The information on the spreadsheet is from Bowling This Month (BTM) magazine from their ball talk reviews. It''s just a quick lookup chart.
It''s highly recommended to get a subscription to this magazine. It''s about the best bowling magazine around, its geared to higher average bowler''s. But lower average ones can benefit from it also. Besides ball reviews there are articles on other aspects of bowling.
This sheet doesn''t include the text part of the ball review''s, which has more detailed information. Such as lane conditions, drillings and comments from the testers.
See if your proshop has some laying around and take a look or see their site here.
http://www.bowlingthismonth.com/As for the numbers
In the columns marked OIL-MEDIUM-DRY-SPORT, you see S-T-C this refer''s to Strokers-Tweeners-Crankers. BTM has a ball tester for each catagory.
(stats on the bowlers can be found in the magazine)
The numbers reflect the opinions of the testers on how the balls reacted on the four different "fresh conditions".
1-3 is below average performance, 4-6 is average performance and 7-9.5 is excellent performance.
So if your a Stroker, a Tweener or a Cranker, you''ll look under the listing that match''s you. If your not into all the technical aspect''s of balls, just stick to these numbers.
As for the other numbers basically its-
Box finish is what the Out of Box (O.O.B.) surface is from the factory.
Hook 1-100 bigger the number the more it hooks.
Backend 1-20 bigger the number the stronger the backend reaction.
Length 1-25 bigger the number the farther it goe''s down the lane before it reacts.
Torque 1-10 The flippiness of the ball, bigger the number more flippy it is, smaller number the more even at the breakpoint it is.
Diff/Flare 1-10+ -bigger the number more flare.
RG 1-10+ basically lower numbers are more early revving, higher the number the ball revs later.
Load refers to how the particle content of the coverstock on Particle balls.
Under Symmetry A=Asymmetrical S=Symmetrical
These numbers are how the BTM rated them and my not be the same as the ball company numbers.
As for which numbers to use, thats up to the user, Different bowlers look for different things.
Edited on 4/2/2010 8:33 PM