Question about layout change for my Blue Hammer......Rob Mautner, HELP!

[Hammer]

Right now I am using layout #2 length layout with pin right above my ring finger and a high track. The problem is when we start league on just put down fresh oil my ball seems to leave a lot of 7 pins(I am a lefty). It seems like it doesn't have enough energy going into the pocket to clear the pins. I try adjusting on the approach to see if I can make the Blue get a more solid hit on the pocket. I tried a surface change from a 4000 Abralon to 2000 Abralon unpolished but it seems to make no difference. I looked at the 5 layout choices for the Blue Hammer on bowlingball.com to see the choices. They show three choices for each layout. If I have a high track I am trying to figure out what layout would give me a stronger run to the pocket.

[RobLV1]

The question that I have to ask is why are you using a urethane bowling ball on fresh oil? I really don't think a layout change or a surface change is going to solve your problem. Lefties play the oil line. That's what they do. The problem is that the USBC mandates that there must be at least 3 units of oil, gutter to gutter. Reactive balls don't read it, and react like it's 100% dry. Urethane, not so much. You can try a pin down layout, or more surface, or both, but I really don't think that a urethane ball is appropriate for freshly oiled lanes.

Rob Mautner

[Hammer]

I forgot to say that the house I bowl in uses a THS pattern. It is usually dry from the 1 board to the 10 board on the left and right of the alley. The 2000 Abralon surface I have on the Blue now has a dull finish. What would happen if I gave the 2000 surface a polished finish?
Would doing this give it a different reaction in the dry area like earlier hook? I bowl in this house exclusively. My other ball I bring with me is a Raw Hammer Anger ball with a 2000 Abralon surface dull with pin below the ring finger. This ball works great on our house alleys. I can put the arch of my slide foot anywhere from board 26 to 35 and gets a nice run to the pocket. I thought that getting the Blue to work better for me would make it possible for me to use for the strike ball when the lanes break down and the Anger has trouble
getting good pocket hits. Instead of the Blue Hammer maybe I should have gotten an entry level resin ball or a hybrid.

[RobLV1]

I assumed that you are bowling on a THS, but the outside is not dry. By USBC regulations, it must have 3 units of oil. Yes, I think you need a high rg ball with little surface for when your Raw Hammer quits working. It's sort of like you're going from a semi-truck to a tricycle. You need to find a passenger vehicle in the middle.

Rob Mautner

[Hammer]

I assumed that you are bowling on a THS, but the outside is not dry. By USBC regulations, it must have 3 units of oil. Yes, I think you need a high rg ball with little surface for when your Raw Hammer quits working. It's sort of like you're going from a semi-truck to a tricycle. You need to find a passenger vehicle in the middle.

Rob Mautner

LOL. I will be 67 shortly and at 5"6" tall with a ball speed of 13.5 to 14.5mph at the pins that is why I thought that the Blue urethane would be a good ball for me on a THS pattern. You know us older gents don't have the P&V of the young bucks. Maybe I will give the Blue one last shot with a pin below the fingers layout and maybe a 1000 Abralon surface. Should the surface be left dull or polished?

[RobLV1]

Dull, but I really don't think it will help.

[dnhoffman]

Well... This was fun.