Constructive commentary please...

Current stats. LH, 275 revs, PAP 4-3/4 by 3/4 up, axis rotation > 45 usually.

In the search for new ideas last year, I allowed a driller (now retired) to put a "trick layout" on an old Gamebreaker once he watched me bowl. It was interesting, but nothing special at the time. I put the ball away. According to dual angle, which I've checked now 4 times it's 130 x 2 x 40. Of course, you have to estimate the 130 since it's off the scale. Basically, it's pin down near PAP (pretty much halfway between PAP and ring, with CG in grip center.

 I'm not "struggling" per se this year, but not getting the reaction I want, so I pulled out the old Gamebreaker to use in practice at another house.

300 second game. Most reaction I've had in many years. Great practice session, pretty much free hook, but very definitely drier than normal shot at my new house. Ok, I'm intrigued.

New house... (I thought) on the wetter side of THS. Took my Torrid Affair at 1000 wet sanded, layout 55x3-3/4x40, which is basically pin 45 degrees up and left of ring finger with Cg swung very slightly out. Weak reaction. Left 7 pins all night no matter what adjustment I made. Mastermind Genius, similar layout and prep at 1500, not much difference. Next was Raptor P7, thumb down, MB stacked with 500 base and a light 2000 over that. Reacted in practice but not much during the night and I'm the only lefty on the pair. 9th frame of game 2, no confidence, still searching, I pulled out the GB sanded at 1000. Wow, who was that masked man?  Not that I had the whole house to hook, I was playing the track, but I had definite movement at the back end, great reaction, all misses were strictly operator error.  Could have EASILY been 300 last game if I had trusted what I had and could have pulled my head out of my anatomy.

Have run comparisons now on weeks 2 and 3. Same issues, even with surface adjustments on the other 3 balls. Weak reaction no matter what I try, but the GB is still great.

My initial thoughts?
- House is lighter oil than I had anticipated
- Raptor too strong even pin down
- Ditto MasterMind Genius, even with 2000 and/or light polish (tried both)
- Torrid same issue, although it's not that strong a ball. I've tried the Torrid at 2000 in a subsequent weekly comparison and it's an arrow.
- This layout seems to focus everything down lane, seems best on drier conditions. I also think I've misread the oil volume at the new house.

Anyone else try this layout before? Am I analyzing the condition correctly?

Thanks in advance.

So the ball is drilled with a 2" pin and a 40° VAL?

It's nothing unique. The shorter pin picks up sooner and reacts smoother to friction. Great for playing more direct angles on the lane.

Moving the pin to max leverage will change the shape. The end results may not be desired.

You know you're not limited to 90 degrees based on the 1/4 scale?  I've owned a couple of balls in the past where i wanted to tame the backend and would go 135 x 2 x 45..

Thanks to all, but let me spin this a different way to see if I can more clearly ask the question. I'm hearing the words that this drill is "early", "smooth", "tame the backend". What I'm seeing in relation to the other 3 balls (all stronger equipment set up with a shorter drill angle) is a slightly longer roll, sharper transition with much more retained energy.

Kid, to clarify, it's actually a 4 inch pin with a 2 inch pin length to PAP. I think on re-read that's why you're saying it's earlier.

Brad, 135 x 2 x 45 is almost exactly what this drill is, but it's not taming the backend compared to the other gear, it's sharper ( in relation to the other balls, which are all hitting weak).

Peter, the 14lb Game Breaker is a 2.44 Rg. You are correct, I've always used low Rg equipment.

So, in summary, what I'm hearing/seeing is that this drill is retaining energy. That would have to mean that the other gear is too aggressive, and that I've been buying high end hook monsters trying to buy hook when all I'm really doing is burning everything up, a conclusion I draw because everything else is hitting weak no matter what and here comes this old beat up ball with a delayed smooth setup that out-does all of them. That's significant information....

Sound right?
Many thanks again for the information, it's very helpful. As a low rev usually on ice left hander, burning up high end equipment is something I have to prove to myself to get away from thinking that the problem is always too much oil on the left.

