Birthday coming up, what should I ask for?

[grayfin68]

OK, Jan 31 is still a few weeks away, but my lovely wife wants to know what I want. I'm also a golfer, but I just got all new clubs last year and don't need any golf gear.

So, I'm thinking about another ball. I currently have the PAIN and the TOXIC.

So, a logical progression may be to get a DOOM, but what about a BW or NM?

I'm officially a Hammer Head. One thing I run into is that sometimes my bowling center lanes don't get oiled for long stretches over the weekend and the oil gets carried down to the back ends.

Sometimes though, the lanes dry up and I need less aggressive.

I could also just stick what I have and get a 4 ball roller for travel. I keep my balls in a locker at the center currently and have only a two ball bag.

Any suggestions? I'm a Tweener and I start left foot around 32 and throw at the second arrow. Ball speed around 17-18 mph.

BTW, my mom found a pair of Dexter SST 5's (the basketball sneaker type with interchangeable soles) on Ebay for 49.99 on EBAY with shipping. Unbelievable. I can't wait to get them.

I have an old pair of SST 5's that have been great, but are kind of out of style now.

[jman69]

Having all of the Raw balls in your arsenal would be sweet. Good luck with whatever you decide:cool:

[grayfin68]

Having all of the Raw balls in your arsenal would be sweet. Good luck with whatever you decide:cool:

I just want to know if the DOOM is worth it since I already have the TOXIC.

[kbowl300]

If you need something for the drier lanes, don't count out the Vibe. I have only sold a couple, but they have a similar reaction characteristic to the tropical storms, very good ball very good price. I'm not completely sold on the NM...it's good, but we've seen better success out of the hawg zilla in our center. you can't go wrong with the widow either...very good ball!!

[grayfin68]

If you need something for the drier lanes, don't count out the Vibe. I have only sold a couple, but they have a similar reaction characteristic to the tropical storms, very good ball very good price. I'm not completely sold on the NM...it's good, but we've seen better success out of the hawg zilla in our center. you can't go wrong with the widow either...very good ball!!

You're the first person on the board that hasn't fully endorsed the NM, but the people at my bowling center (the manager and pro) believe that the BW is much better than the NM.

I'm not convinced which way I want to go as far as a ball for heavier or lighter oil. A PURE may also be a good ball as well as the VIBE for light oil.

What about the HAWG for the super heavy stuff? I guess I don't really need another med-heavy oil ball since I have the PAIN, so I either need a heavy oil ball or a light oil ball.

In my league, I don't really need either, but I'm thinking about getting into tournaments and traveling around, so I'd like to find out which conditions I'd be most likely to deal with in tournaments. Heavy or light? I'll probably lean whichever way is more likely.

[jman69]

If you go with a light oil ball then I have to agree about the Vibe. My team mate has a Blue Vibe and when the lanes are light that ball works very well. I have thrown it a couple of times and it is a good ball.

[Ray75]

As long as its a hammer, you can't go wrong.

[Tunat]

greyfin68...you ask what ball you should get and you talk about going out to tournments, not sure which ones you are referring to. I too bowl in Md, saw from your sign on, but on the eastern shore. I bowl in several tournments in area and I suggest something for heavy oil. I have not found many tournments that are not medium to heavy especially on second shift with the carry down. I would either go with the BW or the NM. With what u have the NM might be the best choice

[dw800seeker]

Slow down man. Didn't you just get the Toxic around Xmas? Perhaps you should let your new equipment get broken in before adding another ball.

I like to get a new ball every month but I am not sure that is practical. If you have not faced a condition where your strong ball does not work for you perhaps you should wait before joining the NM/BW/or HZ crew.:D :D

[Longrodder]

I have a Doom and really like it...but if you have the Pain and Toxic already I would not go with the Doom. I also hae a Pure that really works on dry lanes and is also a GREAT spare ball!!!! I have heard good things about the Vibe also for dryer conditions...the guy in my pro shop told me about the Pure working great as a spare ball and I went that route and glad I did. I have just bought a No Mercy but have not used it in league play yet. Steve

[grayfin68]

greyfin68...you ask what ball you should get and you talk about going out to tournments, not sure which ones you are referring to. I too bowl in Md, saw from your sign on, but on the eastern shore. I bowl in several tournments in area and I suggest something for heavy oil. I have not found many tournments that are not medium to heavy especially on second shift with the carry down. I would either go with the BW or the NM. With what u have the NM might be the best choice

Yeah, I heard the same about some of the houses here in MD also. In fact, one of the centers about 45 min away is notorious for flooded conditions.

I haven't bowled up there yet, but some tourneys are there. It's in Prince Frederick, MD.

Anyway, the HAWG is billed as Hammer's tool for the heaviest oil, but I haven't heard much about it.

I've heard great stuff about the HZ and the BW and mixed reviews on the NM.

I think the fact that we have a lot of high humiditiy in this area attributes to heavy oil more often than dry.

