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]  [201-220]  [221-240]  [241-260]
  [261-280]
  [261-280]  [281-300]  [301-320]  [321-340]  [341-360]  [361-380]
  [381-400]  [401-420]  [421-440]




Arthur May 29, 2004
Great Neck
NY

Hi, Walter Ray. I've been your fan for a long time. And it is always exciting to watch your performance on TV. I am a lefty, low-rev bowler who thorws straight down from between 5, 10 (first and second from the left) and hope for a late hook. What line of ball would you recommend? Also, what can I do to avoid straining my ring finger without sacrifing hook?

By the way, What do you think of the "helicopter style?" Is it worth trying?

Hi Arthur,
Reactive balls are usually good for low rev bowlers. You might want to check with your ball driller about adjusting your finger holes if your ring finger is bothering you.

I am not very familiar with the helicopter release. I haven't seen any top bowlers in the US using it. I understand that the Taiwanese bowlers are very good with it though. I think it would be more effective on tough lane conditions and not on the easy lane conditions which are at most bowling centers.

Adam May 15, 2004
Washington
MI

I saw you use Custom Thumb inserts. My dad and I were looking for something like this and gave it a try. I like them but I am having problems getting into contact with them to fix some problems I had. I didn't get what I paid for. I have e-mailed them about 5 times with no reply. Do you have a e-mail address that they actually check? I have e-mailed them at 2 different addresses. Please if you have any contact info other then a phone number please tell me. I would like to get the problems fixed that i have with them. Thanks so much.
Adam Harvey

Hi Adam,
Here is a website which has information to Custom Thumbs: http://www.customthumbs.com/Contact_Us/contact_us.html

I hope this helps you get your problem fixed.

BK April 8, 2004
Richmond
VA

I was wondering what blue track ball you were using at the end of the odor eaters open, and where the pin is located on the ball.. Assuming it is a track ball.... I am looking for a new good ball for me and we seem to throw the same exact line....
thanks,
B.K

Hi B. K.,
I appreciate your interest in what ball I am using. But as I have stated in many other question/answers I don't like to give free advertisements. I hope you understand. The pin on that ball is probably at around 1 or 2 o'clock which is where most of my pins are located.

Tony April 4, 2004
Lansing
KS

Hi Walter Ray,
This is tony Veney (I meet you in Japan, Camp Zama and this past Kansas City tournament) be giving your video to other bowlers and s it has help them.

I would like to what bowling ball(s)would be good for wooden lanes a litte dry or just dry. I throw about 15/16 mi and close to full roller. What would you use in that condition? Thanks for listening and responding
Tony

Hi Tony,
I am glad that you liked my video. You were one of the first ones to purchase it.

It is hard for me to recommend any bowling ball to anyone whom I have never seen bowl. I would ask your local pro as they should have seen you bowl plus they have a better idea of what your local lane conditions are. Good luck and I hope you find the perfect ball for you.

Jason March 29, 2004
Mooresville
NC

What does a serial number on a bowling ball tell you? Also is there somewhere I can type in the serial number and it tell me about the ball? Thanks

Hi Jason,
The serial number is a way of identifying the bowling ball. Different companies do different things. Some of them use certain letters in part of the serial number to let them know in what month they were produced. I don't know of any one site that will detail specific information on a ball. I would ask each company as they all do their own thing.



Ron March 28, 2004
Chicago
IL

Hi there! I'm interested in what equipment you are useing now? and what company do you perfer. On t.v if been hard to tell sometimes what ball you are playing with. Also when you move your pin placement around from top,side or under you ring finder what are you looking for the ball to do. IS THERE ANY WAY TO GET THE 10PIN OUT(smile)WHAT IS YOUR IDEA'S

Hi Ron,
I am not under contract to specifically use any brand of bowling ball. I did have a TV contract with one company where if I used there bowling ball on TV I was paid a bonus. This is not uncommon. I don't change my pin placements that much. I usually keep them around 1-2 o'clock. I wish I knew of a way to always get that 10 pin out, but I don't know of one. I keep trying to hit the pocket.



Tom March 28, 2004
Highland
IN

Hi Walter Ray & Page,

First of all congrats on anther great year, you are truely amazing!!!

