My current arsenal (Advice welcome)

[Sourtower]

So while browsing through the forums, I've seen some pretty good advice that people have given regarding others' arsenals. I was hoping that I could get some help with how my arsenal lines up. Please take into consideration that I've only been bowling seriously for about 15 months now, and have been in a league in the summer (my first one) and during the fall. I'm open to any and all information because it'll only help me to progress. I averaged a 163 in my first league, and am now up to 180 average at the end of the fall league I was in. Thanks in advance for any help.

Heavy - Hammer Deadly Aim (R.G. 2.48 Diff .054 Surface 500/1000/2000/4000 Polished)

Medium/Heavy - Hammer Black Widow Legend (R.G. 2.50 Diff .058 Surface 500, 1000 Polished)

Medium - Hammer Black Widow Assassin (R.G. 2.50 Diff .058 Surface 500/500/500/1000 Polished)

Medium/Light - Hammer Viral (R.G. 2.51 Diff .042 Surface 500, 1000 Polished)

Spare - C300 White Dot

[RobLV1]

Unless you are very speed domininant (speed vs. rev rate) and have a whole lot of speed, your arsenal is very lopsided in terms of rg. The lowest rg allowed by the USBC is 2.47. All of the balls in your arsenal are between 2.48 and 2.51, and polished to overcome their earlier rolling cores. You might want to consider adding something with a higher rg. Since you like Hammer, the Nail or the Spike would be good additions, though you will probably have to add a little surface over the polish for a more controlled reaction.

[Sourtower]

Unless you are very speed domininant (speed vs. rev rate) and have a whole lot of speed, your arsenal is very lopsided in terms of rg. The lowest rg allowed by the USBC is 2.47. All of the balls in your arsenal are between 2.48 and 2.51, and polished to overcome their earlier rolling cores. You might want to consider adding something with a higher rg. Since you like Hammer, the Nail or the Spike would be good additions, though you will probably have to add a little surface over the polish for a more controlled reaction.

Very interesting. Thanks Rob. Now the n00b in me comes out. What will a higher RG bowling ball add to my arsenal? IE, what benefits will it give and how would it fit with my arsenal? I'm more of a medium rev, low speed bowler but since I've started, I've been able to add an additional 2 mph on ball speed.

[Amyers]

Sourtower your lineup is fine as far as steps in cover strength go but it looks like to me everything you have gives you the same look. You might want to look at changing out to some solid or hybrid covers and maybe something with some higher R.G..

Solid covers will create more of an even balanced reaction think arc instead of hockey stick

Higher R.G. promotes length and energy retention. You are kind of getting some of that from the polished covers that you currently have. I wouldn't go out and buy a bunch more balls just as you replace consider switching one of your balls for a high R.G. Pearl and one for a medium R.G. Hybrid or Solid with some surface to give you a little bit more diversity in your shot shape.

[RobLV1]

Very interesting. Thanks Rob. Now the n00b in me comes out. What will a higher RG bowling ball add to my arsenal? IE, what benefits will it give and how would it fit with my arsenal? I'm more of a medium rev, low speed bowler but since I've started, I've been able to add an additional 2 mph on ball speed.

Think of RG in terms of resistance. The higher the RG, the more resistance, the longer the ball gets down the lane (retains energy). The RG is nothing more than the measurement (in inches) of the X axis for the bowling ball's core. Think of it like this: a helicopter needs to achieve a rev rate of 17.5 revolutions per second to take off. If Helicopter A has rotor blades that are 24' long, those blades have to be moving at a speed of 800 feet per second to achieve the required 17.5 rps to take off. If another helicopter has rotor blades that are 18' long, those blades have to be moving at a speed of 600 feet per second to acieve lift off. Obviously, the helicopter with the shorter blades (lower RG) will rev up quicker and take off first. The other helicopter with the longer blades (higher RG) will take longer to rev up and take off later. It's the same for bowling balls. The ball can't roll until it fully revs up. The smaller the RG, the faster it reves up. The higher the RG, the more resistance the ball encounters, and the further it goes down the lane before revving up.

