| laborlitigator |
Although I love watching many sports, I really only participate in 2. That being tennis and bowling. (Must be the Filipino in me).
Just wondering if anyone else bowls.
BTW, what's your avg. and what ball do you use? |
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| BaldEagle |
Just started bowling again 3 years ago. Used to bowl a lot years ago, 60's, when I worked at a bowling alley while going to college. Even taught a few bowling classes for the local JC while I worked at the bowling alley. After a 30 year layoff I am now averaging higher than I did when I was much younger.
I have found the conditions now to be much easier than they were in the 60's. Love the new artificial lanes, much easier for me to hold a line than on the wooden ones. I bowl once a week, never practice, and I booked this year at 205.
I use a "hammer" and an old AMF three dot classic when I bowl. The old AMF ball is hard rubber and has negative side and top weight, use it as a spare ball, especially for the 7 pin. (I'm a lefty) |
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| JimH |
I bowled for 31 years (age 11-42), and then dropped the sport and league bowling due to being just too busy w/ work, etc. I remember averaging around 140 in my early teens, and averaged from 175-180 for the 15 years that I bowled in league.
My last bowling ball I purchased was a Brunswick Mark X, which I still use when I do bowl.
My main recreational sports now are the occasional tennis game, skiing, and I play raquetball from 2-4 times per week. |
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| gdot |
| I used to bowl a lot a few years ago, but I found it to get in the way of my drinking :yummy: |
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| laborlitigator |
quote:
Originally posted by BaldEagle
I have found the conditions now to be much easier than they were in the 60's. Love the new artificial lanes, much easier for me to hold a line than on the wooden ones.
Any explanation why wooden lanes produce that result?
I do agree with you however, I still prefer the wood lanes as opposed to the new synthetics. It just seems the ball hooks more on the old ones. |
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| nwaring |
I used to bowl a lot. I also taught junior league bowlers in the seventies. If I had to guess I probably had a career 185 average. I basically quit about 14 years ago and now I might do it a couple times a year. My equipment is old, an old Johnny P, LT48, and so is my style. I am a 3 stepper. We did go out with a group of friends last month and I threw a small 600 and a couple years ago my wife and me went out with our oldest daughter to meet the “new” boyfriend and I fired a 268 in the first game:D I think I could still throw for a decent average but with all the changes in the lanes I know it would take new equipment and a new right elbow:)
Niles |
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| BaldEagle |
quote:
Originally posted by laborlitigator
Any explanation why wooden lanes produce that result?
I do agree with you however, I still prefer the wood lanes as opposed to the new synthetics. It just seems the ball hooks more on the old ones.
Wooden lanes are softer than artificial ones. Except for the pin decks and ball drop area (maple) they are pine. Also, the oil tends to stay on the artificial lanes better. Usually after heavy league bowling wooden lanes will hook even more where artificial ones will only hook a little more after heavy use.
I get plenty of hook on the artificial lanes. On wooden lanes the hook is much more and difficult for me to control. If I bowled more often on the wooden lanes I suppose I could make adjustments; harder ball and pick up my ball speed a notch.
What line do you normally play? I use the 8 or 9 board and on wooden lanes have to move in to the 15 board. |
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| laborlitigator |
I'm not sure what line. I usually go between the 2nd and 3rd arrow on the right. I start at the 2nd most left dot on the lane. Not too sure what that is.
Start around 130 bowler and have gotten myself up to 176. I just wish I could keep it going higher but I seem to have hit a plateau. |
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| DaleB |
quote:
Originally posted by BaldEagle
I use a "hammer" and an old AMF three dot classic when I bowl. The old AMF ball is hard rubber and has negative side and top weight, use it as a spare ball, especially for the 7 pin. (I'm a lefty)
Hey, fellow lefty! I have a hook that doesn't quit. Last time I played (it's been a while) I was getting it aligned to work for me. It is a sweeping hook, but getting it to start at the right point has been the challenge. Timing is everything....Bowling is good recreation. Great family fun.
Jeez, I used to watch it a lot on the boob tube. the likes of Dick Weber and Earl Anthony. |
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| BaldEagle |
Interesting how most lefty's have a lot of hook. Our side of the lane is in much better shape, less wear, less loss of oil, yet we seem to have more hook than the typical right hander even without cranking the ball....??
Dale, with your sweeping hook you need to keep moving inside to you find a line that works for you. When I bowled a lot in the 60's I played a far outside line. Now I've found that moving inside works better. Usually go between the 1st and 2nd arrows (8 or 9 board) with an angle that lets it swing out to the 4th or 5th board before the hook brings it back. If the conditions of the lanes make the ball hook more I move to the 10 or 11 board and let it slide out to the 5 or 6 board before it comes back.
