win a ball from Bowling.com

Author Topic: Spike  (Read 10708 times)

admin

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1241
Spike
« on: December 31, 1969, 06:00:00 PM »
Ball NPS Score: Not Available
bowling.com has the largest selection of bowling balls
Click here to shop.

Consider Spike as A Nail With Attitude. Inside, the Spike core is double tapered, starting at the bottom and going upward the taper opens as it gets to the core center and then tapering to a close at the top. This gives the ball a very strong roll. A the close of the upper taper there is a neck that is extended and a flare cap is added to give the ball even more flare potential. Outside, the reactive urethane cover in spike red with red mica is Faball’s most aggressive reactive cover to date. The ball was designed for its best performance on medium to light oil lane conditions. Spike has flare power.



The specifications of the Spike are: Core: Spike-Single Piece; Cover: Reactive formula w/Red Mica; RG: Low; Coefficient of Friction: Medium-High; Differential: High; Lane Conditions: (Oil) Medium to Light; Hook Potential: Overall (Scale 1-20) 19; Flare Potential: (Inches) 4”- 8”; Typical Length: (Scale 1-20) 12; Factory Surface Finish: Factory Polished; Typical Backend: (Scale 1-20) 19; Hardness: 75-78; Color: Spike Red with Glow Yellow Spike Finger Logo and C.G. Circle Mark Dual Hammer Side Logos-Glow Yellow Fill. Yellow Pin. Available weights: 13-16 lbs. Spike Core; 10-12 lbs. Hammer Lite Elliptical Core.

 

Paul Meyer

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 61
Re: Spike
« Reply #1 on: February 07, 2000, 01:00:00 AM »
One of the better hammers balls of late. This ball clears the head nicely and makes a strong move to the pocket. The first of the 2 balls i drilled was a stacked drilling with the CG 3 3/8 from PAP and the second was the pin at 12:00 and CG kicked out about 1 1/2. The stacked drilling was better when there was heavier oil and the 12:00 drilling was better as the lanes broke down and an inside angle was needed. Excellent hitting ball, overall well worth the money.

Randy Crane

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 19
Re: Spike
« Reply #2 on: March 13, 2000, 01:00:00 AM »
I was at the nationals with my son last week and I had Frankie May at the Hammer booth drill me up a Spike with 4" pin for length.  This is one amazing ball on drier lanes.  The first time I used it in league  I shot a 782 series.  That was with no practice with the ball!  I was standing on 35 sending the ball out over ten to two and it would come roaring back to the pocket and hit like a truck!  It does take a little head oil to get it going, but it will turn hard out of the dry. Also, with the pearl cover I only had to move four boards when I would normally move ten to fifteen.  I also had him drill a 4D HPT which I haven't used yet.

Randy Crane

Roy Vaysmear

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 2
Re: Spike
« Reply #3 on: April 06, 2000, 02:00:00 AM »
I purchased the SPIKE and the Spike HPT. Both are drilled the same way

label balance Pin to CG at 50 degrees from the center of the grip.

This ball rocks. On medium  oil it moved far more than I expected

it to and it just nailed the pins. On a fresh shot it made a solid move the

pocket with out any squirt. Send wide on drier conditions it roars back to the pocket.

Tugged into the oil it sits with out sliding outside.

I rate it at 8.5 out of 10. Combined with the Spike HPT it makes a

powerful pair.  

Doug Sterner

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4395
Re: Spike
« Reply #4 on: April 25, 2000, 02:00:00 AM »
Hello there BowlingLand !!!  I have just recently drilled out a resin Spike for myself and I have good things to report.  First the ball...16 lbs, 3.12 top weight, pin out 2.5". My drilling of choice was the "control" drilling on the Faball supplied sheet. This puts the pin under the ring finger and the CG ended up slightly under the midline (1/8").  A balance hole was required and I drilled a 5/8" hole on axis about 2" deep to bring into balance.  Now the good stuff....

The drill sheet said "definitive breakpoint with controlled backend".  I have been fighting the track all year and I will say that with a slight polish this ball fills the void very well. I get a strong roll with a gentle break point and surprising power at the pins.  My first night I was able to play the dry track when all of the other equipment hooked too much.  I have also found this ball to be very versatile.  I can slow down a bit and generate mild back end reaction and still retain the deck clearing hit.  For the all around bowler I'd say there is not a better ball out there .  The Spike will do just about anything you need it to.  Heavy oil is iffy but grab the HPT version for the oily shots.

