Ok, so I'm new to the whole new coverstocks etc that have come out in the last decade and I'm not entirely sure how much the same ball would change based on altering the factory finish.  I'm a fan of having a polished finish bowling ball...I just am...and I know that nowadays a lot of people alter the finish on the balls with polish, abralon pads etc and pro shops will do it for people all the time with little worry.

My problem is I do not know how much it will technically alter a ball.  For instance if I get the new Zero Gravity which is normally a 4000 grit Matte finish out of the box...and I put the recommended polish on it....will it suddenly react less than say a Fringe...which naturally comes as a Polished finish ball out of the box...but overall is supposed to generate less hook and movement.

All in all I want to know if it's a fine idea going with a normally matte/sanded finish ball and polishing it...or going down a tad to a normally polished finished ball is the right move instead?  I want and need a ball with a slightly stronger reaction as I do not generate a ton of revs, however, I do not want to ultimately neutralize the ball to the point it would react and move less than if I had simply gone with an already polished factory finished piece of equipment.

I currently am throwing a Reign of Power...it's the only ball in my bag made in the last 2 decades.  The problem I'm having with it...and a few other sanded/matte balls I've tried...is that it tends to lose energy too soon and I don't get the reaction I'd like once it hits the 40-45 foot mark.  I'm a slower bowler at about 12-13 miles per hour at the pins and slightly on the lower end of revs as well.  It's why I kind of prefer a polished ball...for me it just seems like it manages to keep its energy past the oil rather than burning it up too soon and losing its motion once it skids beyond the pattern.  The lanes here tends to be medium-heavy oil.

I'd love to talk to a qualified and trusted pro shop operator...but honestly I live in a small town in the middle of no where so that's not really an option for me.  I'm not a high end bowler...a slightly improving 160+ average guy who is slowly creeping up and getting more consistent.

I currently am throwing a Reign of Power...it's the only ball in my bag made in the last 2 decades.  The problem I'm having with it...and a few other sanded/matte balls I've tried...is that it tends to lose energy too soon and I don't get the reaction I'd like once it hits the 40-45 foot mark.  I'm a slower bowler at about 12-13 miles per hour at the pins and slightly on the lower end of revs as well.  It's why I kind of prefer a polished ball...for me it just seems like it manages to keep its energy past the oil rather than burning it up too soon and losing its motion once it skids beyond the pattern.  The lanes here tends to be medium-heavy oil.

I'd love to talk to a qualified and trusted pro shop operator...but honestly I live in a small town in the middle of no where so that's not really an option for me.  I'm not a high end bowler...a slightly improving 160+ average guy who is slowly creeping up and getting more consistent.

A sanded/dull ball will lose energy faster than a polished/pearl ball due to the ball reading earlier on the lane. Adding polish to a ball allows the ball to skid further thus retaining energy when the ball encounters friction. Also take into consideration the layout on the ball. If you are throwing the ball 12-13 miles and hour at the pin (which is on the slower side) and have a layout on your ball to allow the ball to read the lane early (pin less than 3" from pap) that will cause ball to "die" or rollout 45-50 feet down the lane. Best bet is to find someone local within a reasonable distance that is willing to 1. watch you bowl, 2. measure your pap (positive axis point) on your ball, and 3. ask questions as to what you are looking for. (i.e. What reaction are you looking for?, Where is your comfort zone on the lanes?, is money a consideration when buying a new ball?)

A sanded/dull ball will lose energy faster than a polished/pearl ball due to the ball reading earlier on the lane. Adding polish to a ball allows the ball to skid further thus retaining energy when the ball encounters friction. Also take into consideration the layout on the ball. If you are throwing the ball 12-13 miles and hour at the pin (which is on the slower side) and have a layout on your ball to allow the ball to read the lane early (pin less than 3" from pap) that will cause ball to "die" or rollout 45-50 feet down the lane. Best bet is to find someone local within a reasonable distance that is willing to 1. watch you bowl, 2. measure your pap (positive axis point) on your ball, and 3. ask questions as to what you are looking for. (i.e. What reaction are you looking for?, Where is your comfort zone on the lanes?, is money a consideration when buying a new ball?)

Great advice.  Adding polish may help, but could make a ball more uncontrollable.  There are too many unknowns at this time to be able to make suggestions.  The best one to do this if you don't have a pro shop is someone you trust and with bowling ball knowledge.  You may even be able to get video consulting.