Just remember that the videos you watch on youtube are usually watching a player with an extremely high rev rate to really show the power hook that players want to see. I always take those with a grain of salt, because most players games are so different that just because that ball rolls well for them, that doesn't mean it will for me. Hope that makes sense, and for the record, I do use those videos I just don't expect my ball to react quite like that.

Yes, the uprising is quite a powerful ball and definitely loves the skid/Flip. as said before, the video is presented with a good amount of revs and for the uprising, light oil. However, I can say this: even on medium oil the uprising still looks similar to that for me at least. The biggest issue is that sometimes, just like any other ball, if the oil is too high it won't pull back to the pocket all the way. Just adjust the line really.

As for me, most of my balls have the arching motion on the hook. My playmaker arcs, my neptune arcs, my predator arcs but is closer to the skid/Flip than others, and I prefer the arc motion myself just because its easier to judge. the biggest reason why I liked the uprising was because of its hitting power and the way it cut so angular. like I've said, I took the surface to 2000 with the pin below the fingers and I use it on swing shots, longer patterns, and higher oil. The skid/Flip really makes a strong comeback on the swing shots and even when it hits high flush or low, the hitting power likes to whip the pins for better carry.

for the layout question I know that if you go directly to the manufacturer's website, for instance search Track Bowling in a google search and go to the main site, (I can't recall the exact url though I'm sure its a fairly obvious one haha) and look up the specific ball you're interested in, for instance the up-rising. When you get to the page displaying the ball it will usually give you the option of looking at the shelf talker, the sales charts or something, and drill patterns/layouts. You can then look at a pdf file (usually pdf) of the recommended drill layouts and the reaction that most fits them. This holds true for most other major ball companies, actually all of them that I've looked at have this option