2012:
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September
Ed from Paincourtville, LA:
Hey Phantom, how many bowling balls would you suggest, to have, while bowling in league? I have an Hammer Arson and I love it. I have a Lane #1 Gemstone, that I use as a spare ball. I can't get strikes with it. It just doesn't carry. There are some new Hammer balls coming out. I like the Arson Pearl and the Rachet.
Phantom:
Hi Ed,
For bowling 3-games in league, I would suggest having 4-balls ready.
One ball would be your "spare" ball. That would be your low friction ball that goes relatively straight and you are confident with it when shooting your spares. The other 3-balls would vary in friction (from High to Low) and would be available to you for the varying lane conditions. Any more balls than that would possibly create confusion.
Phantom
John from Williamsburg, VA:
What happened to the quantum Helix bowling ball?
Phantom:
Hi John,
The Quantum Helix was made by Brunswick and they discontinued it.
I suggest that you contact Brunswick for the reason.
Phantom
Nicholas from Fair Oaks, CA:
Hi, Currently owned a 14 lbs Nexxus and looking for a second ball the compliment the Nexxus. Can you recommend a few? Thanks, Nicholas
Phantom:
Nicholas,
It is so hard to recommend a bowling ball(s) to someone that I have not seen bowl, that I seldom
do it. My advice is to go to your local pro shop and have them watch you bowl to get a better idea
of what you need. Thanks for your understanding.
Len
Matt from Evansville, IN:
Hi i have a track 916 that is drilled with the pin right above middle finger and i have a problem of it rolling over thumb hole, unless i take a lot of hand out of ball but then it don't read lane well. I was wondering if i got a brace to help keep hand straighter if this could help but still give good reaction. thanks for any help with this.
Phantom:
Hi Matt,
This is not an unusual problem. Lots of bowlers track over their thumb hole at the beginning of the lane. The thing you want to remember is that today?s bowling ball weight blocks have high track flare potential and the 916 is very much that kind of ball. Flare causes the balls initial ball roll to ?flare? or relocate it?s position on the surface of the ball. You should be seeing this evidence as oil lines that go from the thumb hole and around the ball with the oil lines moving to the left or away from the thumb hole and going over the top of the finger holes.
The benefit of this is that the ball isn?t continually rolling over the thumb hole. As a matter of fact it should only be rolling over it once and at the most twice. The other good news is that this is happening on the front part of the lane and not the back end of the lane when you are looking for traction and consistent hook motion.
Moral to the story; don?t worry about it if you are seeing those other oil lines that I mentioned moving away from the thumb hole, it isn't causing any problems with ball motion. I do recommend that you think about a slight change in release in the future to drop your ball track down an inch or so or even another layout for your next ball to help with this situation. I recommend an IBPSIA certified Pro Shop for help in ball layouts and other kinds of bowling ball drilling and fitting questions you will have in the future.
Good Luck and Good Bowling,
Phantom
Ed from Paincourtville, LA:
How much time should you practice before league play, without wearing down? I usually get to the bowling alley, 2 hours before league play. I normally play 3 games before but I think it's to much. My third game in league play, I'm usually showing fatigue. How do you deal with fatigue?
Phantom:
Hi Ed,
GOOD questions.
We recently had a former PBA player on my Phantom Radio Show. He is now a Physical Therapist and he talked at length on what you are asking. He was a Guest on the Show 2-times and those shows are archived on our (Kegel) website, at: www.foundation300.com
The dates of those 2 Shows were: December 2011 and April 2012. Go there and look for:
Past Shows.
Those Dates.
Ted Glattke.
I am sure that you will learn a lot from listening to them. Thanks.
phantom
Mary from Greenwood, SC:
How can i release my ball the same way,each time,i have been told that i come over the top at times,i am female have a good roll,ball breaks a lot i use a 12 lb,what do i need to do at the lanes to practice.
Phantom:
Mary,
Perfecting a good release is just a matter of repetition.
ALL bowlers have a tendency to "come over the top" from time to time.
