Expert: Russ King - 12/11/2006

Question
Hi,

Just joined a scratch league and had two good sets - averaging about 215 - but then third week came down and hit a problem 1st game that I sometimes hit - and wanted some advice - I bowl at an average speed of about 16.2 mph - and when the lanes are oily my ball will not grip in time and slides too far...I am not a cranker, more of a stroker of the ball - I use a 16lb 1000 grit Columbia Action Max - great ball - I think the speed is the issue here but do I try and slow down on oily lanes or what ?  I'm 6 ft 2 and find slowing down is hard - it hooks nicer whan I slow down, but I lose my natural rhythm - but I also hate having to aim straight at the pocket when the lane is oily - any good ideas ?  

Answer
There are only 2 things you can change to fight oil!
1.YOU
2. THE BALL
Since you have tried to change & had a bad time, now you have to try another ball.You need a ball for a certain condition.If you have a problem with spares, you get a straight hard ball. If you have trouble on dry, you get a medium-hard ball & drill it up with no weights. If you have trouble on oil,you get a sponge & load it up to get thru the oil.
 To combat most conditions without changing yourself much you need a minimum of 4 balls.A spare ball, a ball for dry,a ball for medium & a ball for OIL!If you really like your ball that you are throwing now, get atleast another one of the same brand for what you are missing with the other one.In this case it is hooking. When you get it , load it up with weights & a loaded pin then sand the surface with 600 grit on a ball spinner.This will fill in the gap with max potential.If it hooks too much, then sand with a finer grit say 800 to go a little straighter.
     DO NOT NOT NOT MESS WITH THE ONE THAT WORKS!!!!
THIS IS THE ONLY ANSWER FOR THE LIMITS YOU HAVE.You should make up the cost of the new ball in winning more money by filling in the oil problem with it.
NOW, YOU GONNA NEED A BIGGER BAG!