Expert: Russ King - 8/3/2007

Question
what is the reaction difference between wood lanes and synthetic, given that all other factors are equal? What can be considered a heavy roller?

Answer
Wood to synthetic
Wood has less poars per sq. inch compared to synthetic.The poars are like bowls with a smooth top edge.Their very round & not as deep as synthetics.Synthetics have very sharp top edges to the poars like a broken glass.Their deeper & odd shaped.Wood will give you an arc type of hook where skid/snap 60degree angle sharp break into the pocket.They say the balls soak up the oil so there is no carry down. The balls are like mudders on a pick up .When the pick up gets on the dry road, the mud goes every where.The condition gets very spotty.If you get a ball thats too soft, it tends to roll out loosing most of its energy in the first 10 feet with so much friction.This is why the trend is spinning or coming around the ball at release.It is like a top it spins fast & goes no where. But as it slows down & the spin turns to a little more upright roll, it starts moving. The spin decreases the friction from taking over the ball to soon.Creating a longer skid.
 They say there is more conditioner out there now compared to the 1980's.Thats why the equipment is so porous these days.I think theres way less conditioner now & the reason balls have to be so soft is that people are getting lazy & not putting as much into the shot(fingers/lift) now.They say " let the ball do all the work".I believe it is more like a computer program.If you don't program the shot, it won't really know what you want it to do.You loose control to the condition & when the condition dictates the shot,your at their mercy.I am bowling with equipment made years ago & have a hard time keeping them on the lanes. They way overreact.Also I think the owners think or coaxed to think the oil stays in place longer so they put less out.The bowling balls that are real soft also have the same type of poars that the synthetics have.It is like 2 pieces of sandpaper rubbing together.
On the heavy roll,
 A heavy roll really does not have the big rev rate.Rudy Revs has many revs but are just that,revs.His equipment needs the dry bump to react.While other bowlers like Walter Ray Williams has a lot less revs but what is called a heavy roll.Slower speed ,less revs but the same drive into the pins as a cranker.I throw both ways & my stroker heavy roll is like a 1/2 speed cranker motion.You still have fingers & a big follow thru.Just slower.
Back in the wood days, you cleaned them once every week was good enough. Now, the machines clean the lane every time it oils.
All being equal in conditioner/shot , I would take wood all the way.More of a controlled shot.
 There are high rollers (close to the holes in the ball).Full roller(rolls inbetween thumb & finger holes).3/4 roller( about 2" down from the holes & spinner( 3-5" from holes)..There are several types of rolls.A heavy roll( med. revs.heavy hitting).A spinner( just like a top.)adds delay in hooking getting the ball down the lane.).Just revs.(high revs needing a dry bump to react).They tend to top / come over the ball at release.Heavy roll hand is behind the ball lifting straight up the back of the ball.Hand position dictates line to the pocket & doesn't need the bump to react.
An arc type of roll starting at the same point & ending up at the same point seems to hook less than a skid/snap getting that violent snap at 35 feet.It fakes the eye out by the violent snap.
It is all in the leverage you get. All the motion goes into the lift & all the energy transfers into the ball. A weaker roll gets less energy by the hand rotating around the ball at release.Any motion not going directly into the direction of the mark, takes away energy(east/west motion).
 SYNTHETICS HAS HURT BOWLERS WHO HAVE A HEAVY ROLL.TOO MUCH FRICTION.IT HAS HELPED SPINNERS BY CREATING BIG FRICTION IN THE BACK ENDS HELPING THE BALL TURN UP TO THE POCKET.
 THIS ONE IS VERY HARD TO EXPLAIN. I COULD SHOW YOU A LOT BETTER IN PERSON.