Hi! New Bowler here needing help on drill pattern.....

[Centipede]

I'm a lifelong lover of this sport since the abc PBA tour back on the late 80's/early 90's and I just had my new 12 lb Roto Grip Infinte Theory(my last ball did not do to well for me)...the problem is the drilling pattern in my ball. Mine is pin-under,close the finger by quarter of an inch, and while it somewhat gave me the control(allthough I'm still working on my approch, revs and how I use my fingers to spin the ball) the ball did not hook like I was expecting it to as I suggested to my pro shop driller. I looked into to drilling booklent and I found out that the pattern only provided me an almost stright arc through a narrow oil track and not enough versatality for a sharp breakpoint/backend or at least a wide arc for me to play the deep inside angle that PBA playes like Mike Hagen Jr and plenty others had allways would do, and that dissapointed me greatly. I wanted the ball to hook strongly out of the box and after the drilling it only hooked bearly enough. It's not the ball itself, it's the pattern they gave my that had me shortchanged on this, and i'm to the point where I'm gonna have to have this ball redrilled to where I can have a more stronger hook ability(hopefully the 4x4-A pattern in the manufacturer's booket), and a sharper back end. Is there anyway you guys can help me?


Here are the pics of my ball and drill pattern:









Thanks!

-mike

[Drano]

Hi and welcome.

First off, you're using a bunch of bowling terminology that doesn't make sense the way you're using it. I'm having trouble deciphering most of what you're saying. But what I got out of it, the ball isn't hooking enough for you, and you want to get it re-drilled to get it to hook more.

To me, the drilling looks fine, and the problem LIKELY isn't the ball or the drilling, it's the person throwing it. You either don't have the revolutions or the tilt to get a good amount of hook. I've thrown that same ball with a weaker layout and circled the whole lane with it.

[The Mayor]

In my opinion, your biggest problem isn't the drilling layout, it's the weight. You've got too big of a hand to be throwing 12 pounds. In 12 pounds you're getting a "generic" core, which is a core with similar characteristics of the intended core, but not the same. They have to put in a generic core because the intended core is too large and would therefore prohibit them from making the ball light enough. They layout is fine (unless you have a unique release to where you don't have a normal track). There are few people who can circle the lane like Mike Fagan, it's something that takes time and lots of practice. However, that's Mike Fagan's natural form. Not everyone is a cranker. You won't see Norm Duke trying to throw the ball like Fagan, and I'll put my money on Duke over Fagan 11 times out of 10. My point is, just throw the ball the way you throw it. Your release and revolutions will evolve naturally to become what they are meant to be. Just try to hit the pocket and make spares.

[Centipede]

Hi and welcome.

First off, you're using a bunch of bowling terminology that doesn't make sense the way you're using it. I'm having trouble deciphering most of what you're saying. But what I got out of it, the ball isn't hooking enough for you, and you want to get it re-drilled to get it to hook more.

To me, the drilling looks fine, and the problem LIKELY isn't the ball or the drilling, it's the person throwing it. You either don't have the revolutions or the tilt to get a good amount of hook. I've thrown that same ball with a weaker layout and circled the whole lane with it.

The revolutions, I can aggree with you on that, and I would need to know from you how to develop more revs to try and make this ball work. there were also times when I get excited in the moment after I would strike because knowing my skill as of late I wanted to get at least a double before I would sense myself eneding up leaving a 9 or 10. I bowl at 2 AMF lanes(one in Woodlawn, MD which is generally dryer, and in Kingspoint at Randallstown, MD which is typically wetter and/or heavier, and uses the sometimes unforgiving A2 pinsetters which were known to be greased up a lot by their lane mechanics obviously because of the wear and tear those machines may have had over the years) and if I finally develop some skill(i'm planning on practicing at the Woodlawn lanes today) and the ball still wont hook aggressively enough to the 1-3, then I would have to either sand it down 500 grit, or have the ball redrilled to more extremely strong- hooking "4x4" drilling.

