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Equipment Q&A [1-20] [21-40] [41-60] [81-100] [101-120] [121-140] [141-160] [161-180] [181-200] [201-220] [221-240] [241-260] [261-280] [281-300] [301-320] [321-340] [341-360] [361-380] [381-400] [401-420] [421-440]  Joe April 20, 2002 Strongsville OH Dear Walter Ray, Given the fact that Ebonite now owns the rights to the Hammer name, would you ever sign with them to use Hammer products again despite your previous experiences with Ebonite. Thank You. Hi Joe, I have no problem with Ebonite. I might have some reservations with Hammer since Faball owes me a fair amount of money. I have more of problem with how Brunswick handled me. But you never know. Brian April 4, 2002 Yorba Linda CA Mr. Williams, I have recently attended a bowling tournament and won a bowling ball used and autographed by you. I was wondering if you could tell we where that ball might have been used? The tournament was at The New Yorba Linda Bowl at the end of March. Thank you Brain Kelley Hi Brian, It sounds like you were at the Jim Lee Memorial fund raiser. I don't remember which balls I sent there and I don't know which ball you have. However, even if I did know which ball it was, I don't keep track of specific balls (serial numbers) and wouldn't be able to tell you where I specifically used that particular ball. I might be able to tell you where I used that type of ball, but that also depends. Sorry this doesn't answer your question. I hope you are pleased with the souvenir autographed bowling ball and that you helped raise some money for a worthy cause. Thanks. Tony April 9, 2002 Orlando FL Hey Deadeye (Hi Paige), Is there a real bowling simulation program that takes into account the ball construction, drilling, rotation and interaction with the lane surface, and predicts the ball's flare, hook, speed, ... ? Such a program would make an interesting and educational video game, as well as a useful tool for pro shop operators. I thought about writing my own, but my dynamics book stops at Euler's equations, and says that the general equations for a rotating body are complicated and involve elliptic integrals. I saw in another question that you wrote a simulation program for bowling. (did you do those elliptic ingrals?) Is there any way I could access your code, or at least the equations? Thanks! Tony Hi Tony, I don't know if there is a real simulation bowling program that takes into account all of the things that you mention. I did write a thesis on the physics of a bowling ball on a lane, but there was at least one mistake in it and I haven't gone over it enough to figure out what that was. Jamie April l, 2002 Pine AZ I was looking at getting a Carbide buzzsaw BOMB it it worth the price. i need something to cut heavy oil. Hi Jamie, I am not really familiar with the 'Bomb' and I am not endorsing any products. I would ask your local pro shop operator. Sorry. Elise March 21, 2002 Maryville TN Hey! i was just wondering what ball you were throwing now that Faball/Hammer has gone. i throw a Hammer Nasty Nail Xtreme and i absolutely love it, i really hate they stopped making equiptment! oh well! thanks! ELISE Hi Elise, I throw a little of bit of everything. Quique March 22, 2002 Lima LI Hello Mr. Williams: I've heard that you have a degree in physics? So maybe you're the only one that could answer my question. For every solid there's only one point inside it that represents the C.G. , and this C.G. must be inside the solid. So, what's this mark on the surface of the ball representing the C.G.? I think that this C.G. mark represents the only point on the surface of the ball that is closest to the real C.G. inside of the ball. Am I right? I now this won't improve my bowling in any way, but it's more than a year trying to answer this question. Thanks! Quique Hi Quique, The C.G. of a ball is the closest point on the surface of the ball to the actual center of gravity of the ball which is inside the ball. It doesn't hurt to know some of these things, but I think that the real asset is to be able to throw the ball in the right direction with the right speed and rotation. Not always easy. Good luck. Norwell March 12, 2002 St Thomas Virgin Islands Greetings from St. Thomas Virgin Islands; I'm a fan of yours and want to wish you much luck for this year. I encourage you to keep your eyes on the prize and don't blink. Success will always be yours. Which Balls are you currently using? and which one are you most comfortable using, Your money ball? I am in the market for a couple of balls and would appreciate a ball or balls suggestion from you. As previously mention I am now using an Apex and an Intensity. Some trouble with the intensity, but comfortable with the Apex. I live on the outside edge comfortably, going long and cutting back sharply. Plenty strikes, but lots of solid 10 pins also. Thanx Smitty / Rage, alias Hi Smitty, I don't have any favorite balls at this time. I also prefer the outside line, but sometimes I need to play