Help me confirm some ideas on "heavy" oil balls.

[Ball99999]

(all diagram lines are just guesses)
So frustrated. Everywhere I look on the internet I get the impression from ads and reviews that heavyballs "outhook" such and such previous ball by x boards etc. But I just find that the stronger balls I have, the less they hook. To me it seems more like they have more traction for heavy oil but not more hook, while the medium oil balls just ignore trying to create traction and then save their energy and make a big move off of the friction at the end... so they have MORE "hook" from right to left.

First ball was a Brunswick Damage. A pearl, high RG, pin up, "medium-light oil" ball. My initial impressions were that on heavy oil the ball would just sail straight and not hook. Then when the lanes broke down it really went down the lane cleanly and then made a big curve/move at the end. Loved this.

Look at this diagram, it represents a few things, 1) the blue line is how I *thought* heavy oil balls would hook on heavy oil 2) the yellow line is how the Damage seems like on really heavy oil 3) the blue line also represents how the Damage hooks in medium-dry oil.

http://i.imgur.com/mIfV9.jpg

Then if you look at this diagram, it represents how I feel people are saying heavy oil balls are in reality, keeping traction in the heavy oil but expending energy at the same time meaning a less big move in the back end but still power left over.

http://i.imgur.com/zkkl7.jpg

Then this is just to show a heavy oil ball in dry oil.. going into a roll too early and losing all energy.

http://i.imgur.com/Ym0TO.jpg
SO after all this, what I want to know is, WHERE do people get the heavy oil balls = bigger back end moves thing? Is it because the people in the videos have insanely high revs?

If my ideas are correct, for low-medium rev players, would a medium oil ball on medium oil be better for strikes than a heavy oil ball on heavy oil because entry angle would be bigger?

[Ball99999]

I've also created another diagram to help me understand this and how to see how a ball is reaction. So in this case it's not just about how heavy balls vs medium balls react but also how to read the lanes. We're all told if the ball moves left to move left with the feet, but is that ONLY in the case where the ball has too much energy at the back end vs rolling out? What I'm confused here about is, when the ball goes too far to the left, isn't that because it didn't have enough oil? Why does a ball that sees too much friction move left vs right?

http://i.imgur.com/RKXDx.jpg

Also this same diagram could be used for medium-heavy, medium-light, and dry lane. Perhaps that's why the balls on THS seem weird.. I only ever see light-heavy where the heavy balls create a lot of traction but the medium balls don't so they save more energy for a bigger backend.

[kmf]

The theory of moving in the direction of miss is correct, they say this to control the time the ball spends in oil. The theory is you dried up the line enough to create over reaction. 2 & 1 moves are the norm. In reality, I know a successful bowler who didn't think this seems correct. As long as the ball wasn't losing energy, why not move right. He makes 2 & 1 adjustments (the same as what it really is 10 & 5) to move from the middle to the third board. He could probably explain it better but you supposedly blocked the cranky old man.

[BoomGoesTheDynomite]

So... My opinion on heavy oil bowling balls vs medium to light oil balls is that heavy oil balls will not necessarily have more back end but more over all hook potential. I'm not sure where you see heavy oil balls getting a lot of back end. You can throw a heavy oil ball on a medium lane condition, you just have to move far enough in to play it. It also really really depends how the ball is drilled. I can't stress the drilling enough. Personally when I buy a heavy oil ball I do not want to go long and flip. Since heavy oil patterns tend to be more difficult I drill them to have a nice constant arc which is much more controllable. On the other hand I love light to medium oil bowling balls for a THS. My favorite bowling balls have been the Vibe series and the tropical heat hybrid. They are amazing balls for any average league bowler. I don't believe your theory that medium oil balls are better than heavy oil balls for heavy oil. They are both meant for certain things and with all the different drillings you can do they will both strike a lot if you can match up to the lane correctly.

[Ball99999]

Im learning the big back end is really the roll phase, maybe caused by revs independent of hook... And that hook rating is really just how much it can overpower speed in the hook phase in heavy oil

[noeymc]

its all about how you turn your wrist revs is add'd my your lift hence why cocky the wrist helps

[Ball99999]

I think turning my wrist is what got me in trouble

[Zothen]

If your throwing the ball 15mph+ in heavy oil,the ball will slide and not have much hook. You need to slow the ball to 10-12mph which will give it time to build up friction so it will hook as soon as it hits dry. You may have to cut revs down to around 250-300 and move 1' forward on approach. If you watch the Pros when they bowl on the Shark Pattern some of them are close to foul line and they slow their balls down.

Also use the rule of 31! If your pattern is say 41' you subtract 31' and your break piont is 10 board. You also have to play up 5 board or even out to 1 board. Also your ball needs to have surface to grab which means no polish and sanded surface of about 1000.

Zothen

[Ball99999]

I think what surprised me was the idea that 10-12mph is good.. But then realized all balls end up overpowering the ball speed anyway

[bowl1820]

Also use the rule of 31! If your pattern is say 41' you subtract 31' and your break piont is 10 board. You also have to play up 5 board or even out to 1 board. Also your ball needs to have surface to grab which means no polish and sanded surface of about 1000.
Zothen

Zothen the minus 31 formula does not tell you the breakpoint!!! It's just shows the exit point for the end of the oil pattern.

That's why it's called the "Exit Point Formula"

[Zothen]

I stand corrected!

Zothen

[billf]

I'm curious. If in heavy oil the ball speed has to be 10-12 mph how do the pros manage to get a good hook at 16+ mph? Oh wait, once again, that's why they are pros and we are not.