roh's
Page of
Ten-Pin Bowling
I am quite heavily
into Ten-pin bowling, and have been for about the past 18-months
(since January 1998). I bowl about a 165 average, and play in
several leagues at Strykers Pleaseure Bowl Tamworth, and Strykers
AMF Bushbury. And I use Lol's Pro Shop, based at Strykers
Bushbury, and at Stirchly super-bowl. I am also a BTBA (British
Ten-Pin Bowling Association) Phase I coach.
Ten pin bowling
has recently started to mount a comeback into world sports, being
featured far more in TV coverage, and obtaining more recognition
from the common couch potato. Recent events have been the
Commonwealth Games, and the AMF World Cup in Japan. As well as
the ongoing American PBA Tour. Ten-pin bowling is a world-wide
sport, having strong centres in America, Scandinavia, and Korea.
south America, Northern Europe and other parts of Asia are also
well into the picture, but not so strongly. As with most things,
America have made bowling a huge sport, with the Professional
Bowlers Association (P.B.A.), and Pro staffs from the various
Ball manufacturers; the most prominent of which are Brunswick,
Brunswick Technology Ventures, AMF, Columbia 300, Storm, Track,
and Ebonite. Each manufacturer tends to create a specific type of
bowling ball, concentrating on one or two aspects of their balls.
Thus owning multiple bowling balls, from multiple manufacturers
is not a bad thing, considering the differing lane conditions of
modern centres.
My Arsenal:-
Brunswick
Combat Zone Green Tracer ... (non-tour edition) Long name huh? Well
this is my primary ball. A good solid addition to any arsenal,
skidding well through the heads, holding well in mid-lane, and
moving nicely as it touches the backend. This really is a great
ball, it hits hard into the pins (brooklyn or pocket) and moves
as much as you tell it to. On the down side, it suffers quite
harshly from carry-down, treating backends more like mid-lane.
However, a slight adjustment to ball speed, a small reduction in
the angle you bowl, and an extra revolution or two, and your back
in the pocket. One line that this ball REALLY likes, is straight
down board 5... great for those heavy rollers out there. Not the
ball for everyone though... the pearlized coverstock makes it
slightly less forgiving to heightened ball speed, or extra angle;
holding too long, and coming in on the 3-pin. But on the upside
it rolls right through the 1-2-4-7 spare with ease. Once more...
I Love this ball.
AMF Whiplash
... Can we say 'Wet
lanes ball'? I hope so, because thats exactly what this ball
is. It breaks early, rolling hard, then crushing the pins on
slightly light / pocket hits. Conversely, it can be played long
snapping hard at the last minute coming sharply into the
pocket... no more seven pins. One of the lines i like to play
with this mother of a ball, is feet on board 32 (I have a 1 board
drift to the right), and rolling it way out over board 15 at the
arrows (3rd Arrow); it pushes out to board 3, then breaks nicely
and arc quite hard into the pocket. That line does tend to leave
2-10 splits if the ball finds extra length, but it looks great.
This ball just moves, plain and simple... I still am looking for
lanes on which i can't get at least 10 boards from this (that
includes Jardines at Aylesbury if you have ever played there).
One hint... find oil, or put this back in the bag.
Storm
El Nino - Wrath ... WOW..... I bought this with the intention of a nice dry
lanes ball. Length of 7, good hook for the backend snap. Well,
this shows how deceptive manufacturers statistics are..... This
ball will give you its fair due in length, but from the moment
that you feel that super flek coverstock, you just can't imagine
it skidding that long. Infact it goes about the length of any
good pearl, but then it just snaps. This ball was designed to
move like there is no tomorrow, because it just flies. And when
it hits the pocket..... Amazing! The pins get thrown everywhere!
I am used to getting good carry due to high revs, but this is
ridiculous; a head pin flying off the wall (from a light
right-hand hit) through the four pin, and ploughing into a once
standing ten-pin.... this ball has an awesome hit with a purely
vicious backend snap. Don't let it cross the headpin.
Ebonite
Maxim...
My ever faithful spare ball. This was the ball i started with,
then had re-drilled to fingertip. What can I say about this
standard polyester.... It holds nicely, slams single pins, and
gives clusters a fair going through. It may deflect every so
often when the hit is light, but that makes it even more useful
for the baby split. Fair dues to a hardy ball that will take its
fair share of a bashing before allowing any marks to show on its
surface. Durable, straight (unless you really want it to move),
what more do you need from a spare ball?
Linds EXXXtra VHS Shoes
... These are
marvellous shoes, comfy and durable (also with a 10-year
warranty). But they cost a pretty penny too.
Pro-Grip ... Both ankle and wrist supports (also
called holy socks and a watch). These don't seem to do anything,
til you play without them. Adding strength to your legs and arm
through nerve pressure points. Marvellous contraptions.
So... still think of bowling as
just throwing a silly coloured ball at a group of wooden pins
wearing shoes which were rejected from clown-college? Well it
isn't. If you have any questions, thoughts, or want information
about bowling, mail me.