INDEX

Equipment Equipment Q&A  [1-20]   [21-40]  [41-60]  [61-80]  [81-100]  [101-120]   [121-140]  [141-160]  [161-180   [181-200]  [221-240]  [241-260]   [261-280]  [281-300]  [301-320]  [321-340]  [341-360]  [361-380]   [381-400]  [401-420]  [421-440] Mike March 3, 2004 West Palm Beach FL I have noticed that you do not clean the ball or wipe it off after each shot.Would you please explain why.Best Regards: Mike Lameyer Hi Mike, I don't think that wiping the ball makes that much difference, so I don't do it. On extremely oily lanes I might wipe the ball, but that is rare. Ken March 3, 2004 Philadelphia PA Dear Walter-Ray, Thanks for answering our questions and providing this dialogue. I know it takes a lot of your time but, I really learn a lot about bowling reading your reports and your answers to questions. This may seem like an elementary question but, I was wondering how is your spare ball drilled? Is it a label drill and does it have any side weight? Do you polish your spare ball? I had a spare ball drilled up recently and can't seem to get it to roll straight especially when the lanes are very dry, it moves slightly on the backend, just enough to miss a spare. Thanks again. Ken. Hi Ken, I really don't know if my spare ball has side weight in it or not. It is drilled over the label. I also throw the ball straighter so that it will go straighter in case the lanes are really dry. You might want to straighten out your spare release so that it doesn't hook so much. Taylor March 3, 2004 Toledo OH Hi, Walter Ray, my name is Taylor Eckel and I am writing you because I am a big fan of bowling adn I try not to miss a Sunday of bowling. My question to you is if you are leaving a lot of solid seven or ten pins what is the problem? I have heard that maybe I should switch balls or take a half step forward or backwards from where I normally start my approach. I am not sure, but I know this is a problem for me and I can not understand why. By the way, you wouldn't happen to have an extra balls laying around that maybe you would want to share with me would ya? I am always looking for a new ball to throw. Taylor Eckel Hi Taylor, 7 and 10 pins are part of bowling. There are certain places in the pocket where you will leave less of those, but taps are a part of the game. The only time I would make and adjustment is if I was going light in the pocket and felt like I threw the ball well. Then I would move a bit to the right depending on the lane condition. Rob March 2, 2004 Taylor MI Dear Mr.Williams I am a great fan and in december i bowled a 298.I was in the Paper.But i find that i have trouble when they put a lot of oil on the lane.So my question was "What type of ball would you suggest for those days that my other equipment won't move?" That was a tough lost to M.Scroggins but he bowled well.Hope i see you when you bowl at Taylor Lanes in March.Good luck in future tournaments and i hope i get to watch you bowl for many years to come.You and Chris Barnes are my heros that i look for on tv every Sunday Hi Rob, I also am not a big fan of lots of oil. Sometimes getting a sanded ball or maybe a new fresh ball will work better on heavy oil. Practicing on those lanes is another good thing to do. Thanks and good luck. Larry March 2, 2004 Kenosha WI You ever considered selling your old equipment online? Hi Larry, No. Mark March 2, 2004 Watsonville CA Hi Walter & Paige, I've read for years your views on bowling ball companies not offering you a contract that meets your standards. I was just curious why you wear a shirt that has the name of a bowling ball company on it when you appear on television? Hi Mark, I don't have a full ball contract, but I do have a contract with a company about using their equipment on TV. If I wear a shirt with their logo on it, I get paid a bonus. If I don't wear that logo, I don't get a bonus. The bonus is substantial enough that I am willing to wear their logo. But they are limited to what kind of promotions they can create using my image/name. Marshall March 2, 2004 Evansville IN Hi, I have been watching you bowl since i started (4 years ago). You have been a real insperation to myself and my work ethic towards the sport that i love so dearly. I've been looking for a new medium oil ball and have noticed that the CRUNCH Time has started to show up A LOT while you're bowling and was wondering if you could give me some input on the ball. how you feel it works for you and if you did any alterations to the finish (sand and refinish, out of the box?) Also I was told that I have one of your old balls that my coach (he bowls on the senior PBA) bought from you some years ago when you were on hammers staff. It's a Jackhammer with the pin right in the middle of the fingers but right above them with the CG on the palm. Thanks for all the info Marshall Hi Marshall, Sanding has not altered the reactive ball that you have seen me using lately, but I have polished it. The ball seems to work pretty well for me. I don't remember having a Jackhammer, but maybe I did. I also don't normally sell my bowling balls, but sometimes donate them to charities. Ken March 2, 2004 Tucson AZ Walter Ray/Paige, I was one of the scorers at the Tucson Open and scored the PBA computer round of 16 match you had against Bohn where you shot 300 and he ALMOST did. (I remember Paige in the office still in histerics about how she shouldn't have to be stressing when you shot 300) :) I noticed your Palm Pilot and how often you used it after every frame. Then I noticed your scoring here on your website. Is there a Palm Pilot program associated with that, or did you have it especially made for you? Also, as a side note, I read through some of your q/a's, and noticed that you very bluntly will not "advertise" for a bowling ball company. Why then do you wear Track's shirts while competing? Thanks for your time, and good luck with #'s 40 through the