I found a used 15 lbs TPC Shooter on ebay in excellent condition (early version, light purple shell) and got it for about EUR 40,- (currently less than US$ 50,-). Some leftover Shooters are as of this writing still on sale in Germany for EUR 150,- upwards, plus drilling. So, I thought this should be a good purchase for medium-oily to medium-dry lane conditions and make a good complement to my TPC Player which I like very much for oilier shots.
About me: Style = Stroker/mild Tweener, right-handed
Speed = 13,5-14,5 mph
PAP = 5" & 7/8"^
Axis tilt = 18,7°
Revs = 250-300 RPM at release
For more details, check out my profile, please.
Ball setup:My Shooter is slightly pin-out (distance riser pin to CG = 2 1/4"). When I received it, it was already drilled with what I found out was a leverage drilling for a low track player (due to the high x-hole and odd pin and CG placement, see below). Well, I decided to stick with it because the holes and the span almost fit perfectly (only a small finger correction was necessary), and the drilling with pin under the fingers would match the light to medium conditions I'd want to play with the Shooter.
The ball was/is drilled 4" pin from my PAP (the original PAP was much higher than mine), the pin ended up 1" at 5 o'clock of my ring finger. CG kicked out 2" from midlane, which puts the PSA at ~45° from my PAP. For a high tracker like me the drilling results in an early rolling, rather arcing, controllable reaction.
A small X-hole (1" wide and deep) was added by the previous owner on his PAP to make ball legal. Due to my higher track and lower PAP the original hole now decreases track flare for me - a good choice, and one hole less to fill! The X-hole is now probably 2" above and 1/1" behind my PAP.
Finger inserts (oval rubber) and thumb slug (the former one, only needed some small filing to fit) completed the preparations. Surface was slightly polished to match box condition.
==o=o=====
====*=====
========x=
======#===
==========
===O======
========m=
* = Pin
# = CG
m = mass bias/PSA marker
x = X-hole
Ball picture:
http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=3473657Testing program:First deployment, even before I got it adjusted for my span at my pro shop, was in a house with old wood lanes and a light/medium length oil pattern. I was very impressed! I only made a few frames to check the ball and its reaction before it went into "surgery", but the first shot with the ball was directly a strike and the following frames showed a very predictable path and breakpoint with great pin carry.
Unfortunately, the house was revamped shortly thereafter and bears now AMF synths with a heavy oil crown pattern, so this is the only (short) wood experience I can tell about.
In another local house with a medium-light 30-35' THS it is 1st choice. With my early reaction setup the ball benefits greatly from dry outside boards. It will move a lot and recover from almost anywhere, crushing the pin deck with great carry. Typical shot in this house is standing at 29+ (up to 35th board!) with my right shoe tip and playing across 3rd arrow or even deeper. Finding confidende in the recovery abilities of this ball, I can get it out to 5-7th board where it will break after 32-36' down the lane and roar back to the pocket.
I am able to create much room for error and carry with this ball on a lighter condition like this, and it is surprising how long the ball can be kept in play - even if it does not bring back any oil tracks anymore! But also the TPC Shooter has its limits: When it gets
too dry, it will leave ugly splits as a dire sign to change to a milder ball. But it takes long to get that dire!
I also tried it on one of my regular houses with a medium-heavy 40' sports pattern on Brunswick synth lanes... Well, the (old) Shooter does NOT like much or long oil at all. With my normal throwing style it went almost dead straight, skidding long. At the oil end it started rolling, but did not grip and only hooked slightly, missing its breakpoint. The Shooter
wanted to work, but did not find traction and lost its power. Maybe the later (darker) version of the Shooter is less oil sensitive? The early one with a glossy surface is definitively not an oil ball. But playing it straight from 22nd board over 3rd arrow worked fine, even on this tough shot for this ball.
Conclusions:From my experiences so far, I give it a solid 9 out of 10 on light to medium conditions, as well as on short medium patterns and on burnt longer/heavier patterns. I can only give it a mere 4 or 5 out of 10 on fresh, heavier conditions or long oil: too much oil will simply let the Shooter skid without control, at least with a polished surface. I do not know if sanding will help -some voices in this section sound positive about this.
Lane utility for tested ball (pattern length vs. oil volume):
|S M L
|h e o
|o d n
|r . g
|t
_______
|+ X X| Light volume
|X X 0| Medium volume
|+ 0 0| Heavy volume
Legend:
X = Best suited with effective control & carry
+ = Fairly suited (works, somehow, but lacks control)
0 = Unsuited (ineffective, either slips or burns up)
The chart concept is borrowed from Storm's 2003 catalogue. Surface prep and drillings may change the results, it is just personal experience with my styleThe TPC Shooter is a very good and useful ball for light to medium conditions - for
experienced players. I found, like with my TPC Player, that it is quite release-senstive. When I had it "new" and my release had more flaws, I struggled very often to keep the Shooter in the pocket. I hated the ball for this... One year later I must admit that it was just me and that you can do a lot with this ball, just by doing some "finger dancing" and changing hand and wrist positions. It's great!
Additionally, the drill pattern and the Propeller core's position generally seem to be very influential for the ball's overall reaction, even though it just has a low mass bias. This confirms my impression of the TPC ball series that a player who wants to take advantage of these balls' potential needs a consistent release. Nevertheless, if lane conditions and your game match, this is a killer (and a precise one, too)! The high sensitivity to release changes can be a drawback - the ball WILL do what you make it do!
For me, the TPC Shooter is a very good option for late games on my sport shot league or the occasion that there is not much oil out there at all. I am happy that I can rely on it as soon as the track loses too much oil for more aggressive balls, because the Shooter keeps me easily in play and scoring until the end of the day. I also found it handy when I face high humidity in summer league, when the general back end grip level rises and my stronger balls burn out or move just too much and unpredictably. Then, it becomes a good choice for the flat medium 40' sports pattern I mentioned before. The early roll drilling is just perfect for this job.
For real dry conditions this ball is way too much unless you give it a truly weak drilling. No wonder that Ebonite added the Shooter XL.
I like it very much, because it reacts like a solid reactive should do: not itchy, nice midlane read, wonderful backend if I give it some hand and a spread index finger. With some training, this is a strong and versatile ball which can be made to move a lot or go straight with a late arcing move - just by release changes. It has a place in my tournament bag for sure and I do not see a replacement need (or option) so far.
Underlining "Inverted 1"'s entry from 7/13/2004, I must agree: if you find a TPC Shooter in good condition at a reasonable price, this ball is still a good choice and a versatile addition for your ball arsenal. But you must be able to handle it properly with a consistent release.
on edit 12/05:
Only drawbacks so far (if there is any) is the coverstock's tendency do pick up any dirt and grime from the lane and the mechanics and bring it back. But maybe it's just a subjective impression due to the polished single color, light purple coverstock? Doing some regular cleaning is enough to keep it clean, though.
Additionally, I think that any polish on this ball weras off much easier than on other. Again, this can just be a visual misguidance through the single light color and the use on short oil, but I cannot get rid of this impression...
But, as with all of my other Ebonite balls so far (TPC Player, XXcel), my TPC Shooter has not lost any power yet. Nice piece!--------------------
DizzyFugu --- Reporting from Germany
"All that we see or seem, is but a dream within a dream..." - Edgar Allen Poe
Edited on 26.09.2011 at 7:45 AM
