LL,
Someone here on ballreviews recommended sanding a pearl with the 4000 grit pad as opposed to its normal polish, as a way of keeping a pearl's length but allowing it combat carrydown to some degree. Maybe I don't have his ball speed but taking a pearl to 4000 grit still made it react too early to give me the ball reaction of a pearl. The rough surface is what reduces length but, of course, by implication, will fight carrydown. I re-polished my pearl.
Nice idea, though.
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Bowling: Just like hand grenades and horse shoes, you only have to get close.
Life: Deal with what is.