Expert: Chip Aki - 2/19/2009

Question
A few weeks ago i joined a league in a different house for
the experience of bowling on different lanes, plus its a
little cheaper then the house i normally bowl at.  The only
downside is, their lanes are at the best, a light oil
pattern, but usually just BONE DRY.

My current gear is a Storm Fear Factor for heavy oil,
Columbia Icon polished to 1600 grit and drilled weak for
medium oil, and a ebonite maxim for spares and light oil.

At this new house though, im struggling horribly with the
dry pattern.  I cant even think about throwing the icon,
much less the fear factor unless i wanted to be on top of
the ball return and loft it over the gutter...  now, i've
been resorting to throwing my ebonite maxim (which is a
hard polyester) but even that is giving me trouble!!!

I have to throw the maxim about 10 to 5, but the trouble
lies with 2 things.  

1.  its carry is sub par.  Leaving lots of 7 pins (im
lefty)
2. Its EXTREMELY inconsistent (which i beleive is because
its polyester)  One shot on 10-5 will come in a tad light,
the next a tad high, then in the pocket, and so on and so
forth...

so im looking for the best non polyester ball for dry lane
conditions.  I was considering the Storm Tropical Storm
because i absolutely love Storm bowling balls, but i have
some hesitation b/c i've read reviews of the ball online,
and everyone seems to agree its much more powerful then
advertised...

Some other people recommended finding a cheap urethane
bowl, but im not really familiar with how to determine the
difference between urethane and reactive resin...

What im looking for is some hard hitting, consistent ball
for absolutely dry to light lane conditions.  I really dont
want to be playing a line bigger then 15-5, as thats what i
usually throw on medium to heavier oil conditions with me
other balls.  

let me know your best choices for a dry lane ball.

heres some stats about me to help you out.

left handed

average: 210 house, 195 sport shot

ball speed: 15-17 mph,  17mph got a straighter line, 15 for
a wide line. usually around 16mph though.

rev rate: medium, probably abut 16-18  

Answer
If you can find one, a urethane ball might be your best choice.  I think that the Brunswick Groove is the only one being made at this time.  Storm made a urethane Flash several years ago.  The urethane will hit better than the plastic be more controllable than your reactives.

Good luck,
Chip