record breaking 43! Ken Hi Ken, There is a palm program called Frames which we have a link to called www.warilysoftware.com. The Frames program doesn't yet do match play so I actually keep track off my matches on paper. My webmaster has a special program which he uses to put all of my scores sheets on our web site. I don't have a full ball contract, but I do have a contract with a company about using their equipment on TV. If I wear a shirt with their logo on it, I get paid a bonus. If I don't wear that logo, I don't get a bonus. The bonus is substantial enough that I am willing to wear their logo. But they are limited to what kind of promotions they can create using my image/name. Bryan March 1, 2004 Dallas TX Hey Walter Ray, Well first ive been bowling for about 5 years with a three year break in between that . Before i took the break i was 13 avging about 178 . my dad lost intrest and i had no way to the bowling alley. well im 18 now and i finally talked my dad into bowling again . The only problem is i cant hit the broad side of a barn. my avg is 160 and dropping like a bomb i recently purchased a new ball that has more hook because i wasnt getting enough on the ultimate weapon i was using. i purchased the "power diesel" Hammer ball as im sure you know. That Ball is hooking very well and too much sometimes. Now im not the wealthiest around so im asking the person that i think is the probably the best bowler ever what i need to do and if i need a new ball which one? Please give me a responce on this i need a improvement now .. we are going into the final weeks over our league we r in second place 9 games out of first .. but we are not gonna get there when im bowling 112's and 130's My teammates! which insist of my brother , my dad, and what i consider a very good bowler Rickey Franklin . You might just might know him. My brother's avg is 186 my dad's is 185 and Rickey's is 215. Please help ... Thanks Bryan "One of your best and loyal fans even though ive never met you" Hi Bryan, It sounds like you might just need to bowl a bit more or maybe take a lesson. You may have developed a bad habit which is holding you down. I would ask Rickey for some tips. He sounds like he knows what should work. Another ball might be good, but you don't need to get the latest greatest ball to with your recent purchase. Maybe even one of Rickey's old balls he would be willing to sell you. Something that you could polish a bit to be in between the 2 balls that you have. Good luck. Mike March 1, 2004 NJ Walter Ray you're the man. Tough break last week against scroggins, I thought you had it. I just finished my junior year of bowling in high school and finished with a 195.6 average and a 290 high game. But i think i could have done alot better. Right now i'm working hard to have a really good year in bowling my senior year. I have one bowling ball unlike most people I bowl agianst. These guys have a shopping cart full of bowling balls but only throw one shot. I can throw alot of different types of shots with it by using different hand positions and different releases. Do you think that learning how to throw one ball many different ways is benefical or is it better to have different balls that can do different things. I'm starting to get really serious about my bowling and i saw this as an oportunity to learn from the master. PS~you're a shoe in for player of the year after your second half, i don't know what ajustments you made but they worked Hi Mike, I think that learning to bowl with one ball is really helping you, but someday you will want to have a couple of others to help you on certain lane conditions. Keep working on it. Daniel March 1, 2004 Hermiston OR Have every used a roto grip bowling ball recently? I just got a Apocalypse from roto grip. My style is like yours i dont throw much hook. This Ball is great for me you should try it. Track bowling just came out with the animal have you tried that ball yet? I'm 14 with a 195 average i want to go pro I hope you do well this year. I have a question for you how do you make more revs? Hi Daniel, I do have an Animal, but currently like the other balls that I have been using. I know that other bowlers like it. I really don't get a lot of extra revs, but I slow my speed down and try to get around the side of the ball to get more hook. Jeff March 1, 2004 San Antonio TX Hey WR, I noticed in the past few weeks that you basically deliver the ball straight and direct into the pocket. Do you feel thats it makes things easier on yourself so that you dont have to figure how to deliver your ball on all them crazy oil patterns? I myself am following your example on this method and feel it has made things easier on me. I also noticed you are using Track bowling balls...did a ball company finally come to their sences and give you a contract? THEY BETTER HAVE! Im gonna stick with Columbia cause they are made here in San Antonio ( gotta support the home town workers). And finally, I have a question about throwing your plastic spare ball. Do you deliver it just like you are delivering a hook or do you throw it the old fashion way? Thanks for taking the time to read and answer my questions, I know you are really busy. NICE JOB ON THE VIDEO, YOU KEPT IT SIMPLE:) JEFF Hi Jeff, I tend to throw the ball much straighter than most of the touring pros. But I try to figure out what is the best way for me to maximize my scores and then try to throw the ball that way. Sometimes throwing the ball straighter is better, and sometimes throwing a bit of a hook is what I will do. It depends on how the lanes are reacting. I still don't have a full contract with any ball company. Matthew February 29, 2004 Plant City FL I would like to know is there a website that the you and other pros review equipment, or got to see reviewa on equipment? Thanks, Matthew Price Hi Matthew, If there is one website for reviewing bowling