Tag: Bowling

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Yesterday I told you that I was close to buying my first bowling ball.

After calling my wife to discuss about it and thinking through the whole day, I made my way to the Endah Parade bowling pro shop to buy the ball.

I walked in to the shop and was immediately stunned. Standing there was our Malaysian bowling team head coach Holloway Cheah!

A very nice lady (I assume it is his wife Joy) explained to me the bowling balls they stocked, and I selected the Brunswick Power Groove Urethane Black Purple Solid (what a mouthful!)

The shop had a package deal. RM450 for this ball, a bowling bag and a pair of shoes. I didn’t add another RM100 to upgrade to a two ball bowling bag with rollers.

Too bad they didn’t have any skull bowling balls, which would have looked really cool!

I paid another RM49 for thumb and finger inserts.

I selected a 14 pound ball because the 13 pound ball was in pink.

So I was shaking there and really nervous as Mr Cheah came to measure my hand.

He kept telling me to relax. At first I wanted to drill the ball with a standard grip, but he recommended a fingertip grip instead.

If you remember yesterday’s post, I was so nervous about getting the ball drilled properly. I had Malaysia’s bowling ball specialist / head national coach doing it for me!

He spent 15 minutes drilling the ball while I sat there and read magazines (on my best behaviour I tell you)

After drilling the ball, he came over to have me test it out. It fit perfectly, and the 14 pound ball felt more like a 12 pound ball.

And then… he gave me a quick tip on how to release the ball to throw a hook. O…M….G!!!

That in itself made everything worth it. A lesson from the national team head coach is priceless!

In the end, his wife even gave me a complimentary ball cleaner.

Thank you! (I think I must have said that to them ten times)

I walked out of the shop cradling my new bowling ball like a baby. I was so happy because of the friendly people, great price and because I finally had my own ball.

The story doesn’t end there.

Later that night I was excited to try out my ball, so I made a trip to the 1 Utama bowling alley.

I couldn’t stop smiling. I lined up my first shot at the second arrow and the ball hit the mark perfectly. Then the ball started to hook… and hook… and hook… and hit the 7 pin (the last pin on the left).

So I spent the night just adjusting, trying to find the correct line to use.

I was trying to get used to the heavier weight, and by the end of my bowling session I looked like I completed half an hour of cardio at the gym.

The heavier weight also meant that I had to adjust my timing. I kept throwing the ball with late timing.

I tried to throw the ball with more ball speed, and with slower ball speed just to see how it will behave. It was a session of adjustment, of practice, of trying new things.

The ball was everything I thought it would be. I didn’t have to grip the ball anymore on my swing because it didn’t feel like it was going to drop off my hand.

If I threw it just right, I could get the ball to hook without much effort on my part. The ball seemed to send the pins flying (or maybe I imagined it) compared to using the normal house balls.

My average for that night was one hundred…. and…. ten. Okay I know that sucks. But its okay, I’m still adjusting to the new ball, it will take a few sessions.

I’m really happy with the ball. It’s money well spent.

If you are getting bowling equipment, I highly recommend the bowling pro shop at Endah Parade (a.k.a. Carrefour) Sri Petaling.

[tags]Bowling, Ball, Pro Shop, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia[/tags]

It seems there’s a conspiracy to take away my hard earned money.

I’m so close (like a few hours away) to buying myself one of these:

The Brunswick Power Groove Reactive entry level performance ball.

I asked around, and the price for this baby is RM 400. The online retail price in the US is around $62, so they’re selling it for double the price. However, factor in the shipping fees and it comes to the same.

Here are my (wild) justifications for why I want (need) a bowling ball:

1. I’m bowling regularly now. It’s time to get my own equipment.

2. Using a different bowling ball (with different finger fitting and weight) each time I bowl makes it hard to bowl consistently.

3. I am picking up bad habits and can’t get a smooth release because I don’t have a ball that is fitted for my hand.

4. A ball with reactive coverstock will grip the lane better, which allows the ball to enter the pocket at a better angle, which should produce more strikes, which will improve my average.

5. Honestly I think having my own ball shows I’m serious about the game. And I’m not afraid (though a little ashamed) to admit, I would feel very proud about it.

6. If I do get a high performance ball later, this ball can also be used as a spare ball.

I am choosing an entry level performance ball because is suitable for my current skill level. I might not be able to control a pro level ball.

