My main suggestion was to try several different companies even before committing to one, you might find one you like more than Roto Grip. Some brands have certain characteristics that will fit a bowlers style better than others. There are several bowlers on this site that have brand loyalty because that brand compliments their style the best but it takes some experimentation to find that fit.

I understand that. Besides there still is time. Right now I'm in no position to buy any new balls. I suppose trying different brands wouldn't hurt. But I guess I like the smaller less known brands better or rather the less talked about brands. I already know that I don't care for Brunswick or Ebonite (save their old Turbo X ball). I like balls from the three companies I have now (Columbia, Hammer, and Roto Grip), but I think I can get a better mix by going with one of them. I think there are still like 10 companies I haven't tried so maybe a little testing wouldn't be a bad idea. But then specialize in a particular brand would be a sound option because I've tried most of them.

I never once said that you had to have 11 balls or anything more than 3 or 4.. not sure where you're getting that idea from, unless you're looking at my arsenal. And a big part of that is I simply have two big arsenals. One I used for league and my house, which tears balls apart, and the other for tournaments, so I don't use them as often. All m'sayin' is to be open to just trying everything. I think it'd be a disadvantage to only pick from a barrel of fish as opposed to the ocean, you know. But I suppose that me going on about equipment as much as I can, I should point out that technique is still what's most important. Yes, I have many bowling balls that cover a very wide spectrum of conditions. But none of that would matter if I couldn't adjust my release, or alter my ball speed or rev rate, or even release the ball well. Just don't forget that, either.

I understand what you are saying. It just that I would like to find the best fishing grounds possible and fish from there. And I think one the three companys that I have listed in here would do that for me, but I not closed-minded although it would seem that way. I like having options.

And technique is extremely crucial to being able to use different balls. I completely agree. You really don't have much without your technique.

As for the two arsenal thing, that's something I hadn't really considered. I might do that as well. How does that work for you?

If you get a Lane Masters ball just to try them out, it should ovbiously be the Buzz or Terminator Rebellion. In addition to what I said before, make sure you TR layout is stronger than the Buzz because you don't want them to really overlap in board coverage(their movement will be a little different though). Not sure that could happen but i thought I'd give you a heads up.

I have nothing against Roto Grip, I just know very little about them. Most people that throw their equipment like it though. Have you had bad experience with Brunswick?

I'd kinda like the chance to throw MoRich, Visionary, and probably Storm before I really decide which brands I like best. So far, Brunswick, Lane Masters, and Columbia do fine for me. I've heard that Storm is basically known for equipment that clears the heads quite well and have great backend reaction balls. Is this true and does that mean they don't have any smooth rolling balls?

The newest Storm release, the Dimension, looks to be a pretty early rolling, versatile heavy oil ball.

I saw the Dimension ball, but Storm is more my dad's area. He's the Storm and Hammer bowler. I haven't had a bad experience with Brunswick. The Brunswick balls just didn't fit my game all that well.

I have had a Total Inferno for a while now, and it is an excellent ball. I just got an Avalanche Solid as well, and I love it. Both very good balls - the Avalanche is a perfect medium house ball, and would work well on drier conditions as well. The Total handles oil very well.

Having two arsenals is probably more of an option based on two things: 1) You're willing to put the money into it, and 2) You're serious about bowling, enough to be entering in tournaments and such. My normal house is an old wooden lane house, and they Track up balls horribly. I've seen some of you mention that you can put over 300+ games on a ball, and still have it react. I don't think my t-road solid even got to 200 games, and that was with a resurface. The other house here which is relatively newer and synthetic doesn't have that problem, but it's further away. And so I use older balls, and less expensive stuff or stuff I end up replaceing at the other house. Like my odyssey's and such. I play on purchasing a jazz and scout from Columbia to use there, as well as playmaker and a phsyco from Ebonite and Hammer. I'll use those to just score well when I need to qualify to get into zones. If you don't have that kind of problem, or you're really serious into bowling and you bowl like 50+ games a week, I wouldn't worry about a dual arsenal. Maybe a ball or two you keep at home, but that's it. (I currently have 6 sitting at home that are tournament reserved.)

I was going to ask you about the two arsenal thing. What would you have to say about having a dual arsenal? For instance the Roto Grip one for the house conditions and the Lane Masters for tourneys. It's actually a very interesting idea.