Arsenal 8.25

[Aslan]

So, just for reference, Arsenal 8.0 was:

Ball 1 (starting ball): 900 Global Zan Master Solid
Ball #2 (ball down option): Brunswick Perfect Mindset
Ball #3 (dry lanes): Brunswick Endeavor
Ball #4 (skid/flip): Radical Outer Limits Pearl

In early-mid February, on the heels of an abysmal 482 series (my 2nd lowest of the fall), I decided to try something different. I 'hypothesized' that the lanes at this house are just too dry/low volume or the pattern is too narrow....something that was causing stronger equipment to lose energy which was resulting in a tendency to leave corner pins, deflection, and/or 2-pin combos even when I appeared to be hitting the pocket flush. My first attempt at testing this hypothesis was to create a new arsenal from the Endeavor and 3 retired balls. That arsenal would be a much weaker and higher RG combination of:

Ball 1 (starting ball): Brunswick Vintage Gold Rhino
Ball #2 (ball down option): Brunswick Endeavor
Ball #3 (dry lanes): Lane Masters Yeah Baby Sinful
Ball #4 (skid/flip): Pyramid Force Pearl

My initial results are to follow...

[Aslan]

I was tempted to go back to my first arsenal (8.0) because I actually had a fair number of high scores with the Perfect Mindset. In addition, my last set was an unremarkable 509...a low point since the aforementioned 482. However, I didn't want to 'jump ship' too quickly...so I compared the stats (thanks PinPal!)

Strike Rates

The strike rates for the previous lineup are 46%-53%-54%*-47%

The strike rates for the higher RG lineup are 52%-54%*-50%-48%

Note: These are listed as Ball 1-Ball 2-Ball 3-Ball 4
* The Brunswick Endeavor is used in both lineups, just in different roles with a slightly different surface.

This data indicates that the strike rate is a small, but consistent, degree higher with the higher RG arsenal.

To reinforce this result, I compared some key stats from both fall leagues using the previous arsenal and the same key stats since making the change to the higher RG arsenal:

8/11/24 - 2/9/25; Strike Rate 48%, Single-Pin Conversion Rate 66%, Average 191.44.

2/12/25 - present: Strike Rate 53%, Single-Pin Conversion Rate 52%, Average 196.24.

Initial Conclusion:
The higher RG arsenal seems to be doing better on these lane conditions. Its unlikely that I am simply bowling better, as my single-pin spare shooting has actually been worse lately. I think its worth continuing with this arsenal until summer, then trying an arsenal of entirely skid/flip balls, which I tend to throw best.

[J Anderson]

I was tempted to go back to my first arsenal (8.0) because I actually had a fair number of high scores with the Perfect Mindset. In addition, my last set was an unremarkable 509...a low point since the aforementioned 482. However, I didn't want to 'jump ship' too quickly...so I compared the stats (thanks PinPal!)

Strike Rates

The strike rates for the previous lineup are 46%-53%-54%*-47%

The strike rates for the higher RG lineup are 52%-54%*-50%-48%

Note: These are listed as Ball 1-Ball 2-Ball 3-Ball 4
* The Brunswick Endeavor is used in both lineups, just in different roles with a slightly different surface.

This data indicates that the strike rate is a small, but consistent, degree higher with the higher RG arsenal.

To reinforce this result, I compared some key stats from both fall leagues using the previous arsenal and the same key stats since making the change to the higher RG arsenal:

8/11/24 - 2/9/25; Strike Rate 48%, Single-Pin Conversion Rate 66%, Average 191.44.

2/12/25 - present: Strike Rate 53%, Single-Pin Conversion Rate 52%, Average 196.24.

Initial Conclusion:
The higher RG arsenal seems to be doing better on these lane conditions. Its unlikely that I am simply bowling better, as my single-pin spare shooting has actually been worse lately. I think its worth continuing with this arsenal until summer, then trying an arsenal of entirely skid/flip balls, which I tend to throw best.

