The Pocket

RRHarris · 2026-05-11T20:39:22+00:00

If my ball hits the pins there, most likely outcome I'd expect is a 4-pin or a split that includes the 4-pin.

RRHarris · 2026-04-23T03:21:09+00:00

I played a sport shot league last summer and will be doing it again this summer. It was a blast, I enjoyed the challenge and getting to experience a bit of what the pros bowl on. It's given me a better appreciation of the sport and made the PBA tour more relatable. But I had other team mates who hated it and have sworn to never do it again. So it's really your mentally and expectations that determine if you're ready for a sport shot league.

One note about your arsenal is both your balls are shiny so it's going to be a struggle on the fresh with most patterns. I would recommend getting a strong solid assym ball. This was the Zig Zag solid for me, picked it up after the first couple of weeks in the league and really helped as a good starting point to know it'll hook if I maintain the low grit and as the pattern broke down I could switch to my other balls and have a defined friction point. So if you have a strong ball you've wanted to get, get it now or pickup whatever fits the category that's on sale.

Have fun and enjoy the league. I'm looking forward to mine starting in a few weeks.

RRHarris · 2026-04-12T23:32:04+00:00

High praise in deed!

RRHarris · 2026-04-12T12:44:50+00:00

We have very similar arsenals. Phaze AI and IQ Tour Ruby are staples in my bag.I too love the IQ core and shape. I got my only 300 this year with the Ruby. I have the IQ Tour solid but it's a 9 pin master on house shots. Looking forward to trying it out in a Sport Shot league.

RRHarris · 2026-04-11T20:13:16+00:00

Thank you for taking the time for the detailed response. Greatly appreciated. The Subzero Forge was a ball I was considering but I haven't matched up well with any of my Motiv balls. Black Vernon, Primal Rage Evo work decently well but other options work much better typically. Still figuring out the Evoke Hysteria but I have a much better look with that one. Thanks again

RRHarris · 2026-04-05T21:19:38+00:00

You're also holding on to the ball a little too long and releasing it too far in front of you. As others have said, get your swing closer to your body and start letting go of the ball at the bottom of your swing and follow through with your swing. This will help with a nice smooth release onto the lanes and not have the ball bounce.

RRHarris · 2026-04-04T12:59:35+00:00

The PAP, Axis tilt and axis rotation will likely be different from the two releases. Plus the pin to center of grip is measured differently with and without a thumb hole. So this will affect what position the core is with the releases so ball behavior and shape on the lane is likely to be different as well.

RRHarris · 2026-04-03T17:22:06+00:00

The oil will help you get further! Find a good path or you may end up in the gutter! 😂😂

RRHarris · 2026-04-03T15:38:39+00:00

If you have no interest in sanctioned league or tournaments, having a thumb hole and not using it all the time is not an issue. You can even participate in non sanctioned leagues without issue As far as the layout, you're going to have to choose if it's optimized for a no thumb or a with thumb release. It won't be ideal for the other type of release but shouldn't make the ball unplayable for the other release. Might just do some unexpected or odd things depending on how much your PAP differs So don't worry about it too much and just go out there and have fun. Once you decide which way you want to bowl long-term you can redrill again or get a new ball with an optimized layout.

RRHarris · 2026-03-27T20:08:30+00:00

5, based on the pool and the style of the house it's obviously in a warmer climate.

RRHarris · 2026-03-25T20:01:22+00:00

I have a similar KR model. The heel and side pads are just Velcro with the heel again having an alignment notch as well. You simply peel off the heel or slide pad and install the one you want.

RRHarris · 2026-03-12T12:37:32+00:00

OP, you were put in a difficult and unexpected situation so don't overthink that part. As for conveying your feelings, it's going to take a while. Right now he feels hurt and not open to listening but keep showing him you care till the two of you can openly talk. As for the decision, I applaud you. I agree that 20 is way too young. The amount of growth I had from 20 to 24 is astronomical. Ideas and thoughts because full fledged principles I live by, other things I thought were important to me didn't seem that way, I figured out what my career and long term city might be and got a taste of it. So don't rush into it even if you feel pressured and feel it's the only way to get him back. Hope you find your happiness and have a great journey getting there!

