My ball isn't grabbing the lane

[Gmjmma]

I was told by my proshop that brunswick and dv8 being basicly the same burn up energy on a ths so they are not gonna give you the same arc or hook as they would a heavy tournament pattern. Did you try to maybe polish it or take it to 3000 or 4000 it wouldnt be as inclined to burn up half way down the lane. I polished my terror and its not burning up half as much

[Bahshay]

My modern marvel is a heavy oil ball but on a fresh ths and after a few games its still just not making a big move. I really want to arc it but right now it's more or less going straighter and drifting left, my speed is 14-16mph and have probably a 230/240 rev rate. I suck at bowling but it still should be grabbing the lane at some point and moving. Would changing the surface to a much lower grit help? I don't want to get a more hooking ball if I can help it

Where is your speed measured? Is that speed shown on the monitor?

If so, you are a little bit speed dominant (due mostly to your low rev rate). Due to that and the fresh oil, I'm going to guess that the ball is simply struggling to turn the corner on the lane conditions you are bowling on. Add surface.

[Ball99999]

Where is your speed measured? Is that speed shown on the monitor?

If so, you are a little bit speed dominant (due mostly to your low rev rate). Due to that and the fresh oil, I'm going to guess that the ball is simply struggling to turn the corner on the lane conditions you are bowling on. Add surface.

Speed on monitor is usually 14-15mph. Sometimes higher if I hold the ball higher so I can adjust it. When I throw my spare/straight ball it usually reads ~16mph.

What I'd like to know is, is this just the nature of this particular ball or are all "heavy oil" balls like this?
Why do people talk about really hooking balls like the hell raiser revenge etc, is it because they all have high rev rates?

[kmf]

What I'd like to know is, is this just the nature of this particular ball or are all "heavy oil" balls like this?
Why do people talk about really hooking balls like the hell raiser revenge etc, is it because they all have high rev rates?

Axis tilt and axis rotation play a bigger role in the big hook than revs but they do help. The good revs will get it to the dry but when it grabs the direction it will go next is determined by the axis rotation. A 90* rotation will turn hard left (for a righty) while a 45* rotation will turn but half as sharp. Tilt comes into play as it contributes to flare. The more you can have a clean part of the ball touch the lane each revolution the greater the friction created, hence more grab to hook.

[Bahshay]

Speed on monitor is usually 14-15mph. Sometimes higher if I hold the ball higher so I can adjust it. When I throw my spare/straight ball it usually reads ~16mph.

What I'd like to know is, is this just the nature of this particular ball or are all "heavy oil" balls like this?
Why do people talk about really hooking balls like the hell raiser revenge etc, is it because they all have high rev rates?

Any rev rate can make a ball hook, whats more important is how your rev rate matches your speed. You are fairly speed dominant (again, most because of your low rev rate). That isn't necessarily an issue, in fact its an advantage on drier/shorter patterns. For example, up until this year, Eugene McCune was dominating the PBA Cheetah Championships by basically pointing it from the corner at 20+ MPH. However, it does mean adjustments need to be made on heavy oil patterns.

You have two options:
1. Play a different line. If you are playing straight up the second arrow, your ball might not be touching dry boards until the very end of the lane. Try playing up the first arrow and see if your hook improves.
2. If playing that close to the gutter worries you, add surface to the ball until it is generating enough friction to hook for you on these conditions.

Since you are speed-dominant, in the future, I'd look at asymmetric equipment for heavy oil. Asymmetric equipment transitions faster in the hook phase, which becomes even more important when you are speed dominant on heavy oil. In the meantime, don't be scared to change the surface on your bowling balls to match the lane conditions. However, if you change the surface, make sure you keep up on it. The friction will grind the surface back up after only a few games.

To answer your second question, hook monster oil balls hook more on heavy oil for everybody compared to weaker balls, regardless of rev rate. (Disclaimer: this isn't true on dry lanes.) However, surface, lane conditions, drilling layout, and the bowler's release will all play a part in how much hook that will actually be.