Reactive coverstocks have created more friction between the lane surface and the bowling ball coverstock, resulting in a stronger entry angle for better pin carry. The down side of this is that reactive bowling balls have created more hook.

Whenever more of the lane is being used, there is more of a chance of inconsistent ball reaction. Once a player develops more of a power game, it is often difficult to find a ball or a layout that will help this stronger player control the power. I have players always looking for balls that don't hook as much in my pro shop.

Since the 100 new balls or so every year seem to hook more than the bowling balls of the previous year, this becomes a difficult task. With this in mind, I remembered a couple of layouts that have worked with certain balls when back end reaction needs to be tamed down for a higher revolution player.

Altering layouts

If the energy of the ball can be partially used up as the ball approaches the breakpoint, the weight block will not do as much work to stabilize on the back end of the lane. This results in a calmer back end reaction and therefore more control.

Many of the newer balls have a higher mass bias rating (y axis differential), which also help the ball start to bleed the energy earlier on the lane. The last thing that gives us a better chance to control this reaction is that these high mass bias balls (mass bias is usually marked on these balls) are being produced in solid reactive and particle pearl coverstock balls.

What this all means is that we can lay out a ball at full leverage (pin 3-3/8 inches from the PAP) for a higher rev player in a high mass bias ball and have a calmer back end reaction for this power player. Note that the degree can also be altered to even further calm down back end snap. This is an old trick PBA Tour players have used to keep the ball in a certain part of the lane as the ball travels to the pocket.

Once a lane condition goes into transition it often requires the ball to be in a certain part of the lane to produce the highest score. In order to get the ball into this area, the ball must be sent a little straighter through the front part of the lane. This is where the high mass bias solid reactive ball comes in to play. With a little shine on the ball it does not have to be sent as wide. This means fewer boards crossed and a better chance of success.

This will not work as well for medium to lower revolution players. A player with a rev rate below 300 rpms cannot burn as much energy from the ball at the breakpoint with the leverage type drilling and may notice more hook than desired for keeping the ball "in play".

If a solid particle ball drilled leverage for a power player is used, the ball will have to be sent too wide through the fronts (we call this "banking the heads") for consistent success. That is why the reactive ball with a high mass bias rating (.015 to .027) is a better choice. The high mass bias particle pearl cover can be used for power tweeter (325 to 350) if some polish is applied. Again, this allows for the ball to be sent straighter down the lane (straighter being a relative term according to how much your ball normally hooks).

A regular solid reactive without a high mass bias rating could be used for some players in this layout. Usually the ball cannot be as shiny for this, because we need the energy to be used earlier on the lane. If the ball is dull, the player needs higher ball speed to send the ball through the fronts on the correct path. I have seen regional PBA players with higher ball speeds and higher rev rates use this layout in solid reactives with the cover slightly dull. They have enough revolutions to make the ball still hit hard enough to have good pin carry.

Again, this works best for 300 rpm players and higher. The general characteristics of the ball will still show through slightly. If a ball has stronger back end reaction characteristics, it may still cross a few boards on the way to the pocket. I would use a ball company that has arc characteristics for the first experiment to create this type of ball motion. If the reaction is not satisfactory, try a company that typically has a stronger back end reaction. This also does not work as well when the lane has been freshly conditioned. This is a ball layout for a condition that has transitioned and now requires a straighter ball path to achieve success.

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Duke Harding

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