[Mike White]

Think of RG in terms of resistance. The higher the RG, the more resistance, the longer the ball gets down the lane (retains energy). The RG is nothing more than the measurement (in inches) of the X axis for the bowling ball's core. Think of it like this: a helicopter needs to achieve a rev rate of 17.5 revolutions per second to take off. If Helicopter A has rotor blades that are 24' long, those blades have to be moving at a speed of 800 feet per second to achieve the required 17.5 rps to take off. If another helicopter has rotor blades that are 18' long, those blades have to be moving at a speed of 600 feet per second to acieve lift off. Obviously, the helicopter with the shorter blades (lower RG) will rev up quicker and take off first. The other helicopter with the longer blades (higher RG) will take longer to rev up and take off later. It's the same for bowling balls. The ball can't roll until it fully revs up. The smaller the RG, the faster it reves up. The higher the RG, the more resistance the ball encounters, and the further it goes down the lane before revving up.

Ignore all of the parts in red.

Rob is using made up math, and getting it backwards, in trying to prove a point.

Assuming both helicopters weight the same, they take off when the lift generated matches the weight of the helicopter.
Longer blades generate more lift, so that helicopter takes off at a lower rev rate.

There are a lot of factors that go into when a ball rolls, and RG is just one of them.

1) ball speed off the hand.
2) rev rate off the hand.
3) Axis of Rotation.
4) Axis Tilt.
5) coverstock.
5) surface sand/polish.
6) oil pattern length.
7) oil pattern thickness.
8) cleanliness of backends.
9) RG of the drilled PAP.

[RobLV1]

Ignore all of the parts in red.

Rob is using made up math, and getting it backwards, in trying to prove a point.

Assuming both helicopters weight the same, they take off when the lift generated matches the weight of the helicopter.
Longer blades generate more lift, so that helicopter takes off at a lower rev rate.

There are a lot of factors that go into when a ball rolls, and RG is just one of them.

1) ball speed off the hand.
2) rev rate off the hand.
3) Axis of Rotation.
4) Axis Tilt.
5) coverstock.
5) surface sand/polish.
6) oil pattern length.
7) oil pattern thickness.
8) cleanliness of backends.
9) RG of the drilled PAP.

It's an analogy to try to explain RG. I'm not trying to prove anything, just trying to help someone. Glad to see that you haven't mellowed too much, Mike. I was starting to worry about you.

[Sourtower]

Thanks for all the help guys. Even if the helicopter analogy was right or wrong, I understand what you're trying to say. Next time I'm looking for a new bowling ball, I'll definitely take a look at a ball with a higher RG so I don't overlap equipment.

[Tony]

I like the Helicopter example however since you've left out many of the actual steps required to calculate lift, I'm pretty happy that I'm planning to ride only in dual engine helicopters designed by actual aerospace engineers :)
How much rotation do you have to impart on a bowling ball in order to get the lift required to get the bowling ball to hover :)

[Amyers]

I like the Helicopter example however since you've left out many of the actual steps required to calculate lift, I'm pretty happy that I'm planning to ride only in dual engine helicopters designed by actual aerospace engineers :)
How much rotation do you have to impart on a bowling ball in order to get the lift required to get the bowling ball to hover :)

I don't know but I have a friend that tries. 200 average bowler and I think the ball lands 10 feet from the pins it's awful to watch and listen too.:eek:

[RobLV1]

Perhaps I should have been more specific. The helicopter analogy equates lift off with revving up a bowling ball to achieve roll. The higher the rg, the more resistance there is to revving up, and the longer the ball goes before getting into the roll phase. When the ball rolls too early, it begins to lose energy and, along with that, its ability to carry the corner pins.

[Tony]

Perhaps I should have been more specific. The helicopter analogy equates lift off with revving up a bowling ball to achieve roll. The higher the rg, the more resistance there is to revving up, and the longer the ball goes before getting into the roll phase. When the ball rolls too early, it begins to lose energy and, along with that, its ability to carry the corner pins.
Sorry, just had to poke a little fun, you see my brother is an Aerospace Engineer who designs helicopter propulsion systems... Hence my other comment about flying only in dual (or more) engine aircraft...