Expert: Russ King - 3/20/2007

Question
QUESTION: What ball should I use for light,medium and heavy oiled lanes?
ANSWER: LIGHT ?
      Any plastic/Polyester ball will do double.You can use
      it on very dry lanes & also use it for all spares.
      You could go as far as a 3 piece hard Urethane.
MEDIUM?
      I would go with a high reactive. Get 2 of the same brand & make/model drilled the same way & shine up the one with the pin that is the least far out.This way you can throw the one that hooks the most & when the lanes change ,you can go right to the next ball & get a similar less reaction without having to re-adjust.The medium ball should hook around 3-6 boards less than the dull one to backup the changing conditions.
I do not throw the softies. So I can't tell you the better ones.I would hit the pocket on the 7th lane to the left if I threw softies.I like the under reactives so I can torque them up since power is my game.So, really know your game & the limits before searching for a new ball . This way, you can fill in the voids correctly in your shots.
>>>> When I find a certain ball that works for me, I get several & drill about the same with different surfaces.Brunswick balls react differently than Columbia & so on.Some like lots of revs & some like less revs.RESEARCH YOUR GAME & THEN THE EQUIPMENT.EXPERIMENT WITH THE ONES YOU HAVE NOW.SHINE ONE THEN GO ONE GRADE COARSER EACH TIME YOU PRACTICE WITH IT. YOU MAY FIND WHAT YOU WANT WITH THE OLD ONES & NOT HAVE TO GET NEW ONES YET.I DO THIS WITH EVERY BALL TO SUIT MY GAME & GET EXACTLY WHAT I WANT OUT OF THE BALL.

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

QUESTION: What is a cranker,tweener and a stroker?
ANSWER: CRANKER
      Medium high to high revs,can hook the ball around trees,max power speed player.70% power to 30% accuracy. Has a 3-4 board pocket.Generally aims to the right.If the cranker didn't learn good bascics, they are bad at spares.Generally likes under reactive balls for conditions.Usually adjusts deeper all night.
> MARK ROTH,BOB HANDLY,JOHN GANT,ROBERT SMITH,TOMMY JONES

TWEENERS
       Medium revs,throws a tighter line than crankers but not much tighter(needs the tree removed to hit the pocket.).Will move a little into a tighter shot before moving deeper.Medium speed usually.50% power to 50% accuracy.
RYAN SHAFER,PETE WEBER,PARKER BOHN

Strokers.
        Slower speeds.75% accuracy to 25% power.Fewest revs.Depends more on leaving simple spares & filling frames.Reactive Resin balls can improve power.Does not move very far from first throw line all night.Has to have good solid basics for high accuracy.
WALTER RAY,DICK WEBER,EARL ANTHONY,MIKA KOIVUNIEMI,STEVE JAROS
 THIS WILL GIVE YOU A GENERAL IDEA ON STYLES.

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

QUESTION: What style do you recommend me to practice?

Answer
Each part / section of your style will fall into your comfort zone. Your comfort zone is what determines your style.If you like to GRIP & RIP,your a cranker.If you like to take your time & think out the shot walk slow & deliberate, your a Stroker.
>> DO NOT COPY ANY BODY ELSE!DO NOT LISTEN ON HOW/WHAT TO DO RIGHT NOW.JUST LET THEM WATCH YOU.TRY THINGS.EXPERIMENTING IS FUN & YOU LEARN ALOT.IF YOU REALLY HAVE TO FORCE SOMETHING, IT PROBABLY WON'T WORK FOR YOU .
You need to do your game. And your game will continually develop in time. Right now is the most important time.At this time will set you on the one of 3 roads(Cranker,Tweener,Stroker).I would say,10% are real Crankers,25% are real strokers & 65% are Tweeners.LET YOUR BODY TELL YOU WHAT IT WANTS TO DO & HOW IT WANTS IT DONE.

OPEN & CLEAR YOUR MIND WHILE BOWLING A FEW PRACTICE GAMES.TRY TO BOWL ALONE WITH NOBODY BOWLING NEXT TO YOU.ONCE YOU GET THINGS GOING, GET SOMEBODY THAT KNOWS BOWLING TO JUST WATCH YOU.ONCE YOU GET THINGS GOING MAYBE 20 - 40 GAMES (NOT ALL AT ONCE),YOUR BODY WILL REFINE MOTIONS TO WHAT IT WANTS.I TRY THINGS THIS WAY & MY BODY SHAPES CHANGES THAT I TRY INTO IT'S OWN VARIATION OF THAT MOTION.
TRY A FEW GAMES & LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU FEEL & WHAT HAPPENED.THEN WE CAN START YOU IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.