Sounds like you and I have a similar game and bowl on similar conditions. Here is what my equipment looks like. I'm always in deep and have a lot of hand. For me, the challenge is keeping the ball out of the OB and not getting the ball to over hook when it flips.
My favorite ball is the Vendetta Particle. I have one with the pin around 1:30 and an inch and half or so away from my ring finger. The CG is at about 2:30, about an inch positive from the centerline... lots of polish. Of course I like particle shells because it arcs. With my hand and not-so-fast ball speed, I need a readable ball and not skid/flip. This will allow you to play deep and its early roll will allow you to stay out of the OB (out of bounds). It may not, however, give you enough angle to take out the corners when you start it out that deep. But it does roll heavy, and it carries for me.
Vendetta Particle Layout ImageAs much as I like the VP, the Vendetta Solid is now the first ball out of my bag. It's a really nice ball and it appears to be extremely versatile with the coverstock. I have one with the pin about 2:00 about an inch from my ring finger and the CG an 1.5 inches above my thumb and one inch positive. The low CG gets the ball to read the mid-lane earlier, which this ball will do anyways, but remember I like arc. The high pin, in the realtive strong-position, still gives the ball plenty of snap in the back. See my sketch below with appoximate pin/cg locations.
Vendetta Solid Layout ImageIf you wanted this ball to big you more snap, I'd move both the CG and pin about an inch or two up, both over the center of your grip. With polish the ball will clear the heads but the strong layout will surely get the ball to recover. This ball will cover more boards than the Vendetta Particle.
The Thing is another great ball. I like it because it is not a hook monster. It is what I use when I need the ball to go a little longer than my Vendetta Particle or Solid (THING 1). For me, this ball goes very long and flips hard.... lots of energy retention. I have to be careful, because I can get in trouble with splits, again. I have a second Thing that I'll use when I need early roll and big back end (THING 2). I rarely use it, but it's nice to have of fresh oil when the back ends are snappy. For me, it seems the energy isn't retained so much as it's started to be used in midlane.
Things Layout ImageOn the immediate horizon is the THING RETURNS, you can expect this ball on the pro shops the first week or so of October. The Thing Returns promises to go longer and turn harder. The coverstock is 100% pearl as opposed to the the Thing's half pearl/half solid Soaker coverstock. I don't have mine yet, but I should in the next week or so.
Hope this help with some ideas.
Tony Melendez
http://www.allBowling.comEdited on 9/23/2003 11:27 AM