FLIP DRILL LAYOUTS

Question
Warren;
I would like to know which pin position in a "Flip Drill Layout"
will give me the strongest move to the pocket from the #12 board:

pin over the "Middle Finger" or pin over the "Ring Finger" if my PAP
is 4-1/4 or 4-1/2"

Reason:
Everyone ie;(League Bowlers)are burning up the track #10 Board and
out with the "Super Hooking balls and wide looping hook shots"
so I often have to move inside to #12 but I don't have enough
"backend" or "revs" if it's a straight up the boards shot.

A slant shot or "end-over-end release causes too many 10 pin leaves.

Thanks in advance

Answer
William,
The location of the pin (top of a ball's weightblock) is specific to every player. Because every player has a different (sometimes very slight, but different none the less) Positive Axis Point (PAP)(and skills). The position of the pin should reflect your specific skill set and PAP. You mention the horizontal co-ordinate of your PAP but not the vertical. What is the vertical co-ordinate?

A longer pin for a higher ball speed player rolls different than the same pin distance for someone rolling the ball slower. So, I'm led to ask what layout are you using that isn't working now?

By definition, a flip drill layout (or Flip Leverage) has the pin placed on the Vertical Axis Line (VAL) 3 3/8 inches above the PAP.  I'd need way more info about your game before I'd drill this layout for you. If you're only moving in 2 boards, you may not need quite as drastic a layout change. You might benefit from a rolly pin position, where pin and PAP are closer together.

What is the position of pin, Center of Gravity, and Mass Bias (if marked) of your current ball? Is there a weight hole? Do you know any details about your game? Rev rate? Ball speed? Axis Tilt? Axis rotation? Describe the lane (wood, what kind of synthetic lane, overlayment on wood)?

If you can, you may want to invest in getting some coaching. Working with a coach can move you into delivering the ball with an altered hand position and provide a stronger reaction for the path you'd like to play. Susie Minshew from Texas had a great article in a recent Bowling This Month magazine about expanding your flexibility by learning hand position options (and PRACTICING them).

Let me know more and I can be more specific. Thanks for the question, Happy New Year and good bowling.