Coach’s Corner Tip

Which Ball Should I Use?

With the number of balls out on the market, many of us can get confused when it’s time to pull one of these orbs out of the bag – which one? Let’s take a look at this issue, and I’ll try to give you a few hints.

First, bring out a ball that will allow you to “read” the lane. This should be a medium ball, probably a solid reactive ball that allows you to see how much the lane hooks and where the oil is, and it should be a ball that is about in the middle of the balls in your arsenal.

Is this ball too much or too little? Does this ball give you the best reaction? If the ball slows down about 30’ down the lane, it’s about right. If it slows down past that point, either you’re in too much oil (try moving to the outside of the lane) or you need to use a ball that hooks more. If it slows down sooner, either move toward the inside, or middle of the lane, or use a ball that hooks less.

Ok, now I’m lined up and doing well. Two games into the event, the ball stops working – what should I do next? Use the same thoughts as above, but now you’re in competition, so you need to make a quick decision. Either move in or select a ball that slows down in the right part of the lane. Sometimes, when the shot breaks down some, you need to move inside on the lane and switch to a more aggressive ball to combat the heavier oil you face in that part of the lane. Select a ball and make a change based on what you see, and not on a strict formula on how much to move on the lane.

Sooner or later, the lanes are really hooking, and you need to switch to a much less hooking ball, probably a pearl reactive or a very weak solid reactive, perhaps even to a 3-piece reactive that will be controlled. In terms of surfaces, I prefer sanded surfaces to polished surfaces, because they roll truer on the lane surface, in general. Also, particle balls will grab the lane very quickly, and need to go back in the bag after they start to grab the lane too soon, even after moving to the inside part of the lane. Pearl reactives work better when the front part of the lane hooks, and you need to get the ball to skid farther down the lane before it reacts.

In short, pick a ball that matches what you need to do for optimum reaction at that point in an event. If it hooks too late or too early, it just isn’t going to work, no matter how much we want it to.