When you get a ball for a step down from another ball do you use the same layout or do you go with something else?  In one league I throw an IQ Tour solid with the pin over ring and the CG slightly kicked out.  I bought a Roto Grip Hustle INK as a step down, but I am having difficulty deciding on a layout for it.

I am concerned about putting the pin down and the ball being as strong as advertised and not really giving me a good step down, but I am also concerned about the flipside aka pin up and the ball is weaker than advertised and it's too much of a step down.

Specs:  325-350 revs, 14-15 mph and a medium THS.

Thoughts?

As with the other Hustles, it is definitely stronger than advertised. I had mine drilled with a weaker, smoother layout and it still handled the fresh house shot with ease and was really snappy off the spot. That's with the nasty OOB 1500 polish. My PSO took it down to a lower grit and brought it back up to 4000. Definitely smoother, but still a little more angular than I was hoping. Might try going to 3000.

I do like it though. Bowled pretty well with it in multiple squads of a handicap tournament over the weekend. Shot 947 for 4 in the first squad (using 214 avg for tournament). They ran a sweeper on the friday night, and at box surface, I did not fair as well. Not bad, but had a harder time controlling it.

My POW (which I had redone with polish) is a little longer, but more angular. At box though, the INK was more skid/flip than the POW - definitely not as advertised. The POW is definitely the stronger ball front to back at the same surface.

As for the IQ Tour, I don't have one but I have seen them thrown. I'm not sure this ball would be much weaker. Maybe if the Tour is drilled strong and the INK weak. And especially with more surface on the Tour.

I use one main drill and mix in a 2nd every now and then. As Strapper noted, I as well use different covers/cores/etc to make up the differences in ball reaction.

There are just some drills that do not roll well for me. I stick with what does.

Norm Duke is like this as well. Norm has a box or a triangle where the pin sits in almost every ball he has drilled. As least he was this way as of a few years ago.

I don't think I would replace old equipment due to the layout only.  I would just drill new equipment going forward with a standard layout.

I don't think I would replace old equipment due to the layout only.  I would just drill new equipment going forward with a standard layout.

I might have my Covert Ops sold as is. If so it would cost me a small amount to change the layout. The up side of this (besides the layoput) is that the new Covert will have a longer pin and CG will be further out.
Thanks for the help as always

67*3 3/4*80 w/ PAP 5 1/4 over and 1 1/8 up, with the Pin in the ring finger
I've heard not to expect too much from a different layout. I think its more of a mind comfort than anything.
Any and all advice is well received!

Sorry. Pin is under ring finger is what I meant to say.