The only things that cause me to hesitate are:

1. Getting a ball means I have to get a bag (RM100++)

2. There’s extra charges for finger inserts and drilling (RM50)

3. I’m not sure if the drilling will be done correctly or not

4. I’ll probably want to get a pair of shoes while I’m there (RM150++)

5. Still undecided on the ball weight

6. Still looking at other brands (may consider if can get a better deal)

7. The ball is not ‘cool’ enough. Maybe something like a skull bowling ball would be interesting. But then again, a skull ball probably won’t hook at all.

All in all, I’m looking at spending a minimum of RM700 *gulp*

And RM700 will look really nice sitting in my retirement account.

Sigh…

Actually my dad passed me his bowling ball. It’s a (classic) Brunswick Black Beauty rubber ball. It think it was in production 25 years ago.

I love the ball because it fits my hand perfectly, but the problem is it’s too heavy (16 pounds!).

I tried using it once, but I’m not as strong as daddy. I couldn’t release the ball smoothly (imagine a loud THUNK) and I ended up really short of breath after a few games.

So here I am again. Should I buy the bowling equipment? Should I save the money? Should I get an iPod touch? (hey how did that come in the picture).

Bowling, old age. Strikes, sustenance. A game, survival or poverty. High scores, high quality of life. Short term pleasure, long term gain.

* mesmerized…. by… shiny… ball…*

Since I wrote this bowling blog post in January, I’ve been bowling an average of once a week. I’m hooked (get it?).

When I bowl, my mind will usually tune out most of the things happening around me. I am too busy thinking about:

• how my body is moving
• how I can fix mistakes I made in the last shot
• how to get the ball in the pocket
• how to get a spare

But sometimes, there are just some things that disrupt my concentration.

First let me just say that I understand how bowling can be a social event. It’s perfectly fine to have fun and a good time.

There are some unwritten rules and courtesies that should be practiced by everyone.

Courtesy #1: Give Way

If a bowler on the next lane has already stepped on the approach, please let that person complete their throw before stepping on the approach for your delivery.

I can’t believe how often bowlers on my left and right will totally disregard this courtesy and just “cut queue”. This is my pet peeve.

This can really disrupt the focus of a bowler, not to mention it can be dangerous to have two heavy swinging bowling balls in close proximity.

What if you trip or lose your balance, and you fall on to my lane just as my bowling ball is swinging down with full force? Don’t blame me for any missing teeth.

A related courtesy is: If both bowlers step on the approach at the same time, the bowler on the right should be allowed to go first.

Courtesy #2: Get Off the Approach

After you make your delivery, it’s okay to stay a while to evaluate the result of your throw. It’s even okay to celebrate and do a little dance. But please get off the approach in a timely manner once the pins have dropped.

One time I had a kid sitting down at the end of the approach while his sister was bowling. I had to wait until he finished his little bit of mischief before I could resume bowling.

Other times there would be people standing in my way to take photographs of their friends, without even checking with me.

Courtesy #3: Bowling Ball

Please don’t touch my bowling ball.

I’ve had people in the next lane use the ball I was using, and I had to wait for the ball to come back before I could use it.

Put back the bowling balls after you’ve used them. Sometimes I arrive at a lane where there are ten bowling balls left there by irresponsible people.

Please don’t kick the bowling ball.

Please don’t throw the bowling ball from the approach. You will damage the approach (because it is un-oiled). A damaged approach makes it hard for other bowlers to deliver the ball.

Courtesy #4: Don’t Scream Unnecessarily

I understand how ecstatic it could be for one of your team mates to get a strike. I experience the same thrill and excitement. There is always a good reason to celebrate a strike.

But screaming and celebrating when you get a 7-10 split is not cool.

Remember that focus and concentration is really vital for a bowler. Any excessive noise (for no good reason) is distracting.

Conclusion

It’s fine if you make mistakes (like dropping the ball) when you bowl. Nobody will laugh or look down at you because everyone has made the same mistakes before.

It’s when you start being inconsiderate and disrespectful, other bowlers will really think badly of you.

Sometimes I wish I had a skull bowling ball to get others to keep a distance from me.

Please consider these common courtesies the next time you go bowling, so everyone can have a good game.

I hope I didn’t scare anyone away from going bowling with me. And I hope I didn’t come across as too demanding.

My ‘bowling time’ is really precious to me. I really get upset when it is ruined by others. I try not to let it get to me but sometimes it’s hard.

[tags]Bowling, Courtesy, Rules[/tags]

Photo By : yumiang / CC BY 2.0