Ok went to Michigan State tourney last weekend. Took a TR2 with me drilled 3 3/8 800 out of box with about 2 games on it and tried playing 10 board fairly slow and nothing. Ball just wouldn't get it done. I was on Kegel Beaten path 41 foot and I actually had the same trouble with Cell Pearl and a Columbia ball so I pull out a 6 year old Ebonite XXcel particle and went 643-604-689 up 10 board to start and moved in as we progressed. Any ideas? I go back in February and would like more than one ball with any kind of look. Maybe 500 or even goto 1500-2000 the other way? Thanks for the help.

800 and full out leverage is a very early combination.

I would start by adjusting the surface to 2k to help get some length. You could also try a coat of power gel over the 800, but a 2k surface will clear the fronts more reliably. May even need some power gel on top of the 2k. Keep in mind you have a high friction cover and a highly dynamic core that together will quickly consume stored energy. Try and help the ball save some energy for the back of the pattern and you may be surprised how much stronger it reacts.

The kegel patterns are lengthy but not always voluminous, especially with the standard nozzles in lane machines. The graph may be right but the volume may be short. There are lots of variables. Without seeing the ball go down a lane this is the best guidance I can provide.

Let us know how it goes

Thank you I will give it a shot and see what happens.

The two houses that the state tournament are being held in
are Northway Lanes and Sherman Bowling Center.While these
are older and larger houses,they have older synthetic lanes.
Every other year they hold the women's state tournament
or the Women's Queens tournament.This house has free
hook area no matter what.Even putting down Kegel's
Beaten Path to confront the burn that these houses usually have,
you still are getting early hook.So using the TR2 in that condition
with that drilling is way too much ball.I'm not sure that anything
short of a pin up and over 5" and sanded to 4000 and polished
would work.The Beaten Path usually plays more inside of
ten for me.On this condition the milder ball the better
for me.I have used the QZ1 in the OOB condition with the pin up
and 5" over when bowling on the Beaten Path in practice.


The Cell Pearl is to much ball for that pattern also.The XXcel
matched better because of the older technology of the ball ,and the
cover being dead after so many years of use. Just keep
in mind that the TR2 is one of the best oil balls I have ever seen.

I'm not so sure because I used a Loud Noize also and it really isn't too much ball. I think your spot on about the TR2 though. The Loud noize went right up ten and made no turn either. I will take I have a tame Maxxx Zone and a Fury pearl I could take next time. Wish I had a QZ or SR2 or something lesser than the TR2.

Hi all,
I have been bowling on the beaten path shot at Northway since the season started. You are correct these are first generation synthetic and not in great shape. I have had some better luck with combination of the beaten path and Bad lane surface, with QZ1 red and GT1. A ball that can clear the burn in front and still have some energy for the end of the pattern. Both are drilled 55x 4"x 40.

I feel the same as Justin saying you may think playing the ditch with surface is a good idea, its not. Even with the low rev, point from the corner guys having trouble on that pattern... its too spotty and goes away much faster then say playing 15-10 where i tend to start and slowly migrate left as fit... I am a mid to high rev player and about 17mph if it helps at all...

I put 2000 on the TR2 and the shape of the shot was dramatically different. Seems to be more of what I am looking for. I agree by the way.....The guy playing outside 10 will be mostly donating on this pattern.