Visionary Blue/Green Centaur is THE ball. Maximum control, with maximum carry power.
(Note: I did not say maximum "hitting" power. The BGC only throws pins into other pins. They do not fly over or around the standing pins, but into them!!!)

This ball does all this with any surface from 1000 grit matte to 4000 grit polished.

I would suggest a slingshot. It has a higher RG core which will get it down lane before making the turn to the pocket.  I have 2 different slingshots that I use for short oil patterns and / or lanes that are getting too dry. I throw it 16.5 mph with an approx 400 rev rate and the slingshot line allows me to use my normal release. If it has too much of a skid / snap reaction, then you can use a 4000 pad to take of the polish to smooth out the reaction. The other advantage of the slingshot line is the multiple color options.

I know all us Lane #1 guys do not show up much on this sight anymore but I can not recommend the Chainsaw S.O.S. highly enough. It flares very little and seemingly uses every drop of oil it can find to go very long before it makes its move and the carry is incredible. Get one while they last.

This is almost a 2 part question. A short pattern isnt really a "dry" condition. There is just an average of 5 feet or so (giving the specific pattern) length of hook. For shorter patterns urethan and strong balls for me have worked best. Layouts and surfaces that give you something very smooth off the end of the pattern is usually ideal.

As for "dry" sometimes you just need balls that get through the front part of the lane a little more cleaner. There are countless balls on the market for this.

@Charlest - You're right, and I don't necessarily mean a strong ball, just something to bleed energy.  Depending on style this can mean a Nano or a Breeze with light surface.  Too often I see bowlers thinking that they need something to go long, when in reality you need something you can control with the lane giving you a lot of room to hook.

To some others that are posting...I wonder if you've ever actually bowled on a short pattern....and had any success.

@charlest. You are correct sir. But i was just giving an example. That wasnt mean for him to go out and drill a VIVID 90x5x70 and bombs away. Just letting him know that on short and sport patterns (eventhough i didnt mention or clarify it in my earlier post) he has more options and he going to need them and know when to use them. I have an Motiv RX1. Rolls great when the lanes specify it. On short sport patterns the ball is squirty and kind of over/under. Too much dry, the ball gets sideways on THS. Just letting him know that you can get a strong ball and take the core out of play by manipulating the layout and balance hole to control the backend, which may be an option for him and what we set out to do, control the breakpoint. He can drill a medium oil ball and have the same effect if he's rev dominant.

As you said, it doesnt work for everyone. But it might make the game easier by reading earlier and controlling the reaction. it was just a thought.

@Charlest - You're right, and I don't necessarily mean a strong ball, just something to bleed energy.  Depending on style this can mean a Nano or a Breeze with light surface.  Too often I see bowlers thinking that they need something to go long, when in reality you need something you can control with the lane giving you a lot of room to hook.

To some others that are posting...I wonder if you've ever actually bowled on a short pattern....and had any success.

Success is different for everybody.  Success for one person could be a Regional/National Title.  For another, it could be performing well at the USBCs.  For another person, it could be shooting 600+ on a tougher pattern or 800 on a THS.  I have bowled quite a bit on shorter patterns and found success using two different pieces of equipment.  The first was a Track Crunch at box finish plus Clean and Sheen.  The second was with the Ebonite Black Ice with the pin at 2 inches from PAP, cg center of grip, and no weight hole.  The Crunch I started playing around 15 out to 7-8 breakpoint.  When I used the Black Ice, I started playing 12ish out to 5-6-7 breakpoint and at the end of the set, I migrated to 15ish out to 8-9-10.  The Crunch was used on a centers version of a THS where they only oiled down 34 feet in their evening run of the machine and the time I used the Black Ice it was used in a State Tournament.  Anyone else with success on shorter patterns???