32" grips.

the outside of the grip as well as the inside (at least on vise brand grips) will have a size on them so you can figure out what you need. the inside number (if there is one) will refer to the numerator in the fractional size, i.e. if it's an 11/32" grip it will say "11." on the outside it will list the full fractional size (ex. 11/32"), outer diameter (ex. 31/32"), as well as another number (ex. 4.5) that is intended to make buying grips easier/more convenient by making sizes go up in 0.5 increments from -1 so you don't have to remember the fractional size. in this handy chart it is referred to as "equivalent" and it is the same across all brands. i would just worry about the fractional size because you don't have to translate that to another numbering scheme; the size is the size.

because your PSO is so far away, i would recommend learning how to remove and install grips yourself. you will need a grip puller and glue. a work-out tool isn't completely necessary but i would recommend it for removing any remains from the grip left on the inside of the hole so that the next grip you put in fits true instead of being slightly more snug than it should be. a grip puller makes removing grips super simple and straightforward. for glue i suggest loctite ultra gel control. it will stay where you put it instead of running all over the place which makes mistakes less annoying and lets you be more precise. it also gives you a little more time to make any last-second corrections in grip orientation due to its slightly longer setting time.

hope this helps.

Get a rosin bag. I bowled collegiately and you use it to keep your hands tacky in that sport so your grip is consistent from shot to shot. Works just as well on a mouse. I'm pretty sure this is essentially what products like gamer grip are made of anyway.

I use this

Get it, smash the hell out of it inside the bag you get it in so it's crushed into a more fine powder. Squeeze it, toss it around in your mouse hand and you're good.

ControlFreeks are worth it, hands down (pun intended)

My hands would get a little sweaty and uncomfortable during long sessions. Tried one of those bowler powder bags at one point, still kind of use it from time to time, but the ControlFreeks give good grip and my hands sweat less. I like that I could cut it so the chatpad still fits, and used the excess on the backside of the chatpad.

The rear casing I got with the paddles came with a bumpy "grip" texture, thought it'd be cool but honestly don't like it and just wrapped the ControlFreek grip over it. Had I known that it would be that bad I'd have gotten a smooth finish rear shell so the grip sticks better, but haven't really had any issue with it after I got it set on.

I can second this. I bought the one that akimbojimo229 recommended and was amazed at how well it pulls the oil off the ball. Almost like a sponge. https://www.amazon.com/Genesis-Pure-Bowling-Ball-Wipe/dp/B014YVXW00/ref=sr_1_36?dchild=1&keywords=leather+shammy&link_code=qs&qid=1570196315&sourceid=Mozilla-search&sr=8-36

New shoes will take some getting used to. If you look at the bottom of rental shoes they are (almost always) entirely leather except for the heel. Most bowling shoes the slide portion is only on the sole of the foot ending just past the balls of your feet.

So if you learned to slide more whole-footed with rental shoes then you will get that catching feeling with your new shoes. You'll probably need to learn to slide more on your toes and ball of your foot.

An option that may help is a shoe slide. I've been bowling with a shoe slide because my shoes are too tacky. The shoe slide tends to cover more of the shoe and might help you not to catch. Though it may not help in the long run to become reliant on a shoe slide.
https://www.amazon.com/bowlingball-com-Shoe-Slider/dp/B004KQ75ZS/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1510862214&sr=1-1&keywords=shoe+slide

I use something like this.

https://www.amazon.com/Ebonite-Ultra-Tool-8-Inch-Blade/dp/B000V7ZWPU#customerReviews

I suggest trying one of these to develop your slide. Your knee will thank you later.

https://www.amazon.com/bowlingball-com-Shoe-Slider/dp/B004KQ75ZS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1493157579&sr=8-2&keywords=shoe+slide

So rubbing alcohol is a decent cleaner, people have been using it for a long time. The only thing is that it is not designed as a de-greaser and has a bit of trouble picking up the oil. It would be better than no cleaning at all but IMO not quite as good as a specific bowling cleaner.

My recommendation would be tac up

I have this:

http://www.amazon.com/Vise-Three-Roller-Bowling-Black/dp/B00EREJE9I/

You can add a shoe bag (that clips on to the roller tote) for about $25.

IMO you won't find anything better.