Expert: Chip Aki - 4/17/2007

Question
Hi Chip,
I have just spent the past two weeks looking at every ball made I think. Needless to say I am now more confused than ever. I bowl straight with no hook what so ever. I use house balls and it seems the things are made of rubber. My ball tends to deflect once hitting to the right of the 1 pin. so much so that the ball takes a hard right maybe getting a few off the right side. From my reading the balls that are offered to purchase are made from many different types of compounds and get different pin action but most are only if one bowls with a hook (which i do not.) I once had a fellow tell me that {If i bowl straight then it don't matter what type of ball I use only the weight matters}  Is this the case for straight bowlers or dose the compounds used in a ball matter for straight bowlers as well?  I tend to stick with a 14 to 15 lb ball and it looks as though a 5 year old tried to roll it down the lane {hence no pin action} If I try to thrust the ball using my arm then I lose all sorts of aim control. What would be your suggestion for purchasing a ball for a weak straight bowler? I failed to mention the lanes where I bowl are medium to heavy in oil, not that I think it matters due to no hook is used. Am I wrong in that assumption as well? Last, if no ball made will increase pin action for a straight bowler using the HiTec compounds then what must a straight bowler do to get more pin action and be able to maintain aim.

Thank you for your time
Chris

Answer
Even if you throw a staight ball, you will see an advantage in pin movement with the different types of balls.  A dull one will want to roll and not deflect as much as a shiny one.  A disadvantage of the different type of ball, even though you throw a "straight" ball, the different ball type will not go as straight.  It will not hook by itself, but very few people roll the ball with a complete end over end roll, but will have a small amount of side rotation that the newer balls will react to.  This will mean a slight movement left or right.
A couple of suggestions for increased pin action would be a Storm Jolt Particle and a Brunswick BVP Wizard.  Both of these balls come with a dull finish and can be polished if need be.

Good luck,
Chip