Looking to Upgrade Your Bowling Equipment?

In my last article on bowling, I gave some advice on what the beginner should purchase to get started in bowling.

Now, assuming you have bowled for a little while and are still using the basic set-up I suggested in my last previous article, you are probably wondering what your next step should be.

Below I will give you an idea of what you should be looking for when you purchase your next round of equipment.

1. Ball - Now that you have the basics down, you probably want to start throwing a hook. Why would you want to start throwing a hook if you are hitting the pocket with your straight plastic ball? POWER!! The types of balls designed to hook and the entry angle into the pocket they create can add a lot of bang to your strikes! These balls are designed to scatter the pins each time they hit them and this will lead to carrying more strikes than you would get with your plastic spare ball.

A good mid-range hook ball will cost you around $75-$125. Like the previous purchase I suggest going to a local Pro to have them help you find the right ball based on how you throw, along with the drilling pattern they will use when you decide which ball to go with. There are many different types of balls out there with different covers and cores. Some can be drilled to hook a ton, others to hook less, your pro will find you a ball and set it up for the most common lane conditions you will see. I suggest letting the pro do a lot of the work in picking a ball out for you as they know what they are looking at when they see you throw and can best determine which ball would be a good match for you. I would also however, take the time to learn a little on your own. That way in the future you will have a better idea what you are looking for and can better communicate with your pro or ball driller.

Keep your plastic ball you started out with. Use it to shoot spares. Since you learned how to hit your spots and throw the ball straight with it, there is no need to try to figure out how much hook to play when picking up a spare. All of the Pros on Tour have a plastic spare ball that they can simply through straight at the spare and not have to worry about it diverting from its path, and so should you.

2. Shoes - You would still be OK with the shoes you purchased. If they are worn out, you may want to buy a new pair, but I would not worry about purchasing a high performance pair of shoes just yet.

3. Bag - Purchase a 2 ball bag, possible a 3 or 4 ball bag if you plan on upgrading again in the future. This will give you space for both your balls, your shoes and accessories.

4. Accessories - By now your towel may be worn out, so look for a replacement, I would go with a cleaning solution for your new mid-range performance ball. Check to see if you need any new cleaner for your plastic ball as well.

Thats it! You've made the next step in becoming a better bowler. In time you will begin to learn how the ball reacts in different conditions and oil patterns. Its a process that you can pick up on relatively quickly if you get out there and practice a couple times a week.

I'll be back later for one more article about purchasing High-End Performance Equipment.