Rookie Hammer bowler

[trldef]

I am a Rookie Hammer bowler with a 177 official avg (Been bowling total for 1 yr and 6 months) and have explored different forums and am impressed with the info found on this site.

I have bowled with the Hammer Hawg for the past year, but as I read your post I haven't really seen anyone else that has thrown the Hawg. Recently I have been qusetioning the ability of the bowl to carry in Oil as advertised. Can anyone suggest or help with my dilema?!?! It seem like I see alot more hook with other bawls. I am not partial to just getting hammer as the only reason I throw one is because the EPX(Yuck) that I had cracked twice and the proshop at where I bowl at said it would match the hooking power... Or should I have to ball drilled to roll earilier..

[Gryndryno]

The action, or lack thereof could be because of the way it is drilled or more likely just the number of games you might already have on it. About every 100-150 games with the hawgs or any other ball with a similar coverstock, I would recommend having it reconditioned by your local pro. There are others on here that know more about the process than I do. I am sure they can chip in with their 2 cents soon.

[DamHammer]

Even a basic cleaning at the pro shop will do wonders for your equipment. I have my own spinner, and weekly clean the ball with a mixture of 409 Cleaner & Castro Oil Superclean. I do this with a green pad on the spinner and then but the shine back on the ball using an old product - pro shot. most of the new ball cleaners / polishes will work in place of the pro shot. I have been doing my own ball maintenance for about 12 years.

If you do not have spinner, and do not want to pay the pro shop price (I do not know what they charge) one of the guys that bowls with me uses the Storm ball cleaner after bowling and then twice a year brings me the ball for a more thorough job.

Just cleaning the ball before you put it up after bowling will make the reaction last longer. 409 is a great - cheap cleaner.

[trldef]

Thanks for the replies... I do clean my ball generally once every two days with some Cleaner called UltraClean from the Tenth Frame... And I also soak it in Hot water with dawn soap once a week...

For some reasons it seems like I have to really come around the ball(Releasing middle finger at about 3 O' clock) to get a reaction. My speed normally is around 12.5-13 mph, but can sometimes really rip it at around 14-15.... I do bowl a lot of games though.. About 50-68 a month over the past year or so... From what Gryndyno said is that what's killing me, and if that is it would resurfacing the ball and getting it re drilled help...

Thanks again for the help!

[LordWalrus]

I do bowl a lot of games though.. About 50-68 a month over the past year or so... From what Gryndyno said is that what's killing me, and if that is it would resurfacing the ball and getting it re drilled help...


I'd say if you haven't had the ball resurfaced after putting that many games on it, the ball is long overdue for a resurface job. Once you have it done, it'll be like having a new ball again. Personally, I wouldn't redrill it. If after having it resurfaced you still want to change the reaction, then consider a redrill.

[Gryndryno]

I'd say if you haven't had the ball resurfaced after putting that many games on it, the ball is long overdue for a resurface job. Once you have it done, it'll be like having a new ball again. Personally, I wouldn't redrill it. If after having it resurfaced you still want to change the reaction, then consider a redrill.
I agree 100%, no need to redrill. I wasn't sure if you had lost reaction or never had it earlier when I brought that up.

[big blue]

the very first thing I would do is resurface the ball. Then throw a few games on a shot where I knew what the ball was supposed to do watching the ball closely to view the rotation and how the ball reads the lane. Then once it returns to me look at the ball and make sure your ball has good flare. If all seems good then I would think about either re-drilling it or ask your pro shop about possibly changing the balance of the ball by putting a balance hole in it.

Another thing to watch is to make sure your ball in not rolling out. If this is the case add polish and it will help stor the balls energy till further down the lane giving you more lenght but better back end.

[trldef]

I appreciate it... I had a feeling I needed to resurface the ball but the Pro shop Owner I was going to at the time( Has just retired) kept telling me after he looked at my ball and saw no big nicks, in the track of the ball, that I did not need to have it resurfaced. I'm glad to hear that, that was not correct information(I was recently coming up light alot, leaving the 1,2,and 4pins, or the front part of a bucket):mad: , and have just felt a new life coming on:D !!!!

Will let you know what happens...

Thanks, you guys are really helpful like I thought!

[jedi47]

but can sometimes really rip it at around 14-15....

