Expert: - 3/14/2009

Question
Mr. Friedl,

I would like to get a new ball that will help me maximize my scores. The problem is in the area that I live there is only one pro shop and its not all that good. I live in western Maryland equidistant from Baltimore, Washington and Pittsburg.

I've bowled one night a week in a league and each year my scores have improved until this year.  Currently I'm using a 16 lb Ebonite Vortex V2 particle ball. I generally clean it with alcohol and dull the surface with a nylon scubby before I start bowling for the evening. I've used the same ball for the past 5 years. I think my bowling center has changed or increased the oil on the lanes as my ball no longer breaks like it did.  My approach is a standard 4 step approach starting at the the middle arrow. My target is about 1/3 the way between the second and third arrows from the right. I'm a right hand bowler. My first ball speed ranges between 11.5 and 14.5 mph. My bowling center has an artificial cover over wooden lanes. I'm not a high rev bowler.  The oil marks on my ball tend to be about 1/3 the way in from the left hand side.

Could you recommend the closest good pro and pro shop to my area? Second, in lieu of that, could you recommend several good balls for my style and recommend how to drill the ball for maximum performance. Oh, almost forgot, I use a finger tip ball and I have small hands but thick fingers. If you need any other info let me know, I've tried to give you as much info as possible without revealing personally identifiable information.

Answer
Mick,
Your cleaning regiment is a great idea, but 5 years of scrubbing the surface may have scored the particles off and changed the surface significantly. I can't imagine, with your speed (slow) and the ball type (strong surface and high flare potential) that you'd need much surface to get the ball to hook A LOT.

Go to www.ibpsia.com and search the states (Maryland, and Pennsylvania, check DC too) near you. You have bunches of excellent shops in that area.

One of my favorite operators in your area is Gary Parsons at World Class Pro Shops Inc. c/o Bowlers World, 5906 Allentown Way, Camp Springs, MD 20078.

Parsons is a long time operator and a driving force in our Association's (IBPSIA) education programs. Tell Gary I said hello.

You're bowling on an overlayment which typically hooks (they are very soft), with a  strong (ball) surface and slow ball speed, your ball should hook the lane. Your next store needs to see you bowl, get a good sense of all that is going on (ball speed, axis tilt and rotation and your rev rate) and what's happening at the center you bowl in (maybe less oil instead of more).

Not knowing the above, how your ball is laid out, the state of the ball surface, and the nature of the change to the lane conditions, a ball recommendation would be premature. You may want to take a bowling lesson or 3, to improve your skill sets then venture into the proper equipment for the new and improved you!!! Thanks for the questions. Let me know (revbowl@gmail.com) how everything works out.