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Balls surface and layouts suggestions please !

Posted: July 14th, 2017, 11:43 am
by TheJesus
Hi, i would like some opinions on what surfaces i should use on my already drilled balls, plus layouts for 3 balls i will drill shortly. Here is my info :

1. PAP : 5 1/4 , 11/16 up (right hand bowler)
2. Axis tilt : very low.
3. Axis rotation : varies, i can throw it around 30-45, or 60-70.
4. RPM : around 250-280, i would say i am speed dominant. (haven't measured it exactly yet)
5. Speed 16-17 mph
6. 6 ft tall, 200 pounds. (no, not because of muscles :lol: ), stroker release.
7. I don't usually play on heavy oil or flat patterns, but i would like to have solutions for those too. We do have a lot of straight players and carry-down though, plus difficult lanes due to tricky topography. The lanes are synthetic mostly.

Drilled equipment (when these were drilled i had zero knowledge of drillings so i can't answer why they are as they are) (all the surfaces have never been altered, only serviced) :

1. Columbia Messenger Ti Pearl. Drilling : 55 x 3 3/8 x 45
2. Track Animal. Drilling : 50 x 3 3/8 x 65
3. Storm Virtual Gravity. Drilling : 80 x 4 x 20
4. Track 912T. Drilling : 60 x 5 x 20

To drill in the near future :

1. Ebonite Optyx F1 (second hand)
2. Hammer Scandal (new)
3. Hammer Scandal Pearl (new)

My main questions are :

1. Which of the already drilled balls do you think are not matching my stats, or are not the best layouts for each ball.
2. Since it is unlikely i will re-drill these balls, what surface changes should i do to each one of them, to cover different conditions so i can have a wide range of reactions?
3. Based on the already drilled balls, how should i drill the 3 new ones?

Thanks to anyone who takes into account my info and tries to give me some insight. :)

Re: Balls surface and layouts suggestions please !

Posted: July 14th, 2017, 3:57 pm
by EricHartwell
You consider yourself speed dominant,

What is your ball speed?

Do you find yourself missing left alot because of throwing too fast?

Re: Balls surface and layouts suggestions please !

Posted: July 14th, 2017, 9:22 pm
by TheJesus
Hi,

I haven't measured my speed, yet (i will), but i find myself often ...not having enough revs, i guess. And since i don't have more than 300 RPM, i think they don't match my speed.
It's not that i yank the ball or anything though. I sometimes miss left , but i am not sure if it's because i force the downswing. If i do, it's not a lot anyway.

I will measure the speed and include it as soon as i can.

Re: Balls surface and layouts suggestions please !

Posted: July 14th, 2017, 10:29 pm
by EricHartwell
I said that backwards I for what ever reason was thinking left handed. Missing to the right, light pocket hits.

Accurate numbers will help yield accurate layouts.
Check out this link to help determine accurate release specs...

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=373" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Re: Balls surface and layouts suggestions please !

Posted: July 15th, 2017, 1:15 pm
by TheJesus
Hi Eric, thanks for the reply. I will check the links and take some good video shots next time.
Roughly i would say i am at 16-17 mph. And yes i do miss to the right sometimes, as in i shot through the break point. Now that i see your signature, i am not too far from your numbers probably.

Re: Balls surface and layouts suggestions please !

Posted: July 17th, 2017, 8:53 pm
by TheJesus
I updated some numbers, so if anyone can help it will be awesome :)

Re: Balls surface and layouts suggestions please !

Posted: July 17th, 2017, 11:09 pm
by EricHartwell
TheJesus wrote:Hi, i would like some opinions on what surfaces i should use on my already drilled balls, plus layouts for 3 balls i will drill shortly. Here is my info :

1. PAP : 5 1/4 , 11/16 up (right hand bowler)
2. Axis tilt : very low.
3. Axis rotation : varies, i can throw it around 30-45, or 60-70.
4. RPM : around 250-280, i would say i am speed dominant. (haven't measured it exactly yet)
5. Speed 16-17 mph
6. 6 ft tall, 200 pounds. (no, not because of muscles :lol: ), stroker release.
7. I don't usually play on heavy oil or flat patterns, but i would like to have solutions for those too. We do have a lot of straight players and carry-down though, plus difficult lanes due to tricky topography. The lanes are synthetic mostly.

