It's been a while since we have done this and with all the new releases recently - I'm curious what everyone is carrying and what their "go to" ball is right now (Show300 - I know Storm Only!!! - just kidding)

I'll Start:

Ebonite Total NV (New last night - shot 720 with it for my first series
Ebonite Angular One (too skid/flippy most of the time)
Ebonite Big One (My favorite in the One series)
Ebonite The One
Ebonite Turbo II (20 year old Urethane)
Ebonite Maxim
Hammer Black Widow

I know that's 7 balls - I work part time in a Pro Shop and can't seem to say no

Ebonite - Bowl to Win!!!

Columbia 300 Action - Versitle Can use it to Oily to Dry
Ebonite Infinite One - Oily Condtions
Brunswick Smokin Inferno - Med - Light
Brunsick Strike Zone - Medium Condtion, Also When nothing will work

Admin -
Sorry about the picture - didn't mean any harm with the logo but I understand your point.

Storm El NiNo X-IT extreme oil
Columbia Action Max (sanded to 2000 abralon)
Hurricane (dont know who made it) its the go to ball

Storm Pyro
Storm Trifecta
Storm Hotrod Supersport pearl
Storm Diablo
Storm Soccer ball spare

So this weekend is the Seattle City Tournament. 2 different houses wood and synthetic. I'll be taking:

MoRich Awesome Flip
Ebonite SRX 300
Hammer: Vibe Purple, Toxic, Pain, No Mercy
Brunswick Red and Vapor Zone
Visionary Centaur Solid
WD

I usually carry:
Awesome Flip
Centaur Solid
WD
Random ball each week

Good luck Dave. Wish I was there. I'd still move back to Seattle in a heartbeat!

Erin

Hammer No Mercy (4000 abralon)
Ebonite Tidalwave Wipeout (600 grit, then polished)
Ebonite Addiction (dull? whatever box condition its in. Haven't thrown it yet but its my second one)
Ebonite Eyeball (spare ball)

in the car..............
Ebonite SRX300 (box condition but I used it on a brutally dry house one night and now it actually hooks a bit)
Columbia Cuda/C Pearl.

On the used ball racks..........
2 Ebonite Big Ones
1 Ebonite Infinate One (less then dozen games on this one)

Erin

Seems like I'm not the only Storm guy on the board (mkee)...

Anyway, here's what's in the bag...

Storm Thunderstruck (have found it works on almost anything)
Storm Fired Up (still my benchmark ball)
Storm SpitFire (haven't thrown it as much as I'd like, funny story about it later)
Storm Eraser PBT (still a great ball after 5 years)
Storm Paradigm (or at least it will be tomorrow after I get it drilled)
Tropical Storm (advertised as low end ball, but is very aggressive. I shot 714 with it last week)
Storm Spare (just ordered a new one Tuesday, current one is 5 years old and a bit worn)

Coming soon...Storm Shift...looks like a great ball. I think that will complete my arsenal. Still contemplating the Paradigm Passion, but I don't know if I'll hit any heavy oil any time soon.

OK, now on to the story about my SpitFire...last night, I'm practicing with a buddy of mine. A real practice, working on timing and release for me...then we started playing 2-count. Basically it's where I try to pick off the ten pin first and then the 7 leaving the other pins intact. For him, it's the opposite because he's righty. We always go after the opposite side pin first. My record is 5 frames in a row...

Anyway, there's this other left-handed guy who has never really respected my game...one day I complimented him on being one of the lefties I really like and jokingly said that when I 'grow up' I wanted to be like him. His reply, "You'll never throw the ball good enough to be like me or beat me." The night he made that comment my buddy wanted me to thrash him, but I wasn't really feeling it, so I left it alone but kept it in my memory bank.

Fast forward to him walking in the bowling alley last night and seeing us practicing and making this comment, 'I heard you shot well at the scratch tournament last weekend, but you're still a scrub.' Not only was it me and my buddy but about 3 or 4 other bowlers in the area and we were all like wow...I guess he just doesn't like me because I was able to pick up the game so fast. I've known him every since I started 6 years ago, and people are always comparing us because we have similar body types, both lefties and have similar styles...purely coincidental.

Well, my buddy said, 'If you don't have the money, I'll spot you, but please shut this fool up once and for all.' So I agree to bowl him 1 on 1, best of 5. Here's the catch...he tells me, 'I get to pick the ball you throw.' Wow...but I agree, if it's in my bag, I should know how to throw it. So he picks my SpitFire, because it's at the bottom of my bag.

