I'd like to get something straightened out regarding definitions.  There seems to be some confusion regarding the terms "rev up" and "roll."  It seems to me that a lot of people use these terms interchangeably, and I don't believe that is correct.  This causes communication confusion in a lot of posts.  There is less confusion on the subject of roll, which most people seem to understand, but what does it mean to for a ball to "rev up?"

Here's how I've always understood it.  I've always thought that when it is said that a ball revs up fast, that means that it gets going around it's axis quickly.  Low RG balls, which are more center heavy, tend to do this by their very nature.  When it is said that a ball revs up slowly, that means that it starts spinning around it's axis more slowly--sometimes referred to as "loping" down the lane.  High RG balls, which are more cover heavy tend to do this by their very nature.  To clarify; both balls referred to above are still skidding down the lane for some distance, but the ball that revs up faster is going around it's axis faster and rather subjectively "looks" better; while the ball that revs up slower is going around it's axis slower and "looks" a bit lazy.  This so-called "revving up" (it seems to me) is largely RG-dependent, but is also affected by the friction of the coverstock.  A ball that is shinier should "rev up" faster than an equivalent ball that is dull, because the shiny ball experiences less friction and can spin on it's axis easier than a dull ball that experiences a somewhat higher level of friction (even in the oil) which would cause it to spin on it's axis less readily.  This is how I've always understood the term "revving up."  Is this correct?  If it is, we should get that made clear, and if it isn't we should get everyone (including me) straightened out about what it really does mean.  

I think we're all in agreement on the meaning of the term "roll."  That's when the ball has finished it's skid and it's hook (which is the last part of the skid cycle) and has "grabbed" the lane and  has a translational (down the lane) motion in the same direction as it's rotational motion around it's axis.  

In many posts, it seems to me that the terms "revving up" and "rolling" are used interchangeably and I dont believe that is correct.  When a ball revs up has an effect on when it rolls, but the terms are not equivalent.

I hope there is some discussion of this, because if I've misunderstood the term "revving up" I'd like to get it straight for myself and everyone else so we are all on the same wavelength with respect to our terminology in our discussions.

Shiv
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Listening to the monotonous staccato of rain on my desk top

Zzzzzzzzzzzzz.......

Shiv
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Listening to the monotonous staccato of rain on my desk top

Thanks for the comments, guys.  I'm really just trying to find out if I have the right idea of what is being said when I hear someone say that a ball "revs up" either quickly or slowly.  I should acknowledge that, of course, how quickly any ball revs up is dependent upon who is throwing it, so how fast any ball revs up varies by the bowler.  I think, however, that if a given ball is said to be slow revving, then it will be slow revving for everyone--even though what constitutes "slow revving" will vary from bowler to bowler.  A bowler who imparts lots of revs with his release might get that ball to rev up faster than a rev-challenged bowler will be able to rev up a high revving ball--but relatively speaking, the high rev bowler will still see that ball as slow-revving--for him.

I tend to like balls that are--by my definition anyway--fast revving.  I therefore like low RG balls and I never use high RG drillings--except once.  I got a Triton Elite in a pro-am once and it was kind of a freaky ball.  It was about 5.5 inches pin-out.  I decided to experiment with it and had a high RG drilling put into it.  The pin was way up over the fingers and near the track.  That ball (not even a high RG ball) was what I would call slow revving.  It looked like it was laboring to even go around it's own axis as it went down the lane--what I believe I have heard referred to as "loping."  When it finally encountered dry it turned--hard.  It was almost impossible for me to control.  The faster revving balls have a more controllable motion--for me.

This story is told using the terms "revving up" and "loping" as I understand them.  All I'm really trying to do is find out if I'm using these terms in the same way that most others use them.  It frequently seems to me that in the bowling world we have lots of people using the same terms but having different definitions for them and confusion results.

Just so no one finds it necessary to point out, I know that the term revs is also used in another way--the way that tells how many actual revolutions a bowler gets on the ball.  I believe that I have heard that the average bowler gets 12-15 revolutions (revs) on the ball with his typical shot.  High rev players may get more than 20.  Then of course there is also revolutions per minute (RPM), with typical bowlers getting around 250-300 RPM and high rev players maybe 350-450?  What's Robert Smith get--600?  I'm not sure of any of these numerical ranges, but I do at least know what they mean.

Shiv
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Listening to the monotonous staccato of rain on my desk top