I'm a Pba member, bowling in mostly regionals, although I have bowled the last two years at the year ending national tournament at Taylor Lanes. With very little success.

My question is about equipment. It's amazing that some company doesn't have you under contract, what are they thinking? Without mentioning brands, I was wondering what has the biggest influence in your opinion. Would you rather have the correct layout in a ball or is it the right surface(i.e. high load particle, low load particle, reactive, etc. ) to match up with conditions that is the biggest factor? Also, is there a certain drilling that you find matches up to your style/game better than others?

I'm not a huge hook player and I find pin placements over the bridge , for me, don't seem to fit my game as much as a pin under the bridge in a 10:30 or 12:00 placement.

Thanks for having a site to be able to get feed back from you and I hope you and Page get to enjoy the summer before the new and interesting Fall tour starts.

Sincerely,
Tom Seliger

Hi Tom,
Apparently the bowling ball companies don't want to pay me what I feel I am worth, so I don't have a full contract. It would be nice if that changed. Also it would have to be a company that I have faith in as far as being able to produce quality equipment.

I think that the surface is #1, with pin placements not far behind. But I tend to use the pins at around 1-2 o'clock.



Thomas March 27, 2004
Redwing
MN

hi walter ray. first of all i hope you win pba player of the year. my question is theres all these finishings on balls polished smooth dull...whats the difference and i want to throw a good hook so which one should i get?

Hi Thomas,
A sanded ball tends to hook earlier and not quite as hard at the end with a shinier ball saving some of its side rotation for the back ends. It depends on the lane conditions that you bowl on and how you throw the ball as to what would give you your best hook. Sometimes less hook is better. You can usually alter the surface of the ball fairly easily so I would do that and see for yourself what does what. If you have any trouble or questions with altering your ball surface, ask your local pro shop operator.

A. Donaldson March 27, 2004
Jamaica
NY

Hi I purchased my first bowling ball. I'm looking for a place to get my holes drilled in. Do you know of any and what is the price range..Thank you for your time.

Hi A.,
You need to find a pro shop in your area. I am sure that there are many good ball drillers in your area. The cost for drilling a ball is any where from $25-45 depending on where you live. Also, if you were to buy the ball from that pro shop, sometimes the drilling is less or even part of the deal.

Nick March 24, 2004
Austin
TX

Hi Walter Ray!
I've been watching you on TV for a few years now and have noticed that you always have the Odor Eaters ball with you. I know that what is on the cover of plastic ball makes no difference, but I think it looks very good. Where can your average bowler buy one? (Let your sponsor know that we notice!)
Thanks.

Hi Nick,
The logo sponsor balls that you see the pros use on TV are only for the pros to use. They aren't for sale to the general public. I would suggest supporting the PBA companies by trying their products.



Tom March 22, 2004
MI

Walter Ray,
I met you last Wed at the pro-am at the Detroit Athletic Club. I meant to ask you about obtaining an Odor-Eaters ball. Any suggestions??

Thanks again for participating at the DAC event.
Tom Taras

Hi Tom,
I am sorry, but the logo sponsor balls that the pros use are not for sale.

William March 18, 2004
Dumfries
VA

Is there anywhere to buy the Ebonite Crush/R ball anymore?

Hi William,
I really don't know. You could try some sort of internet search.



Justin March 17, 2004

How do you spin the ball good? I'm left handed.

Hi Justin,
Imagine tossing a football underhanded to give it a nice spiral. A similar motion would be a good way to release a bowling ball. The problem is that a bowling ball is much heavier and a bit more difficult to control.



Christopher March 16, 2004
Modesto
CA

Mr. Walter Ray,
Hi, I'm Christopher and i am 12 years old. I wanted to say that you are a great bowler, and I hope that will continue to succeed. I met you and my dad took a picture of us at the 2004 ABC Masters at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada in which you won! I bowl at McHenry Bowl in Modesto, CA and average 187. I have been bowling for 3 years and have improved greatly. I bowl in the Nor Cal youth travel team. Well, I wanted to ask you what type of ball I should get. I am only using a 12 pound urethane ball. I'm not sure if I should get a 14 or 15 pound ball. I think I can throw a 15 pound ball, but I don't want to get a ball that is too heavy. I also wanted to know if I should get a resin-reactive ball or a particle ball. I will eventually get both, but at the time I am only getting one. Thanks for your time.

