Burning up on THS

[Komodo]

I often hear it said that a strong ball on light oil conditions will burn up.  Particularly if you combine it with a strong drill pattern.  Please explain what this means.  I take it the lanes do not have enough oil to allow the ball to slide  and retain its energy but how does a weaker ball/weaker drill help this?  For a bowler like myself, who just bowls on simple league patterns, is it beneficial at all to have a premium high end ball?

[dizzyfugu]

Very good explanation! Just to add another facet - to some degree you can counter the early friction problem with release adjustments, e. g. raising speed, add side rotation (which promotes slide in the front part of the lane), play with revs (sometimes reduction can help, e. g. combined with a suitcase grip relese, adding some can allow you to play deeper and fresher lines), play "virgin" lane areas instead of insisting on a certain line, or even lofting.

But that's IMO just the second best solution, because using a ball which is not designed for the condition at hand will make you fight with it - an unnecessary error factor.

A "strong" ball really does not mean more carry. Not even more hook. The overall package, in line with the user's style, has to match, and less is IMHO more, esp. with very aggressive covers on high end equipment these days which really requires high and long oil volumes, which "normal" house bowlers rarely encounter!
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DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany

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[Komodo]

Appreciate the advice guys, thanks.  I bought a mid/high end pearlized ball, with a strong drill, at the start of this season.  My scores have really gone up.  Had a number of upper 200 games a few 600 series.  However the house I bowl on doesn't put much oil out and is particularly dry on the outsides (my comfort zone).  If I play that line I can't keep it right of the head pin.  Thought it may be a good idea to get myself a weaker ball with/or a weaker drilling in order to be able to play that line again.  Sometimes I use my plastic spare ball down the 5 board and it hooks right into the pocket but I get bad carry with it.

[dizzyfugu]

You should always be able to take hand out of a ball, just to let it slide longer and keep it in pocket as the lane changes. But that's only effective in a certain "window", and using "too much" ball will have you struggle this way all the time, while a milder ball (both concerning cover, drilling and core) simply offers you a better base.

IMHO, it is never wrong to have a mild recatove piece or a urethane ball in the bag. An entry level ball (regardless of the manufacturer - there is IMO little you can do wrong) is cheap, and with a mild setup (e .g. a 4.5-5" label drilling) this one will offer you control and just enough hook and roll to play outside, or "survive" ridden lanes and late games.
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DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany

Confused by bowling? Check out BR.com's vault of wisdom: the unofficial FAQ section