da shiv, when your axis coordinate is up 1 1/8", this means that that you have a lot of tilt and/or are spinning the ball slightly. The higher up the number is, the more you're spinning/tilting the ball and the more the ball will slide before it hooks.

So, you should tend to bowl better when the lanes are drier. =:^D

Oh, boy.  Dry lanes have actually been my nemesis.  A couple months ago, I bought a Sonic X for dry lanes, and the first few times I tried to use it, it went like an arrow--the lanes weren't dry enough for it.  I considered this good, because I had bought it for dry lanes and I liked knowing that if the lanes got any worse I'd have something to handle it.  Well, for the last few weeks, I've been using the Sonic X and getting quite a bit of movement out of it.  Being at the bottom of my lineup of resin balls (top being heavy oil equipment and bottom being for dry) got me worried that I had nowhere left to go equipment-wise if the lanes continued to deteriorate, so last week I picked up a Slate Blue Gargoyle, scheduled for it's debut tomorrow when I'll go in early before league to try it out and compare it's reaction to my drier lane resin stuff.

It appears that what I need to work on next is a speed increase.  My major accomplishment this season has been to start getting a cleaner thumb release, which has increased my revs.  I accomplish this best at a bit slower speed than I used to use.  When I start to go with a higher pushaway and a higher backswing to increase my speed, I tend to start clenching my thumb again.  I think I'm afraid I'll lose the ball if I don't grip it tighter.  I used to throw a high speed spinner, but with a clenched thumb and late release.  My ball speed way overmatched my limited revs.  Then, dry lanes were my friend.  Now, with a cleaner release and more revs, I'm afraid that it has come to the point where my revs somewhat overmatch my speed.  Clearly, I have to work on getting my speed up while maintaining a relaxed thumb.

When I threw the clenched thumb high speed spinner, my PAP (which fluctuated somewhat) averaged out to be around 4 1/4 over by 1/2 up.  Now, with my cleaner release, my PAP has changed to a pretty consistent 5 1/16 over by 1 1/8 up.  The over part makes sense to me, and seems in line with most bowlers.  That up coordinate, though, is somewhat unusual and I still wonder where it came from.

Thanks for the responses.  I'm still hoping to hear more from king of the mill as well.  Even if this topic has little practical use, I still like to understand these things.

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

I know a couple of the local national touring pro’s axis and they are nothing remarkable.

Both are 5 ¼ to 5 ½ over and ½ inch or less up.

I also know some of the better bowlers in town axis and they are all pretty much in the same range.

The best bowler around here (who is now retired) threw a spinner. I believe his axis was 4 1/8  and 3/16 up.

I’m not sure much can be made about ability from knowing a PAP.

These are what I could find looking quickly:

Robert Smith:  5-1/4" over & 5/8" up
Chris Barnes:  5" over & 1/4" up
Jason Couch:  4-2/8" over & 3/8" up
Mika Koivuniemi:  5-7/8" straight over
Walter Ray Williams Jr.:  5-7/8" over & 1/4" up
Norm Duke:  5-3/4" straight over