Expert: - 2/3/2008

Question
I have a brunswick edge fingertip ball, 16 lbs. I havent bowled with it on a league in 15 years. I joined a league this year and am having trouble getting it to hook like it did in the past. The place I league bowl has very oily lanes when we bowl. Another alley I bowl at now and then is usually dry and I have no problem with a hook, last time there I bowled a 196 and 185.  I've never had a big hook, My right foot is about 4 inches behind the second dot from the right, I have a high back swing and the ball hits the lane about  3 feet out going strait . I havent looked where the ball is in relation to the arrow but it goes pretty strait and usually starts to hook about the last 10 feet or so, not a lot of hook but enough to drive into the 5 pin. I'm 50yrs old,5'7" about 190, I used to have a 175-180 average this year its at 154. I think the reach between the finger  and thumb holes may be too much, when I was younger I had a white dot drilled that way and liked it so this edge was drilled the same way when I got it. I dont have much problems with spares, even the 10 pin, but on strike balls, I am hitting way right a lot.  expecting the ball to hook more. About the middle of the third game my strike ball is better but then I'm sometimes left of my target on the spare ball.

 I was thinking of getting a new ball and am asking for a little input, hopefully iv'e given you enough info to help me? I dont know much about the way weights work in a ball, pin placement or all that. I was thinking of getting a hammer black widow or brunswick fury? I havent been to the pro shop yet, am trying to get some info before I go there.

Answer
Rick,
You've thought of many of the things I ask a customer, before taking them out on a lane to see them do what they described.

Some people have a good handle on their game, some have a picture in their mind and have never really seen a video of what they do (great asset). You seem to have a good understanding of your game.

Your Brunswick Edge is from an era where Urethane coverstocks changed the amount of friction a bowler could get from a lane.

Today's High Friction Game contains very slick, very thick lane conditioners, lane machines that spray oil or apply oil with almost board by board precision, bowling balls that have maxed out all the parameters for ball performance (then with a weight hole exceed them). Technology has caught bowling and some very cool stuff is possible.

I drilled a ball the other day that weighs 15 lbs before drilling and the weight block weighs more than 7 lbs. So don't worry about a little side weight. You are looking at high performance bowling balls. No doubt when you bought your Edge it was a top product. But since the Edge gives you some reaction on dry lanes, you need a little more reaction, not necessearily the big guns.

I'd look to get an updated fit. Plug and redrill the Edge to fit better (maybe just the thumb). Work with the shop operator to get a fit and feel you don't have to work so hard to hold onto. Then explain that your Edge (like the modern Urethane Groove) doesn't allow you to throw the ball the way you'd like.

Explain your comfortable with some hook, ask if they can get your Positive Axis Point(PAP) off your ball, to help with laying out the new ball? Depending on what they see of your axis, axis tilt and nueances from seeing you bowl, they should be able to offer several low to mid price performance balls that will add to your hook, not necessessarily turn you into a hook monster (unless I'm misreading your question).  

You could try a Jolt line ball from Storm, The Roto Grip Pluto or Neptune, the Rival from Columbia 300, Bash or Clash from Ebonite (but check out surface adjustments), New Avalanche or a BVP ball from Brunswick. Specific products would depend on the high backswing of yours and just how fast down the lane the ball's traveling. Your rev rate will help the ball change direction and how the ball tracks (axis tilt and rotation) will dictate how and how quickly it moves.

You are able to get some reaction in game three so the lanes are breaking down some, but knowing how much oil is on the lane will tell how much you can move left as you launch the ball down lane. So there are still a few variables to examine.

I have an appointment open Tuesday, but if you don't want to jump on a plane and visit a pretty brisk Chicago in February, check with your local shop operator and see what he thinks of how you bowl and what balls might fit your needs.

I hope you get the same kind of input you gave me from your pro shop operator. The more he knows about what your doing and what you want the easier it will be to target in on balls that fit the bill. Don't hesitate to drop a note if you have additional questions. Good luck with your new ball, and good bowling.