INDEX

Equipment Equipment Q&A  [1-20]   [21-40]  [41-60]  [61-80]  [81-100]  [101-120]   [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] Willie March 3, 2003 Brookhaven PA Walter Ray what type of ball is the best kind of ball to have? Hi Willie, It depends on the lane conditions you bowl on and how you throw the ball. The reactive balls are very good, but so are the particle balls. If the lanes are really hooking then maybe a plastic or urethane ball might be best. Sorry that my answer wasn't more definitive, but it is an impossible question to answer without knowing how and on what conditions you bowl. Scott March 3, 2003 St. Charles MO I am currently bowling in college. I used to not need a spare ball but some of the conditions we bowl on make it a necessity, possibly even for strikes. Since they're basically the same I am looking for one that maybe no one else would have. I was wondering if there is a way to get a spare ball like the one you currently use. I cannot find it on the internet anywhere so I wondered if they are unavailable to bowlers not on the tour. If I could get one, could you please tell me where and how to go about doing this. Thanks, Scott Hi Scott, The spare ball I use is currently unavailable to the general market as of right now. If you want a spare ball that others don't use much, you might want to try a really old one that isn't made any more, but those will be hard to find. Mike March 2, 2003 Palm Springs FL Walter Ray what weight bowling balls are you using and why.Best Regards:Mike L. Go get em Walter Hi Mike, I now use a 15 pound ball. I used to use 16, but several years ago I drilled a 15 pound spare ball as that was all that was available where I was at. The lighter weight felt a bit better and I tried a couple of strike balls that way. I haven't really noticed that much difference in my carry, so I kept with it. Pfoh1997 February 27, 2003 Hello, i was wondering what the green pearl ball is that WRW and Steve Jaros have thrown this year. Thanks Hi, I don't have a contract with any ball company at this time and I don't feel that I should give 'free' endorsements for them. I hope you understand. Thank you. Jay February 24, 2003 Lake Elmo MN I realize that you probably don't have to use a particular ball for very many games but do you feel that the newer porous shell balls such as the Columbia Wow, Icon 300 etc. soak up the oil faster therefore forcing the bowler to either resurface the ball sooner or clean it more often? I have recently purchased a ball with a shell such as the WOW that seemed to hook a lot more when I first purchased it but doesn't nearly hook as much anymore. I clean it after every set and wipe it off after each frame. I am just wondering if that is what I should expect and if I continue to use this type of ball will I have to purchase a ball more often? It has been a great year watching you and I wish you continued success. Hi Jay, Most modern balls do soak up oil and hook a bit less after a while. I do know that some players resurface balls after so many games. I don't know what that number is and I don't, personally, resurface my equipment much. I also know that you can heat the oil out of the ball, but you need to be careful if you do it on your own. Check with a knowledgeable pro shop operator on ways to get your ball back to its original condition. Walt February 23, 2003 Easton PA Hi Walter Ray, Just wanted to let you know I totally support and agree with your decision to not give free advertising to the ball companies when you use their equipment. Equipment endorsements are part and parcel in professional sports. As many people are interested in what you are throwing, a company should compensate you for endorsing their product as they do with other top stars of bowling and other sports. However, you've been very vocal about this issue and I'm wondering if it is in your best interest to do so. When an athlete has a contract to use a certain brand of equipment, people tend to think it is their equipment of choice and this make for effective advertising. However, if you were now to join the staff of a bowling ball company, I would think to myself "Oh, so that's the company who decided to give Walter Ray a contract. He's only on their staff because they are paying him." Obviously, that's always the case with a company's pro staff but your lack of discretion in the matter makes it very obvious and, in my opinion, limits your effectiveness as a potential staff member. Hi Walt, Thanks for the advice. Everybody knows that Tiger Woods uses Nike because they pay him. The same goes for any other player and the company they represent. I am disappointed that I haven't been given a contract that I feel is good for me, so in the mean time I am going without a monthly salary which is a bit frustrating. I feel that I should have a contract at least as good as 5 or 6 players out here and I don't feel that I have been offered that as of yet. But hopefully in the future a company that