Well, five games and a 239 avg later, I was $100 richer and he was highly upset. I threw through the nose on my first ball in the first game, because I truly hadn't thrown my SpitFire in a while, instead focusing on my Thunderstruck and Tropical. My games...212-267-240-222-255. I have to admit that I even surprised myself...I was calm, made good shots and picked up spares. Even after he opened with the front 6 in the last game, I didn't waver and he started talking, only to leave a 7-10 and 6-7 in the next two frames, while I went X, 9/, 7-1 on a baby split, then got the back 9.

Needless to say, a very fulfilling night...on a personal and bowling level. I don't think he'll bad mouth my game to much anymore...

See the signature.

I'm contemplating replacing my Storm Xtreme. Got a big chunk gouged outta it last night, right in the Track. Pro Shop says they can fill and polish but I'm a bit skeptical that it will hold up and that the ball will perform.

I like Storm products, as I've had this one for quite a while and it was a good ball, so I'm leaning towards another one.

Erin,
I thought I read in another post that you got a Total NV? Maybe I'm wrong but I thought so

In the bag at the moment:
Hammer Black Widow
Storm Paradigm
Columbia White Dot for spares
Brunswick Power Groover Dry/R for dry/burnt conditions.

In the truck:
Ebonite The Big One
Ebonite Angular One - I dont use it often, too touchy.

At home:
Ebonite Whirlwind
Ebonite The Big one (drilled lefty)
Storm El Nino (damaged, repaired and useless)

My arsenol is listed in my signature. I will say this. The SI is my regular ball. I can't wait for the need to pull my TS&A out. I bought it for another lane sport league, but, never bowled there. So, it doesn't get much use, maybe only a game every now and then. I rarely use the Warp Zone, but save it for dry lanes, which I don't see too often. I do have my high series of the year 750 with it. The World Class, probably is my favorite, just because it is drilled for length and has a different reaction. I only use it when the SI and TS&A have trouble with their normal arc. The WC gets me out of oil trouble, since I can switch to an outside line that is rarely used.

Yea Show300, next on my list is the special agent, and the shift

In the bag:-

Bruniwick Rhino Pro X

Columbia 300 Blue Ball for spare

In the home:-

Hammer 3D Offset Super Hook (Need to change the thumb grip like my Rhino Pro ball)

Not sure to plan getting a new ball like Ebonite, but not worth of $ and not a high game enough.

So Cal, I did get a Total NV, at the promo day for the Pro Shop.

Doesn't do a thing for me. Its not in the bag or even the car. I've used it in 5 different houses and don't think I've shot over 185 with it. It skids way too much and the move off the breakpoint is not that special.

Erin

Jeff, you don't really carry all 7 to league do you?

In my bag at all times:
Deuce - heavy oil
X-Factor - medium oil
Too Hot - light oil
White Dot - Dry/Spare

For tournaments I might add:
Thrash - pearl particle ( I had a Trauma Recovery but I gave it away. I got this in
a trade )
Fear Factor- particle

At home ready for anything:
RevMaster
Mutant
Blazing Violet 3D
Inferno
Nemesis

15 pound balls not in use:
Monster Smashr
Classic Zone
Depth Charge
Triple X Factor
Storm Spare ( Viz a ball )

I bought the Inferno and the Nemesis to replace the X-Factor and the Deuce but I prefer my X and my Deuce. I think I will stick to Storm in the future. I went back to the old reliables.

I am eyeing a Thunderstruck, Agent, and a Pyro. In no particular order.
I usually carry 3 or 4 balls to any league or tourny I bowl in. This includes the spare. If I ever hit the big time I will carry more.

This is what I used to tote around as a righty:
- Ebonite Xxxcel (#1 choice - 4X4 drilling)
- Ebonite Puma (all around and "go to" ball - 3 1/2 X 5 label)
- Columbia Messenger Pearl Blem (excellent short oil, dry midlane ball 4X3 drill)
- Storm Trauma (best on drier conditions or for inside angles 4 1/2 X 4 pin high)

At the ready were:
- Roto-Grip Retro Roto (hardly used 4 1/2 X 4 1/2)
- Brunswick Command Zone (excellent on fried lanes 4X4 pin on CG drilled through ring finger)
- Ebonite Xcel Pearl (good hook/set ball for lighter patterns 5X4 pin low)

Now, I only have one ball drilled lefty - Columbia Messenger Pearl Blem drilled 4 1/2 X 4. I have a Columbia Wrath waiting to be drilled once I find a comfortable grip that I'll probably drill 4 X 5.

My bag is listed in my signature. I'm really liking MoRich so I will probably stick with them when I'm ready to replace something. My go to ball right now is my Awesome Hook.