Hi Kid. A few corrections. I think you're misquoting me. I'm ok with what you're saying on Cg, the point I disagree with you on is the impact of Rg value, not Cg. I also understand the old truism that things change after drilling. As you'll agree though, I can only tell you the layout on the drilled ball as it is now for reference, so why start an argument there? No Maddah.

Since I manage cell phones and voice/data support for 8K people in the US with a > 10MM annual budget, believe it or not I do have a cell phone...

I actually record each practice session for review, but recording this league night condition would be of little value with too many people coming in and out of the shot...

Thanks for the feedback though.

Yes Dad....  I gave the previous information because it's helpful, always good to do, sorry it confused you. I think we've already got the answers for this one, with thanks to all for the input.

I still have a Violet Quantum, drilled 117 x 4 x 70.  It has a 2-1/2 inch pin out, with the pin about 1/2 inch under the ring finger. The ball weighs 14 lbs 14 oz. The track is inverted and has a 4 inch flare with the bowtie toward the front of the ball tracking very close to the middle finger. On a normal drilling, my track is high about 1-1/2" to the thumb. The ball tracks about 3 inches to the left of the thumb and a sloppy release will nip middle finger hole.  The ball provides a strong arc.  Every ball that I have with the pin under the fingers provides an inverted arc.  The Quantum has excellent continuation and drives through the pins similar to a flip drilling. This was considered  a LABEL drilling in the old days, but should have been closer to 105 x 4 x 40 for  a 5-1/4 inch PAP.  Mo Pinel says that the limit for DA and VAL should not exceed 160, but as you can see, sometimes one slips through the cracks.  Drill angles can run as high as 315 and still be effective, but I suspect that maybe the ball may be a little off factory marking.  Some drillers recheck the ball side weights and the CG before drilling.  I have seen CGs far off from the factory mark, probably because they guy doing it wanted to go home early.  Commonly known as a Friday night special.  If the ball works, don't fix it.  It ain't broke.  It's a bit like a MOTION HOLE drillin, where you take close to five ounces out of a ball and it stick works nicely.  So you really don't need 16 pounds to knock down the pins. Good luck, keep bowling.

Thanks to all, but let me spin this a different way to see if I can more clearly ask the question. I'm hearing the words that this drill is "early", "smooth", "tame the backend". What I'm seeing in relation to the other 3 balls (all stronger equipment set up with a shorter drill angle) is a slightly longer roll, sharper transition with much more retained energy.

Kid, to clarify, it's actually a 4 inch pin with a 2 inch pin length to PAP. I think on re-read that's why you're saying it's earlier.

Brad, 135 x 2 x 45 is almost exactly what this drill is, but it's not taming the backend compared to the other gear, it's sharper ( in relation to the other balls, which are all hitting weak).

Peter, the 14lb Game Breaker is a 2.44 Rg. You are correct, I've always used low Rg equipment.

So, in summary, what I'm hearing/seeing is that this drill is retaining energy. That would have to mean that the other gear is too aggressive, and that I've been buying high end hook monsters trying to buy hook when all I'm really doing is burning everything up, a conclusion I draw because everything else is hitting weak no matter what and here comes this old beat up ball with a delayed smooth setup that out-does all of them. That's significant information....

Sound right?
Many thanks again for the information, it's very helpful. As a low rev usually on ice left hander, burning up high end equipment is something I have to prove to myself to get away from thinking that the problem is always too much oil on the left.

Hi lefty50,
It is definitely a common mistake (that I've made several times) to think that a more expensive/ aggressive ball should do a better job.  In fact the most expensive ball I ever bought was a dud for me! 
If you are playing the line of the oil then you don't need a monster coverstock, just move out into the dry stuff a little and angle towards the pocket across the edge of the oil if necessary.  Will still give you a margin to play with.

Given what you have said, when it comes to your next ball look for something with the same weightblock shape and drill it the same, because it obviously works fine for you.

My dad could hold a 180+ avg using 10 and 12 lb gear back in the 80's on wooden lanes, so the 14lbs should be enough to carry still...

Good luck and let us know how you go with your next ball!

If you don't mind me asking what is the house oiling pattern you bowl on?