Expert: - 12/8/2008

Question
QUESTION: I'm a left handed bowlier with a Hammer Black Widow Venom 16 pounds.  The dot is to the left of my ring finger, diagonal.  I asked my pro-shop guy to set it up for a late hook, with a lot of agression.  

I'm probably up in the 19-20 mph range.  I've tried everything I can think of to get a stronger, more consistant hook.  From starting farther back to let it go longer, and hook on time, moving forward to slow my footsteps down to get less ball speed, cupping and such, but I can't cut down the ball speed, and I can't get a decent hook all the time.  I'm averaging around 180, but I know what this ball can do, and I know I can do better.  The issue is, how do I consistantly keep ball speed down.  Once my arm is loose after a couple throws, the ball just goes faster and faster.  I've blown maybe 6-10 potential 600 series...  and I missed a 700 series as well.

The other issue is that the lanes I bowl on never set them up the same way, but if I can understand ball speed control better, I can be more consistant.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

ANSWER: David,
Your issue is how to keep your speed consistent, and throw enough surface to slow the ball down when it needs to start to hook. The physical ability to adjust the speed of your shots and keeping everything else consistent is HUGE. Learn to throw the ball consistently (if you throw hard, throw hard, it's an asset) and use your ball choices to control what the ball does, and where.

Your Venom is VERY smooth. what do you have that's not? surface controls the front part of the lane (foul line to the arrows) your skills and ball layout helps with the backend. You are speed dominant, make sure you use enough surface (rougher) to get the ball to react where you need. Stronger layouts and rougher covers should help.

Thanks for the question. Bowl well.

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

QUESTION: So, would you then recommend that I sand the ball's coverstock a little bit?  The other 2 Balls in my arsenal are the Columbia Spirit and the Columbia Scout Reactive (which is seriously worn out)

Answer
David,
The surface on the Venom is (one of) the smoothest in the industry, AND it's polished. How did you end up with the Venom, with your ball speed? Talk to your pro shop guy about testing out some surface adjustments.

You'll need a lane with some oil (freshly laid would be best, maybe just before league some night). Try reducing the cover with 2000, 1000 and 500 grit Abralon pads and see which adjustment makes the most sense. The shop guy should be able to discuss with you, how, when and with what to adjust the surface. Write back if they don't help out.

Your other balls are very mild. The Spirt is a very mild coverstock  with one of my personal favorite cores while the Scout is a large, standard three piece (mild) core and a nice basic reactive cover.

Nice to hear back. Thanks for the question. Please follow-up again if needed.