Mike,
If your Total Inferno is not grabbing early enough, why not try changing the surface to your basic "Rough Buff" level: sand to 220 grit and apply a healthy dose of Rough Buff. Alternatively, if you can't get your hands on any, change the surface to 2000 grit matte (Abralon pad). That's what BrunsRicoh (spelling?) said that the Rough Buff was equivalent to.
This way, you eliminate the surface finish as possible cause for your problem.
A friend uses a Total Inf sometimes and he is EXTREMELY ball speed dominant (few revs; lots of speed) and his, even with its short 1" pin, does grab the lane fairly well.
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"None are so blind as those who will not see."