14-15 is "ripping" it???????????? Damn, I haven't thrown a ball less than 16.5-17 in over 35 years

[trldef]

I'd say if you haven't had the ball resurfaced after putting that many games on it, the ball is long overdue for a resurface job. Once you have it done, it'll be like having a new ball again. Personally, I wouldn't redrill it. If after having it resurfaced you still want to change the reaction, then consider a redrill.


Went to pick up my ball y-day after they reconditioned the ball and the bawl for some reason looked more shiny:confused: ... The guy in the proshop told me that there would be a big difference in the reaction, but I didn't notice to much of a difference.

What I did find out is that I was not come over the ball, to get the ball into the normal rotation I have, so I did accomplish something. Although the recoditioning didn't really help, it did make my ball look better:D !!!

[big blue]

Went to pick up my ball y-day after they reconditioned the ball and the bawl for some reason looked more shiny:confused: ... The guy in the proshop told me that there would be a big difference in the reaction, but I didn't notice to much of a difference.

What I did find out is that I was not come over the ball, to get the ball into the normal rotation I have, so I did accomplish something. Although the recoditioning didn't really help, it did make my ball look better:D !!!


to make a ball work you have to "HIT" it as I would call it. That is what starts the ball on its side rotation and causes the ball to flip and hook.

[trldef]

to make a ball work you have to "HIT" it as I would call it. That is what starts the ball on its side rotation and causes the ball to flip and hook.


I'll be keeping that in mind tonight, as it is the first day of league, and I need to be on top of my game, because it's team matchplay... I got recruited thru the summer league I was into and don't want to look stupid. The team that picked me up just happens to have a brother combo that avgs. over 200 easy..

[big blue]

I'll be keeping that in mind tonight, as it is the first day of league, and I need to be on top of my game, because it's team matchplay... I got recruited thru the summer league I was into and don't want to look stupid. The team that picked me up just happens to have a brother combo that avgs. over 200 easy..


dont think just bowl...thinking is the worst thing to do. Everything else will come naturally

[trldef]

dont think just bowl...thinking is the worst thing to do. Everything else will come naturally

It's funny you caught that...

I think that's my biggest downfall sometimes... I know I have the ability, its just once I do one thing wrong, I get frantic trying to make sure it doesn't happen again... Escpecially in league or a tournament when it counts:mad: ....

Will let you know what happens...

[big blue]

It's funny you caught that...

I think that's my biggest downfall sometimes... I know I have the ability, its just once I do one thing wrong, I get frantic trying to make sure it doesn't happen again... Escpecially in league or a tournament when it counts:mad: ....

Will let you know what happens...



Confidence is half the battle:cool:...... I left a team at seasons end one year due to confidence. I averaged 195 and was 2nd to lowest in the league ( 24 teams, 5 per). Every night someone was 279 or above to win the pots.:eek:

[trldef]

Confidence is half the battle:cool:...... I left a team at seasons end one year due to confidence. I averaged 195 and was 2nd to lowest in the league ( 24 teams, 5 per). Every night someone was 279 or above to win the pots.:eek:

Well.... League was alright, I took all 3 games in Matchplay and my team got Total pins.. I was bowling against the other teams bottom player so it was kind of easy... Just letting the ball do what it does is the best policy for me:eek: (Not that I didn't know that, it was just good to realize again). If I got up there and rolled the ball it usually struck...

Didn't have any stellar games though... 169, 142, and 187(I think not being pushed by the other player made a little difference in the scores).

Thanks again big blue

[big blue]

Well.... League was alright, I took all 3 games in Matchplay and my team got Total pins.. I was bowling against the other teams bottom player so it was kind of easy... Just letting the ball do what it does is the best policy for me:eek: (Not that I didn't know that, it was just good to realize again). If I got up there and rolled the ball it usually struck...

Didn't have any stellar games though... 169, 142, and 187(I think not being pushed by the other player made a little difference in the scores).

Thanks again big blue



Glad to hear that you were fine,kinda thought you would be. I wish I could get my head outta my a$$.

[trldef]

Glad to hear that you were fine,kinda thought you would be. I wish I could get my head outta my a$$.

Well enjoy the smell while you're there and be glad it's not someone else's!!;)

[big blue]

Well enjoy the smell while you're there and be glad it's not someone else's!!;)



My time is coming as I am throwing the ball well just not scoring well