Fundamentals or Equipment?

[LaTonya Walker]

Recently I had a conversation with a bowler and I mentioned that I was working on getting less axis tilt and more rotation on my bowling ball. She stated that I need to just do want I do and get someone to drill my equipment that would "help" me. She believes that a lot of the success the some bowlers have has to do with their equipment. She also commented on how a lot bowlers today don't practice and that they dont have the fundamentals that the "older" players have. I understand her point to a certain extent and I know that the game has changed tremdously over the years but just like any other sport (basketball, baseball etc) I still believe that there are basic fundamental skills that you need in order to compete. I believe that in order to get better that you have to practice on different rolls, releases, hand positions, shots etc... Tell me.. Am I crazy? Am I to believe that I can buy success in a box? Give me your opinion.

[Randy Russell]

The person you were talking to is 100% wrong. Fundamentals and repeatable shotmaking are still the keys to success in the game at the TOURNAMENT level. Sure you can buy scores in a box for a league shot, but in tournaments good shotmaking will outdo good ball choices in most cases.

The best example currently in our area is Greg Black....he throws honor scores with whatever ball Hammer has out at the time. It's not the equipment that makes him dangerous...it's the fact that he repeats shots as well as he does.

I will say the only thing about old vs. new that bears anything worth mentioning is the fact that many older players will have more "tricks" with their hands at the line. From bowling with Lisa Wagner and talking to Joe Firpo a lot I have learned many little things you can do with your release and footwork to create different ball rolls. Many of these tricks aren't learned by modern bowlers, because such a small percentage actually bowl on enough patterns outside of league to make a difference. Of course you have to have time to practice these little things as well....which many of us don't have time (or money) for nowadays.

One thing your ball driller can help with is making your grip the optimal measurements for the roll you want. There are tiny little things that can be done with pitches to help you create different rolls/reactions. You don't want to make a habit of changing these things, but it is something that can help get you over the hump.

Good luck!

[Martin "BLUFLAME" Seay]

Well said Randy, and if you already have the fundamentals, get the equipment to enhance your game also. Take a look at golfers. They can shoot with regular clubs, but give them special shaped grooves on the clubs and they can perform magic. same thing with a great bowler.

[Wayne Gibson]

Success doesn't nor will it ever come in a box. On the other hand. Mo Pinal says "you can't out coach bad ball reaction". Keep in mind he sells bowling balls for a living. Was talking with someone the other day also. We were talking about what makes a certain bowler one of the best around. (not going to say his name) We came up with 3 things; knowledge, hard work, and talent. Notice nothing was equipment. Also in agreement with Randys post.

[Chase]

I understand what you all are saying…and for the most part, strongly agree.

I know I am working on learning the fundamentals of "good" bowling...and being more consistant - BUT… doesn't having the "right" equipment and drilling, and surface manipulation matter theses days too?? ...at least for strikes?

I mean… Just watching the PBA has me thinking about Storm/Roto Grip balls more and more, and MORE ...simply because most of the people winning are using Storm/RotoGrip equipment. It's got to be something going on "in the box". And I do know that the bowlers that are winning are VERY Talented...but, i am also thinking their gear is making some kind of difference.

I am by far not as knowledgeable about bowling as 80% of the people on this site, but I do know that I have some equipment in my bag that simply makes me (appear to) bowl better on certain conditions. As far as at the tournament level... ??? ...well, I am too far away from that level to know anything about it. Dannial Cohen has already told me that my balls wouldn't even hook on a lot of the spots conditions anyway.

[Chase]

thought I would add this after looking it up...

STORM/ROTO GRIP 2008/09 PBA AND PBA WOMEN'S SERIES TITLES

2009 Bayer Earl Anthony Medford Classic - WES MALOTT (ROTO GRIP) CELL PEARL
2009 National Bowling Stadium Championship - PATRICK ALLEN (STORM) T-ROAD SOLID/RAPID FIRE
2008 Shark Championship - RHINO PAGE (STORM) HY-ROAD
2008 Shark Championship Women's Series - JODI WOESSNER (STORM) T-ROAD SOLID
2008 CLR Scorpion Championship - WES MALOTT (ROTO GRIP) GRAND ILLUSION
2008 Ultimate Scoring Championship - MIKE WOLFE (STORM) DIMENSION/T-ROAD PEARL
2008 Chameleon Championship - MIKE MACHUGA (STORM) HY-ROAD
2008 PBA World Championship - NORM DUKE (STORM) HY-ROAD

[Randy Russell]

Absolutely Chase...you're dead on with your analysis. The difference between two very good bowlers in a head to head matchup will end up being ball choice and matchup. The TOC pattern apparently really matched up with Storm's coverstocks very well, as the top 5 were all staffers (Ryan Shafer 5th).

Earlier when I was saying that you can get little manipulations with your grip, you can do this with cover/core combos to a very limited extent. The primary reason that some bowlers are better than others on a consistent basis will always come down to shotmaking. Wes Malott and Patrick Allen are throwing it better than anyone on the planet right now.....proof for PA would be that he has made these shows with two different ball manufacturers.

[Chase]

ok - i see now.

PA ....with two different ball manufacturers? whoa, I didn't know that. Thanks.

[Randy Russell]

It's tough to explain, but on the national tour they tweak the shots here and there. Sometimes they put more of a load down the lane, sometimes they put it more in the heads. This makes the patterns, although still the same name, break down completely different.

That being said sometimes one company will start to match up a little better to the transition. Storm coverstocks generally glide through the front part of the lane a little easier than other companies. The patterns this year might be giving the guys throwing Storm a slight edge because of the loads front to back on the lanes. I don't think it would be anything intentional, however that is the result. It also could be a matter of using a different type of oil.....I have no idea what they are using, but a difference in conditioner makes a huge difference in how the patterns play/break down.

The flipside would be two years ago when Brunswick released the Absolute Inferno and then the Vapor Zone. The patterns were a little different then and it gave the guys throwing B'wick a good look. It seemed like every week you saw two guys on the show throwing the Big B.

All of the companies make good stuff now, you just have to find out what works for you, and what you are comfortable throwing.

[Chase]

Thanks Randy.

You know... man, I have been getting really frustrated in the past 2 months with 2 replacement balls I had to get; A Columbia Resurgence, and also an Ebonite Complete NV. They both cracked at the fingerholes...in almost the exact same spots.

Well, I had both of the balls replaced...and neither ball rolls anything like the originals....and I hate it!!!!!!!!. Actually, I just got the new NV last week, so I am hoping that soon the ball will start to "kick" a little better on back-end. But for now...it's just frustrating.

Why is this? Is this true for everyone with 2 of the same balls?

[Randy Russell]

What is different about them reaction-wise? It could be a different batch of coverstock, something slightly different about the layout (weight hole), or something in the surface prep.

I have seen this before though. I think over time I have had about 8 Ebonite V2 (original sanded) and they all rolled different (all good...but all different).

[Chase]

Well, the Resurgance I have now...it rolls up too early. But, I found it to be useful at a tournament last month because they had a "Tournament Shot" out. But, the old Resurgance seemed to go a little longer.

But now, as far as the Complete NV, the new ball just goes very very long...and it has no "snap" on the back. Now, I just got the ball, and did roll a 279 with it...but, I was playing down 8...and really NOT playing around 12...which is were I prefer.

The layout on the NV looks a little different to me...and Dannial said that it was because of the way it came from Ebonite.

[Martin "BLUFLAME" Seay]

Have you tried changing the grit of the coverstock. Have heard people say about the same ball that others have but roll different, swear by oob surface while others don't get the reaction they want till they take it down.