what type of ball

Question
I am a female bowler in my early 50's.  I carry a 175 average throwing a 16# C/Beast from a previous century. I use a fingertip grip and basically throw a slight hook at around 15mph. I definitely need a new ball but haven't found my local pro-shop to be very helpful.  I would like to go a little lighter in weight, probably between 14-15 pounds.  I would also like to continue to throw a slight hook.  Most of my games are thrown on house oil on wood lanes.  I only do about 4 tournaments a year and those tend to be on synthetic lanes.  Are there balls that work well on both surfaces that I should consider?  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Answer
Pam,
If there were balls that were very adaptable they'd be the most popular and biggest sellers. The manufacturers create different combinations of cover and core to provide a wide variation of ball reactions. You can make some surface adjustments to adjust ball reaction (not sure if you want to go there).   

Synthetic lanes usually feature more skid, later break and strong finish from the smooth dry surface downlane. Wood lanes usually feature more texture causing earlier hook, seemingly more hook. Your urethane C/Beast is a center heavy, low Radius of Gyration core. The surface was fairly aggressive for it's day, but today's slicker, thicker oils are tough for a urethane ball to manage.

Your ball speed, rev rate, axis rotation and axis tilt dictates what you need in a ball. You don't throw hard given the ball weight, gender and age (please correct any of my suppositions). Dropping a pound is the usual change (and don't go back to the heavier ball, it will throw off your timing if you switch back and forth).

Your not hooking the ball a lot, so I'd surmise axis rotation is 0 to 15 degrees (not a lot) and smaller degree number on you tilt (again reflecting not a lot of hook downlane). A pearl reactive ball might be more downlane reaction on synthetics, while the texture of your home wood house would tame down the ball. A solid reactive might be too much for wood (you don't throw very hard, not slow just not fast), while handling synthetics a little better. A hybrid might fit well with the option of surface adjustments for tournaments (keep it shiny for league).

I'd suggest a ball that can be controllable for spares (given your average, I'd expect you have a solid spare game). Your layout (how the ball is drilled) should really allow the ball to fit what you need and getting eyes on you and getting an understanding of the lane conditions you bowl on would be the final puzzle piece. Something in the wide variety of ball reactions in the entry level category might suite your needs, but because I am only guessing on most of this I'd reserve any specific recommendation. I spend time on the lane with any new customer looking for a new ball, especially someone making the changes you propose. If I could see a video or get more info on lane conditions and more specifics on some of my suppositions, I'd be a little better prepared, but I'm wondering what your ball driller may have suggested?

Thanks for your question, sorry I can't provide some specific choices but not enough info means to much left to chance. Good luck, let me know what you chose.