are Cobra pro balls any good?

[knockemdown]

I all looking for a set of balls and would like to buy new ones. Seems the few used I have found in my area are either house balls or , balls pitted and out of round - etc...
Choices to get seem to be starline, cobra pro, Paramount duckpin, paramount solid and the really soft pro 72.

Would it be best to buy two of the cobra pros and one pro 72?
I am currently bowling with an unknown 4 7/8 3 lb 9 oz set.

[knockemdown]

I am still looking for a good set of balls. The epco/paramount are the only ones I can find new aside from the canadian softroll. Most of the used balls I find are loaded with chips and not round. Are the new balls worth anthing or should I just wait for some old manhatten or ebonite prolines etc..
Someone must know, I bowl with a group of friends once a week and they are as clueless as me.

I am assuming I need the rubber since I use to bowl ten pin and never liked the polyester/plastic balls except for taking out single pins etc..

[Amanda]

I bought my daughter a set of Cobra's on Ebay. I ended up throwing them for a bit. Really liked them. I also bought a set of Twisted Scorpions, really like them.

My fiance is a pro bowler and lives by his Comets and Prolines. But they dont make them anymore, so they will be really expensive if you find a set in good condition. Bought a set of used comets for 300. Just to give you an idea. If you go to the Pro Tours, to see what it is all about, all of the guys throw different balls...its all on what you prefer.

Check on ebay, there are some pretty good deals every now and then. You will find something you like.

[knockemdown]

Thank you very much Amanda. I just missed out on some Manhattan rubber balls on ebay. I really need somthing better than the ones I'm using. It's a shame that the bowling ball manufacturers don't make duckpin balls along with the ten pin nowadays.

[knockemdown]

The reason I have asked is, on another site, someone had remarked that the epco balls were just a bit better than plastic. Hinting that the epcos were not that great.

[Cody]

Amanda, were the twisted scorpion balls like a twister ball, ive been looking for some nice scorpion balls, there just like a twister ball. (candlepin balls)

[tommyss]

After not having bowled duckpins for 35 years, I got back into it 3 years ago. The best ball for me was the plastic Paramount. There is almost no curve "reaction". Throw it straight, it goes straight; try to throw a curve, and the ball will go straight (or curve very slightly).

After about a year, I got the Cobras. They are a hard rubber compound that has more reaction than plastic. Unfortunately, I wasn't ready for the upgrade (no control) and went back to the Paramount.

On the other end of the scale, a fellow bowler had just gotten the super-reactive rubber balls. She not only had trouble with controlling them, the machinery chewed 'em up. I loaned her my Cobras and she kicked some serious butt with them. When the season was over, I got the Cobras back and learned how to use them to my advantage. Now I kick butt with the Cobras, as does anyone who helps themselves to them during league play.

Essentially, my recommendation is this: If you need basic control, (throw straight), then start with the Paramount. If you are experienced, the Cobras are fine. If you are considered "pro", the high-reactive compound ball may be best. As far as sizes and weights, my personal preference is a smaller diameter ball (for a smaller hand), and a medium weight.

Finally, don't forget to practice. Once a week in a league isn't enough. Get some open bowling practice too.

Best wishes

[ctbowler]

I just bought two cobras and one pro 72.
So far I am happy with them. I got 5 inch and 3lb 12 oz
My game is slowly improving a bit and I am breaking 100 most of the time.
I wish I could get out more than once a week.

I bowled my best game of 144 so far with the set of 3lb 8 oz epco starlines that I gave to my mother -- go figure


At any rate I am doing better than the old set I had (Pretty sure they are manhattans) which was 4 7/8 and 3Lb 6.6 oz

[johnnywyld]

if your a new bowler you should be throwing a 3-8 or a 3-9 a 3-12 is to heavy if your only throwing 100 games, good luck J.D.

[Geo]

Going through house clean out of the old family homestead and I stumbled upon a set of duck-pin bowling balls, and bag.

IIRC, they were from Manhattan Rubber. They weigh 3.10, but given that the required stamp is not apparent, I'm thinking they've been resurfaced...so perhaps were heavier, but the resurfacing has taken off a couple of ounces as well as the stamp.

Don't bowl myself, much, anymore, and wondering if there is a way to determine/confirm composition and/or manufacturer, and the value.

Any feedback is appreciated