way inside. And I also leave way to many 10's!! Tracy March 6, 2002 Delavan WI Hi Walter, Hi Paige ! Love the website! Please keep up the good work! First of all Walter I am a Big fan so I want to wish you continued success on the PBA! I am a league bowler averaging 202 and I try to model myself after your style, CONSISTANCY!! Thanks for all the Tips! Walter I am also an avid horseshoe player and I am wondering if you will be entering the 14th Annual Open Horseshoe Tournament in Danville, IL. I look forward to being there and hope you will make it. I wish you continued success in all your endeavors. Thanks Tracy Bukalski Hi Tracy, As of right now I am not planning on going to Danville, IL for their big tournament, but that doesn't mean that I won't be there. Keep up the good bowling and I assume your good horseshoe pitching. Gavin March 4, 2002 Walnut Creek CA Hello Walter Ray, What exactly does a ball sponsorship entail? Does the company provide you with unlimited bowling balls? Do they have a rep at each tour to drill ball as you see necessary? Is there cash involved for using their product? Do you find that there is a big difference from the top end ball that company A produces vs the top end ball produced by company B? I also notice that just about all PBA bowlers wear a Dexter patch on their shirts. Does Dexter provide all prows with bowling shoes? Hopefully you can win the next few events before the season ends. I look forward to seeing you on the next telecast. Thanks for your time. Hi Gavin, It depends on the player and the ball company the player has the deal with. Most companies give the players as many bowling balls as they need (within reason). Most companies have a ball rep of some sort, a few don't. Some players are compensated for endorsing the balls. There are usually bonuses or incentives for players using bowling balls and other bowling products on TV, that sometimes requires an extra logo on their person. Bowling balls are a bit different from company to company just as each company has different bowling balls in their line. Dexter is one of the shoe companies that does supply pros with equipment. I would love to make the TV finals again. It is nice to know that I have fans supporting me. Thanks. Marco March 1, 2002 NYC NJ Hey there WR, I was wondering a couple of things. First, If resin equipment was not invented and you had to stick with poly thru urethane based coverstocks, do you think you would have dominated the tour thru the 90's. Second, Did Paige initially sponsor you on tour? Thanks and all the best for the 2002 season. Marco Hi Marco, Had reactive resin balls not come out, it is possible that I may not have dominated as well in the 90's. But I think that the lane conditions in that period were probably more of a factor. I met my wife in 1985. I started on tour in 1983. I had some friends who put up $1000 when I first went on tour and I put up the rest of the money from bowling and horseshoe winnings I had saved. Fortunately I was able to win money when I first went on tour even without the help of reactive balls. Gary March 1, 2002 SV AZ Walter Ray, good luck and I hope to see you on the telecasts holding another trophy soon. And have you ever heard of a 'wheel' layout for a bowling ball? I am trying it out and have noticed an improvement in the number of strikes but I have only started trying it the last 3 weeks, so that is not really a true test yet. Good bowling. Gary Hi Gary, I am not a ball driller. I have never heard of a 'wheel' layout for a bowling ball. If it works for you, keep doing it. Good luck. Ladd February 21, 2002 New York NY Hi Walter Ray, It is difficult to understand your response to my equip.question (2/10/02) concerning what type of ball, drillings, you use to go along with your tourn. descriptions. I would have expected a similar response from Randy on the PBA telecasts who carfully limits the degree of top level comments for whatever reason. Does a professional with your education and experience really have little concern and familiarity with coverstock compositions and layouts that so work in tandem to effect ball reaction for the conditions you bowl on? My bowling style is similar to yours so it would have been particular insightful to learn a few technical facts that few seem to want to reveal. Since the resin era, as a senior player, I have averaged 210-220 through those years. Your not impressed? Try finding where to play and with what on that league house shot after a two hour corporate bowling party. Could really use some advise there! How do you persuade pros such as yourself we are interested in TOP LEVEL insights into your individual games. Sorry, Ladd Hi Ladd, I am sorry that I have disappointed you, that certainly wasn't my intention. I do know that different ball layouts do make a difference, but I really don't pay as close attention to them as you would like. I think that the biggest influence of a ball are; 1-surface; 2-insides (drilling layout). It isn't that I am