Your comment about timing is right on. If you can be constant all that is needed is to find the right angle for the conditions to score well. Except on wooden lanes for me. Just breaks too much to control. |
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| laborlitigator |
What's your highest game?
Actually got 279 once. |
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| BaldEagle |
This year my highest game was 278, best series, 714, lowest series 542.
Have been much more consistant since the pro shop made an adjustment on my span and I drilled a spare ball with minus top and side weight. |
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| JimH |
| Finally decided to look for a new bowling ball to replace my 81' vintage Brunswick Mark X--polyester ball. Ebonite had a demo day at my local bowling alley this last weekend. They had their current new series balls (all Vortex , excels, the one, and other series), where one could bowl for 2 hours and try out all the new models (using finger/thumb inserts to get the proper fit). What a world of difference the new resin balls make. Also amazing is the trajectory differences and hook potential for each ball. I finally found the best ball for myself, which was the Vortex--V2 Power model. I tried using the very popular "The One" ball, but it hooked way to sharp for my game. Otherwise, it was a great ball also. I highly recommend the Demo days by Ebonite for those that want to try different Ebonite balls. You can find the demo days on www.ebonite.com under the Demo Days tab. |
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| G. COLTON |
quote:
Originally posted by BaldEagle
Wooden lanes are softer than artificial ones. Except for the pin decks and ball drop area (maple) they are pine. Also, the oil tends to stay on the artificial lanes better. Usually after heavy league bowling wooden lanes will hook even more where artificial ones will only hook a little more after heavy use.
I get plenty of hook on the artificial lanes. On wooden lanes the hook is much more and difficult for me to control. If I bowled more often on the wooden lanes I suppose I could make adjustments; harder ball and pick up my ball speed a notch.
What line do you normally play? I use the 8 or 9 board and on wooden lanes have to move in to the 15 board.
I have never heard of any bowling alleys that use pine anywhere on the lanes. It is just too soft unless it is the South American pine. It would be groved in no time.
G |
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| ghost |
Yup, sugar maple is the preferred species for lanes - when Japan went on a bowling kick in the 1970's the demand and price of US sugar maples skyrocketed.
I used to bowl, now I prefer the thrill of curling - just as much drinking, and now you're on ice! :) |
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| G. COLTON |
quote:
Originally posted by ghost
Yup, sugar maple is the preferred species for lanes - when Japan went on a bowling kick in the 1970's the demand and price of US sugar maples skyrocketed.
I used to bowl, now I prefer the thrill of curling - just as much drinking, and now you're on ice! :)
Curling looks like a lot of fun. I had to give up bowling because of arthritis in my right hand. Maybe curling would work. Do you think we could get up a curling league in florida?
G |
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| ghost |
Well I'll be - there WAS a curling club in Florida a couple years ago, cited in USA Today - but I'll be darn if I can find any reference to it now... Probably had trouble keeping the ice in good shape.
And yes, it turns out you can throw a rock by pushing it down the ice with an extender stick - some of the toughest guys to beat in our club are in their 70s.
Our club is hosting the Jr. Nationals here this week, its a big deal, as curling goes... |
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| BaldEagle |
quote:
Originally posted by G. COLTON
I have never heard of any bowling alleys that use pine anywhere on the lanes. It is just too soft unless it is the South American pine. It would be groved in no time.
G
When I was going to school I worked at a bowling alley and even made repairs to the wood on bowling lanes. Most of the repairs were required at the ball drop area because of bowlers lofting the ball and cracking the wood.
Almost all of the older bowling lanes were made with a lot of pine. Some used only maple but they were rare. The pine is used in the middle of the lanes with maple used on pin decks, approaches, and for about the first 20 ft of the lanes (harder for ball drop area). The hard finish on the wooden lanes and lane conditioner (oil) prevented a groove. |
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| BaldEagle |
quote:
Originally posted by gdot
I used to bowl a lot a few years ago, but I found it to get in the way of my drinking :yummy:
You would fit in great with a team on the league I bowled in. That team had on the back of their shirts "Drinkers with a bowling problem". Very appropriate for them, they always finished in last place but they also always had the most fun.:2: |
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| DaleB |
quote:
Originally posted by BaldEagle
You would fit in great with a team on the league I bowled in. That team had on the back of their shirts "Drinkers with a bowling problem". Very appropriate for them, they always finished in last place but the also always had the most fun.:2:
I bowled in a Safeway league like that years ago. Actually, it seems like they started up more seriously, but shortly after I joined the averages headed for the toilet. Maybe it had something to do with my way of drinking...hmm....not sure.. |
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