Expert: - 11/9/2008

Question
QUESTION: is it essential to have a pap measurement when having a ball drilled?  I throw a light ball because of some muscles problems and just ordered a new 10 heavy playmaker.
I was going to ask my pro to do my pap. it seems he doesn't figure it for anyone...just drills. He said he would if I brought my ball in with the oil mark on it. Is it helpful to have the pap figured or should I skip it?

ANSWER: LJ,
The ball you purchased has very little core effect in that light a ball. I recommend entry level products, for anyone using equipment lighter than 14lbs (in most cases).

Some companies have some product that works well with modified cores (not the ones you see in ads or on ball displays), in lighter weights (12 and 13). But, often 10 and 11 pound balls have standard three piece pancake weight blocks. When buying a light weight ball, with only the coverstock (and a Premium label) being the difference in ball performance, paying for the premium label is often over paying. Many of the current entry level balls (Power Groove, Jazz, Tornado, Tropical Storm, etc.) have some of the strongest cover stocks ever made (Brunswick-Powercoil, Storm-Reactor, for example).

I utilize a PAP measurement EVERY time I'm drilling a performance ball. Many standard layouts will work just fine for less consistent bowlers. But when I'm trying to control the lane for a player that can hit their target and deliver the ball with some consistency, utilizing the core (engine) of the ball is why a performance ball performs.

When guesstimators (ball drillers guessing) guess wrong, the ball doesn't work well. But poorer players don't roll a ball consistently, so often you can't tell if it's a bad ball or OPERATOR error! In any case, the frustration of bad ball reaction can turn you off to the game. There are 10 million fewer league bowlers than 15 years ago, I don't want to take the chance and loose another one.

Thanks for the questions. Good luck.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thanks for your answer..I wish I had you to drill my ball!    I have a columbia WD for spares and a Brunswick groove urathane...But, it does not hook enough for me now on the oily lanes. I am hoping to get more hook on oily lanes with the playmaker. Bowling.com told me that the same core is used in all weights of the playmaker. I realize it must vary some how.   But, I am determined to get more hook if I can....do you think I should realize more hook with the playmaker? I also am going to go with a finger tip instead of conventional.  I had a perfect hook this summer on dry lanes with the groove. Since I have to throw a lighter ball, I am hoping to gain more strikes with a ball that hooks more. Is this reasonable?

Answer
LJ,
I hope you weren't dealing with some idiot web guy who thinks the same weightblock is in EVERY ball (You were MISINFORMED, or they don't know, probably the later. Great resource to buy a sophisticated piece of sports equipment.). Why wouldn't you just ask the store operator where you will get it drilled? (Web sellers don't care if it works, they just have to make it look like they do.)

From the Ebonite website, the #10 Playmaker has a Radius of Gyration (RG) of 2.72 with Differential RG of .031 (with a 4000 grit polished cover), while their Tornado in #10 is 2.77 and Diff of .040 (with 1000 grit polished cover). Translation - cores have very similar numbers, but the Tornado is a higher flaring bowling ball with a rougher cover. Tornado will hook more (providing your not throwing them 20mph)! Neither cover is made for much oil.

Good luck. Thanks for the follow-up.