Expert: Chip Aki - 2/16/2006

Question
I am a lefty and am bowling on a long oil pattern with 8 and out oob. I have always read if you want more back end you polish your ball so it will save energy for the back. Whenever I polish any of my balls it seems to kill them and I get no back end unless I slow down to maybe 15 mph or less. My normal ball speed is 17.0 to 17.2. My pap is 4 3/4" over and 1" up.
  Can you explain? My balls are drilled lable leverage(ultimate and absolute infernos) and the animal is pin = 3 3/8" from pap with the cg swung away from center of grip about 31/4". The surface on the balls now are 600 wet sand although I have tried smoother and duller. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated........

           Thank You,
           Leon  

Answer
What you have been told is pretty much the way things work.  However, a polished ball needs a much drier spot on the lane to make the move.  Wether the dry is to the outside, or down the lane, gives you the breakpoint.
It also matters what the ball is polished with.  Some compounds will make the ball less reactive.  You can ususally tell if this is the case if the ball is not very tacky after it is polished.  If the ball does not feel tacky, change the chemical used to polish the ball.

There are different grit levels in polishes too, so you may want to try different grits to find the reaction you are looking for.

Good luck,
Chip