Coverstock Change Suggestions (A little long)

[FloridaBowler]

Hey folks. I'd like to obtain some advice. I purchased a No Mercy Beat'n a week ago. The ball is stock out of box. I had the ball drilled using the 'Most Aggressive' template. (I am left handed)

Now, I'm not a cranker with a high amount of revs... I guess I'd be considered a 'tweener. And my ball speed is pretty much around 14-15 mph.

When I first got (first 3-5 games) I was ok with it... however, over the past week, I've changed some things with my game (slowed down my approach; went to 4 steps instead of 5 -- much better control and balance i've found) and that has, of course, changed the action of the ball. I'm finding that pretty much no matter where I stand, the ball is either running brooklyn or hitting the head pin straight on. If I move to a deep inside line, I'm not able to get the ball to run to a deep enough break point to get that hollywood action I see others get (not that I care) so the ball either goes brooklyn or rolls out on my and I have no consistency. (I can throw the ball harder to stop all this but I'm really after consistency and smoothness at this point). So...

With all that said, I want to see if I can tame some back end action a bit without re-drilling the ball. Someone told me that a coverstock change would do the trick. So, do you guys have any suggestions for me? Would a 4000 abralon POLISH do the trick or should I have it set up some other way?

Im looking forward to your answers and guidance.

Edit: FYI, I've put around 40 games on the ball this week. So I feel like I have a handle on how the ball is reacting. I've played on dry lanes as well as a fresh house shot.

[Young300]

If the Beat'n is reacting too early like you said, throw a light coat of polish on it. That should allow the ball to get down the lane farther without losing any of the energy at the pins.

[JaraTo]

Polish it up first at it's current surface, it'll delay the reaction. It'll become a missile.

[hbhammerhead]

like everyone else said polish it up to give it a bit more length, but if you're throwing on dry you might want to keep it the bag and go with lighter condition ball. i use the beat n' for fresh oil and for med. to light i use my cherry vibe and i keep it polished with factory finish ball polish.

[FloridaBowler]

Ok... so its 4000 abralon sanded right now. How do I tell the pro shop what specifically I want done? Im still not comfortable just 'trusting' the guy yet.

Should I say 'I want it at 4000 abralon polished"?

[hbhammerhead]

just tell him you want to add some polish. i buy my own polish that i like and bring it with me when i go.

[Nor Cal Bowler]

Have you been cleaning the ball at all by the way?? I see no mentioning of that.

[Rowdy]

Forget changing the coverstock. Get a higher backswing. Even with the slower approach. The higher backswing will get the ball speed back up where it needs to be. That will get the ball on the right side of the headpin. I mean,c'mon,you've owned the ball a whole WEEK! It's a little soon to be making coverstock changes,don't you think? Let's try learning how to score with the ball as is first.

[Hotshot]

Forget changing the coverstock. Get a higher backswing. Even with the slower approach. The higher backswing will get the ball speed back up where it needs to be. That will get the ball on the right side of the headpin. I mean,c'mon,you've owned the ball a whole WEEK! It's a little soon to be making coverstock changes,don't you think? Let's try learning how to score with the ball as is first.

^ sounds good to me :)

[FloridaBowler]

Have you been cleaning the ball at all by the way?? I see no mentioning of that.

Absolutely... after every session.

Forget changing the coverstock. Get a higher backswing. Even with the slower approach. The higher backswing will get the ball speed back up where it needs to be. That will get the ball on the right side of the headpin. I mean,c'mon,you've owned the ball a whole WEEK! It's a little soon to be making coverstock changes,don't you think? Let's try learning how to score with the ball as is first.

Rowdy, I certainly appreciate your position. Do you have some suggestions as how to do that? If that is my problem, I'm certainly not above learning how score with the ball as is... I'm not sure I know how though. I've moved left, right, forward, backwards and I feel like I'm really inconsistent and all over the place. I'm looking forward to your help.

[Thepainscoming]

One way to raise your backswing is to hold the ball higher in your approach.

[JaraTo]

Bingo Pain. Raise the ball higher in your starting position.

[FloridaBowler]

One way to raise your backswing is to hold the ball higher in your approach.

Bingo Pain. Raise the ball higher in your starting position.

