# I got myself a new bowling ball **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 1, 2005, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-myself-a-new-bowling-ball/287801 "2005-02-01T17:15:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2005, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-myself-a-new-bowling-ball/287801/1 "2005-02-01T17:15:00Z")
And I saw an immediate improvement in my hook. I used to have an old, hand-me-down Brunswick Axis, which has hard plastic coverstock. The lanes where I bowl are mid-oily and getting a hook with that ball was murder. Now I’ve got a Brunswick [Nemesis](http://bbb.brunswickbowling.com/consumer/Products/prod_detail.cfm?prod_id=327). I beat my series average by more than 30 points last night and got my second ever Turkey. I wish it was a little longer; but I’m quite pleased with it overall. What’s your favorite ball? ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2005, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-myself-a-new-bowling-ball/287801/2 "2005-02-01T17:20:40Z")
I bought my bowling ball from the Salvation Army eight years ago. It’s stamped with the initials “D. A. D.” It came with its own zippered bag. It cost me one American dollar. ---
**Author:** ![Craneop2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Craneop2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Craneop2)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2005, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-myself-a-new-bowling-ball/287801/3 "2005-02-01T18:55:05Z")
Lucille? **’Brew** If you are seriously working on that “hook”,get your old ball plugged and drilled for a fingertip grip. I would reccomend for SURE to get plastic finger inserts as well. Use it only for “pidlin around” time for now. You will be amazed at the hook you can achieve with this grip. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2005, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-myself-a-new-bowling-ball/287801/4 "2005-02-01T19:28:03Z")
I got the semi-fingertip grip drilled on the new ball. It does, indeed, help. I can now get the ball to break nearly all the way across the lane. The only problem now is that I have to relearn how to get the 10-pin spare. I might just keep the old Axis ball just for straight shots like that. ---
**Author:** ![Craneop2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Craneop2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Craneop2)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2005, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-myself-a-new-bowling-ball/287801/5 "2005-02-01T20:33:32Z")
10 pins are the nemesis of a right hand bowler (7 pin for the lefties). With that new hook you will leave more 10 pins than ever. A good hard shell ball with the same deliver can be effective if you use a cross alley shot. By standing on the farthest left dot on the appraoch. Roll the ball over the third arrow from the right (15 board). This increases the margin of error. The most sound advise ever given me in bowling? Work mostly on spares. Strikes take care of themselves! You can shoot 199 and not get one strike. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2005, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-myself-a-new-bowling-ball/287801/6 "2005-02-01T20:56:43Z")
I used a 2-4-6 spare system with my old ball. I’m wondering if I should switch to the 3-6-9 system now or if the 2-4-6 is still best but move my hand to decrease the hook. Like I said, I could still use the plastic ball; but I’ve developed a dislike for it (after I bowled an 85 in league play - I nearly cried) and that’s why I bought a new one anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Craneop2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Craneop2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Craneop2)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2005, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-myself-a-new-bowling-ball/287801/7 "2005-02-01T21:38:32Z")
I would reccomend having the old ball plugged and redrilled to match the new one. That is of course you are comfortable with the fit. That way the feel will be somewhat the same. The MAIN thing about bowling is repetition. IE doing EVERYTHING the same way every time. The only thing that will change is the beginning and ending spot on the approach, and the marks you use as targets. I would never advocate changing wrist position, ball velocity point of release, or approach speed. The use of the numbering systems are a good teaching aid for a beginning bowler, but you will find that they will become almost useless as your proficiency develops. You will find that on certain lane conditions the 2-4-6 position will work, on others it will be another combination. These systems are by NO means hard and fast rules. Experience by trial and error will be the best teacher you have right now! Lane conditions can vary a LOT even on side by side lanes so recognition of the differences and the ability to adjust is of major importance.