Expert: Russ King - 7/27/2007

Question
I have 2 Power Grooves, one is a Blk. Sparkle Proactive pin out 3-4 with a 2.7 top weight. The other is a Purple/Silver Reactive pin out 2-3 with a 2.4 top weight... Both are "supposedly drilled for MAX hook HEAVY Oil....

When I got them back, the ring finger is 1/2" from the pin (RH) bowling position, and the CG is maybe a 1/4" off center drilled for finger tips...

I bowled 5 games using both balls, interchanging between games.... My hand feels like was hit with a hammer, and I could not get the ball to turn more than 5 boards.... I'm not a cranker, I told the "Kid" that drilled it (certified by Brunswick) that I think he missed it on the max drill for hooking.... He told me the ball is a "power groove" and not to expect much...
To me, that's not the answer to tell someone.... maybe I'm wrong.... one thing is certain, I'm very upset, and I think he drilled it wrong, cause later he said, "I drilled it for medium oil which is what we use here, so it should hook well if you know what you're doing....." I told him, I don't rev the ball well, and I want it drilled for the max possible hooking action the ball was made for... That's why I bought (2) balls, I'll control the hook if the thing is drilled to hook hard..

Then he told me he could sell my 2 balls and I could buy the FURY they had on the shelf.... I bought my balls online, and then brought them there to them... I got them from a Brunswick dealer, who assured me, if these balls were drilled correctly, I would have no problem hooking them the way I described to him how I wanted the ball to react...
What do you recommend...????

Answer
The Grooves are a 3 piece ball(shell,core,weight block). The plate weight block is just under the shell in the groove.The 3 piece balls go longer down the lane than a 2 piece ball with the same shell.The weight block closer to the surface adds more imbalance to create length. When drilled for hook, it also creates hook by the imbalance on the back end.Where the 2 piece balls have the weight block almost in the center.The surfaces are very soft to create hook but the softer surfaces hook sooner like an arc type of line.I have 23 of the Grooves.
 CERTIFIED MEANT SOMETHING 25 YEARS AGO! NOW ? NOT MUCH.It just means they went to a class , spent their time there & paid a fee.You said he was a young kid.Probably no or not much experience. You could tell this by the way he talked to you.
 MAX HOOKING DRILL is having the weight block 1/2 way between your center grip line to your axis point. This creates max imbalance on the positive side for hooking weight.The pin on a 3 piece ball really doesn't mean nearly as much as a 2 piece ball pin.
 The Pro Active is a Particle coverstock. Particle is funny.It will hook out of the house for some bowlers & hook very little for others like it did for me.BOTTOM LINE , EITHER IT WORKS FOR YOU OR IT DON'T! The Purple/silver hooks medium.I have 3 of those. It is a Reactive cover stock . Reactives skid in oil but hook a bunch when they hit dry.
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SINCE THE GRIP IS HURTING YOU, THE BALLS DON'T HAVE A CHANCE TO DO THEIR THING.YOUR GRIP NEEDS TO BE DRILLED RIGHT FOR A GOOD REACTION. THIS MEANS IT IS DRILLED WRONG FOR YOU!!! BOWLING SHOULD NOT HURT. IF IT DOES , THE BALL IS DRILLED WRONG!!!
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>> I WOULD GET MY MONEY BACK , TURN AROUND & LEAVE A VAPOR TRAIL.GOING ANYWHERE ELSE WILL PROBABLY GIVE YOU A FIGHTING CHANCE FOR A BETTER DRILL JOB THAN THIS KID.<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
HAVE ANOTHER BALL DRILLER LOOK AT THE GRIPS & TRY TO FIND OUT WHATS WRONG THEN CORRECT IT.I don't know where you are but, go to PBA.COM. There is a section on Pro owned Pro Shops.They need to keep a good rep. so they will do a better job.They can correct a lot of problems by installing a thumb slug. Doing a thumb slug can adjust the grip to fit you much better rather than plugging up the whole thing unless it is that bad.
If The Kid went to a Brunswick school to drill & the center is a Brunswick house, the center most likely owns the shop.Go complain to the manager if the Kid does not do what you want.This is probably the best way to get your money back & maybe they will buy the balls FULL PRICE from you ( I would press for this)so you can go back to EBAY ? & START OVER.>>SO CHALK IT UP TO EXPERIENCE & GO TO ANOTHER SHOP.
 MY GROOVES ARE DRILLED RIGHT.I CAN THROW 20 GAMES & MORE IN A ROW WITHOUT EVEN GETTING A RUB SPOT.I CAN HOOK THEM FROM GUTTER TO GUTTER DRILLED WITH NO WEIGHTS.THIS IS WHY I STARTED DRILLING. GET A GOOD REP BALL DRILLER. IT WILL BE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE IN BALL REACTION.