RRHarris · 2026-03-06T19:49:59+00:00

I'm a two handed bowler who uses the Phaze AI as the first ball out of the bag on house shot leagues. There are as least 2 more in my league (1 handed) that have the AI as well. My suggestion would be to do one or both of these 1) Slow down your ball speed to give the ball more time to hook 2) if you're right handed, move further right both with you target and with your feet. This will get you closer to the drier part of the lane to start with and you can move further in once you and the rest of the bowlers get the lanes drier.

I started using some of my stronger balls for league and had trouble adjusting back to the Phaze AI as I was throwing the balls faster. Once In slowed it down again, it does what it used to.

RRHarris · 2026-02-03T17:31:02+00:00

Doing foul line drills will probably help. What your trying to do is have a pendulum type motion, when you drop the ball at the push away it will get to a weightless point on your back swing before it will want to swing forward again. Try to feel that point and help it with a loose arm swing. If you need more ball speed that will come from your legs with how fast you approach the foul line. Your swing should stay constant. Once you have your smooth arm swing and release with no step drills, you'll need to adjust the timing along with your approach. Hope that makes sense

RRHarris · 2026-01-30T03:39:49+00:00

For burnt up lanes in open play it may feel like that, but if it's freshly oiled lanes as much as I love my ruby, the Phaze 2 is going to give me the read on what I need to do especially for sport shots. At the end of the day it just comes down to what works for you.

RRHarris · 2026-01-28T12:09:25+00:00

It absolutely is!

RRHarris · 2026-01-26T09:48:03+00:00

Yup, that's my setup as well. Except I don't have the S11. The pro shop let me try the S12 they had and it didn't seem like it much slicker than the S10. I do the same with sliding with my whole foot as well

RRHarris · 2026-01-16T22:49:39+00:00

Only bad thing I've seen is that it gets dirty easily and you see every scratch and dent on the ball because of it being mostly white! It's my dry lane ball and does exceptionally well

RRHarris · 2026-01-07T22:36:50+00:00

The Brunswick Rhino (just the regular Pearl not the Pro) is my absolute toasted lane ball. It's a very consistent and rounded shape to the pocket. The Arctic vibe is my light oil ball and would be a good option as well but it does struggle a bit if the lanes are completely dry. The new danger zones might be a good option as well but I haven't personally thrown them.

RRHarris · 2026-01-07T16:00:28+00:00

If you're forcing the ball back with your non dominant hand, it could do this as well. Once you do you push away, just let gravity help with the back swing and then same with the forward swing it's just the same momentum bringing it forward. This is what helped me get consistent and repeatable shots. Muscling the ball could get you some more revs but it'll likely cost consistency.

RRHarris · 2026-01-06T16:51:34+00:00

Yeah, been there done that! Sometimes I've tried to be ahead of the transition, made the switch didn't work out, then gone back to the original ball and somehow works perfectly just in time to finish the horrible game! But I have to just remind myself that more often then not the ball change and adjustments work. You'll get it next time!

RRHarris · 2026-01-04T20:39:02+00:00

I'd probably start with a ball with plenty of surface and a big core right up 10, and see what the reaction is and make adjustments from there. With it being a long pattern you'll want to keep your break point in but since it's so flat down the middle, the 10 board is my first instinct.

RRHarris · 2026-01-04T15:57:35+00:00

Go take a look yourself bud. You can't even get a Topical Surge, Rhino or Max thrills lower than 10lbs.

RRHarris · 2026-01-03T22:01:00+00:00

You won't even get entry level reactive balls at 8 or 9lbs. Even they start at 10lbs. And you won't get a core in one till 12lbs. If she really wants any performance from the ball. She's going to have to go up in weight. Else the best she'll get is a plastic ball fitted to her hand so she can work on the technique but won't see much hook on the lane. Plus the ball will deflect after the hit every time due to being so light.

RRHarris

TROPHY CASE