A "dull" (rough) ball surface, having spikes and pores, provides greater friction in the oil-covered front end of the lane but reduced frictional contact in the dry back end of the lane, and thus enables an earlier hook. In contrast, a "gloss" (smooth) ball surface tends to glide atop oil on the front end but establishes "greater" frictional contact in the dry back end, thus promoting a sharper hook downlane. Accordingly, because different lane conditions and bowler styles favor different hook profiles, there is no single "best" surface.