Expert: - 11/26/2008

Question
QUESTION: I have had my NVS for about 3 months, prob about 30-40 games or so.  At first it was working really well then the ball just seemed to die on me.  i throw relatively slow, about 10 mph.  I clean it after every use.  It seems that I cannot get any traction, it just slides off the side.  What grit abralon pad should i sand it with to make a difference.  I want the ball to be long and have a strong backend.  Also are there any balls that you could recommend that would compliment my game.  I've been looking at Ebonite Striking Motion and The One.  I'm fairly partial to the one.

ANSWER: Jonathan,
Are you sure you throw 10 miles an hour? that's approximately 4.1 seconds travel time from foul line to pins.

What do you clean the ball with? The surface is 2000 Abralon, shined with Powerhouse Factory Finish Polish.

The newly re-introduced One is finished at 4000 with NO polish. I'm a fan of the series, but I'd need more info to give you any real recommendation.

Thanks you for the question. Get me some additional info and we can work on the problem.

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QUESTION: I've been visualizing and it seems that it does take abt 4 seconds.  I usually throw abt 14-16 but i couldnt get it to turn much at all as it was before.  So i pretty much just started throwing it straight line.

I clean my ball with "King's Ball Cleaner" that i got from my local pro shop.  Yesterday I cleaned my ball with rubbing alcohol to take oil out.  I cleaned it with a white rag so i would be able to tell how dirty it was.  It pretty much turned from white to black.  Is that what the problem was, or should i resurface with 2000 abralon as well?

I will attatch a picture of the cleaner i use as well as the line i usually bowl on. the green line is my normal line and the pink one is what i use when there is too much oil through the middle.

ANSWER: Jonathan,
The faster speed is an asset in today's game. You must match-up the surface and layouts to achieve the right match-up on the lanes.

Never heard of the King's Ball Cleaner brand, maybe local or regional (where are you from?). You may very well be polishing the ball each time, which is keeping the surface too smooth for what you need the ball to do. The alcohol is a solvent cleaner and does take dirt and some of the polish off.

Freshening the surface with 2000 might be helpful, but throw it before repolishing (be careful not to scuff in the direction of your track). You might like it that way.

Don't visualize your speed, time it. 3 seconds is about 13 and a half mph, while 2.5 is 16+mph.

I'm fond of The One series. The reintroduction of the first One, has the ball at 4000, no polish. A surface adjustment is easy and recommended to match up. Striking Motion is a different core, with similar numbers (lesser differential).

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QUESTION: I am from Florence, South Caolina.  I've been thinking that i should invest in a cleaner like energizer bc from the looks of my ball my cleaner isnt doing much good.  I was planning on rolling it today, just alcohol cleaned, but i dindnt get a chance to.
I remember to throw it before deciding to polish.  I've never used an abralon pad so If i do do it, I will most likely go to the shop and get details on how to.
i think the main problem I have is like you said, with the speed.  If i try to throw it too fast it seems  end up throwing it to far left, i just need to practice my lines more.  if you want there is a vid that i posted on youtube that you can see a pretty straight throw.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DONThNhN2BY

Answer
Jonathan,
The clock on the youtube video showed 3 seconds, maybe a hair less, so you are about 13 and a half to 14 mph. You shot was dead down the middle of the lane, not the outside shot going up outside of the second arrow.

With shine or oil soaking into the ball, you will have less bite. Wipe the ball after every shot, clean it with alcohol or energizer after each session. Have the shop hit it with Abralon first and talk to them about the optimum surface for you.

You hit it on the head, practice. If your not executing properly, the ball won't help (enough).

Thanks for the question. Keep up the speed. Practice. And maintain the surface to your best advantage.