Expert: Chip Aki - 11/29/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hi, I am thinking of buying a brand new copperhead and I have no idea of what the "top weight and pin' really mean.  In the small amount of materials I've read on the subject I'm not sure how to determine what would suit my style of bowling. Are there any good rules of thumb that I could go buy to have the ball drilled to use these factors to my advantage? Thank you for any possible info you can provide. I am a novice bowler at best no leauges or average, my best game is a 220 which doesn't happen often. I have a blue zone right now and i would love to see alot more action from my hook with a new ball and drilled properly.

ANSWER: What kind of blue zone do you have?  If it is a target zone, the copperhead will give you a lot more action.  If it is one of the blue proactive zones, the copperhead will hook later and sharper.  If it is an Xzone, the copperhead would be similar.  I am not sure what other blue zones there are, so if you have one that i did not mention, you will need to let me know which kind you have.

I would suggest a ball with a 2-3 inch pin and 3-4 ounces of top weight.  That will give you more drilling options, but also be more controlable options as well.  Go with a standard label type of layout.  Your ball driller will be able to help you with the layout choices.

Until you can be consistent with your ball speed and release, there is not need to go with exotice layouts.  Those layouts will only make your bad shots worse and can be frustrating for that reason.

Good luck,
Chip

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

QUESTION: Thank you for your response I appreciate it. The Zone that I have now I bought "slightly" used over 5 years ago and it is a 16# polished blue ball with the Brunswick and the "Z" logos in yellow & the word Zone is in white. I apologize for the lack of knowledge - but it kinda explains the question(s) :) Is there anything wrong with going to a 15 or even 14 lb. ball to save fatigue on my arm? Thank you again for the time.

Answer
There is not a problem with dropping down to 15#.  I have used that for the past 20 years or so.  

Based on the info, the copperhead will give you more backend reaction than the blue one you are using.  I am sure once you get used to it, you will enjoy the extra pin action you will get.

Good luck,
Chip

The pin and top weight suggestions would still be the same.