Expert: Russ King - 8/21/2007

Question
QUESTION: I have bowling a Ebonite Jaguar (for a long time) and its about 12 lbs. Im 33 yrs old and 204 lbs. I bowl about 140's. I wanted more consistency and a new ball and the guy at the pro shop told me I needed to go up in weight (now Im at 14 lbs) and set me up a STORM T-Road Pearl. Im left handed and this thing is all over the place. It hooks way to early no matter where I am. I heard of putting more polish on it. I think they sanded it a bit cuz its duller than stock. So thats my first problem...how do I make it go longer? Secondly I feel like I have capral Tunnel after three games. I have had the ball for 6 months and have bowled a lot. I am just weak? I feel like I dont have a lot of control and it seems to "flop" out of my hand. I get a lot of gutters too. I needs lots of help.

ANSWER:  RULE ONE
If you can't throw the last 3 frames of a 3 game set just like the 5,6 & 7 frames of the first game,your ball is too heavy. If you get tired before the end of the 3 game set,you can hurt or strain something & WILL take a long time to heal.
 Your wrist may be hurting from one or more things. If the ball is too heavy,your grip is stretched,thumb too big,bad rotation of wrist at release point & bent elbow at release.
If your thumb is not seated flat against the thumbhole with the full pad of your thumb.You should be in touch from the base down allmost to your tip of your thumb.If you feel a pinch at the base of your thumb by the webb,your span is too long or the top edge of the hole needs to be rounded (beveled).If you can swivel your thumb more than 1/8" (2-3 cm),the thumb is loose & your gripping(grabbing) the ball.
Your wrist is best locked into one position all the way from your stance thru the follow thru. If you rotate/swivel your wrist around, you can pinch/hyper extend tendons/nerves.Your elbow should lock as your armswing goes down into the bottom of the swing.If your elbow is unlocked, at release, all the pressure/torque goes right into your wrist.If your wrist & elbow is locked,all the pressure/torque transfers into your shoulder creating a pendulum swing.Your shoulder can handle a lot more than the smaller wrist/elbow.And a pendulum armswing has minimum pressure/torque.
 TEST>>>>>>>>
GET 2 PENCILS & A FLEX RULER(STAILESS STEEL).SET A PENCIL INTO THE THUMB HOLE SO IT IS AGAINST (FLAT IN TIGHT)THE INSIDE OF THE THUMB HOLE WHERE YOU GRIP THE THUMB HOLE & SAME WITH THE RING FINGER HOLE.THEN MEASURE THE SPAN TO THE INSIDE OF THE PENCILS.THEN DO IT TO THE MIDDLE FINGER.DO YOUR OLD BALL & THE NEW ONE. IF THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM LIKE A LONGER STRETCH, THIS IS ONE PROBLEM.YOU ARE 33. YOUR HAND SHOULD NOT CHANGE MORE THAN 1/16" /2MM.
IF YOU ARE HANGING IN THE THUMB & THE HOLE IS NOT SMALL,THE PITCHES/ANGLES OF THE THUMB MIGHT BE OFF & IS PULLING AT YOUR WRIST/TUGGING AT RELEASE.
YOU CAN USE TURTLE WAX FOR A TEMP. SHINE TO SEE IF THE BALL REACTS BETTER. IF IT DOES,YOU WILL NEED A BALL SPINNER IN THE PRO SHOP TO SAND A SHINE INTO THE BALL.I WOULD SAY TRY 1500-2000 GRIT TO START.
TRY THESE TESTS & GET BACK WITH ME IN THE RESULTS.

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

QUESTION: I measured both balls and there is a 1/4 inch from one finger and 1/8 inch difference on the other on the new ball from the old one. The new one isn't as beveled in the thumb as much either.
I have way better control with the older one but is that because its a lighter ball and/or drilled better? Or is because I went up two pounds on a new ball and its drilled differently. The other thing to note is I went on line and printed off the drill patterns for the new ball and none of the drill patterns match up with my ball (I'm left handed but even if I flop the pattern it doesn't).
I am going to take both balls into a different shop and get my hand measured there and see what that place comes up. I will let you know the details. I would just hate to have to plug my new ball and get it re-drilled :(

Answer
I would DEMAND my money back.If the ball was drilled badly, you deserve your money back. DO NOT LET THEM TALK YOU INTO PLUGGING UP THE NEW BALL.IT IS THEIR FAULT!!!!
THEN , GO TO ANOTHER PRO SHOP.ON PBA.COM, THERE IS A SECTION ON PRO OWNED PRO SHOPS. THEY WANT TO KEEP A GOOD REPUTATION SO THEY WILL DRILL IT BETTER.TELL THEM YOUR STORY & THEY WILL UNDERSTAND & DRILL IT A LOT BETTER.
>>>>> GET YOUR MONEY BACK & START OVER. <<<<<<