Who likes to go bowling?

[Droopy]

I haven't bowled in a league for a long time. I guess in early March I decided to dust off the ball and throw a few games here and there. I was terrible up until two weeks ago. I couldn't control my hook and I'd miss half of my spares. My ball is about 10 years old, I guess. It's a purplish pink Hammer if that tells you anything. I was thinking about buying a new ball, but a couple of weeks ago I decided to try something really simple. I've always stood to the left of the middle dot on the platform and thrown my ball between the 2nd an 3rd arrows on the right side of the lane (I'm right handed). I used to throw a nice big bender and I was usually around the pocket most of the time. Well, I couldn't do that anymore. My ball was going everywhere but where it was supposed to including a few embarrassing 3 counts on the left side of the rack on my first ball.

So, I simply moved my body about 5 boards to the right on the platform and started throwing in between the fist and second arrows. At first it felt foreign to me because I've thrown the line I described above ever since I learned how to throw a hook when I was a kid. But the improvement was almost immediate. I've averaged 192 since I started throwing the new line. And what's really cool about it is that I can crank up the speed a notch and my ball will still hook right in there. The result when I hit the pocket flush is total destruction that sends shock waves out into the surrounding lanes. :)

I throw a 16 pound ball and when I told somebody that he said that a 15 pound ball hits with just as much force as a 16 pounder. Do you know if that's true?

On edit: I start a summer league next Sunday.

[Perry Logan]

1. I'm a lousy left-handed bowler. But I like it.

[Droopy]

2. Get in a league

Some teams desire a bowler with some handicap, especially those with a couple of high rollers on them. Summer leagues should be forming around where you live and it's a good way to meet new people and have some fun.

[TZ]

3. I love to bowl

My mom and stepfather go on a regular basis and I join them when I have the time.
My ball however weighs only 10 lbs! Occasionally I can get some force on it. But I'm more of a accurate type bowler than power
I'm sure there is a little difference between 15 and 16 lbs..but perhaps a slightly lighter ball allows you to throw it harder so I don't think there is a big difference in force...
Have fun in your league. Maybe I will join one soon...:hi:

[terrya]

4. We've had a couple of office get togethers at a bowling alley

They were fun. Particularly when alcohol was involved.

I'm an ok bowler. Nothing to write home about, though.

[HamstersFromHell]

5. Used to bowl in 5 leagues a week some 20 years ago

Carried between 172-187 avg. in 'em. Threw a purple Rhino with a black polished Hammer for a long slide ball. Left handed. Long huge hook, standing on middle dot, throwing to 2nd arrow in, hook carried ball out to the 2nd board become coming back in a nice arc.

Joined a league with my ex-father in law (he really didn't like me till he found out I could bowl well.), and threw my arm out during a winter league at his "home" lanes, playing on his company's team. The center was just cheap with the oil, and I was standing full right and still hitting Brooklyn. Only way to correct was to throw harder, till the arm gave out.

Haven't been able to bowl since.

To this day I still cannot fully straighten it at the elbow. :(

[backwoodsbob]

7. 15 lb will NOT hit as hard

I use a 15 so trust me here.Weight makes a difference but control is much more important.You want as much weight as you can comfortably control.In fact the guy who drilled my stuff when I lived in Michigan(Gene Stuss's place at Cherry Hill lanes in Dearborn Heights)made sure any new stuff I got weighed exactly 15 lb 4 ounces.

A good wrist guard can help a lot with weight too

[auntAgonist]

6. I used to bowl years ago. Started in a youth bowling league

I really enjoyed it. We (G and I ) have never gone bowling. We might some day though.

Hey, bowling is a great way to socialize.

aA

[Awsi Dooger]

8. I need to start bowling again

I bowled on my high school team, basically as the first alternate. That sounds pathetic except the team was stacked with 200ish hot shots who went on to win the state championship a year later when they were seniors. As juniors -- my senior year -- they were hot headed and the coach would bench one of them for the second game after the predictable outburst in game one. I'd roll my pedestrian 170-180 in game two and that would be it, the coach confident he'd made his point and I'd be dismissed to the bench, the hot shot reinserted for game three. :)

Definitely go with the 16 pound ball until you're older or injured. I tried a 15 pound ball at one point and it lacked the explosion and mix.

I've bowled in leagues but not recently. My lefty full roller style is competent but doesn't produce strings of strikes, so I've never been as enthused or committed to bowling as much as golf.

[quip]

9. I don't have the balls for it

:hide:

Years ago. I did manage to score over 200, but only twice.

[TZ]

12. I should have known you know how to score!

Series. I have never ever sniffed 200. I think my best score ever is about 155.

[Turbineguy]

10. There are a couple

of people I would like to go bowling with. That's because I am the world's worst bowler and likely as not to drop the ball on their feet.:evilgrin:

It goes without saying that would be nobody in DU

[davsand]

11. I used to bowl on leagues. I even threw steel tip darts too!

Enjoyed both a lot. I miss the regular competition, and I liked that fact that by being on a league there was no crapping out and getting lazy--I had to show up.

One team I bowled on for about five years was a group of the wildest women I have ever known. We had the reputation as the loud drunk team--and we worked HARD at keeping that rep! My liver and brain both probably had some cells damaged as a result of that particular team, but it really was a lot of fun.

Now darts--I that miss that a lot too. I was a lot more sane with my consumption when I threw, but I still had about as much fun as you can with your clothing still on. I still have a board up in the garage but it just isn't the same...


Laura

[crimsonblue]

13. I'm elitist...

so no bowling for me. :yoiks:

[supernova]

14. Never got into it

I'm not athletic at all and just never got any good at it to make it enjoyable.

[JVS]

15. Speed is more important than weight. But both together is best.

[flvegan]

16. Me bowling is good comedic relief.

I bowl once a year as a fundraiser with a firm I used to work with. I'm a firm believer in the "harder you hurl it, the more pins you take down" mentality. I don't care about spin, curving, breaking...nonsense! It's all about foot placement and pure POWER!

My scores reflect this. Good, but not great.

[lost-in-nj]

17. I used to bowl in a league to

haven't gone in AGES

but we were talking about it the other night!!

good luck with your league!!!
and have fun!!

:hi:

lost

[reformedrethug]

18. Being as I pretty much grew

up in a bowling alley I can answer your questions with a fair amount of accuracy and I also used to coach the Junior/Senior leagues.

The weight of a ball does not necessarily mean you have more or less hitting power. With today's advances in the core's, cover stock, and drilling techniques you can get a ball that will hit like a freight train if it is drilled right and for your style. I recommend the pro at the pro shop at the house you bowl at, let them watch you throw a few shots with your current ball and listen to their recommendations.


So yes a 15 lb ball can hit with as much force so long as its drilled for your style.

The line you talk about is similar to mine, I stand with my right foot on the last dot on the left side, swing the ball out to around the 5 board and let it swing back in. Go with a resin coverstock and have it polished first to see if you can handle it. If it does not hit hard enough have the pro shop rough it up a bit. Just be careful, those resin balls can really take off if your not used to it.

I used to average 195-200 until I quit bowling. In 1 year I blew my knee, had my appendix rupture, and got laid off. Have not bowled in a league since even tho I want too. I miss it, I miss the socializing and fun I had (unless I was bowling like shit which for me was anything under 180 LOL)