In the car I have a target zone spare ball that I have rarely used. I shoot most of my spares with my Venom.

In the house I have a Columbia Messenger TI Traction that it's totally dead, even after being resurfaced.

7 ball to league wow. Most i seen someone carry is 5 in league though in tournement seen someone carry 15 balls.

Why do so many people keep older balls? I have 1 other, and I don't know why I even kept it. I have a neighbor who spray paints them Bronze, Gold and Silver and uses the old balls as ornamental pieces in his garden.

I guess some people like to keep older ball just in case. I dont know. I actually had a NITRO/R and Crush/R until Oct then we moved so i tossed them. Now if i buy a b all to replace a ball i will give it someone who wants it or my Pro Shop will take it if i dont want it.

I usually carry the following 4

Hammer Vibe
Hammer Big Rig
Hammer Doom
Storm Hot Rod Pro Stock (Solid)

I also have a Columbia Action that I can only use when there's real soup on the lanes, which is almost never. It's good to have it just in case though.

Dennis, I still have my Brunswick GTB that I used in junior bowling that my dad bought for me in 1988. It was the first ball that I had that wasn't a hand-me-down. It's sitting in my closet. I had so many good games with that ball (won a couple of tournaments and placed in quite a few with it) that I hold onto it for sentimental reasons. When I retire my Messenger and retire my Xxxcel, those will be held onto as well as they were the ones I shot my 300 and 803 with, respectively.

I did sell my Nitro that brought me high game and high 6 when my school won the New York State High School Bowling State Championships, though. I didn't have it long, so it's value wasn't as much. I have the video, a scrapbook and 2 medallions from that day. Those take up less space, and they're easier to dust, too.

I wish i kept my Junior Bowling Ball. It was Ebonite Black Turbo was my first ball i got finger tip in and the ball i learned to hook a ball with.

Right now I've got three balls, and probably won't be buying any more until I really improve my form, because right now I'd rather improve my game with technique than by buying more equipment. My three are:

Ebonite Xxcel - heavy/medium
Storm Triple X-Factor - medium/light
Ebonite Maxim - spares

Ebonite Infinite One: 1000 Sanded. (Used for Pattern 5, dull surface to create friction on the back-end. Generally play up 15 or 10 for heavy oil volume)

Special Agent: 2000 polish. (Used on Regional Patterns 3 & 4 and transition on Pattern 5. Special Agent has all around hooking power without a lot of snap. Too much for Pattern 2, however finds its home with medium length and volume)

Action Max: 2000 polish (Used primarily on Pattern 5 if the Infinite One burns up or if I get an over/under reaction with the Special Agent. Has a stronger back-end skid/snap then the Special Agent which helps with carry down.)

Inertia: 1000 Sanded (Pattern 2 & Pattern 4. Down and In on both patterns is made possible with the Inertia. However with polish is tends to slide a bit more then it wants to bite. However if they dry out quickly it will burn up and goes back in the bag, to be replaced with...)

Jolt Pearl: 4000 Polished (Pattern 2 when it gets late in the game Jolt Pearl makes a showing. One of the most consistent rolling balls on light oil that I have ever thrown. Also used on our League and Open Bowling House Shot)

Power Groove: 2000 Polished (Not used very often, sometimes on a House shot when the Jolt just isn't giving me the right angle. Has a bit more back end then the Jolt which gives it a more aggressive angle.)

Wow! 15 balls?!?! O_O The bowling bag can't fit for 15 balls. Are 15 balls own by someone or by Sponsors?

I've still got a black U dot and a Cobra in the basement. I just can't bring myself to throw them away . I did pitch the Angle LD though.

Dennis, I don't know about anyone else, but the reason I keep my older balls is because on house shots, they all work. When I bowled on the PBA shots last summer, the patterns used heavier oil. On these patterns, the older balls hooked a little less. But if I lined myself up to adjust, I could still score just as well as the newer balls. I also can't afford to keep buying $250 balls all of the time. So I search for deals. On a house shot, my X-Factor and Deuce can keep up with anything.

Yeah he had a couple of bags. Not Sure if he had ameture contract with Brunswick cause sure looked like all he was throwing where Brunswick ball. Though he lost that torunment. hehehe




Yup you got me plus got 6 years old then me too hehehe. Though i remeber the cobra on of my friends in junior league had one. I remember after that ball i moved to 14 lbs got the old blue Hammer.

