I used to bowl league regularly then took about 20 years off. Recently started bowling again and thinking about getting a new ball. I am also thinking about trying to change the way I release the ball and am wondering if that will alter my PAP and as a result the way the ball should be drilled.

So for years I have bowled where as I release the ball my fingers come around the side of the ball to about 3oclock, I have low revs around 200, a high track and hit the pins at 15-16mph. I want to try and train myself to stay behind/under the ball more and get my thumb out sooner.

All of my current balls are drilled for the way I have been throwing. Should I try to throw my current ball with the intended new style and locate the PAP again when throwing this way?  Can I expect a lot of difference when throwing this way with a ball drilled for the new PAP[assuming it will be different] or will it behave close the the balls I have drilled already.

btw the balls I am currently using are all older balls, I have a Wolf 3d, A King Cobra, anf a Blue pearl Hammer Claw all are 16 pounds, Am thinking of going to 15lb on the new ball,

Any tips or feedback could be helpful.

I used to bowl league regularly then took about 20 years off. Recently started bowling again and thinking about getting a new ball. I am also thinking about trying to change the way I release the ball and am wondering if that will alter my PAP and as a result the way the ball should be drilled.

So for years I have bowled where as I release the ball my fingers come around the side of the ball to about 3oclock, I have low revs around 200, a high track and hit the pins at 15-16mph. I want to try and train myself to stay behind/under the ball more and get my thumb out sooner.

All of my current balls are drilled for the way I have been throwing. Should I try to throw my current ball with the intended new style and locate the PAP again when throwing this way?  Can I expect a lot of difference when throwing this way with a ball drilled for the new PAP[assuming it will be different] or will it behave close the the balls I have drilled already.

btw the balls I am currently using are all older balls, I have a Wolf 3d, A King Cobra, anf a Blue pearl Hammer Claw all are 16 pounds, Am thinking of going to 15lb on the new ball,

Any tips or feedback could be helpful.

I will go into this a little deeper.  The first thing is that the way PSOs fit regarding spans has changed since the days of the Claw and King Cobra.  If it has been 20 years since you last bowled; chances are it has been longer than that since the last time you had a PSO measure your hand for span and pitches.  Since it has been that long; I would take one of your balls, have it plugged, and then have the PSO re-measure your hand while letting him know what you are wanting to do.  Then re-drill it with the new fit.  It would be better to spend $50 and do a trial run than spend $200 and risk not liking it.  Since the ball you would be plugging and re-drilling would likely get continued use even with you getting a new ball; then I would go that route first before investing way more money into a new ball.  Plus, leagues dont start for another month so that would give you time to get used to the new fit and still have time to drill the new ball.

Now, will it change your PAP?  Most likely it will.  BowlerX (JR Raymond) did a ball video probably a couple months back or more where he measured his PAP when releasing the ball from the back of it and then again when he releases it from the side and there was about a half an inch difference from the center of grip to PAP.  I want to say when he was rolling up the back of the ball; his PAP was around 4.5 over from center of grip and then when he was getting around the ball as he moved deeper on the lane and opening his angles; his PAP shortened to 4 inches over from center of grip.

As far as the new ball is concerned; have you decided on what you are wanting to get?  If not, with your low revs and decent ball speed, I would look at a symmetric with a high differential.  Ball that comes to mind is the Fate.  It has a strong cover to help read the oil but the high differential will help the ball to hook on the backend of the lane without being uncontrollable.