Balls DO matter.
Ever think that a bowling ball is just a bowling ball? Well you're wrong. Balls actually CAN get worn out, stop hooking and stop driving through the pins as hard as they once did. This is caused by the coverstock wearing down. The coverstock is the outer layer surrounding the ball, and comes in different varieties;
Plastic is the cheapest, and offers the least amount of hook potential and pin action. Urethane and reactive resin are more popular with regular, league bowlers. Particle technology coverstocks offer tremendous amounts of hook potential, so much so that they can only be used on heavily oiled lanes, and are used almost primarily by professionals as they are difficult to control.
Once this "gripping layer" has been worn down by the friction between the ball and the lane, the ball will stop hooking as much, and won't be able to drive through the pins as effectively. (Sort of like the difference between trying to push someone over while standing on ice versus solid ground.)
How long do balls last? That depends on how often you bowl, how hard you throw, and how much hook you apply. Obviously, someone who throws 19mph with a severe hook will wear out a ball quicker than someone who throws 15mph with a slight hook. A weekly league bowler might begin to see changes in their ball behavior after 12-18 months.
On the same token, not only do balls break down, but they have to be broken in. This is called putting a "track" on your ball. When you throw a ball, the same parts of the ball will be in contact with the lane every time. (More or less.) The coverstock has to be broken in, and once the surface that touches the lane has gotten used to being used, it will then begin to grip, hook, and drive. This typically takes anywhere from 8-20 games, depending again on the amount of hook you expect from your ball.
Do not buy your ball from a sporting goods store. Buy from a Pro shop or bowling specialty store. The monkey in the mall may be able to drill three holes in a ball, but that's about it. A pro can recommend balls by analyzing your bowling style, (where you stand, what arrow you throw at, lefty vs righty, hook vs no hook, etc...) and drill accordingly. It's worth the extra money.
Plastic is the cheapest, and offers the least amount of hook potential and pin action. Urethane and reactive resin are more popular with regular, league bowlers. Particle technology coverstocks offer tremendous amounts of hook potential, so much so that they can only be used on heavily oiled lanes, and are used almost primarily by professionals as they are difficult to control.
Once this "gripping layer" has been worn down by the friction between the ball and the lane, the ball will stop hooking as much, and won't be able to drive through the pins as effectively. (Sort of like the difference between trying to push someone over while standing on ice versus solid ground.)
How long do balls last? That depends on how often you bowl, how hard you throw, and how much hook you apply. Obviously, someone who throws 19mph with a severe hook will wear out a ball quicker than someone who throws 15mph with a slight hook. A weekly league bowler might begin to see changes in their ball behavior after 12-18 months.
On the same token, not only do balls break down, but they have to be broken in. This is called putting a "track" on your ball. When you throw a ball, the same parts of the ball will be in contact with the lane every time. (More or less.) The coverstock has to be broken in, and once the surface that touches the lane has gotten used to being used, it will then begin to grip, hook, and drive. This typically takes anywhere from 8-20 games, depending again on the amount of hook you expect from your ball.
Do not buy your ball from a sporting goods store. Buy from a Pro shop or bowling specialty store. The monkey in the mall may be able to drill three holes in a ball, but that's about it. A pro can recommend balls by analyzing your bowling style, (where you stand, what arrow you throw at, lefty vs righty, hook vs no hook, etc...) and drill accordingly. It's worth the extra money.
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