My suggestion, is: practice, practice practice.
Good Luck
phantom
Don from Bethalto, IL:
I have a lot of problems converting the 10 pin spare. I don't throw very hard and my ball speed is usually about 12-14 mph. I have tried different releases with my current balls but most of the time they still hook at the last minute and miss right. When I throw it wider it usually ends up in the gutter. Can you suggest a ball or maybe some ideas that will help. Thanks
Phantom:
Hi Don,
You aren't alone with this problem, as many people miss this common spare.
Basically, there are 3 things that you must do.
1. Get a low friction ball, preferably plastic.
2. Learn to stand left and go cross lane at it with a straight ball. Try not to impart any lift by allowing the fingers and thumb to come out at the same time. Try to keep your wrist as flat as possible when releasing the ball.
3. Practice this as much as possible.
Once you gain confidence in converting this corner pin, it will become easy.
Good Luck.
phantom
Shivers from Leander, TX:
Where can I find a 13 -13.5 lbs Columbia "Burst" bowling ball,discontinued.
Phantom:
I would try e-bay. Sometimes people get lucky there.
Good luck.
phantom
Carlo From San Diego, CA:
HI I THROW A STRAIGHT BALL COLUMBIA 300, I WANT A BALL THAT BREAKS TO THE LEFT AT THE END OF THE LANE ON A DRY TO MED OIL LANE, PRICE RANGE 60 TO I20,YOU CAN CALL AT 619-871-5384 OR E MAIL CCIRIONI@SAN.RR.COM THANK YOU VERY MUCH CARLO CIRIONI
Phantom:
Carlo,
I don't normally recommend "types" of bowling balls to buy. Todays balls are all designed to hook. What I will do is recommend that you work on a stronger release. I assume that you are right-handed. That being the case, try keeping your hand under the ball at the bottom of your approach and then lifting and turning your palm up at point of release. Try picturing your thumb at 9:00 o'clock before release - and then at 12:00 o'clock at point of release. This "action" should give you some desired hook. Thanks
phantom
Russ from PONTIAC, MI:
OK BEFORE I STARTED LEARNING HOW TO PLAY UP THE BOARDS AS THEY SAY I DID THROW A BIG KINDA HOOK. NOW IM UP THE BOARDS WHICH OVER THE YEARS OF DOING HAVE MADE MY AVERAGE SKY ROCJET.IM A MED PACED FINESSE POWER BOWLER ..MY AVG AT MOST HOUSE'S IS BETWEEN 210-220 .PLUS THE FACT I BOUGHT A SPARE BALL TO .CAN GETTING MY BALL DRILLED TO DO THE SKIDA FLIP WOULD THAT GIVE ME A LONGER READING IN THE FRONT AND A EVEN STRONGER REACTION IN BACK END .....
Phantom:
Hi Russ,
Thanks for all the info.
The answer is: yes it will.
phantom
Bobby Faulkner from Farmington, NM:
I have started bowling more seriously in my later life(I'm 69 soon to be 70)I am in good shape and have just bought a 14 # Elite Red Alien Bowling Ball. I am trying to learn how to hook the ball. My top score is 194,my longer term average is 140. I have a Storm ball which I am trying to hook with limited success. My speed is between 13 and 17 mph. I can hook it slightly, but have not been able to develop any consistency. I have two questions: 1. Which of the 3 Elite recommended drillings should I get with the elite ball to get max hook? They recommend #2 drilling for max hook 2. What do the specs RG and diff mean in the specs for a reactive ball?
Phantom:
Bobby,
Thanks for the question. Glad to see that you have taken up the Sport.
Hooking a bowling ball involves many things - timing, release, leverage, etc.
Being a new bowler, I wouldn't worry about how much hook you have. I would
concentrate on perfecting the fundamentals on getting to the foul line the
same way each time. Regarding the "spec sheets", your Pro Shop person should
give you the correct drilling. "RG" (radius of gyration) and "Diff" (differential)
are technical phrases regarding the inner layout of the ball.
Len