Hello all-

I've struggled a bit lately and I think it's more of an ignorance of condition and not matching up than problems with my ability.  Lately I feel like my release and timing are as good as they have been in awhile, but I struggle to adjust properly on one of my house shots.  It's best described as a severe wet/dry.  I didn't listen to some advice about using a ball with some surface because in my mind surface has always meant more hook, or at least early hook/burnup in this kind of shot.

I tried a Totally Defiant, IQ Tour Pearl with mixed results.  I'd line up fine for a bit, but then on what I thought were good shots, the ball would hook so sharply and so late that what seemed like a good shot was a big 4, greek church....you get the idea.

I don't have the speed I used to and I have more trouble on synthetics than I do wood fwiw.  Since this house changed from wood, my average has dropped around 15 pins - consistent 215-220 for a decade, now 200-205.  I'm a tweener, stroker who typically is comfortable standing 2-4 board left of center and playing 8-14 as conditions warrant, at around 14-15mph, 350 rev rate.  My best success on this particular shot was after finally listening so some advice and hitting an old DV8 Hell Raiser Revenge with a green scotch-brite.  Ball is calm and much easier to manage, even if I miss in either direction.  As the lanes transition though and I move my feet left and target inside, it's too soft to play deep with.  It's either corner pins or splits of the 2-8-10 variety. If I try to leave my feet in the same place but move my target in and go straighter, the ball reacts earlier as you might expect.  Trying the pearl balls at this point is sort of a disaster.

I do have an IQ tour solid, but it's too strong for the dry and too weak for the inside on this pattern.  It works better than most of the balls I have, but it still is way too over/under to manage easily.  I have a Sync as well, but it's drilled for Reno and just doesn't work on a house shot at all.

This seems like a pure matchup issue, as well as a learning issue - and I think I'm finally learning to stop thinking that a lot of surface is a bad thing on this shot.  Help me put a ball in my hands that someone like me can get down the lane but turn with enough backend to carry. IQ Tour Fusion? Marvel S? Zero Gravity? (would prefer something out now

Wrecker might be too strong off the spot and open up your angles...2-3" pin should be fine try to keep the top weight under 3oz maybe closer to 2.5oz so you won't require a crater right off the back.

The differences will be minimal...closer to the 'true' VAL the earlier the ball will respond...it's more the size and depth of the bit that effects more time than not

The wider potential and generally quicker response

JustRico,

Thanks for your answers.  I get the quicker response for the larger weighthole.  To clarify on the portion of your answer on wider potential.  I believe that means greater spacing between flare lines with the wider hole vs the narrower deeper hole?

Is that correct?

Thank You.

Luckylefty

My statement is nothing is definite (: therefore a larger weight hole will allow for the potential to increase flare thus creating a wider footprint...thus increasing traction potential. In ball drilling there are basis but as in life nothing is exact

Thanks all for their thoughts.  I've not made any new equipment changes but I'm looking at the following.  DV8 Dude, Lights Out, Marvel S

What about a Marvel S with the layout suggested for the Lights Out?

My recommendation would be a Lights Out with surface at abt 2000 and laid out with the pin 1.5-2" from your pap and the weight hole 2" down the VAL....this combo with allow the ball to slow down so it doesn't shoot thru the breakpoint if you miss in and not jerk off the dry as well as close down your angles

I should add that I've had recent success with an old DV8 Hellraiser Revenge at 2000, pin above the ring finger, CG just right of the thumb (I'm right handed). The problem I have is that by game 2.5 and 3, I need to move in, and I cannot make the corner with this ball on most nights.  It becomes very unpredictable in the middle of the lane as well. 

My average per game at this particular house shows this struggle I have pretty clearly: 215 210 191

While surface helps, I'm basically lost as I need to move in because I can't match up.

Got it.  A similar recommendation I received was for a DV8 Dude, fwiw, but I don't really expect input on that one in the Storm forum

I will probably put holes in a Lights Out this afternoon following the specific layout recommendation here.  My pro agrees with the suggested configuration.