balls, I don't know what it is. I really don't pay that much attention to that kind of stuff anyway. You could check out a companies web site, but then you would be getting their own push on it, which isn't always the truth. Jordan February 29, 2004 Madison MS Mr. Williams, have you ever thrown lane #1 equipment? If so, how do you like/dislike compared to your other favored companies? Thanks, Jordan King Hi Jordan, I have thrown Lane #1 equipment, but only a couple of balls. And they didn't overwhelm me. James February 29, 2004 Dunnellon FL Walter Ray I have been whatching you bowl on television for years. I have always tought you are one of the best bowlers ever. I know you live in Ocala, so I thought I would ask what proshop you would recommend in this area. I bowl at AMF East and I even noticed that you were there doing some work on a ball just before the PBA season started. I didn't want to bother you while you were busy so I didn't ask for a autograph or anything. Anyways, wasn't sure if that should be considered a recommendation for the shop at East or not so, I thought I would ask you before I decided on what shop to buy new equipment from. Thank you, for taking the time to awnser my question and I hope to see you around Ocala, again after your tour season ends. Hi James, When I have balls drilled for me in Ocala I usually go to Jeff Edens. I am sure that the other pro shops in Ocala are also good. Pat February 29, 2004 West Salem OH I am having trouble adjusting to the lanes. it seems that i cannot read them well enough after the first game to keep my scores high. i usually hit a 230 first game then drop to 180 and 160. it is soooo aggrivating not to be able to make adjustments quickly enough. I have been bowling for many years now and still am stuck. The owwner of the house i bowl in suggested going to a higher weight so i went to 16 and now it seems that i have no control after the first game. any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated Hi Pat, It sounds like you need to drop a pound or so in the weight of the ball. With the bowling balls these days, you need to be able to make quick adjustments. When you make a good shot and the ball goes high, you need to move. Sometimes more than just one board depending on whom else you are bowling with. Terry February 27, 2004 TN I have noticed is the past few years that the Tv broadcast has been more open about showing the brands of equipment that the players are using...I find it interesting that you have indicated that you do not have a ball contract...they are getting free advertisement from you appearances on the broadcast from not only you but all the bowlers....does this mean that you purchase whatever equitment you chose? I frankly am amazed that any company would not want the (in my opionion) number one player in the world represent their equitment....I know you probably cant elaborate to much but please let us know what you cant without naming names about the process of your determining what you use....thanks and good luck on your player of the year quest again. Hi Terry, I do have a TV contract with the ball company I have been using this year, so I do get paid for using their equipment on TV. That is the case of nearly all of the bowlers you see on TV. But once in a while the players don't get compensated. In almost all of the instances, the touring pros don't buy the equipment you see them using. But they are still paying to get the balls drilled unless they did it at home by themselves. It is disappointing that I am not worth that much to a bowling ball company, but that is the way it is right now and I am not going to sell myself too cheaply. Chip February 27, 2004 Dallas TX Walter Ray, I watched you in match play here in Dallas for the Day's Inn Open. I am a fan of yours for many years. I wanted to know if you had a old ball that I could purchase from you. I looked at your equipment page on your web site. I am a collector of Bowling memorabilia and I would cherish a ball that that was signed and used by you. Also , another question : I saw you seating at the table in the pit, and it looked like you were in-putting data in a palm pilot. Is this correct ? I know you are a perfectionist when it comes to bowling. Thank You and I hope you finish this year strong !!! Chip Hi Chip, I don't sell my old bowling balls. I do from time to time, donate them to charities. Yes I do record all of my bowling either by using a palm program called "Frames", or by writing it down on paper for matches. Thanks. Bill February 25, 2004 Philadelphia PA I noticed on your equipment page pictures that the finger holes look like they are drilled different than they would be in a typical pro shop drilling. By this I mean it looks like your ring finger is shorter than the middle finger in the pictures. Do you use a special drilling and if so what are the advantages of it? Hi Bill, My ring finger is drilled so that it is 1/16 of an inch shorter than my middle finger. I am not a ball driller, so I couldn't tell you if that is normal or not or what the advantage would be. It is basically the same that I have been using for 25 years. Chris February 24, 2004 Waco TX Mr. Williams I have been using Ebonite for a couple of years and enjoy the equipment. I am not a great bowler I'm just one looking for options, Amongst all the PBA bowlers that I have seen through out the years you are the bowler that pushes me to try harder. My question is although it is new do you have any thoughts on the Ultimate Inferno from Brunswick? Hi Chris, I don't use Ebonite or Brunswick equipment any more, so I don't have any thoughts on any of their equipment. Equipment Q&A  [1-20]   [21-40]  [41-60]  [61-80]  [81-100]   [101-120]  [121-140]  [141-160]  [161-180  [181-200]  [201-220]  [241-260]   [261-280]  [281-300]  [301-320]  [321-340]  [341-360]  [361-380]   [381-400]  [401-420]  [421-440]