Expert: - 2/22/2008

Question
Helo Warren,
I am sort of new to bowling (started 3 years ago) and am bowling twice a week in leagues. I average 160 and use a Black Widow Bite as well as a Total NV sanded. I am lefty, ball fast (15-17mph), 14#, "J" shaped line (as opposed to"C"). Here's my question: the lanes have gotten VERY heavily oiled. I am considering getting a new ball for VERY HEAVY OIL conditions because right now, I hit "weak" I am there, but weak. I tried to adjust but nothing does it. I am still weak in the pocket. Needless to say, I am getting very frustrated. So, which ball would you recommend? Thank you, for any help/advice you can provide!

Answer
You've got a lot of high powered equipment.

The balls with surface include the Attitude Shift, Special Agent, T-Road Solid from Storm, the Cell from Roto Grip, The Fury, Total Inferno, and Mammoth from Brunswick, several balls from Ebonite/Columbia/Hammer and Track have strong cores but smooth covers (as you've found with the Total NV).

The NV that you sanded, what does it do? I'm concerned that the look on the lane from heavy oil has the ball rotating but not hooking. Is that the case? Does your ball come back with lots of oil rings on it? Do you ever wipe them off?

One of my concerns about the current evolution of bowling is the numbers of bowlers that are turning to equipment as a solution to problems versus improving one's abilities. I grew up with very basic equipment. Getting a better ball wasn't an option, so you had to learn to bowl better.

I'm sounding old school here, but I think players use equipment as a stop gap to practice, lessons and improvement.

Best of luck. Let me know what you see on the lanes. Thanks for the question.