I did so-so this time. And since my mother chose the lane, the bowling ball magic faded. By the sound of the guy's response at the counter, it seemed like he was going to reserve it for someone he knew (unless asked) whenever they got in. (But we get there right when the place opens, so we're usually the first or second customers there.) Though I kept an eye on what lanes people were being sent to after us, and it looks like there was a high chance that we would have ended up where the ball was, again, if my mother hadn't asked for a specific one (the first lane).
But, that's okay. In the last game I decided on this thirteen-pounder (a green one I'm calling the "booger ball"), because it seemed like the ten-pounder had gotten too light and was too easy to throw off-center. I was hoping a heavier ball would pull my arm more towards the center when I release, and it worked pretty well (I got my highest score for that game, after all; as well as landing another turkey). So I've decided to officially graduate to this thirteen-pounder. I'll have to see if I end up at lanes where this ball is set, now.
I tried spinning the ball in the first game, but... I just don't get it. There was an actual professional bowler playing two lanes away, and I was watching him, but my eyes are too bad to see what he's actually doing with the ball as he moves. But I doubt I could do that. I'm still at the stage where I'm learning how to bowl straight, anyway.