Expert: Chip Aki - 11/19/2009

Question
QUESTION: I AM SINCERELY CONFUSED..I AM A SOUTHPAW, AVERAGE AROUND 205 RIGHT NOW AND PLAN TO BOWL A COUPLE OF REGIONALS NEXT SPRING IF ALL GOES WELL.  IF I HAD TO COMPARE MY BOWLING STYLE I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT I AM MOST SIMILAR TO PARKER BOHN..I AM CURRENTLY USING A STACKED LEVERAGE BRUNSWICK RATTLER..AND IT HAS BEEN WORKING PRETTY GOOD...MY A GAME IS SLIGHT SWING OUT TO  AROUND 5-8 BOARD WITH A SPEED OF ABOUT 18MPH.. REV RATE ABOUT 350..I AM NOT SURE IF I SHOULD STAY WITH BRUNSWICK OR STORM...STORM SEEMS TO BE THE BIG COMPANY RIGHT NOW...AND AS FAR AS LAYOUTS I AM LOST...AGAIN FROM A LEFTYS POINT OF VIEW...THESE BALL REVIEWS HAS TOO MANY TO PICK FROM AND ARE MOSTLY RIGHTHANDED..I SEE THAT STORM HAS THE LEGEND LAYOUTS LIKE LAYOUT #2 AND BRUNSWICK HAS A LAYOUT VERY SIMILAR TO THAT...HOWEVER, YOU ALSO HERE OF PIN UP AND PIN DOWN...DO I WANT TO MIX THESE AROUND? OR STICK TO ONE CERTAIN WAY..(BACK IN THE 80'S I THREW MOSTLY AXIS LEVERAGE, WHICH I LEARNED FROM MIKE AULBY). SHOULD I HAVE A RICO BALL, AND IF I SHOULD WHAT BALL SHOULD I DRILL IT ON..ALSO, MOST OF MY SUCCESS HAS BEEN WITH A PEARLIZED BALL...I KNOW IT LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF QUESTIONS, BUT AT 150.00 PLUS PER BALL....I WOULD BE MOST GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD SIMPLIFY THIS FOR ME..BY THE WAY I CURRENTLY BOWL ON A 45 FT HOUSESHOT LIGHT FROM 10 OUT..BUT I WANT MY ARSENOL TO CARRY ME INTO PBA REGIONAL PATTERNS ALSO..THANKS SO MUCH............BILL

ANSWER: I would look for balls drilled with the layout number 2 for most conditions.  Go with a solid, a pearl, a polished solid, and a urethane ball.  Non of them have to be the high end if you cant afford it.  Changing the cover stock and core will make a bigger difference than changing layouts in a limited arsenal.
As an example:  A Storm Virtual Gravity, a Storm Reign, a Storm Hy-Road, and A Storm Natural would be a very good four ball arsenal.

Good luck,
Chip

You can do a similar arsenal with other ball companies or even mixing them.

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

QUESTION: Chip, thank you for your help, one further question, between a Fast and Furious, which would you recommend?  thanks again...Bill

ANSWER: The Fast will be a bit stronger than your Rattler.  It should give your more hook and sharper breakpoint.  The Furious would hook sooner and be better for a heavier oil condition.  For the tougher patterns, I would go with the Furious as it is a solid coverstock and will give more control.

Good luck,
Chip

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

QUESTION: Chip, I found out my first Regional is going to be on a cheetah pattern....  what ball do you recommend for this....sincerely, Bill

Answer
Did you watch the PBA show that featured the Cheetah pattern?  The lefty had a good look with a Storm Natural.  I think that ball would match the look you like to see on that pattern.  I use my Natural on our house patterns here.  It provides great control and it still provides plenty of hitting power, esecially if you can stay to the outside part of the lane.

Good luck,
Chip

The Furious would still work, but the Natural would be best if you can play straighter.