keeping any secrets, it is just that I feel the bowler is more important than the equipment, so it's really not an issue in my mind. Of the top players on tour I probably drill the lease amount of equipment. I drill more now (more than I really would like to) than I used to, and part of that is I have many more options (too many). I am more likely to use 1 or 2 balls (as opposed to some bowlers who might use 4 to 6) in a block and change my speed, line, hand positions, etc. to get the desired results (strikes). After a 2 hour party I would probably move a bit left compared to where I would normally play a certain house. But without being there, it is hard to say exactly what I would do or what I would recommend you to do. Good luck. Dee February 20, 2002 OH Hi Walter, Should I have some pitch in my thumb hole to help me get more lift on the ball? Right now I have none. Thanks in advance. You're the best! Dee Hi Dee, I am not a ball driller, so I can't say what effect different pitches would have on your release. I would say that the first thing that you want to do is make sure that the thumb hole isn't bothering your thumb. If it isn't then I would advise against changing it. You should be able to get more lift by the way you release the ball. I like a very snug fit, but I achieve that by using plenty of tape and a cork insert. Also if you get under the ball with your hand at the point of release and lift with your fingers and rotating your hand to create the lift on the ball. Good luck. Don February 18, 2002 Sevierville TN Since you left FABALL what sponsor has picked you up or did you go back to BRUNSWICK? Also what is the current situation with HAMMER/FABALL I have just recently joined the PBA and found out that I will not be able to throw any of my equipment due to the non-payment of sponsership fees to the PBA due to there financial situation. Hi Don, I am not with any company. Hammer/Faball at this moment still owes me quite a bit of money. I also had to get all new balls. Jean-Louis February 15, 2002 Vyans-Le-Val (France) Hello Walter Ray, Excuse my english, but it's difficult for me... I played bowling for ten years ago, I use a 16lbs ball, but in France many players use a 15lbs ball. What is the best weight for the ball to realize more strikes, and why many players use a 15lbs ball? On PBA what weight do you use? Thank you for your response. Jean-Louis MEDECIN Hi Jean-Louis, I use 15# now. I used to use 16 and a couple of years ago I drilled a spare ball and the weight they had was 15. I found that I liked the lighter weight and drilled some strike balls at 15. I don't know the % of players who use 15, but it might be over 50%. I would suggest using what feels comfortable. Jim February 14, 2002 Herndon VA Since Hammer has no staff anymore will you be on another staff like c-300 or track or Storm. And what did you think of the hammer bowling balls? Hi Jim, I am not on a staff and it doesn't look like I will be anytime in the near future. I thought the hammer balls were pretty decent, especially when I threw them well. Scott February 12, 2002 Seattle WA Considering that you can use an unlimited number of bowling balls during competition do you have any preferred drillings that you use in competition. Hi Scott, A lot of my bowling balls have a 1 to 2 o'clock drilling in them, but I do have other drillings. Ladd February 10, 2002 New York NY Hi Walter Ray, It would be more informative in your tournament game discriptions if you could at least mention what type of ball and drilling you are using occasionally (textured partical, 1500 grit, 4"X 3"layout) to go along with the area you are playing on the lanes that you discribe. Many ThanX, Ladd Hi Ladd, Most of the balls I use are out of the box or slightly scuffed. I am not a ball driller so I don't know all of the technical layouts or really pay attention to them. I'll try and tell what kind of ball it is, but no guarantees. John January 22, 2002 Sebastian FL How many bowling balls to you take to a tournament? Hi John, I take about 20 to 30 balls with me in my trailer. We are allowed to have 8 balls in the paddock during qualifying. Usually I will use only 2 or 3 balls in a given block with one of those being a spare ball. Raymond February 4, 2002 Pasadena TX Walter, Now that you are a free agent(not with a bowling ball company)will you be considing one of the smaller bowling manufacturers. Like Lane#1, Dyno-Thayne, Nu-Line, MoRich, Visionary etc... or will you try another major manufacturer. Thank You for taking time to answer. Raymond Hi Raymond, I am guessing that you are asking about my being on their staffs (the smaller ball companies). If a ball company offers me a respectable contract I would consider it. Unfortunately I have not been offered any contracts. Equipment Q&A [1-20] [21-40] [41-60] [81-100] [101-120] [121-140] [141-160] [161-180] [181-200] [201-220] [221-240] [241-260] [261-280] [281-300] [301-320] [321-340] [341-360] [361-380] [381-400] [401-420] [421-440] | ||