I'm sure there is no one "right" answer for this, but what do you look for in ball reaction/lane conditions when deciding to go to a different ball?  On Thursday night league during practice (before play), I was throwing my Thunderstruck Pearl and just couldn't get it in the pocket so I went with my HyRoad Pearl and while the scores weren't earth shattering, they weren't bad either.  For me anyway....  I'm caring a 184 avg and shot a 210, 178 & 183. 

After league is over they open up the lanes for free open play to league bowlers until closing, so we usually stick around and bowl 2-3 more games.  So for this I decided to try my Thunderstruck Pearl again and proceded to shoot a 234, 192 & 184.  By this time it seemed to be an easier, more controlled shot than what I had with the HyRoad.  So what should I be looking for in order to make a descission on when to go to a different ball? 

While I'm not a real technical bowler and don't know the proper terms or formulas for the layout of either ball, I do know this;  the Thunderstruck goes longer and has a sharper, more abrupt break at the end while the HyRoad is a more arcing shot all the way down lane.  Which seems to be a lot more forgiving early, with fresh oil.  If I miss my mark a little to the outside (I'm righthanded) the HyRoad can usually find it's way back, whereas the Thunderstruck just slides and with the late break will hit light, barely hitting the 3 pin.  But on the flip side of that, if I miss my mark to the inside the HyRoad will take off.  If I'm lucky, it'll hit the 2 pin.  If not, it's ugly.  But the Thunderstruck will again just slide and more often than not be a pretty solid Brooklyn.  So during league and with fresh oil, the HyRoad always seems to be the better ball to start with, but then I'm affraid to second-guess myself and make the swith. 

Again, I know there's no one answer.  Just trying to improve my game.

Thanks,
Aaron

It just depends on where my ball is starting to get into a roll if I like the area it's starting to get in a roll then I will just stay with the ball and move accordingly if it's to early or too late then I switch. This is something I'm still learning about myself as I tend to revert to old habits of reading the lane side to side vs front to back

Reading the lane front to back is basically just reading the phases of your ball. When you notice the ball start to flip and go into a roll that's what I've been trying to pay attention to. If it's to early I need to pick a ball to go down lane if If it's to long I need to get one that reads earlier. I could care less how much it moves side to side where it gets into a roll though is going to determine carry

Do you happen to know the rgs of the two balls

Bought both these balls used, so not sure of the RG or Diff. of either ball other than what Storm has listed on their website.  They are both 16lbs, so according to Storm they both have a Diff. of .058 and the Thunderstruck has a slightly higher RG; 2.55 vs 2.52.   The difference in reaction may be in the different layout of each.  This pic was taken just after I got the HyRoad and before I had the thumb hole plugged and redrilled.  Only difference is that the thumb hole was moved slightly (maybe 1/4") closer to shorten the span.  The Thunderstruck has been resurfaced since this pic, and it really seemed to improve the way the ball reacts.

I was going to say the same thing as Milo.  I seldom change balls because I can't find the pocket.  The only exception would be when I cant get to the pocket playing the part of the lane I want to play based on what I know about the condition.  Example, I often put away a super strong shelled ball if it makes me move to farther in on the oil than I want to play on a house shot. 

Basically you change balls to help your carry.  On most house shots guys other than high rev players are going to carry better, and line up easier by using a tame ball out of the gate that lets them go more direct to the pocket.  As the shot breaks down an you have to move in to stay in the pocket, then your carry might improve by going to something stronger. 

Bottom line, don't change balls to try not to move, and don't change balls because you aren't hitting the pocket.  First option is always to move, then if you don't carry look for something different

Watch what the ball does in the pins...ball tells you what the lanes are doing pins tell you what the ball is doing

Also watch how the ball resounds to friction