Expert: - 8/25/2009

Question
QUESTION: I have been out of the sport for quite awhile, well before all these reactive resins became popular. My question is a simple one. I am 62 years old, I want to get back into league play, but my latest ball is a Columbia yellow dot. (Am I showing my age?) I want that great backend hook which I never had with plastic. Is going into Storms Virtual Energy too much of a jump? I like the write ups I read on line on the ball, but all the different balls on the market is intimidating. Cost isn't an issue. I just want to turn my Columbia Yellow Dot into my spare ball.

ANSWER: Tony,
You had a better time with plastic than you think. The Yellow Dot was a soft plastic ball.

Roll your Yellow Dot (in front of a driller) explain where you want to stand, what you want to hit and the shape you want to see from the ball (flip, arc, banana ball). Ask their input.

I'd be very fearful that the VEnergy will be much earlier than you want or if drilled to roll later would be very violent on the backend. You speed, rev rate, tilt and rotation all combine with the lane and lane condition to generate the "look" you get. Columbia has some Scouts and the new Freeze(s) that are milder, reactive and closer to your Yellow Dot in construction. The comparable ball from Storm would be a Tropical Storm but they are A LOT of ball if you don't roll pretty firm.

When you bought the Yellow Dot it was top of the line. Don't assume you need top of the line to compete. Your rev rate, ball speed, and comfort zone on the lane should dictate what your next ball should be.

Thanks for the question. Let me know what you decide and how it works out.

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

QUESTION: Dear Warren

You threw a couple terms at me that had me scratching my head. Not to be redundant but what are the terms flip, arc and banana ball. I don't want to go to my pro shop being all together clueless.

Answer
Tony,
A skid flip ball reaction is the most violent change of direction (a hockey stick kind of shape). The arc reaction skids to just past the midpoint of the lane then starts rolling in an arc towards the pins. The banana ball is a long arc where the ball is thrown out towards the gutter and it starts rolling and gives a long arc ball motion.

I've added some crude shapes, see the attachment. the first is more an arc ball path. The second is a skid/flip ball reaction, the last is a early arcy "banana ball" kind of ball motion. All for a left handed player! Reverse the shapes, imagine a mirror image for a right hander.