Thoughts on "My ball won't hook anymore" problems

[GoodGravy]

Just looking for some general advice on what are some possible quick fixes or things to check on when the ball is just not getting to the pocket.

Here is the scoop: Previous week was dead on in league, ball was moving well and great carry. Fast forward to this week, similar situation, but ball moved very little with almost no carry. Lets assume the following:

1. Ball was clean and surface was good
2. Lane conditions were very similar (as close as can be with 'normal' THS oil)
3. Rev rate and speed were close to same

Understanding that this is very difficult without any real frame of reference, but just some general thoughts on when you are throwing and all the sudden the ball is not moving the way you like, what's the first thing you look at to correct it?

[edpup316]

Well If im taking into account the things you mentioned I would say that it may be the ball has probably absorbed its limit of oil and needs to be baked to get the oil out.

How often do you resurface the ball though? It may be nice and clean but if its suppose to be at 2000 and its been 3 or 4 months than its probably not at 2000 anymore. The lanes are around 500-1000 grit i believe(got that info from my friend who went to the USBC in Texas for a lesson) so prolonged friction against lane will dull the ball.

[classygranny]

I agree with edpup316, but if you are looking at mechanics, I would first look to see if I'm holding the ball in the correct starting position (I tend to rotate mine without thought), check for correct wrist position making sure it's not breaking, and check for finger position, have you maybe pulled your index finger in without realizing it, pushed your pinky out? Also, your timing might be a fraction off and you are pulling the ball into the oil area without even realizing it. Sometimes we tend to relax our concentration in the little things without realizing it.

That's my take on what I would do, but I'm no expert!

[got_a_300]

A few more things to consider as to why it wasn't reacting the same

1. how was the weather?
maybe it might of been more humid making the lanes slicker


2. were there bowlers on the lanes before you?
if so maybe they were throwing plastic balls causing carry down


3. were the lanes back ends stripped good enough?
if not then there could have been carry down left on them


4. as edpup316 said maybe the ball is just oil soaked to its limit

[Greenday]

I find that most of the time when people complain about dead balls, it's usually a maintenance issue.

Do you clean your ball after every session with ball cleaner?
Do you wipe off your ball between every shot?
How many games since the last deep cleaning (Ball bath/oven bake/etc.)?

If your answers aren't "As soon as I get home/Yes/Less than 100", there's a good chance it's absorbed too much oil and needs a deep cleaning.

If maintenance isn't the problem, it could be something as simple as just too weak a wrist position.

[billf]

Seeing as I soak and resurface my balls around 60-75 games and do wipe after every shot and clean after every three games, personally I would have to assume it's my physical game. Lazy balance arm is my usual culprit.

[GoodGravy]

Thanks all for the help!!

I'm a bit OCD when it comes to ball cleaning---wipe down after every shot, use cleaner after every set, soak ball after approx. 50 games---although I would never count out a saturated ball...

I would suspect that it has to do with wrist and/or weak release. I am headed to practice tomorrow, so I am going to go step by step. If still not where I want it, I may drop off my ball for a full re-surfacing...

[edpup316]

I find that most of the time when people complain about dead balls, it's usually a maintenance issue.

Do you clean your ball after every session with ball cleaner?
Do you wipe off your ball between every shot?
How many games since the last deep cleaning (Ball bath/oven bake/etc.)?

If your answers aren't "As soon as I get home/Yes/Less than 100", there's a good chance it's absorbed too much oil and needs a deep cleaning.

If maintenance isn't the problem, it could be something as simple as just too weak a wrist position.

Spot on. When I worked at the pro shop, I would say every 8 or 7 out 10 that came in saying that they needed a new ball cause they'er other ball just died when all they needed was to have it cleaned or baked and the surface brought back to stock. You would be surprised how much of a difference there is between 1000 and 2000 abralon and an even bigger difference between a polished ball and that same polished ball thats been used for 4 months. Its huge.

[Tampabaybob]

Just looking for some general advice on what are some possible quick fixes or things to check on when the ball is just not getting to the pocket.

Here is the scoop: Previous week was dead on in league, ball was moving well and great carry. Fast forward to this week, similar situation, but ball moved very little with almost no carry. Lets assume the following:

1. Ball was clean and surface was good
2. Lane conditions were very similar (as close as can be with 'normal' THS oil)
3. Rev rate and speed were close to same

Understanding that this is very difficult without any real frame of reference, but just some general thoughts on when you are throwing and all the sudden the ball is not moving the way you like, what's the first thing you look at to correct it?

While all of the comments to your dilemma were pretty accurate, the one item not mentioned was "The Dead Zone". Let me clarify for anyone who doesn't know what it is. The dead zone is the area at the end of the oil pattern, somewhat carry down, but more importantly oil that has been "pushed" into "YOUR" track area. Now, let me make a couple of assumptions and I'll try to see if this may fit your circumstance. You were playing on a THS shot and playing somewhere from the second arrow to the right hand gutter. Right? Someone else and possibly more than 1 person you either bowl with on your team or that was on the opposing team was shooting 3rd arrow or deeper. Still guessing but am I close? Anyway, those people plying deep have been "pushing the oil out to your "area" (maybe even break point) and all of a sudden your ball won't finnish. Still with me? Now, what can you do in this situation? This is one of the hard things to compensate for, if you shoot that outside area and have a bunch of crankers bowling with or against you. What you need to do is find an area (usually left of where you were playing, and get you ball into that dryer area that the other bowlers have created. Not the easiest task, but this is why I always tell bowlers to pay attention to the other bowlers on your lane and try to figure out where you "may" have to move in a game or so. In some cases you can change balls to over come that but you still run the risk of having your ball start to slide just a little (again) before you hit the pocket. Moving inside a bit is my first choice, and if doesn't work, I drag out the other two balls and try them.
Can be very frustrating, but my guess is that your ball did not change that much in one week.

[Stormed1]

One other thing not mentioned is a malfunction in the oiking machine and as a result not as much oil as normal and the ball was burning up. Trying a weaker ball and seeing the reaction can confirm. And as mentioned above that large of a change in ball reaction would not happen that quick