Drilled equipment (when these were drilled i had zero knowledge of drillings so i can't answer why they are as they are) (all the surfaces have never been altered, only serviced) :

1. Columbia Messenger Ti Pearl. Drilling : 55 x 3 3/8 x 45 good for dry lanes and possibly spares, shiny
2. Track Animal. Drilling : 50 x 3 3/8 x 65 Long slow hook for you.
This ball shoould have a balance hole in it, if not add one 2" below the midline on the VAL. Dull surface

3. Storm Virtual Gravity. Drilling : 80 x 4 x 20 Very high ratio skid snap reaction, Dull surface
4. Track 912T. Drilling : 60 x 5 x 20 Benchmark total, Long and Strong Ratio but with a very Strong pin to PAP, very short angular hook zone good for playing the lanes straighter, Dull surface

To drill in the near future :

1. Ebonite Optyx F1 (second hand) 70-5-35 dry lane ball keep it shiny
2. Hammer Scandal (new) Benchmark 60-4-30 P3 balance hole You want a long pin to Cg 4"+ , factory surface
3. Hammer Scandal Pearl (new) Long and Strong 80-4-30 factory surface

My main questions are :

1. Which of the already drilled balls do you think are not matching my stats, or are not the best layouts for each ball.
2. Since it is unlikely i will re-drill these balls, what surface changes should i do to each one of them, to cover different conditions so i can have a wide range of reactions?
3. Based on the already drilled balls, how should i drill the 3 new ones?

Thanks to anyone who takes into account my info and tries to give me some insight. :)
comments in color above

Re: Balls surface and layouts suggestions please !

Posted: July 19th, 2017, 12:39 pm
by TheJesus
Eric thank you for your suggestions. The Animal does have a balance hole (i forgot to mention). Also, based on how the balls are drilled now, would you change any drilling for my stats ? If yes, what? If i don't change any drilling, what surface modification should i do to them to make them work better for my specs and conditions mentioned?

Re: Balls surface and layouts suggestions please !

Posted: July 20th, 2017, 1:27 am
by EricHartwell
The easiest way for me to compare what you have to what would be good for you is to design a basic arsenal. The Basic arsenal is a range of +/-20 on the range and +/-.5 on the ratio.

Asymmetrical
Totally Strong .......... 45-4-25
Midlane ................... 35-4-35
Benchmark .............. 55-3.5-35
Long and Strong ...... 75-3.5-35
Control ................... 60-3.5-55
low flare ................. 80-2.5-30

Symmetrical
Totally Strong .......... 50-4-20 P3
Midlane ................... 40-4-30 balance hole 1.5" below midline on the VAL
Benchmark .............. 65-4-30 P3
Long and Strong ...... 80-4-30
Control ................... 60-3.5-50
low flare ................. 75-5-35
TheJesus wrote: 1. Columbia Messenger Ti Pearl. Drilling : 55 x 3 3/8 x 45
2. Track Animal. Drilling : 50 x 3 3/8 x 65
3. Storm Virtual Gravity. Drilling : 80 x 4 x 20
4. Track 912T. Drilling : 60 x 5 x 20
Nothing in your existing arsenal really matches anything I come up with for you.
The Virtual Gravity is the closest to anything I've figured for you.

I gave surface suggestions in an earlier post. Yes I was a little vague in saying dull or shiny.
On lane tuning of surface is needed. Start with 2000 grit and adjust from there for dull surfaces.
For shiny surface sand progressively up to 4000 grit before you try polish.

The Basic arsenal covers most lane conditions and gives you a wide range of reactions.
I would recommend an Asymmetrical Midlane drilling to help combat the carry down and tricky topography you encounter.

Re: Balls surface and layouts suggestions please !

Posted: July 20th, 2017, 9:29 am
by TheJesus
Very much appreciated, thank you !