(sorry, this may be a bit long)
I've been a league bowler for 5 years now and my style is kind of a wild semi-cranker (hard to explain) with lots of power/big hook. Over the past year I've suffered some injuries/tendinitis to my bicep/wrist and my ball speed has dropped from 22-24mph to 15-17mph. My average also dropped this year to 179 from ~190 last season...

My father has recently returned to bowling and the other day I tried out his new 14lb Raw Hammer ball and I was amazed at how much better I felt with a 14lb ball. I still can't get the speed up because of my arm but there was a lot less pain after each shot..

My question is, what ball do you recommend for someone who's ball speed is around 15mph but still has a pretty big hook but only wants a 14pounder (I'm told going any lighter would be "ridiculous").
My dad's Raw Hammer was pretty good, though it felt a little "light" hitting the pocket, that could be the 2lb difference from my usual ball (Track Xception 5.0) but I dunno...

Thanks for any help!

Edit: I should add, the shot I usually bowl on is medium oil with a relatively dry back end, I usually swing my shot (with an Xception 5.0) from the 1st or 2nd board about 12 feet before the pin deck into the pocket...

Big D, it sounds like there are a lot of technical issues with your swing, i.e. it being really controlled and muscled as well as, clenching the life out of the ball. Granted being a cranker implies a controlled swing, but it sounds like you'e ball is too heavy and you're really trying to crank the hell out of it. You might want to try freeing up your swing and relaxing.

In regards to your question, I'd go with a 15 pound ball instead of jumping to 14 pounds right away. What ball company do you like or prefer? That would be the easiest way to suggest a ball.

If you want to stay with Track I would suggest something like the Uprising, the Kinetic, the Tantrum, the Temper, and the Kinetic. If you want to change companies, let us know and we'll help you out.

My recommendation is to clean up your mechanics. Bowling shouldn't hurt. Learn to use gravity - read up on the free swing. All the guys you see on TV with swings way above their heads really don't use muscle to get it up there, and they don't use muscle to pull it down either.

Another issue that can lead to pain and injury is a poor fit. If you have to squeeze the ball to keep it on your hand, you should have your grip checked out.



No.

Hey, thanks for the replies! I guess I should've been clear, I tore my arm up playing flag football not bowling - the only soreness I ever really felt from bowling was in my wrist but now I just use a small athletic brace for that. Now just picking up a bowling ball hurts and I've had to quit lifting at the gym for the last 3 months...

I'm not really partial to any one brand - I don't remember why I chose Track last time but I'm thinking it'd be funny if I went with the Tantrum or the Temper, my fiance/bowling partner would get a kick out of it since she would say it describes my actions at the lanes!

I've tried changing my approach in the past, it's kind of unique and I can't break out of it - I start with my heels off the back of the wood, 3 big, fast steps and slide to the foul-line... Other bowlers get a kick out of it but I realize I have no room for adjustments with only 3 steps. As far as swinging, that's another issue, I start my approach with my arm almost straight down, a pretty short backswing, then all muscle thru the throw... Yeah, I stink at bowling (well, I'm inconsistent) but it's fun! (and I had a 210 avg for the 2nd half of last season!)

Thanks again for the replies!

If your arm hurts that much, go to a doctor. My best friend hurt his wrist playing flag football. He had problems for almost 2 years before he went in and it turns out that he had torn cartilage in his wrist. I hurt my knee last October and didn't go to the doc until January. Turns out I tore my ACL. Injuries are not something to mess with. Especially when you are young and can get them fixed rather easily.

Definition of a Cranker:
A bowler who generates revolutions by a cupped, broken or muscled armswing.

In this instance, it would seem so seeing how Big D has tendonitis, in two different spots no less on his swing arm.

However, I do understand that not all Crankers use muscled swings, and can even be likened or categorized as Power Strokers; therefore using the word implies in my previous post is generalization that I shouldn't have made.


Big D, definately, check out the mechanics on a free swing and check your fit to see if it is still ok. And for sure do what GP mentioned and go see a doctor.

As for bowling balls, if you have no particular preference then there are a number of balls you could investigate and choose from. The Black Widow Solid and Pearl, the Anger, Psycho and the Venom by Hammer. The Copperhead and Swarm by Brunswick. The Odyssey, Illusion, and Pluto by Roto-Grip. Gamebreaker, Playmaker, and maybe the Pin Slasher by Ebonite. The Break by Global 900. One of the Supernova balls by Lane #1. The Sting, Black Pearl, or CounterStrike by Lane Masters. I can't think of any others right now, but there are plenty.

Just because many crankers do it wrong doesn't mean that's how it is properly done. A lot of strokers have controlled swings - that doesn't mean being a stroker implies a controlled swing.

I think what you guys are mis-communicating on, is the definition of "controlled swing"(?)

What I see crankers are doing most of the time, is muscling the ball for extra revs. Most strokers I see, use a lax arm and let the ball/gravity do the work.

cgeorg,
Thank you Commander Obvious. I already said that using the word "implies" was a bad idea because it makes a broad generalization that there are obviously going to be exceptions to. Plus I think I added that there isn't a wrong way to bowl. So why make a post about Strokers have a controlled swing, when it is already implied that it can work in the reverse?

eastwest, we really aren't argueing over the meaning of a controlled swing. We are more like, arguing over the use of the word "imply" in reference to the Cranker style of bowling. Even though the normative idea of a Cranker is usually someone who uses a controlled swing for one reason or another, hence the word "implies" being used. There are and will always be exceptions to prove generalization wrong and cgeorg seems to determined to get that point across. And I get it his point, but from what I've read, "Crankers" who do not have controlled swings are called Power Strokers, leaving the rest with controlled swings in the category of Cranker.

In essence, eastwest, we are argueing the semantics of the word imply and Cranker, instead of helping out Big D. Unless of course he finds this information useful.