This Ball is Too Weak, This Ball is Too Strong, This Ball is Just Right!

Very few modern bowlers show up for league today carting only one bowling ball. There are several reasons for this. Some bowlers may really believe that they need more than one ball to be successful in modern bowling and they understand the differences between their bowling balls. Others may believe the concept that different balls react differently, but without really having an understanding of their differences. These bowlers believe that making uninformed ball changes at least gives them a possibility of an improved score for the game or night.

I hear and read more comments about the number of bowling balls that bowlers need to bring to league to be successful than virtually any other subject. The truth of the matter is that the number of balls that bowlers need for league varies greatly from bowler to bowler. The deciding factors are, of course, how much understanding they have of the balls in their arsenal and how efficiently they can adjust to particular lane conditions using parallel adjustments, physical adjustments, and ball changes. Generally, the more physical ability a bowler has, the fewer the number of balls that he is required to have with him in league. Physical ability does not eliminate the need for multiple bowling balls, but it does help to minimize the need on a typical house shot.

Differences in bowler attitudes regarding bowling balls and adjustments

Let’s take a look at the different attitudes of modern league bowlers so that you can get some idea of your own unstated beliefs. The physically talented bowler often thinks that he can overcome any lane condition with physical adjustments such as hand position changes, speed changes, loft changes, and parallel moves on the lane. He brings more than one strike ball to league, and may try changing balls on rare occasions, but ...

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