Thanks... I'll give that a try and see if I can't get any consistency on the correct side of the HP

[Thepainscoming]

Thanks... I'll give that a try and see if I can't get any consistency on the correct side of the HP K, just do it in steps, go a little by little, o and when u raise it, try and drop it just a little earlier than normal. That should keep your timing in check.

[Rowdy]

Absolutely... after every session.



Rowdy, I certainly appreciate your position. Do you have some suggestions as how to do that? If that is my problem, I'm certainly not above learning how score with the ball as is... I'm not sure I know how though. I've moved left, right, forward, backwards and I feel like I'm really inconsistent and all over the place. I'm looking forward to your help.

Go back to the shot when the ball was finishing high. It's not "holding" the ball higher,it's MOVING the ball higher when you start the swing. If you're starting out with your forearm level with the floor,try to "push" the ball "up and out" instead of just out to start your swing. That'll get your backswing higher. You're only trying to get one ball length higher on the backswing to start. Now instead of finishing high,the shot should be in the pocket with that little extra ball speed.

[Rowdy]

Bingo Pain. Raise the ball higher in your starting position.

Nope. See previous answer. But then "up and out" is Old School teaching,younger bowlers probably can't, or won't,do it.

[TenPinSniper]

Do you think it reacting to much on the backend or to early?

Generally:
To much backend reaction: Duller
To Early: Polish

Right now with my NMB I've been play around 14-21 at the arrows out to 5-10 depending on the breakdown of the lanes, weather, etc

Loft might work... raising the starting position, etc.

Here is what has made the greatest change in my game recently... putting my balance arm forward, it seem weird at first, but it creates a nice leverage position.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hH7r4DlMvGw&feature=related
This shows Tommy Jones, Chris Barnes doing it... Sean Rash is a good example too.
Several other do this as well, to some extent.

It really hard to say without seeing you bowl.

[JaraTo]

Well yea, I'm just already used to up and out for free arm swing.

[Thepainscoming]

Nope. See previous answer. But then "up and out" is Old School teaching,younger bowlers probably can't, or won't,do it. Wow rowdy, i guess because im a young bowler i can't do any adjustments. It depends on how you want to do it, i hold it higher, u push up and out, it both accomplishes the same thing.

[Rowdy]

Wow rowdy, i guess because im a young bowler i can't do any adjustments. It depends on how you want to do it, i hold it higher, u push up and out, it both accomplishes the same thing.

Nope. Up and out gets the arm straighter,sooner,which leads to a free armswing. Just starting high can pull the shot off line while the ball is dropping and before the arm straightens out.

[Thepainscoming]

Nope. Up and out gets the arm straighter,sooner,which leads to a free armswing. Just starting high can pull the shot off line while the ball is dropping and before the arm straightens out.

Well maybe for you it does but for me it doesn't. We do it differently, its all fine if it works. Its not your way or the highway.

[Rowdy]

Well maybe for you it does but for me it doesn't. We do it differently, its all fine if it works. Its not your way or the highway.

You're right. It's not my way or the highway. But "My Way" was developed from 41 years of bowling every week. 5 coaches. Thousands of hours of lessons. Hundreds of hours of bowling instruction from people who I didn't pay,but offered their help to me free of charge. Leagues,from Juniors to the ones I'm in now, and each one taugh me something new. More tournaments than I can count,some taught me how to win,but most taught me a new way to lose. I've held every job there is in a bowling alley, from cleaning the bathrooms to cooking in the Snack Bar to drilling balls in the Pro Shop.

Whats your way again?

[Thepainscoming]

You're right. It's not my way or the highway. But "My Way" was developed from 41 years of bowling every week. 5 coaches. Thousands of hours of lessons. Hundreds of hours of bowling instruction from people who I didn't pay,but offered their help to me free of charge. Leagues,from Juniors to the ones I'm in now, and each one taugh me something new. More tournaments than I can count,some taught me how to win,but most taught me a new way to lose. I've held every job there is in a bowling alley, from cleaning the bathrooms to cooking in the Snack Bar to drilling balls in the Pro Shop.

Whats your way again? we brought this discussion to PM's not to start a huge argument.

[Rowdy]

we brought this discussion to PM's not to start a huge argument.

We did? When? Gosh,I must have missed it.