And by the way, I know that at the approch that during my natural armswing, after the thumb comes out first the fingers finally come in and that's where the hard part lies in for me because I dont want to end up lofting the ball and damage the lanes and/or the coverstock(this is a new ball for me, and it allready has two small dents in the track area on the engraving part of the ball and I dont want to damage it further to a point where the ball wont work anymore). Is there a chance you or someone here can give me some tips on how to do better footwork and finger release so I can finally get a hang of it and up my pin count?

[Centipede]

In my opinion, your biggest problem isn't the drilling layout, it's the weight. You've got too big of a hand to be throwing 12 pounds. In 12 pounds you're getting a "generic" core, which is a core with similar characteristics of the intended core, but not the same. They have to put in a generic core because the intended core is too large and would therefore prohibit them from making the ball light enough. They layout is fine (unless you have a unique release to where you don't have a normal track). There are few people who can circle the lane like Mike Fagan, it's something that takes time and lots of practice. However, that's Mike Fagan's natural form. Not everyone is a cranker. You won't see Norm Duke trying to throw the ball like Fagan, and I'll put my money on Duke over Fagan 11 times out of 10. My point is, just throw the ball the way you throw it. Your release and revolutions will evolve naturally to become what they are meant to be. Just try to hit the pocket and make spares.

I tried all other weights, while I could still lift 20lbs lifting dumbells easy since high school, bowling balls however are a whole new ballgame to deal with when it comes to heavyness. I'm 31(my birthday passed like a week ago), 6' 2" 150+ lbs... 16 and 15 felt way too much and 14 could get tiring for my biceps and slow me down too much overtime(allthough it may be good for a 4 step approch someday if I end up gradulating to it).

And as for the core, their ads or the bowling.com webpage i've brought it from never told me that. I know Brunswick would do that for their Seige product line, but Roto Grip...Call me dumbfounded, but I've never thought they do that too..!?

[J Anderson]

The revolutions, I can aggree with you on that, and I would need to know from you how to develop more revs to try and make this ball work. there were also times when I get excited in the moment after I would strike because knowing my skill as of late I wanted to get at least a double before I would sense myself eneding up leaving a 9 or 10. I bowl at 2 AMF lanes(one in Woodlawn, MD which is generally dryer, and in Kingspoint at Randallstown, MD which is typically wetter and/or heavier, and uses the sometimes unforgiving A2 pinsetters which were known to be greased up a lot by their lane mechanics obviously because of the wear and tear those machines may have had over the years) and if I finally develop some skill(i'm planning on practicing at the Woodlawn lanes today) and the ball still wont hook aggressively enough to the 1-3, then I would have to either sand it down 500 grit, or have the ball redrilled to more extremely strong- hooking "4x4" drilling.

And by the way, I know that at the approch that during my natural armswing, after the thumb comes out first the fingers finally come in and that's where the hard part lies in for me because I dont want to end up lofting the ball and damage the lanes and/or the coverstock(this is a new ball for me, and it allready has two small dents in the track area on the engraving part of the ball and I dont want to damage it further to a point where the ball wont work anymore). Is there a chance you or someone here can give me some tips on how to do better footwork and finger release so I can finally get a hang of it and up my pin count?

We could probably bury you with vague general purpose tips on how to get more hook. without watching you bowl it would just be luck if I suggested anything that would really help. The best solution is to have some one watch or film your approach and find out what you are actually doing, and the figure out what needs to change.

[The Mayor]

How fast is your ball speed?

[Stormed1]

Unless you have a physical ailment which precludes you from throwing heavier equipment the ball is TOO light for you. This will result in overthrowing the ball and inconsistancy in your arm swing. As for something you can do without re-drilling I would go tto your pro shop and have them adjust the surface on the ball. Whether it be just knocking the shine off or sanding it to say 2000 grit. Both of these suggestions will result in increased traction.

[Centipede]

How fast is your ball speed?

I'm guessing like maybe 16mph!? (:-/

[whitedusk]

Too light for you. Try at least a 14lb. If you are feeling tired or it feels heavy is probably due to your ball placement (or push-out) or you are muscling your back-swing. Any You-tube video to share? I'm a coach in training and I'll be interested to see what I can spot for you~