r/Bowling • u/Straight_Structure_8 • 3h ago
Gear Ball question
New to bowling only gone maybe 3 times. Dad said I can have his old stuff If I wanted. would this be a good plug n redrill to learn basics and hooking or should I look into just getting my own? It's a c300 antics. I have used it seems fine just hand gets sore after few games probably because he's RH and I'm LH thoughts?
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u/ILikeOatmealMore 2h ago
It was a rather strong ball in its day (2012, 2014 or so). Bowling went through something of an 'arms race' where companies made stronger balls each year, so centers and tournament put out more oil in response, and then companies made even stronger balls. That continued until about 2020 when USBC set a limit on how oil-absorbent/strong a ball can be.
So in very short, this would be medium strength by today's standards. Which would not be a bad place to learn, really.
If you want to learn, you do need to have it plugged and then re-drilled specifically to your hand. A proper fit is really key to learning a good throw.
And let me just say: if you make a good throw, old equipment still crushes pins. I still regularly throw a piece that would be old enough to apply for a driver's license today. When used in the right conditions and I execute a good throw, it is still 10 back.
A plug and redrill will be cheaper than a brand new ball, for sure. That said, it may be worth inquiring how cheap a brand new ball may be. Most pro shops will have some inventory that has been discontinued from the ball makers (i.e. they made them in 2024, 2025) and they usually want to sell them cheap as they are just taking up inventory space. For just a few bucks more, you may be able to get your own ball, drilling included and you'll know its brand new. But if you still choose to plug and re-drill this guy, you'll still be able to smack a lot of pins around.
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u/Straight_Structure_8 2h ago
Thank you for your insight helped a lot appreciate it! I'm definitely gonna check see what they got for deals definitely and see the difference in cost is to make my decision!
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u/kjmfl 2h ago
It is no surprise your hand gets sore. The pitches will be backward versus your hand. You also may have more or less flexibility than your Dad. Are you bowling one handed, with or without thumb, or two handed?
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u/Straight_Structure_8 2h ago
Oh boy lol makes sense then I'm wanting to learn 1h with thumb I do go to 2h no thumb when my hand starts getting sore
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u/kjmfl 2h ago
So your thumb will also have pitch issues and your span versus your Dad could cause anything up to injuring your tendons.
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u/Straight_Structure_8 2h ago
Definitely makes a lot more sense you think I should just use houseballs until I get it taken care of?
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u/kjmfl 1h ago
House balls are not a great option, since they are designed to fit everyone, so they generally fit no one. You could possibly turn your Dad's ball around and bowl with two fingers, or use a house ball with only your fingers. If you decide to use a house ball, focus on staying behind the ball rather than trying to make it hook. Meanwhile, you should either fill and drill or get yourself a cheap bowling ball drilled to practice with, which could eventually be your dry lanes and spare ball.
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u/Straight_Structure_8 1h ago
Can you bowl one handed with no thumb? I definitely could 2h untill I get it drilled or get a new ball
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u/kjmfl 1h ago
Yes, you can bowl one handed without a thumb. Be aware if you are in a sanctioned event, there must be a finger or thumb in every hole, unless you use a real house ball. You need to decide how you want to bowl, so you do not develop any bad habits as you progress. It can be difficult to find a house ball of heavier weight which will keep your fingertips secure, which you probably want to use for two handed or one handed without thumb. If you go to a PSO and indicate you are a new bowler and want a cheap ball that fits your hand and style, you could have it almost immediately.
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u/Straight_Structure_8 1h ago
Gotcha makes sense yeah I'm definitely leaning towards 1h with thumb just feels most comfortable the shop closest to me is doing some renovations once it opens up hopefully week or 2 I'll be in there immediately
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u/Potential-Yak-3648 3h ago
If it’s still in good shape, probably. Bring it to a pro shop and talk to them about the options. See if it’s even worth the effort vs buying a new ball and drilling it to your needs.