I would be willing to be associated with will be able to work with me. Chris February 14, 2003 Albany NY when i was looking at bowling balls online their where 2 things it asked that i have no clue what they are for the first one is pin placement it says it can be 0-1 in 1-2 out 2-3 out 3-4 out and 4+out which one is better for the most hook? and the second thing is it said top weight 2.5 oz. less or 2.5 more which is better? and which would go better if u wanter more hook? i am a right handed bowler if that makes a difference Hi Chris, I am not a ball driller. You need to ask a pro shop operator these questions. It might also depend on how you throw the ball. Being right or left handed shouldn't make a difference. JW February 11, 2003 Amelia OH Dear Walter Ray, I was wondering what sort of spare ball you are throwing? And what size the spare ball is? Thanks. Hi JW, The spare ball I use is plastic and weighs around 15 pounds like my strike ball. Brad February 6, 2003 St. George UT Walter Ray, You are obviously the most successful bowler in pba history. And your success has come with playing the inside shot. I have watched you throughout the year and have taped all of your matches. I have been trying to mimic your approach (which by the way is hard to do!) release and follow through. But I think the biggest problem I have is in trying to play a similar shot to yours with the equipment I have it seems that the balls I use are to strong for that shot. I had wanted to be what you would classify as a "cranker" but I have found that it is difficult to be consistant. So my question is what type of equipment would you recommend for me knowing that I want to play the same line that you do (on league conditions) and what type of drilling pattern for the balls. Hopefully I made some sense in this! Thank You, Brad Hi Brad, I am confused by your comments. I am not really known for playing an inside line, even though I do play there on occasion. Also, I don't bowl on league conditions and don't want to. If you want to be a 'cranker' then you would be playing an arrow or 2 left of where I normally play. Other than that if you wanted to be able to play a similar line as I do with more revs you might want a weak urethane ball or even a plastic ball to play where I do. I am not a ball driller, but you might be interested in using a 3 piece ball with the pin centered between the finger holes. Good luck. Raymond February 4, 2003 Pasadena TX Congratulations on the US Open win no flash for you on Sunday. The spare ball that you throw do you have fingertip drilling w/ inserts or conventional finger drilling? Where did you get that particular spare ball and is it urethane or plastic? Thanks for taking time to answer my questions and good luck the rest of the year. Hi Raymond, The special spare ball that I use is a plastic ball. It has the same drilling as my strike balls. Gary February 2, 2003 Huachuca City AZ I have watched you over many years now go from FAB equipment to Columbia 300 to Ebonite and this the year i've seen you use two ball companys. Why is this? Hi Gary, I have never been a staff member of Columbia 300. This year I have mainly been using balls from 2 different companies because I don't have any full contracts with any company and no other companies have really asked me to use their equipment. ROBERT February 2, 2003 New Caney TX I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR THUMB PITCH. COULD YOU PLEASE E-MAIL ME WITH INFO ON WHAT KIND OF THUMB PITCH YOU USE. THANK YOU, ROBERT Hi Robert, My thumb hole has 3/16 right with no forward. I hope this helps. Randy January 31, 2003 Windsor Ontario What was that green dynothane ball you were using? i wanna get one..thanks Hi Randy, I don't advertise free for ball companies, but I am glad you are interested in what I use. Rick January 22, 2003 Concord CA Hi Walter, I was in Reno for the finals sitting behind that idiot who decided that durring your approach was a good time to walk up the lanes to her seat. Some people! I was really rooting for you especially after what Duke did to ya the week before. I know that you dont support any one ball company but I was wondering, without the aid of a ball rep. for ball suggestions and drilling how do you decide what ball and layout you are going to use. Obviously you start out with some of your baseline balls but what if you need something different? Is there a consultant that anyone can go to? Keep up the outstanding performance and good luck in Vegas Hi Rick, For a new ball I will usually try my 'normal' drilling first, pin at around 1 o'clock. A lot of the ball companies have a ball rep who will suggest a drilling for a particular ball if a player would like. Also the guys who work in the truck will offer us inexperienced ball drillers suggestions. Thanks. David January 21, 2003 Shalimar FL I wrote you a while back about the layouts that you use. I saw the reports you told me about and I found them very interesting. On your Dynothane Element (pic#1532) you have the pin below the ring finger. Where is the CG and is their a weighthole? Thanks again! David Hi David, Ball #1532 doesn't have an extra hole. I'll have to look at the ball and see if I can figure out where the CG is. Norm January 20, 2003 Kalamazoo MI Walter Ray, My name is Norman Behm. I live in Kalamazoo, Mi. I have been bowling for 23 years. My average is composite 215 and higher at the houses I bowl in. I've had 16--300 games and 6--800 games. I've been 5-time city champion and 5-time all star. And I've also won many prestigious tournaments here in Kalamazoo. I've also been voted into the Kalamazoo Men's Bowling Hall of Fame in the year 2001 for honor scores. I'm considered one of the best stroke players in town. I usually have my bowling balls drilled half-ounce side, half-ounce finger. I bought a Wow Flipside, it was drilled with a 12 o'clock drilling, half ounce finger, and 0 side weight. The ball went too straight for me and would back up, so I had an axis hole drilled to make a little less than half-ounce side weight. The problem is the ball doesn't drive into the pocket it actually slides into the pocket and deflects; only on occasions does the ball drive into the pocket like it should. The pin! is located at 11 o'clock at my ring finger, with a CG just below my ring finger 2 and a half inches. In your opinion was this ball drilled for maximum results or was it drilled improperly? Also in your opinion, should the pin be out away from my ring finger for better results? Please explain to me a diagram that would fit my bowling style for maximum results with where the pin should be located, where the CG should be located, and where the PAP should be located. Congratulations on your 2nd place finish in Reno, NV at the ABC Masters. I watch bowling all the time, way back when Dick Webber, Ray Bluth, Don Carter, and up to the present. I love watching pros on TV. You guys are phenomenal. Waiting to hear from you! Thanks so much Norm Behm Hi Norm, I am not a ball driller. In my opinion your ball was drilled to go very straight and it sounds like it does. The pin location has a bigger influence on most of the modern 3 piece balls than the static weight (CG). It sounds like you might want ball drillings with the pin at 1 or 2 o'clock, but talk to your ball driller. Adam January 19, 2003 Columbus GA Hey Walter Ray.... I have a question I need help with ... I know people have different hand size and different bowling styles, but how fare should a hand span be??? TY Hi Adam, I am not a ball driller. It definitely would depend on how big your hand is and what type of grip you use; conventional, fingertip or semi-fingertip. My hand might be slightly larger than average and my fingertip grip is about 4 & 3/4 inches. Frank January 17, 2003 NY Hi Walter, Do you know if it is true a reactive bowling balls life span is about 6 months? I have been using my Columbia 300 Titanium messenger TI for almost a year now and have notice that it hooks less than it did new. Is there something I can do to my ball to bring back life to its hook? Thanks Hi Frank, Reactive balls don't last forever. They absorb oil from the lanes and it changes the amount the ball will hook over time. Some pro shops have a way to take the oil out, so I would ask your local pro shop operator. Jasper January 17, 2003 Huron SD Do you have an aversion to using the new Hammer stuff considering your history with Faball? Seems that a Diesel Particle Pearl or maybe a Track Freak Out would be devastating in your hands those weeks that there is a little hook available and the Wicked and Element are acting jumpy. People may say they would rather watch paint dry than watch you bowl because of your non-assuming style, but, after not really being a big Deadeye fan for what ever reason a few of the little things you've done in congratulating your opponent or playing around with Duke when he shot 300 have made me appreciate your professionalism. Thanks for the good TV. Hi Jasper, Sometimes boring isn't so bad. Throwing a big hook with a lot of speed can be very impressive, but I would rather throw more strikes and have less opens. As far as Hammer goes, they (Hammer) don't seem to be interested in me using their equipment. I guess I could buy some other balls when companies won't accommodate me, but I seem to do alright with what I have been doing. Amanda January 14, 2003 Boston MA Walter Ray, How do you maintain your red particle ball? Do you clean it after you bowl, and if so, with what? Do you use a ball spinner to polish it, and if so, what types of sandpaper, scotch-brite, and polishes do you use? Thanks, Amanda Hi Amanda, I don't do a whole lot to my bowling balls. I will sometimes get one polished and keep another on the dull side of the same ball. I don't pay attention to what products I use to polish or sand the ball. Equipment Q&A  [1-20]   [21-40]  [41-60]  [61-80]  [81-100]   [101-120]   [121-140]  [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]