This is my 3rd year back, and my old balls, 28 years new was the youngest, just didn't work on synthetic lanes. So all of my equipment has been acquired within the last 2 1/2 years, to match my style. Now my style is also 30 years older, so I have a compliment of arcing balls rather than ones that carry-snap.

Never thought to keep any of my older balls.

One of my older balls was so old, that the holes were drilled to center the ball logo. There was no consideration to PAP, MB, etc. Now, I have a finger hole right at the edge of my MoRich man.

I've been bowling about 4 years now, and have accumilated 8 balls.

They are : Roto-Grip SD73 15# Heavy oil
: Ebonite Big One 15# Med-Heavy oil
: Columbia Bully 15# Med- Heavy oil (earlier roll)
: Columbia Detour 15# Medium oil (skid-snap)
: Columbia Hyde 15# Medium oil ( my first real ball)
: Columbia White Dot #15 Spare ball
: Columbia Wrath 15# Medium oil ( pearl, skid-snap)
: Storm Screaming Banshee 15# Medium-light oil

I carry four to league, usually the Roto-Grip, Big One, Storm Screaming Banshee, and the White Dot.

Eraser, that's 2 balls per year. I have to get on that schedule. It seems to my that I am 3.2 balls behind schedule.

I know,I know, I need to take it easy LOL. I actually won the Detour at a fund raiser, so I did'nt buy that one. I just felt I needed a ball for any condition I came across. But when I look at what I have now, it looks like have a few balls that are simular. Hmmmm, should I invest in another?....... I better not my wife would kill me. As it stands now I don't think she's aware of the 8 I do have. lol. She thinks I only have the four I carry around..........at least I think she thinks that..Lol

All of my equipment is in my signature except for my spare ball. I have an old Maxim that I use. I think that I paid $30 for it about 11 years ago.

I use my Paradigm most of the time. It hits so much harder than everything else that I own. The X-Factor is probably the ball I should be using on the house shot. The Erase-IT is something I am actually replacing right now. I spoke with a friend of mine who works within Storm and he suggested I get the Special Agent. I am heading into the Pro Shop on Wednesday before bowling and ordering one up. I can't wait. He sent me some suggestions on the drilling as well.

I still have in my basement the following.

Track Synergy ETS
Brunswick Defense Zone
Columbia Shadow Black
Columbia Shadow Red Pearl
AMF Purple Angle

I had 2 Track Flare's but my wife made lawn ornaments out of them. That is the only reason I keep most of my old stuff. She puts decorative beads on them with silicone. They look pretty cool. I still take the Red Pearl Shadow with my to tournys if I have the room. The ball has done a lot of good for me over the years.

When i got back into bowling in August i went on ball buying rampage:
Ebonite Infinte One & Roto-Grip Spare Tire (Sept)
Strike Zone (Oct)
Smokin Inferno, Power Groove, Red Zone (Oct)
Columbia Action (DEC)

However i gave my power groove and Red Zone away to team mates cause i never used them and they where looking for a ball. So i went ball crazy and fiance thought i was crazy spending money and all these balls. Thoguh i have my eye on the Columbia Big Shot now but i wait and hold off .

I actually bought my last ball (Sonic Boom) two or three years ago. I don't usually buy balls very often as $$$ has been an issue (now that I am divorced, maybe that will change ). The two strike balls I got previously were from bowling in Pro-Ams (free bowling ball for bowling the Pro-Am). I have not been very selective, I know, but I have been able to shoot at least one 300 with each.

Currently in my bag:
Roto-Grip - Sonic Boom (my all-purpose ball)
Storm - El Nino Gold (for when I drier conditions)
Not sure the make of my spare ball, but it rolls like a "white dot"

All of my older stuff I give to my son or to the local Junior program. My son has my El Nino Wrath (from another pro-Am) and my old tracked out Sumo.

Mike

Maybe he wasted $ on buy too many balls.

Mostly older stuff. My newest is a Time Zone, followed by a pro-am ball from the old Johnny Petraglia in NJ, a Control Zone, old Track Critical Mass, and a Ebonite Turbo. I like older equipment. The Critical Mass hooks like a monster, the Time Zone and pro-am ball have nice smooth arcs. Control Zone is good when they're dry. I use the Turbo to play straight, shot 248 with it on Friday for the last game.

I have no idea when I'm gonna get something new, I like my old stuff!

Mark

No - I'm lucky enough to work in the Pro Shop so they live in there. I just carry a couple down to the lanes at league time - if I have too many options available I'll just get myself in trouble

Jeff,
I hear you on that having too many balls with you get you in trouble. I bring four and it get me trouble time to time. Last week it did changes ball like there no tomrow when i should of moved.