Which bowls to choose?

[garyjames]

I intend changing my ageing Henselite Classics for the coming outdoor season. I play lead for my local club at County League level and currently use size 3 heavy and I am looking to buy a narrower running wood. I have virtually narrowed the choice to Classic II or Taylor Ace. With your experience which do you consider the better of the two, or are there any other models that fit the bill. Also should I be using medium weight outdoors?

[Angel]

Hi Garyjames if you take my advice classic twos are the wood to go for, I play outdoors and indoors and you cant beat these woods
They will take a tight line but will also swing around other woods
Best Ive ever played with would recommend them to any Bowler


Angel :D

[snapper]

Always difficult changing wood have seen so many people impulse buy and the notice board down the club is full of woods for sale

You are doing the right thing taking your time before making a decision

Know bowlers who are playing with both these types of woods sometimes its the position you play in, I myself prefer the Classic but I'm a front

end player

[THE UMPIRE]

Go for the Classic 2 series C they are super for outdoor and indoor. Last year I played in a Crown green challenge with them and won.:roll:

[John]

Hi Gary,
I play with Classic 2 indoor & outdoor and wouldn't play with anything else, only 2 disadvantages I find are;

1) Outdoors early, they struggle to bend if back end on an early green in
April and first week in May.

2) Can struggle indoors on an end rink against Vectors, but have to adjust.

Such a personal decision, be interested to hear what you buy in the end and how the go!

Best of luck,

John

[mary]

Have a friend who had a set of Taylor Ace they do take a wider line than the vectors, might be all right for indoors but out doors I think the Classic would be better
She did sell them on after a season and went back to her old woods depends which position you play as well :rolleyes:

[Blondie]

Hi Garyjames its really confusing when you have to decide which set of bowls to get

Not only the cost but are you going to be happy bowling with them, from the talk around the club we have more players with classic11

Can hear the comments and moans of the people who don't play with Classic about the tight line they take and should be banned

Could be sour grapes because after a few weeks will see some of these members playing with the Classic :D:rolleyes:

[E T]

Hi All,

I play with classics 2's, love the comments about straight woods etc, do agree many of the moaners do change eventually then realize its all about skill and bowling and its not easy whatever woods you have!!


E. T.:eek:

[garyjames]

Since posting this thread on here and on another forum it has been suggested that Tiger II's would be ideal for outdoor leading. Any thoughts please.

[wrong bias]

Since posting this thread on here and on another forum it has been suggested that Tiger II's would be ideal for outdoor leading. Any thoughts please.aaaaaaaahhhhhhh noooooooooooooooooo

[Sam]

Quote:
Originally Posted by garyjames http://www.worldbowler.com/bowls-forum/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.worldbowler.com/bowls-forum/showthread.php?p=5985#post5985)
Since posting this thread on here and on another forum it has been suggested that Tiger II's would be ideal for outdoor leading. Any thoughts please.

aaaaaaaahhhhhhh noooooooooooooooooo Wrong Bias


Hi Garry James can well understand the reaction you got from Wrong Bias
He bought a set of Tiger11

If you look at the thread started (Disappointed) which he put on some time ago you will understand
He has had so much trouble with these woods You need to try them outdoors before you part with any cash :roll::roll:

[kiwi bowler]

what about Dreamlines?, I find that these can draw well and are good for the yard on etc.

[Surfer]

If you are only going to play Indoors Dreamline are a great wood to lead with, wouldent recommend them for Back end Bowling would need a bit more of a swing,
Work really well on end rinks and hold a good tight Surfer:cool:

[garyjames]

I use Vectors indoors so purely looking to buy woods for leading outdoors (Vectors much too narrow on our local heavy greens). Aces are probably the best match for outdoors but still undecided. Must say it's brilliant to hear other bowlers comments / experiences / advice.

[Blondie]

Hi Garry James been reading back thought Wrong Bias thread Disappointed





http://www.worldbowler.com/bowls-forum/images/icons/icon1.gif dissapointed
well ,,used my tiger II,s in a singles tie and got well and trully dumped,ok the guy is a very good bowler but my bowls had a mind or minds of their own, three times they shot straight as a die out of the rink,,the bloke i was playing asked me if it was a wrong bias ,no i replied irritated,,
so if any of you are using these things make sure your grip is spot on and your delivery has got to be smooth cos if it aint you will make a complete a...e of yourself
thing is they performed well indoors,,,im an inch away from flogging them:sad:



Would be a good idea to try a set of Tiger11 outdoors to see how they feel, must be somebody in the Club who has some
Not sure if this is any help one of the most difficult decisions a Bowler makes
Let us know what you decide and how you get on with your new woods, going onto another subject tried the new Proline Cloth out its well worth getting dries you wood in seconds and last all of the game Blondie

[Bundyboy]

In Australia the classic 11 are rarely used. There are a number of series of classic 11's the latest being the Series C bowl. These seem to be the tightest of the 11's, however very few top bowlers use these bowls. I have just purchased a set of greenmaster premier bowls which work well on greens up to 14 seconds. Most greens over here rarely run less than 11-12 seconds. Interesting to see that the "OLD " classic henselite is still favoured. YOu only see those bowls used for barefoot bowling, and they are usually donated to the club for free.

