Expert: - 1/16/2008

Question
I Warren I have a question regarding bowling balls.  I live in a small town and bowl on are men's league.  There is now new owners of our bowling alley and the lanes are never the same sometimes there so oily you can almost ring the oil out of your ball, and other nights they are so dry you cant do anything with them.  I throw a hook but not a real aggressive one.  I stand at the first dot on the right and throw at the first arrow.  That has always worked for the last three years but now with the inconsistency of the lanes my average has dropped big time.  Our lanes are old and they are all wood.  I was wondering if you could suggest a ball that is good for this type of lanes thank you

Answer
Tim,
Let me know what is not working (the balls you've thrown up till now). With no idea of how much oil is being applied to the old wood lanes you bowl on, I have no way to evaluate.

Not having much hook could be to strong a ball or ball layout working to early, but it sounds like not enough surface friction to slow the ball your throwing, to allow it to grab the lane and hook. Skuffing the ball may help in the short term. Is there a pro shop in the center?

Do you throw harder than most? That also plays a part. Let me know more and I can evaluate your reaction and see if we can get a better reaction for you. Thanks for the Question. I look forward to hearing back from you.