[grayfin68]

Slow down man. Didn't you just get the Toxic around Xmas? Perhaps you should let your new equipment get broken in before adding another ball.

I like to get a new ball every month but I am not sure that is practical. If you have not faced a condition where your strong ball does not work for you perhaps you should wait before joining the NM/BW/or HZ crew.:D :D

I got the TOXIC around Thanksgiving. If I got a gift certificate, I'd still get a ball with it. I'm anxious to have a good repitiore of balls to cover all conditions. There have been some instances where in practice, the lanes have a lot of carry down where my PAIN doesn't even react that well.

[TenPinSniper]

A Tuff would ge good. For heavy shoot get one the latest Hawg, BW or NM. Damn Ebonite Maxim has to go, a four ball roller would be good. I like my KR 3 Ball Roller has a 5 year warranty.

I really try to worry about shoot good in practice... usually not a condition you ever bowl on, atleast in my area. It's fun to strike, but spares are where its at in practice. Look at it like this, if you dont strike in the first nine frames, plus three in the tenth, you got to throw 21 time instead of 12. Just put it close to the pocket. The tenth is all about striking. If I get to practice before league or video taping... I'll try to strike.

[grayfin68]

A Tuff would ge good. For heavy shoot get one the latest Hawg, BW or NM. Damn Ebonite Maxim has to go, a four ball roller would be good. I like my KR 3 Ball Roller has a 5 year warranty.

I really try to worry about shoot good in practice... usually not a condition you ever bowl on, atleast in my area. It's fun to strike, but spares are where its at in practice. Look at it like this, if you dont strike in the first nine frames, plus three in the tenth, you got to throw 21 time instead of 12. Just put it close to the pocket. The tenth is all about striking. If I get to practice before league or video taping... I'll try to strike.

Well, the Ebonite is a spare ball and is only a few months old, so it's going to be a while before I ditch it for a Hammer spare ball. I'm on the same page as you as far as practice, but what I want is another ball to make sure I can cover all of the lane conditions that happen out there in the various houses.

I may be able to polish up my 3D Axis and use it for lighter conditions and then get a HAWG or something.

[TenPinSniper]

Had to bring it up.. the Tuff. Personally need one myself, have a white dot. Dont know that I would pay more for a Tuff, than another plastic ball.

[grayfin68]

Had to bring it up.. the Tuff. Personally need one myself, have a white dot. Dont know that I would pay more for a Tuff, than another plastic ball.

The Tuff is only a few bucks more, but I'm going to wait until my Ebonite gets trashed out. I am a Hammerhead, but I'm not going to waste a perfectly good spare ball.

[TenPinSniper]

Like my No Mercy, lanes past two weeks have had no backends, oil looks dirty right after they oiled the lanes. Nothing has really worked .

[EIGHTBALL033]

OK, Jan 31 is still a few weeks away, but my lovely wife wants to know what I want. I'm also a golfer, but I just got all new clubs last year and don't need any golf gear.

So, I'm thinking about another ball. I currently have the PAIN and the TOXIC.

So, a logical progression may be to get a DOOM, but what about a BW or NM?

I'm officially a Hammer Head. One thing I run into is that sometimes my bowling center lanes don't get oiled for long stretches over the weekend and the oil gets carried down to the back ends.

Sometimes though, the lanes dry up and I need less aggressive.

I could also just stick what I have and get a 4 ball roller for travel. I keep my balls in a locker at the center currently and have only a two ball bag.

Any suggestions? I'm a Tweener and I start left foot around 32 and throw at the second arrow. Ball speed around 17-18 mph.

BTW, my mom found a pair of Dexter SST 5's (the basketball sneaker type with interchangeable soles) on Ebay for 49.99 on EBAY with shipping. Unbelievable. I can't wait to get them.

I have an old pair of SST 5's that have been great, but are kind of out of style now.

HAMMER 4BALL ROLLER AND NO MERCY OR ZILLA FOR HEAVY:D

[Tunat]

Humidity...try it down here in OC. I'd stick with a heavy oil ball...I've heard and seen good things from the NM, the HZ seems to be a sleeper don't see too many of them at all. The choice is yours but either one would be great for the job for heavy oil and great addition to the bag.

[dw800seeker]

I can not say enough good things about the Black Widow. It will like the line you are talking about in your original posts.

I do not face a lot of oil. The one time I took my BW traveling I found an unusual oil pattern for me that was out of bounds at about 8 board to gutter. I would throw my usual from 25-30 with feet ---> 10 board out to 5 or so and it would not come back to pocket. To score I had to take ball to 15 board out to 10. Still couldn't score too well because when I missed my mark I often missed to the right into the out of bounds.

When I presented my quandry of the unusual oil pattern (for me) to my local bowling guru he told me to try to move way out right (like 10-15 with feet) and play up the out of bounds toward the pocket. My best ball for that pattern at the time was my Thunder Struck:mad: :o