Expert: - 7/25/2008

Question
Warrren,

I know every professional (I'm generalizing) doesn't like for regular guys like me to buy x-blem balls, but I bought it anyway on ebay. It's a RotoGrip Cell 15lbs (X-blem, 6.5+ pin location according to seller).

I've been bowling for the past 10 years and have a pretty good mechanic swing, but never really got into the bowling lingo. All I know is i have a Columbia 300 Scout Reactive and my hook is quite good, starting from the left side of the lane and going almost all the way to the edge on the other side of the lane and still hit the pocket (I average 180, ball speed according to the computer is 12-14MPH, revs I don't know).

My question is, how do I drill the ball with this x-blem condition? I want to get the most out of it to see if my average can go past 200!! I've gotten the drilling instructions from www.rotogrip.com but I don't know it they'll apply to my ball.

Also, what exactly is this "6.5+ pin location" deal?, I'm a smart guy but don't understand this lingo.

Answer
Oscar,
You just bought a lot of ball. If your reactive Scout hooks a lot (as you've described), your Cell could hook twice as much, or with a little drier lane, half as much. Get the feel for the dramatic difference only one element, the lane condition, effects what you can do.

Your new ball is a tool. What do you NEED it to do? WANT it to do? Unfortunately, you bought a tool and not a tomato. If you have a bunch of nails and bought a screw driver, you bought the wrong tool. Even if it was real cheap!

You are planning to do something I would discourage (going to a ball that is not only way more ball then you use, but a ball you haven't mentioned you need, and a ball that is very exotic to the standard first quality version).

But before we get ahead of ourselves. What do you need, to get 20 more pins? More hook? a better spare game? later break? better hit? better carry? What is the shape you want to see on the lane? Not knowing anything about your game, any suggestion would be a guess. Sorry, it will cost YOU money, I don't guess. Please tell me more about what you do.

Speed (slow) and rev rate (with a Scout) probably high or lanes that are fairly dry. How is your Scout drilled? Is it shiny? Do you stand left and drift right? Do you walk straight? What do you aim at (dots, arrows, pins)?

I'd need to know the lane condition, see your other ball, see you bowl (for Positive Axis Point, Axis Tilt and Axis Rotation), and determine that the Top Weight won't be a problem (too much or too little).

If somebody drills it with the center of gravity in the middle of your grip, I HOPE the pin isn't to far past your Vertical Axis Line, because the ball will flare backwards, over every hole in the ball.
Sorry to be so discouraging.

The "6 and 1/2 inch plus pin location" means the weightblock in your ball could be so far out of whack, to it's intended position, as to be upside down. So knowing exactly how far from the center of gravity (CG) the pin is, and the Top Weight will help.

Please let me know more details. Thanks for the questions.