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

If you are a subscriber of Bowling This Month magazine, there is an excellent article from Susie Minshew with an in-depth explanation of what JustRico is talking about.

http://www.bowlingthismonth.com/article/how-the-ball-goes-through-the-pins/

The very first person, whom I never met, who told me about watching what my ball does as it goes through the pins was Sawbones.

It's crazy, but many times I watch what my ball does, I am reminded of this man.

Practice with something on the line.  A dollar, a soda, lunch.  Whatever.  I can't count the number of sodas I bought for guys I had no business bowling against when I was younger and getting "schooled".  There are very few guys that are any good that didn't pay their dues somewhere along the line.