Expert: Chip Aki - 1/22/2010

Question
QUESTION: Chip,
Question regarding pin placement and/or drilling.
My wife is a stroker, slow speed around 12-14mph off the hand, currently throwing a 14lb emerald vibe, and 14lb Freeze.
The Vibe has the Pin up above the fingers more to the postive(over ring) and the Freeze is actually under the fingers, centered, cg a little positive.
She has very little axis tilt, more end over end, and she basically has her hadn positioned at a 45 degree angle and carries through the ball at that angle.

What drilling to you recommend for a stroker with low speed, low-med revs, low side rotation?

Also on occassion, not always she will have trouble keeping the balls from going brooklyn. If she went to a higher RG ball is there one you would recommend for her style?

ANSWER: I think the higher RG ball would be the best solution.  A good one is the Hammer Razyr.  My wife has one and it works great.
The RG will more difference than taking a lower RG  ball and drilling it with a high RG layout.

Good luck,
Chip

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

QUESTION: Thanks Chip. It's funny because I have been talking to my wife for about 6 months about the Hammer Razyr and she was/is interested, but just wasn't sold on the idea of a Higher RG ball with essentially no significant weight block. Basically she didnt want to go backwards in terms of equipment in her mind.

In terms of that ball, would you suggest any sort of drilling because it is more limited in terms of drillings isn't it, being a more pancake block of sort? Would you take the High RG ball and drill it with a low RG layout?

Answer
A lot of us think that going to a ball like that is a step backward.  But what has to be looked at is what need the ball is fulfilling.  Since she has equipment that will hook, she needs the ball to get down the lane.  The Razyr is the best.  No exotic layout is needed.

Chip