[kiwi bowler]

Hi Bundyboy

What about Henselite Masters? are they used over in Aussie?

[Bundyboy]

Hi Kiwi Bowler,
Henselite does not market a Master in Australia. Can you explain it in relation to to a classic 11
. In Australia the Henselite range use to go from classic, classic 11, ABT 2000 Dreamline, ABT EVO, Impact. That range is from wide drawing to minimum bias or narrow bowls. The Impact is the narrowest bowl, however rarely any one uses them because they are profoundly unstable in most conditions. Someof te top players who like Henselite bowls are ordering white speckle bowls. That is a white bowl with a colored speckled. Most Henselite bowls are now either Dreamline or ABT EVO.

[Blondie]

Hi Bundyboy

The latest Bowls Mag out has the White Taylor bowls on the front page, they say there is a long waiting list and so far I havent heard of anyone playing with them, will cause a sensation when they do
Shall take a picture and post it on the forum :D:D

[kiwi bowler]

Hi Bundyboy, they came out here in NZ just before the Classic 11, not made now and take a wider green than the Classic 11. Very good bowl for a draw bowler, I have won many club single's and pairs with mine.

In NZ the current Henselite range is: ABT-evo, Tiger 11, Classic 11 and Impact.
The bowl I would like to change to is Dreamline, but not available new in NZ any more:(

[Bundyboy]

Hi Kiwi Bowler,
I had a set of dreamlines , originally blue, however the first batches didn;t have the right UV protection so they all went dark. Henselite replaced them with a new set, and sold off the discolored sets as test model, could but them for around $250. I went to an EVO which I bought from a team mate who skipped under 25 for Australia against NZ. They were very tight, I was lucky enough to win a group championship with them however , one of the bowls developed an air bubble. Henselite only replaced the bowl and not the set. Did not like the set I got back so went to a greenmaster Premier. The perform much better in the wind than a dreamline. However the speckle range of dreamline is very popular.There are a number of bowling houses that probably would export dreamlines. My research suggest that for greens around 11-14 sec the premiers are well fancied. I must admit I love the line of my premiers, they seem to turn better on a narrow green yst turn less on the windward side of an affected green than dreamlines. Different horses for courses.

[kiwi bowler]

Hi Bundyboy,

Out of interest did you buy your GreenMaster Premiers new? and what colour and size are they?

Also how do they bowl on greens running 15 to 16 sec?

[Bundyboy]

Hi Kiwi bowler,
My premiers are 18's bought new for $620, from a local bowls shop who had them mailed directly to me from Greenmaster Australia which is in Sydney. They are the new granite colour which is a predominately grey bowl with lots of white and black flecks. They are best suited up to around 14 seconds. I also have the same colur set in powers, however I have only been using the prem. Played today in the state finals ( last 11 prs)for mixed pairs and on a bent green they played well but were a little wider than redlines. (we Lost) They have a great arc, no hook at end. At present count played with them 15 times 3 losses 1 tie and 11 wins. I use 4 heavy bowls.
I think the speed beat me today, we had lots of rain yesterday so green was only running 12 seconds.12-13 seconds is the worst speed for me. ALso bowls very slippery( hate that).

[Surfer]

Hi Bundyboy I am not sure what you would make of our greens at the beginning of the season
Have been looking at the picture of a green that Kiwi Bowler has just put on, and they look fantastic, we get so much rain and some Clubs dont cut the grass as often as they should, I wouldent call it Bowling at all, its more like heaving the wood and hoping it gets up, you cant look for line or lenght, will try and take a few pics to let you judge for yourself how difficult Bowling in the UK can be Surfer:cool:

[garyjames]

Many thanks to all the responses to my original posting which I found really invaluable. I have ordered a new set of Taylor Aces size 3 heavy and now look forward to the outdoor season.

[Sam]

Hi Garyjames

Thanks for letting us know, hope you have a good Season Outdoors it wont be long now till opening day,

Did you go for Colored Woods or the Black :rolleyes:

[wrong bias]

opening day next week



bet you its raining:)

hope your bowls are ok, taylor aces are ace(god thats cheesey):(

[Angel]

Not going to say a word, about being cheesey, :roll::roll:your up very early this morning Wrong Bias,
Hope you have a very nice day,

Angel:D:D

[garyjames]

Hi Garyjames

Thanks for letting us know, hope you have a good Season Outdoors it wont be long now till opening day,

Did you go for Colored Woods or the Black :rolleyes:

Being a player of "senior" years I decided to stick with black woods and will now be doing battle against the young guns with their brightly coloured bombs !!

[Howie54]

I play with Taylor Aces and would suggest if you are playing lead then you would probably be better going for a tighter bowl. A bowl which is working very well for leads at our club is the Drakes Pride Proffessional.:)