Need Help! Been out of Bowling for 17 years and am clueless.

[Comeback]

Hello Everyone,

Here's my story. Started bowling at the age of 3 (1974), and continued to do so until 1989 (age 18). At that time, I was averaging the highest in my league and area - about 200. I used an original black hammer. That's it. No other ball. 10 pin no problem, flatten the wrist and increase the speed. Bowled in several traveling leagues, and just adjusted my speed, revs, wrist position, etc... to adjust for lane conditions. My style of ball was moderate to high revs, best described as Marshall Holman/Dell Ballard Jr./Brian Voss/Norm Duke like. Not a huge cranker, but I rev it up pretty good. Moderate backswing and controlled style. No clue of ball speed or total revs, as that technology was not available at the time. The best I can describe was I start in the middle of the approach, and tried to hit a few boards from the gutter, breaking late into the pocket. Average ball speed. Of course this changed depending on conditions, but is where I usually start and feel most comfortable.

Anywho, oh, how times have changed. Went off to College, blah, blah, blah, and just never got back into bowling. Well I'd like that to change. Problem is, I still have my black Hammer and am clueless as to what went on the past 17 years. I noticed a 200 average is no longer tops in leagues, although from what I've seen 200 avg. bowlers 'appear' to have the skills of a 165-170 average bowlers from 1989 IMO. Easier lane conditions, better equipment, both? I don't know. Bottom line is I've been out of the game for a long time. Although, I recently rolled a few games and did fairly well. After all this time, I was still able to shoot consistent 200+ games with the black Hammer. My style (of course) remains the same as it did 17 years ago.

So here I am, wanting to get back into the sport. I plan to practice for a few months with my Urethane Black Hammer, but of course would like to eventually try some new equipment to increase my scores (Shoes + Ball). A 200 average isn't going to cut it anymore, although I feel I might be able to average more than that with current lane conditions set up for scoring (even with my Black Hammer). But why use a ball 20 years old if I can score better with newer equipment? To this point, I have never rolled a resin ball.

So here's how you guys can help. Fill in those 17 years and get me up to speed. Help me pick a current ball that might fit my style. I like the ball to go long and hook late, although that was always a function of my release/speed/revs and not the ball. That is the confusing part. From my limited reading, it seems soooo much is based on equipment now-a-days. And I am clueless.:confused: Here's what I do know. The TOTAL hook of my original black Hammer seems fine for most lane conditions. Not too much, not too little. Therefore, I would 'probably' be interested in a new ball that has a 'total' hook about equal to this ball. If it can slide longer and hook later, great. But I do not want the ball to grab right away and start breaking (like the old dull urethane balls - ie. Original Red Hammer, Columbia Black Urethane). In my limited reading the past few days, it seems many people love the Black Widow. Would this be a good choice, considering my style? Would the total hook of this ball be equal to the original black Hammer? More? Less? And lastly, any recommendations for shoes? I can't seem to locate mine. When I left the game, Dexter was the big name. Is this still the case?

Thanks for everyone's help. Looking forward to getting back into the sport! :D

[#1_HawgZilla_Owner]

Welcome back to the sport and boy is there alot of new balls and equipment. Glad you decided to stick with Hammer, its a great ball. I recently got back into bowling this past Summer after about a 11 year layoff. I started bowling when I was 7 and quit when I was 10 after we moved from IL to TN. I was bowling with 2 mid 90's balls, an Ebonite Gyro Pro and a Columbia 300 Black Shadow, 1 I got at the Goodwill for $2 and the other at a bowling center for $10. Avg 188 in the Summer league which I dont think was too bad. I looked around at different balls just to see what was good between Summer and Winter leagues and Hammer looked to be the best. So I bought a Hawg Zilla and Saw Blade, and love both to death. The Black Widow will probably be my next purchase, unless they come out with something before I plan on getting it. I think the Black Widow or possibly even the new Toxic would suit you rather well. As far as shoes, I wear Dexters, always have and always will.

[jedi47]

Welcome back to the game, Comeback,,,, reading your' post is just about a carbon copy of my thoughts upon getting back into bowling after 6 years....Mike Durbin put it best when he said today's equipment has taken the skill out of the game, that aside, we will all take advantage of it though (LOL).
From my experience, the Black Widow would be a good ball for you to get, and I also have only worn Dexter for shoes (currently SST-5).

[Lenny360]

Similar story to mine, but I only stopped for 6-7 years. I used to just use one ball and adjusted my game by moving around, varying speed/releases to suit the conditions. Now everyone just has different balls to do the work instead.

The black widow is probably going to have more total hook than your black hammer. Most newer balls will for that matter. I'm guessing you'll have to move left. I've cut back on my revs since I can be more accurate and the ball will still hit very hard.

The Toxic would be a good ball to start with. It'll give you the length you're looking for and you should be able to use it on just about any condition.

[dw800seeker]

I think your observations are interesting re: 200 average today is like 165-170 20 years ago. I never was into bowling as much as you were in the late 80s. I was in college then and never bowled at all. My 165 average was when I was teenager of about 14-17.

