I’d like to touch on what the pins are telling you about your equipment. Yes the pins do speak to you, but they speak “Pin-nese.” It’s language that sometimes needs translation.
The solutions are simple. If you are prone to leaving the weak tens (seven for lefties) there are two major culprits:
1) The surface of the ball you are using may be too aggressive resulting in too much friction. The simple solution is to have your pro shop put the ball on a ball spinner and use a less aggressive sanding pad to make the surface smoother or add a bit of shine to the surface.
2)The RG may be too low. Low RG balls tend to roll sooner and burn energy quicker. If this is the case you may want to look into getting a ball with a bit higher RG than you already have. In the Radical Line I can suggest the Torrid Affair or the Grease Monkey. Both fall into the higher RG category and both coverstocks are easy to adjust if necessary.
Now, if you are leaving a lot of solid tens (seven for lefties) there are once again two major culprits:
1) The surface of the ball you are using may be too shiny. This would cause the ball to travel further down the lane entering the pocket at a steeper angle and causing you to leave a solid corner pin. Once again a simple surface adjustment to a slightly more aggressive finish should do the trick. This would allow the ball to burn some energy and enter the pocket at a slightly less severe angle and increase your carry percentage.
2) The RG may be too high. Higher RG balls tend to go further down the lane than lower or medium RG balls. These higher RG balls store energy longer and enter the pocket at a sharper angle resulting in an increased number of solid corner pins. If you are using a higher RG ball, you can look into getting a lower RG ball. In the Radical line I can suggest the Reax Version 2 solid or the Reax Version 2 Pearl. (The Solid is very aggressive with lots of hook!) Both of these balls will hook a bit sooner and smooth out the reaction down the lane. In either case you will see lots more strikes.
September 2016: Article by Mo Pinel, Radical Dude and Technology Developer, Radical Bowling Technologies
Radical Bowling Technologies was formed to bring innovative, high tech performance to benefit bowlers of every skill level. Radical Scoop Core Technology enhances the versatility, as well as the performance level, for any Radical Technologies ball.
In order to understand the concept of the Scoop Core better, we have to understand the impact of the drilled holes
The published performance numbers for balls are for the undrilled ball. Once holes are put in a bowling ball, those numbers change drastically. Scoop Core Technology can significantly increase the performance as well as smooth out the performance when desired…
With the ever-increasing influx of no-thumb bowlers (mostly 2-handers), the Dudes at Radical felt the need to do a thorough research study of possible layouts for our revolutionary bowling friends. The first thing that became evident was the need for a set of guidelines for drilling balls for the no-thumb bowlers.
Radical Guidelines for No-Thumb Layouts:
PAPs are measured from the center of finger holes, which is considered the center of grip by USBC, and all static weights are measured from that spot.
Drill the finger holes at least 3-1/2” deep to remove enough mass to help stabilize the RG axis.
Try to find the approximate pin-out ball to match the desired layout. Keep in mind that the #1 factor in the layout is the pin to PAP distance.
Place the CG close to the center of the finger holes to avoid using balance holes if possible. If you have to use balance holes, keep them small. It is important to note that balance holes cause extreme movement of the preferred spin axis of the drilled ball.
Start with medium to smoother ball surface on the drilled ball in order to prevent extreme wet/dry reaction on the lane. Remember that polish will exaggerate a wet/dry reaction.
The layouts shown in our diagrams are for right-handed bowlers. Left-handers should mirror the image of these layouts.
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