Storm balls 12-13 and 14-16 difference in cores?

[unclemantis]

I currently bowl with a 12lb ball. I currently have a 159 average with a 193 high game.

I am looking to buy a reactive and a plastic ball. My concern is that I can not go any higher in weight than a 12 and when shopping at the Storm website I see that the balls have 2 different cores depending on the weight.

Is there a true difference in weight categories? Would I be wasting my money on a 12lb Frantic or Hy-Road compared to a 14 lb?

[unclemantis]

In addition I currently am using a Columbia 300 U-dot 12# on a medium-heavy lane surface. Standard pattern.

[got_a_300]

Yes there is some difference between a 12# core and a 16# core
on some ball manufactures like Storm and others but some of the
other manufactures like I believe DV8 uses the same cores in the
light weight balls as the heavy balls have.

It really all depends on if you want to get your average higher or
if you want to stay about the same average and not interested in
bowling a lot of money tournaments whither you're wasting your
money or not on a lighter ball.

[unclemantis]

I want to increase my average and get more consistent strikes.

I guess it would be worth the time.and money to hire a coach

[75lockwood]

I want to increase my average and get more consistent strikes.

I guess it would be worth the time.and money to hire a coach

having a lesson with a coach is never a bad idea, when looking at strikability there are a few things to look at:

Entry angle: the ideal angle for the ball to hit the pocket is 6 degree's, this is the reason you should hook the ball, to get a 6 degree entry angle throwing a straight ball would require you to stand 2 lanes over.

Deflection: Deflection is the problem you will face with a lower weight ball, say you take a 6 lb bowling ball and hit the pocket at the perfect angle, you will get a strike right? not necessarily, when you get a strike the pins should do something like this:
http://kakibowling.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/bowling-pins-reaction.png
The ball (green line) should drive through the pins hitting the 1,3,5, and 9 pins, when you have a very light ball the ball will hit the 1 and 3 then deflect to the right missing the others.

Back before all the new technology of today ball weight was a lot more important and most everyone that wanted to do well had a 16 lb ball, since then entry angle has become the more important factor, but ball weight is still important, given you are trying to knock down 10 3.5lb bowling pins you will need a fair amount of force behind the ball to efficiently do this.

I would say if you can that 14lb should be an "ideal minimum" that being said, on skill alone a great bowler can average over 200 with a lighter ball, its simply that they are at a disadvantage.


All of that being said, the most important part of the game is being consistent, if you can throw every shot without varying rev rate, speed, launch angle and entry at all you will do very well in this sport regardless of your equipment.



second point:

Most company's switch to a generic core below 14lb's there are some exceptions (someone else chip in please) the generic core will alter the reaction of the ball from the normal, but they still work.

[Brother_jd]

Storm balls in the Hot-Master line 12-13 pound range use the modified Centripetal core, The premier line uses a modified core that is the same shape as the 14-16 pound ones. The tropical line uses a modified core for the 12-13 pound balls that is the same shape as the 14-16 pound ones. The also make the Tropical line in 10 and 11 pounds with the modified core.

For example the !Q: 15lbs 2.48 RG, .050 Diff. 13 lbs 2.59 RG, .045 Diff.

[Stormed1]

For the longest time Storm used the same core down to 12 pounds just varying the densities in the core and filler materials to reach the desired weight. As core have gotten bigger and heavier they have been forced to use different but still dynamic cores in lighter pieces, There is a large difference in ball reaction between a dynamic core and a pancake core so it is worth the cost difference to get a ball with a dynamic core

[unclemantis]

... it is worth the cost difference to get a ball with a dynamic core

So either way.... I should be sure I don't get a pancake core and get a dynamic core, regardless of weight?

BTW I have some videos I took of earlier tonight. I will edit and post the BEST ones so you can all get an idea of my form and release.

Thanks again everyone!

[billf]

Absolutely correct, get a dynamic core. Also, don't be afraid to e-mail the manufacturers to ensure that the ball you're interested in really does have a dynamic core.