Expert: - 2/4/2009

Question
QUESTION: I throw a full roller which means I get decent carry for the first game and then the carrydown causes me to leave a lot of 7 or 10 pins after that.  I am thinking about getting a Lane#1 Buzzbomb, a Lane Master Dynamic Power, or a Morich  'Ntense Levrg so I can carry the end pins.  Can a full roller get enough hook to have messengers?  I only have a 175 avg.  Which ball would give a better carry?

ANSWER: Bob,
Any medium to high flaring bowling ball will NOT result in carry down. Unless your team or the team(s) you compete with roll plastic balls or very basic entry level balls, carry down is probably not the problem.

From your question, I can't tell if you're right or left handed, but no matter. If you are leaving 7 and 10 pins, you are getting weak hits. 7 for a righty 10 for a lefty. Both for a weak hitting ball, a soft 7 or 10 is the result of loss of energy at the pocket. The solid corner pin is when the pin in front (4 or 6) is struck sharply and it bounces up and around the 7 or 10. Observe the corners as you roll, if you are seeing the 4 or 6 falling over into the flat gutter (next to the corner pin), your shot didn't have the angle and/or energy to push the pin where it needed to.

I'd expect that the lane you play on is losing oil after each and every game, every shot (they all do, you pick it up with the ball) and your ball is rolling a little earlier (not necessarily enough to feel you need to move but enough to lose carry).

The minute you leave a weak pin, adjust in a board or two with the same break point and see if the ball movement at the pins gets stronger. The ball should hit the pocket and continue. If you see it hit and deflect even slightly, the ball's energy, and potential to throw pins around (the lovable messengers that we all enjoy) is gone. Messengers are partly the result of ball speed and partly the result of the angle that the pins are struck and spun. When the angle softens or the energy is diminished, no messengers, less strikes.

I can't recommend a ball without knowing a lot more about your game. If you'd like to pursue a recommendation or review of your current ball(s), let me know your rev rate, ball speed, and the current equipment you use and how it's laid out. Thanks for the questions.

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

QUESTION: I am a righty with 16# X-Factor Reloaded which is 6 years old.  I bowl once a week.  My ball has good movement and carry the first game but I lose the carry after that and leave a lot of 7 & 10 pins.  I had the 7-10 split 3 times one night.  I need a more aggressive ball.  I don't understand the relationship between hook, length, and breakpoint shape so I need your help.  I've always thrown a full roller but on light oil I get a nice arc and mix.  On heavy oil my ball goes straight and seems dead.  Please recommend a ball that will carry the end pins without a lot of revs.  Someone told me to get a drilling with a pin in the 7:30 position to the left of the thumb hole.  Cost is not a problem.  I need a ball to work on oily lanes.  Surely there must be a hook ball for a stroker for heavy oil.   Many years ago I had an ureuothane ball that was a skid/flip type and I loved it.  What would give me that kind of performance today?

ANSWER: Bob,
The suggestion to get a full roller leverage layout is crucial. The pin position for your delivery has the core fighting the roll if the ball layout isn't for a full roller.

Your X-Factor Re-loaded is a strong ball with rough cover and particle load. How far down the lane does the ball skid before it starts to roll (rev up/spin faster)? Do you throw hard? Do most of your teammates /competitors roll the ball slower?

You said "Many years ago I had an urethane ball that was a skid/flip type and I loved it." What ball was it?

"What would give me that kind of performance today?" If I knew more about what was successful for you before???  Let me know.

Slower speed and strong surface causes the ball to slow prematurely, and leave the corner pins you talked about. The layout of your ball doesn't seem to help. With less revs, your speed is important. I wouldn't recommend the surfaces of the N'Tense LevRG or Dynamic Power, without knowing more about your ball speed. I'd suggest an Ebonite Raid with a surface adjustment (dependent on ball speed) or the MoRich N'Sane LevRG, the smoother surface or the Lane Master's XS Power, the reactive cover with taller core/better flare potential. Let me know more. Thank you for the follow-up.



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

QUESTION: I throw the ball 17 mph.  Sometimes my ball skids all the way down the alley on heavy oil, especially when I try to go up the middle boards.  On light oil my ball doesn't roll until it is 40 ft down the alley.  I usually bowl over the first arrow so the friction will get the ball rolling.  Now, I want a skid/flip ball that doesn't have a lot of length and has a lot of hook potential.  I already have a spare ball - so I want the most aggressive ball I can find.  With the full roller layout does it matter it I use fingertip or conventional drilling.  I get really confused on whether I want a ball with max flare or max hook.  I need your help.  I need a ball that mixes the pins.

Answer
Bob,
You are adding variables. Layout will help but it is harder to hook a conventionally fit ball. If the ball doesn't hook on the middle boards don't roll it there, unless your going straight at a spare.

You want flare because it helps slow your ball down (as the ball turns towards it's preferred spin axis, each rotation, it exposes a fresh portion of the cover to the lane). You want max hook (low Radius of Gyration-RG) so the ball will change direction (from skid to hook) very readily. Ball speed and weaker rolls demand more ball, and appropriate layouts to utilize the cool inner cores of today's equipment.

Your roll and your speed (with an appropriate layout) will work with the balls I mentioned. The Raid will need to be rolled more to the outside (drier) part of the lane. The N'Tense (more surface than the N'Sane)or MoRich Response (possibly adjusting the surface) or the XS Power have great qualities. Should be plenty for your driller to work with.

Thanks for the follow-up. Bowl well.