I’ve heard rumors that the closer you are to Wichita the more likely it is that you didn’t strike because you threw the wrong ball for the lane conditions. Of course that may only apply to the future PBA members rolling for Wichita State😉

[Aslan]

I’ve heard rumors that the closer you are to Wichita the more likely it is that you didn’t strike because you threw the wrong ball for the lane conditions. Of course that may only apply to the future PBA members rolling for Wichita State😉

As a transplant, I'm not up to speed on my Wichita State PBA players so you might need to mansplain.

Its not "rare" nowadays. My hypothesis is that centers continue to make patterns easier to increase scoring for all levels of bowlers. So, you should be able to score a 160-180 with a low-level ball like a Strike King or a Tropical Breeze. The flip side of this approach is that it kills your higher end bowlers because they either have a massive rev rate and can't stay right of the headpin...and/or they're throwing pro level equipment designed to change direction on flatter, heavier oil patterns. So, you see 190-210 average bowlers leaving 10-pin, 10-pin, pocket 7-10, 7-pin, 10-pin...all night long. And they can't figure out why. If you move inside, the oil volume is so heavy, that the ball doesn't want to make the turn. If you move out to second arrow, your ball hits too light. You end up seeing 180s-210 average bowlers throwing spare balls between first and second arrow just to try and strike (which doesn't really work either).

I had similar problems with my Grudge Hybrid, Optimus Solid, Motiv Trident Odyssey and now with my Zen Master Solid and Perfect Mindset. Meanwhile, I'm crushing the pocket with a Brunswick Endeavor...a ball you get for < $100.

[Aslan]

Final Evaluation Time

Hypothesis: Switching to a weaker/high RG arsenal will improve strike rate and scores due to better conservation of energy and, ultimately, carry.

Arsenal 8.0
Ball 1 (benchmark): 900 Global Zen Master Solid
Ball 2 (ball down): Brunswick Perfect Mindset
Ball 3 (dry lanes): Brunswick Endeavor
Ball 4 (skid/flip): Radical Outer Limits Pearl

Stats
Games: 129

Strike Rate: 48%

Average: 190.15
Average (adjusted for 100% single-pin conversion): 198.86


Arsenal 8.25
Ball 1 (benchmark): Brunswick Vintage Rhino Gold
Ball 2 (ball down): Brunswick Endeavor
Ball 3 (dry lanes): Lane Master's Yeah Baby Sinful
Ball 4 (skid/flip): Pyramid Force Pearl

Stats
Games: 61

Strike Rate: 50%

Average: 194.64
Average (adjusted for 100% single-pin conversion): 202.87

Initial conclusion is that there 'may' be an advantage to using the weaker equipment...but the data isn't significant enough to draw that conclusion reliably. It could be that the numbers improved slightly because I have been bowling better as of late.

Next Test:

Hypothesis: I throw skid/flip balls better than other balls. Perhaps, an arsenal of only skid/flip balls will amount to the highest degree of success.

Background Data:

Arsenal 3/Arsenal 4:
Hammer Scandal Pearl: Strike Rate: 47%, Average: 191.60.
All Other Balls in arsenals: Strike Rate: 42%, Average: 182.93.

Arsenal 5/Arsenal 6.3/Arsenal 6.6:
Brunswick Fortera Exile: Strike Rate: 43%, Average: 184.10.
All Other Balls in arsenals: Strike Rate: 43%; Average: 183.57.

Arsenal 6/Arsenal 7/Arsenal 8.25:
Pyramid Force Pearl: Strike Rate: 47%, Average: 186.20.
All other balls in arsenals: Strike Rate: 47%, Average: 189.06.

Arsenal 7.5/Arsenal 8.0
Radical Outer Limits Pearl: Strike Rate: 46%, Average: 183.00.
All other balls in arsenals: Strike Rate: 46%, Average: 187.75.

Based on those numbers, it almost seems like this test would be useless. I actually seem to do better (collectively) with the non-skid/flip balls...which doesn't match my recollection. Interesting.