Could be something simple like a bad lane condition, or playing the wrong part of the lane. It doesn't take much of a malfunction to throw things off. Even if the oil pattern was perfect, maybe the stripping or cleaning of the lane went bad. Try it again before assuming the ball is bad.
By the way, if the core has separated the easy way to tell is to drop it on the floor, preferably one that's hard, but covered with carpet or a rug. You'll hear a distinctly different sound ("crack") than a normal ball which should sound like a "thud". It's also louder than normal when it hits the pins.
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Lane Carter, Strike Zone Pro Shops - Salt Lake City, Utah
Brunswick Amateur Staff
Edited on 5/22/2008 10:26 PM