Expert: - 3/21/2008

Question
QUESTION: PRO SHOPS SAY TO NEVER DRILL A BOWLING BALL WITHOUT KNOWING AN INDIVIDUALS PAP.  WHAT DO PRO SHOPS DO WHEN IT IS THERE FIRST WEIGHT BLOCK BALL? IS THERE A STANDARED MOVE OFF THE MARKED PAP AFTER MARKING THE STRENGTH OF THE PIN AND THE VERTICAL AXIS LINE.

ANSWER: Troy,
If you throw a ball, any ball, you can determine the Positive Axis Point, axis tilt and rotation. Along with ball speed, the details of how you throw determine what can help on the lane.

There are layouts that strengthens a balls reaction (stronger, earlier) or weakens (longer, later, less).

Which ball is the first choice (like deciding which screwdriver you need, because deciding on a screwdriver instead of a wrench needs to happen first)? Then, customizing or fine tuning the reaction with layout and surface is last.

The ball choice for a new bowler, who doesn't hit what they aim at, is often a telling investment. If the pro shop lets you buy the latest and greatest, you are a slave to the ball and the lane condition (shame on them). If you invest in a more basic ball, you must learn the sport. As you are forced to hit your target (area) you become better at delivering a ball. You grow your skills, you grow your scores, you grow your successes.

So, there is no standard move, but often assumptions are made (hopefully, your pro shop operator is the person that seeks as much input -Ball speed, rev rate, tilt, rotation, etc.- before making the assumptions).

Thanks for the question. Good bowling.

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

QUESTION: Thanks for the response. I'm an average bowler (184avg.) and have been bowling for five years. the pro shop has never seen me bowl or asked to see me bowl and i have six bowling balls my wife has two and when the new balls were drilled they asked if we only bowled at the one center or others and what reactions we would like to see different from our existing balls.  they never attempted to get the pap off the existing balls.  that is why i am curios how they determined what our vertical and horizontal pap where coming off the strength of the pin.  i know enough about laying out a ball to lay one out for myself with my pap, and that why i wanted to know about a new ball for a new person.  i wouldn't attempt to drill a ball for someone because i cant determine pitches for fingers or even attempt pitches.

Answer
Troy,
Many ball drillers spend less time with "lesser" bowlers. Because as a player becomes more skilled the "tools" they use can incrementally  become more effective, so often more time is needed to determine and provide the needed "look" on the lane.

If you hit your target (and the pocket) 10 times a game and don't strike at least 5 or 6 times, something WRONG. Now equipment becomes about carry/entry angle/effect.

Have the six balls you've purchased improved your game each time?

Some customers, on their first visit, show me their equipment and (let's suppose) they have six balls that all do the same thing (often times, the balls all have the same layout). Toolboxes don't usually contain 6 of the same screwdriver. We seek to provide a variety of tools.

Having an arsenal of balls, allows you to control the lane. Different balls (often different price points) will do different things. So potentially a driller can improve the quality of the balls you buy and provide different "looks" on the lane. Adjustments to your layouts can fine tune the effect you seek out of a specific ball type.

Thanks for the questions. Good luck and good bowling.