Last week in league I had the worst 2nd and 3rd game I think I have ever bowled. Started off with a 184 and thought things were going great. Unfortunately for me though, on my opening ball of game 2, a large bit of the plug in the thumb hole chipped out leaving me bowling with sharp shards poking into my thumb for the rest of that game.... 134. I ended up throwing the last game with a house ball and trying to throw a straight shot.... 109.

Needless to say, I can't be bowling with a thumbhole that cuts into my thumb and could possibly be damaging the lane. The Pro Shop guy has had a look at it and agrees with both my team mates that after 20 or so years in the game, my AMF Angle has bowled its last frame. That being said, all is not lost. One of my team mates is offering me one of his balls. He currently bowls with a purple Sumo and has a black Sumo that he doesn't use. It's slightly newer than the one he bowls with but is heavier and he has wrist problems so the lighter one is his chosen ball.

Now, that out of the way.... what can I learn from you all about this ball he refers to as Sumo? I have no idea of the manufacturer or how old it is so I know I am very light on info

Any help at all would be greatly appreciated!

The Sumo balls are discontinued AMF balls, approved by ABC in 1992.
I found a small review of the Black Sumo at [Banned-URL] (Unable to post the url, but I bet you can figure it out), just search for it there.
Just make sure to checkmark "include discontinued".

Specifications:
Line: Sumo
Color: Black
Coverstock: Urethane
Core : 2-piece
Factory finish: 320 Sanded
Weights : 14 thru 16lbs
Lane Conditions: Heavy Oil
Cleared PBA : 2/14/1992
Cleared ABC: 2/1/1992

I found that this morning also.

On that site the user comment was "hardest hitting urethane ball ever?" How would this compare to my AMF Angle ball? Both are urethane, heavy oil balls. My Angle was a 3-piece and I'm not exactly sure what the factory finish was though after however long I doubt the finish is the same anyway.

Grim,

I remember back in the day I owned both the AMF Sumo & the AMF Angle. The Sumo was better in heavy oil back then but then again the oil patterns where different then. Today's oil patterns are designed more for the Resin reactive balls. If you want to replace your Angle with the Sumo I do not see if being any problem.

Danny

Thanks for that reply. It's not so much a decision of "Yeah, I think I will replace it with that" rather than a necessity seeing as my Angle has probably bowled its last game. The problem with it is over the years and through the various bowlers that have owned it, the thumb hole has been plugged and replugged numerous times. Differing compounds haven't held together all that well and the join between each different plug is what is splintering away. To fix it, the Pro Shop guy said the only real solution was to drill the entire plugged area out... and that is about as big as a tennis ball. The Sumo is being offered to me at my favourite price (free) and if the ball mechanics (or whatever particular tech term should be used there) are the same, then I will make the change without a problem

Thanks again!

Grim,

Your Welcome, I would go for it if I was in your situation. It makes the decision even easier that the ball if Free. Good luck, Let me know how it works out for you!

Danny

Well, just like your FREE Sumo, here's some FREE info on the Sumo (best price around IMO). It hooks alot. It is made to hook a lot and made to hook more then your Angle. If you want it to react more like your Angle have a Pro Shop sand it to 400, then 600, then polish it with 320 or 600 grit polish. Then it will act more like your Angle. Good luck with your new ball and give your faithfull old Angle a proper burial.

You might just want to give that Sumo a spin on the lanes in the condition its in. You might like the reaction better, who knows.

Erin
ps we've repaired balls with similar problems; no big deal. But if the Sumo is free, then give it a try.

Wasn't the Sumo said to be "Barely Legal" back when it came out? I seem to remember something about that. When I was bowling in college one of my team mates wanted one because it hooked so much.

Don't remember that being applied to the Sumo, but the Dick Weber 5 star because it was the maxium size a bowling ball was allowed to be. "It's just a little bit bigger ball" was the advertisement.

Erin

yeah, that's what it was...the size of the ball

The ball change over plan has been put on temporary hold.... until we find out the fate of our bowling alley. It is up for auction this weekend and there is no guarantee that the new owners will be leasing it back to AMF or even continuing to use the property as a bowling alley.

Shattered. The nearest lanes to me apart from this one is 20 minutes drive away... and without a car that isn't feasible, not to mention that they have targeted a "young" audience and the oil pattern is aimed at high scores to keep people coming back. I have bowled there once and the approaches may as well be made of ashphalt the slide is that minimal. Saw an older gent stop completely and fall face first on the lanes. Not a great spot to bowl.

Ahhh, like I said... shattered

Found out today that the new owners are two gentlemen that have been bowling at my center for the last 20 years. Best. News. Ever. Period.

So, yeah.... I got the Sumo today and apart from needing some new finger inserts, it looks almost like it was drilled for me. Will have an update after next weeks league

Grim,

That is good to hear, I am happy for you. Please let us know how it works out & good luck!

Danny

Rightio, bowled 3 games with the Sumo last week and I must say it felt so much better than things have done with The Angle. Had to adjust my approach a fairly large amount (9 boards left) but kept the same arrow. I bowled three games all 20+ over average and only had one problem through the night.... the 10 pin. With the Angle, the 10 pin was something I could hit in my sleep. I used to leave so many of them that I HAD to hit them consistently to make average. With the Sumo, however, towards the back it just hooks in and I can't hit the 10 pin. On more than one occasion I threw what I thought was the perfect 10 pin ball only to watch it hook in and miss by the smallest of margins. If The Angle can be plugged and re-drilled as Erin mentioned above, I may be able to keep it for use as a spare ball.

I think the only downside of the ball so far is that it is that the span is about a quarter inch too short so I am having to grip more than I would like.

Okay, I am dredging up this old topic to ask a few more questions

I am not at all familiar with drilling patterns and pin placement and (insert other drilling terminology) etc, so I thought I would come here and ask those in the know My understanding of the "pin" is a very small indentation/discolouration on the bowling ball. What exactly does it indicate? On my old AMF Angle, it was on the complete opposite side of the ball to the holes. If I was to hold the ball, a line going through the middle of the pin would go straight through my palm. Now, on the Sumo that I am using, the pin is slightly above and to the right of my finger holes.

The Sumo plays a lot differently to the Angle but I had just put that down to the different surfaces of the ball. However, the ball Track of the Sumo is a lot different as well and since I haven't changed my delivery action at all, I can only assume it has something to do with the pin placement.

Now.... what does this all mean for my bowling?

Cheers!

The Pin is where the center of the core is indicated. If you were to hold a string from the pin with the core attached (suspended), you would be holding the core from the exact middle top of its being.

Different pin positions determine different reactions of the ball.

As for the Angle vs the Sumo, they are completely different balls. The Sumo was the biggest hooking ball of its time with a radical weight block (for its time).

Erin