Expert: - 11/1/2007

Question
I just have a quick question, I currently throw a Columbia Power Drive...its 16 lbs and I throw with just the two fingers and no thumb (not even one drilled) and I do throw a hook on the ball, but I am looking to switch balls....my prefrence would be the Elite Scorpion, but I know there two differnt balls, I dont know the technical terms...the Columbia one is glossy and the Elite one looks like its unpolished...could you help me out and tell me the difference and tell me which one I should throw?

Answer
Throwing a dull ball, which gains friction more quickly than shiny shells, will usually cause the ball to start hooking earlier. If heavy oil, faster ball speed, or if you are rotationally challenged (throwing with two fingers, probably not), or a combination of the above, demands that the ball start hooking sooner, dull or duller (surfaces can be adjusted) should help.

Not drilling a thumb hole could result in excess static weight, which is influencing the ball to skid to far down the lane. Two finger holes only, doesn't really allow your ball driller the opportunity to utilize the dynamics of your Power Drive. Consider a measured span, drilled thumb hole  covered by your hand during first shots at a full rack. Then, many two finger players utilize the thumb hole to throw straighter shots at spares.

Your center of grip is between the finger holes. How far away is the pin and center of gravity of the ball from in between your finger holes?

Before giving any advice, I'd need much more information. Is the shiny ball skidding to far?

Performance balls should help you match up to the lane conditions you bowl on. Generally the harder you throw (speed dominance), the more you turn the ball (rev rate, rev dominance) and the amount of skid you experience (how oily the lane is) all must match up with the ball surface (friction potential) needed for the best results.

Please let me know what you average. When evaluating a player, in front of me, we look to ball speed, rev rate, axis tilt and rotation, current layouts with Positive Axis location and strength of present equipment, and comfort zone (where do you like to play on the lane).