Got to my normally dry, really dry outside Thursday league in time to see that two guys put 16 games on our pair after they were oiled.  Normally my Nighthawk M2 is pushing being too much ball for the shot.  I throw plastic quite a bit here, especially the last game.  I really didn't want to start with it.

I put a little polish on my B/G Centaur a few weeks ago to see how it would react.  I had a nice solid last game with it a few Tuesdays ago on a more normal shot that tends to give me over/under fits the last game.  I was able to find a much more consistent line without having to fight the dry.

Anyway, tonight I threw two shots with it in practice and figured why not.  I knew the M2 would be too much, and while plastic is effective, I just didn't want to start there.  First game I had the front 9, got around one a ton and went right through the nose for a 4-7-10, 263.  The second I started flat 10, 5 in a row, suffered a 20 minute wait due to one of our opponents having a health issue (paramedics were called just in case; hopefully it was a false alarm and she is fine), got slow with the next shot for a 4-6, threw a few more strikes before a spare for a 234?.  Last game went spare, 6 in a row, got slow again for the 4 count split, made 5, struck out to the 11th, and left something for a 242.  Three giant splits (that I deserved) and still shot 739.  Even a few make-able spares and it would have been 770+

Now no matter how it sounds, it was not intended as a FIGJAM.  It was just an example of how the right ball and surface prep can help you on lanes that were far from ideal.  The B/G Centaur is a great ball when you need something that doesn't jump at the dry.  I'll have to put it back to 1500-2000 sanded for this weekend because I have a tournament on the Cheetah pattern.  I think this ball and surface will give me a great look from the ditch.  I used it some on Cheetah on my summer PBA league with some success, but that house doesn't give you any bounce off the ditch.  If this house plays more like what you expect from Cheetah, I think I'll like my reaction.
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Penn State Proud

Special thanks to Lane#1 for donations to two consecutive  Ballreviews Get Togethers.

Ron Clifton's Bowling Tip Archive

Nice rolling Strider!

Gotta love that B/G Centaur.  

BTW...congrats to PSU football this year.
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Scott

Sorry you didn't make the cut, Strider. Good bowling! Regionals and PBA patterns can be extremely tough.

Any thoughts about getting a 2nd BGC and using a different surface and/or drill for these tough tourneys?
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"None are so blind as those who will not see."
Unofficial Ballreviews.com FAQ

I think there are few drilling that would work differently onthe BGC. I just stick that in there in case someone brings it up. SUrfaces make major differences. I use 2000 grit matter most ofte, but on my other one I've tried a high gloss polish and it was able to handle significantly less oil. With the pin below the ring finger, it was still very smooth in its reaction.

To make this ball flippy I think you need both a high pin, polish and a lot of revs (400+) to get it to show anything other than arc. (TwoHand (Steve) says he got his to make a more skid/flip type of reaction; he does have a LOT of revs.
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"None are so blind as those who will not see."
Unofficial Ballreviews.com FAQ