I had not picked up ball in about 20++ years when I started bowling after work around year and a half ago. First couple of times I used house ball and gnarled up my thumb. Bought a used Hammer Vicious and pair of shoes and joined a league after about 3 months of bowling once every few weeks on fridays after work.

My average started in the 170s and climbed to 188 by the end of first league that ended last May. Since then through more dedication I have my average in low 200s.

I think I am better bowler than what I was at 14-16 when I carried a 165 average. Back then I bowled in Saturday morning league and every once in a while family league with my mother, sister and father. I do not even know what kind of ball I had. It was black and replaced my kind of pearlized red balll I had when I was 12.

I think it would be interesting to compare somehow conditions of 1979, to 1989, to 1999 to the present.

I do believe that my shoes with interchangeable parts kick butt on what I had when I was 15 years old in 1979. Another big improvement for me is the tape I can put on the back of my thumb to ease the pain from my thumb blisters. I used to use liquid skin and patches in the 70s and that burned really bad and never healed. I have a scar on the back of my thumb from bowling as a teenager. For me the biggest improvement in my game is I have a driver's license and a job. Now I can get to the bowling alley whenever I want and buy and get drilled any ball that I want. Unfortunately I am kind of compulsive and have bought about 17 balls in the almost 2 years now since I have been bowling after 20+ year layoff.

I think another improvement is ESPN classics. I can watch bowling every morning before I go to work. DVR is pretty cool because I can watch Sundays' PBA all through the week when I do not feel like watching some event from the 70s that I have already seen several times. I also really enjoy the internet for buying and researching balls and talking to all the hammer heads from around the world who come and chat here. The automatic scorer is kind of a mixed blessing. I think it did come into existence sometime before I stopped bowling in early 80s.

Good luck with coming back to bowling. I hope you enjoy as much or more than I have.

BTW: I was watching TV the other day and people were getting some pretty big scores on that 300 marathon going back more than 30 years.

[Ray75]

Welcome back!!! If I were in your shoes, the first thing I would do is find a good pro shop and then have the person running it watch me bowl. Then, they could recomend a ball based on how I'm playing and the rotation on the ball. Dexter is still one of the best out there. As for the ball; if you don't want to go to the pro shop, then I would recomend the Black Widow. It could be a good ball for you if it's drilled to your game. Yes, a lot has changed, even in the 17yrs I've been throwing. Just remember, even though the equipment and lanes are different, it's still the same ol' great people that love to bowl. This forum is proof of that....

[Comeback]

Thanks for all the responses and information. I'm looking forward to seeing what I can do once I get back in rhythm. Having a pro shop owner watch my shot is great advice, and I was kinda thinking the same thing.... There is a guy in the Pittsburgh area that comes recommended by a few people I know, so I'll probably have him do just that... Examine my track/revs/style etc... He sells all the Hammer gear, and is the one that told me the Black Widow is a great/popular ball. Not too mention I always loved my black Hammer.

After watching some games in a league the other day, the biggest difference I noticed was guys that throw a 'dead ball' at release (IMO), still carry at the pins. The ball just starts to 'magically' pics up revs and start breaking at 1/2 to 3/4 lane. I think the equipment helps these guys the most, and not as much for someone who can carry pins with a rubber/plastic/urethane ball. I would guess a 'dead ball' players average would drop 25-30 pins with a plastic/rubber ball, and a good 15 with Urethane. Just a guess. A lot would depend on what type of spare bowler they are.... Then add in the lane conditions that are suited for these resin balls and tack on what, another 5-10? In my case, I'll be really happy if I can average 10 pins more with the new equipment. Not sure about the current lane conditions and how that will effect my scoring. Back in 1989, my average jumped about 5-7 pins when switching from a plastic Columbia Blue Dot to the Black Urethane Hammer. I carried just a little bit more.... Even with a plastic ball, I still would carry pins due to revs + sharp back end break point. Where the Black Hammer helped was if the ball did not come off my hand clean, or I didn't rip it as well, it might still carry all 10. Whereas the Blue Dot would not in this situation.

Keep the advice/opinions coming... MUCH APPRECIATED!

[Da Hamma]

I, like you, have also returned back to the sport of bowling in 2000, after a 11 year hiatus. As I stated in earlier posts, I had to re-learn the game, read and study about the new equipment out there and get advice from other bowlers as to the scientific aspect to the sport. Just to let you know, I have only used Hammer the past 24 years now. I am in my early 50s and bowl regular 2 nights a week and sub on a third. I finally realized what I been missing --- the commadre and fun of bowling, and plan to stay with it til I can't walk down the lanes anymore.

I favor the Black Widow drilled in a strong layout. It has the long roll and pretty bad-ass break with the hitting power I have only seen in the Buzzsaw. My actual "go to ball" is the Road hawg as its pretty much versatile on any lane coditions, but the b/w is on its way to that status.

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Arsonal: 2001 (not in use), High Rev, Road Hawg, Black Widow and now--Hawgzilla:cool: