MORE
ANGLE PLEASE
I really struggle when the lanes start to hook. Everyone on my team tells me to move more
left towards the center arrow but when I do my ball doesn’t strike. Even if I am able to hit the pocket
consistently, I leave the 5 or 10 pin a lot.
What ball would you recommend to allow me to play farther left and hit
harder?
Jeff – Phoenix
Jeff, it sounds like your ball is not creating enough entry angle when you are moving left. Without actually seeing you bowl, I can only give you a general recommendation. Mutant Cell Pearl, Jigsaw Corner, Virtual Energy would all be good choices if when you are moving left there is still quite a bit of oil. If when you are moving left you are not having any trouble getting your ball to read when you keep it in the oil, then my suggestions would be a Storm Fast or a Columbia Freeze.
Regardless of which ball you pick, there might be other underlying issues. It’s possible that you are not physically matched up to the lane correctly. Physically matching up would consist of your ball speed, how you are rolling it, how much angle through the front, etc. My suggestion before buying a new ball would be to get with a coach to see if you are rolling the ball correctly when trying to play different areas of the lane.
BALL DYNAMICS
What does the RG rating and differential mean when I am trying to figure out which ball I want to buy? What do the pros use most?
Carlos - Phoenix
The lower the RG number (2.43 is the lowest that I have seen), the faster the ball will spin. The higher the RG number (higher than 2.58 would be considered high), the slower the ball will spin. Generally, a lower RG ball will roll sooner and a higher RG ball will go longer before hooking. Differential is a measure of how much potential there is for a ball to create track flare. Track flare is the separation between the oil rings on the ball. Simply put, where the pin on the bowling ball is placed along with differential of the ball will determine how much flare is created. Generally, the more separation between the flares, the earlier a ball will get into a roll. The type of cover and how it is prepared is still the most important factor in your ball reaction.
The pros, like you, generally look for a wide range of ball reactions. Although there is not any one ball, rg rating, or differential value that the pros use, most look for balls that will help them control the mid lane (30-40 feet). If you have more questions, call me or stop by in person and I would be more than happy to help you out.