Expert: - 1/23/2009

Question
I see many types of coverstocks listed for many different bowling balls and was wondering what they mean. example Solid Reactive, Pearl Reactive, and Solid Particle. How can any one keep up?

Answer
Norm,
That's why the guy who drills your bowling ball should know about the potential of each product. And be willing to educate you. Their job is to help make you a better bowler.

You don't dig up specs for your car's engine when it sputters or it's slow to start. You take it to a professional (I hope).

Solid Reactive, Pearl Reactive, and Solid Particle all provide different potential for friction and wrapped on the same core will act differently, causing the resulting ball to provide different characteristics for the bowler.

You forgot polished Solid Reactive, Pearl Particle, Hybrid Reactive, and all the combination's of the above (with various surface finishes).

You don't change much, from year to year, as a bowler. What works today should work tomorrow. So, if a specific kind of core works well for you, that or a similar core should work well, depending on what it's wrapped in.

If you have some basic skills, hit the head pin more than half the time (on YOUR side), and the ball you have doesn't work (carry, hook, skid enough, whatever) talk to the person who drilled it and ask for a solution. Or collect as much info as you can, and I'll try to help.

Thanks for the questions.