Hi Christopher,
It depends on how big you are as to how heavy of a ball you should try. If you can throw the ball faster than 18 mph without too much trouble, then you should be able to go up a pound or two. Getting a reactive or particle ball will give you a lot more hook than the urethane ball you currently use. You don't have to get the latest ball on the market. It sounds like you might have a great career ahead of you. Good luck.

Earl March 14, 2004
Napoleon
OH

So, do you have an old ball that you can fall back on, or not?

Hi Earl,
By some standards, I use old balls almost every week. Some players use new balls every week or two. I have been using the same bowling balls for the last month or so.

Arnold March 12, 2004
Toronto
Canada

i have a brunswick ball,DANGER HPC ZONE pro active,can you please tell me how much hook it has.

Hi Arnold,
It depends on how the lanes you bowl in are oiled and how much side rotation and speed you put on the ball. Sorry, but I am not an "equipment expert". Maybe you should contact someone at Brunswick.

Steven March 11, 2004
Harvey
IL

Mr. Williams i was wondering if u were bowling with the track phenom unleashed in your last 2 tv apperances and if so i was wondering if u had any advice that might help me be more consistent with mine i have picked up 20 pins on my avg. this season but i still lack the consistency every bowler wants i practice and practice and i seem to only get worse in competition i.e.3 leagues and local tournaments.I have had marginal success with the ball but in the last 2 months i have been a 130 bowler

Hi Steven,
Practice is a good way to improve, but it is also possible that you need a lesson or two. Find a good local bowling coach to work with you. A bowling ball will only do so much. And under the wrong conditions may even hurt your average. Good luck.

Gerry March 10, 2004
St. Louis
MO

Hi Walter Ray,
You've mentioned before that ball surface is important when selecting a ball to use on specific conditions. I don't rip the cover off the ball, so on occasion, I sometimes have trouble getting my ball to hook on very oily conditions, especially in sweeper type tournaments. I'm left handed, so at times there are not a lot of lefties to dry that side of the lane out. I was wondering if a particle ball would be better on this type condition, and if the ball needed sanding, how much can you actually sand a ball for it to be effective on this condition? In other words, what grit would you normally sand your ball down to for oily conditions? Would too much grit be ineffective for an aggressive particle ball?
Thanks,
Gerry

Hi Gerry,
It is possible that too much grit can back fire on a bowler who is trying to get a hook. Early hook usually means less hook on the back end. I have gone so far as to use a sanding disk on a ball to get some hook. So it depends on the lane condition you are bowling in and what you are comfortable with. That is where your experience will help you. I can't just say "use grit x" because it depends on so many factors. The more you bowl, the more you will learn these things. Good luck and keep working hard! But most importantly, have fun!

Daniel March 6, 2004
Bay City
MI

Hello,
First of all i would like to say this site is very helpfull in all assets of the tour; I is a great resource Thank You for all the time you put into makeing this site so great. My question is I know you dont have a ball rep how do you feel about this? And also do you know what some of the other Pro's makeing from there ball reps. Do you think you personally would be happy being "tied" down to any one company?

Thank You for any response and Good Luck at everything you do.
Daniel LaMoria

Hi Daniel,
If I were suitably compensated I wouldn't mind being under contract with one ball company. Ball reps don't pay the bowlers, the ball companies do. The ball reps work for the ball companies and help bowlers on their company's staff when possible. That is almost always an advantage, having a ball rep helping a player.

Xeno March 4, 2004
Fort Worth
TX

Walter Ray,
This is Xeno Garcia, I've competed against you a couple times before. I've seen you use the Phenom Unleashed several times on TV. I was wondering how many of these balls you owned. And what differences you used as far as layouts and surface. I understand you dont like to promote companies so if you dont want to answer, I understand completely. Keep up the good bowling.
Thanks for reading,
Xeno Garcia

Hi Xeno,
I have 3 of the low particle balls. One has no extra hole, while two of them have an extra hole. Two of them are sanded while one of them with the extra hole is polished.

See you on the lanes.


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]  [221-240]  [261-280]  [281-300]  [301-320]  [321-340]  [341-360]  [361-380]
  [381-400]  [401-420]  [421-440]