Jake, I'm not sure where to start here.
First guy says use a dull ball, then recommends the One...WTF?
All the Ones I've seen have been purdy darn shiny!
Second recommendation is getting the ball into an early roll...WTF?
When you have your slide foot in the gutter, and the ball is going to the right across the center of the lane...you better hope it is skidding and not rolling. If it's rolling, it aint gonna make it back!
As a stroker, I can tell you that yes, you can get inside, but only when the crankers are screaming for oil and having a hard time keeping the ball to the right of the headpin. Still, you will need a polished ball to get the length and a decent flip to make the turn. I ran into this scenario at the Ohio Inter-City tourney. It took me a few games to get that far inside, but once I did get that far inside, I found that there was not much room for error. Slow down, and it's going Brooklyn. Forget to get your fingers in it (or hang in the thumb a little), and you are getting a flat ten or a 5-7. I was throwing the Lane #1 Cobalt (drilled 5x5 stacked...it worked good here, but touchy everywhere else). Grabbing a weaker ball and going up the track proved much more successful. I was able to throw the Lane #1 bullet the rest of the shift (6 games) and was one of only a few to be happy it was dry!
I have also found that on our shorter sport shot patterns, if the line goes inside, I can play a Pearl Uranium (drilled Label 1:30) across the middle. It gives just enough push and makes the turn nicely, but it is also easy to get fast and blow through the breakpoint.
In closing:
Use your strentghs to your advantage. Do not try to play someone elses game. If YOUR line goes inside, go with it. Just because someone else is hooking the lane and impressing the ladies does not mean you cannot score just as well in your comfort zone.
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Jon (in Ohio)
CHROME WON'T GET YOU HOME!
F.O.S. Proud Saw user...see profile.