Doug Sterner

Doug's Pro Shop

Sunbury, PA

www.dougsproshop.com
Doug Sterner
Doug's Pro Shop
Owego, NY

Proud Member of the NRA
Fighting to uphold the Constitution of the U.S.

REVOLUTIONS PS

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 397
Re: Spike
« Reply #5 on: May 11, 2000, 02:00:00 AM »
At our shop we decided to give the Spike a second look despite Rankin 19's results.  We don't dispute that Rankin 19's ball hooked very sharply on dry backends and did back off on carrydown.  However, those results were a combination of lane condition, axis rotation and shell preparation.  With the right combination of layout and shell prep, this ball can certainly be very usefull on the right conditions.  The shell on this ball seems to be fairly sensitive, so for example, if you use a strong pin position that creates large flare the ball will over react anytime there is a sudden change from oil to dry on the lane. (with a polished shell)  The same ball may back off on carrydown UNLESS you alter the surface (i.e. sand to 600)  We found the Spike to be an especially hard hitting ball and for the price an exceptional value.  When you sit down to drill the Spike it may be helpfull to realize that because of the need to match shell condition to that of the lane condition you may want to choose a layout for a more specific lane condition.  We recommend stable pin drillings with the surface dull or lightly polished.  The reason for this is that during all of our outings with the Spike, we had far fewer over/under problems with the shell NOT polished.  Another thing we noticed was this ball on lanes with heavier oil in the middle was dynamite, with a straighter trajectory with drillings with the pin close to the axis.(1 1/2 to 2")  It may be a bit fussy but this ball is a good buy for the money.



If you have any questions about this or any of our reviews, contact us at proshop@bowlero.com

E Mac

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 3
Re: Spike
« Reply #6 on: November 30, 2000, 07:43:05 PM »
My spike was drilled with a basic medium length/medium hook drilling.This worked well for me as I started to get in the game of bowling a year ago. On dry I can swing this ball out and it will come back right into the pocket. Even though this ball isnt made for it,I can play down and in on a wet shot. You can see my information on my profile!

PbaJay

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 29
Re: Spike
« Reply #7 on: December 13, 2000, 10:10:06 AM »
I drilled up a 15 Ib spike pearl with a basic leverage drilling.  I was going to try it with the out of box surface, but decided at the last minute to polish it with Storm's Diamond Gloss polish.  This ball was a monster for a house that I don't bowl well in at all.  This is a great ball even for the bowler who doesn't put alot of hand into the roll.  I found it to be a very expandeable ball that let me play straight up the boards with mor ball speed , or I could use it toopen up the lanes by slowing down the speed.  Either way this is another great product that Faball has put out on the market.



Keep up the good work !!!

Goof1073

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2433
Re: Spike
« Reply #8 on: January 09, 2001, 11:04:35 AM »
I took my spike and drilled it with the cg in my gripline and between my fingers and the pin at 3 o'clock and parallel to my fingers and the cg.  I was looking for a controlled ball for medium oil / spotty conditions.  **Please check my profile for my style and typical house shot**  

I typically have good luck with Hammer equipment, this ball didn't totally work for me.  I got the reaction I wanted but it was very touchy and not versatile if I tried to swing it at all.  It worked well anywhere from 10 out but any deeper in the lane it was under/over.  I don't blame the ball...but the drilling!  On the right condition this ball is a monster and bowling on a tough tournament condition with gardian I pulled out a 700 series.  

I have recommended this ball to two of my friends and they love the ball.  Overall I think this ball is a great addition to the mid-priced ball market.  I would rate this ball an 8 out of 10.  Good medium oil ball with some mid-lane roll to it.  For a little more length I would try the messenger pearl or eraser...but you will get a more violent reaction in the backend with these.

tonygee

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 58
Re: Spike
« Reply #9 on: December 11, 2001, 11:58:26 PM »
Drilled 10:30 with cg at negative 1/2 oz.  
Summary: Will never use this ball if money is on the line.  Not a reliable striker when you need it.  Ball has strong arcing motion.  Aggressive roll can be used on all lines.  On wet dry this ball will hook with the best of them.

As I mentioned, do not trust this one.  Reaction is good, but carry is flaky and almost odd.
Fun ball to play with during practice, but an over under ball, very touchy to lane condition changes.

Roglen

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 6
Re: Spike
« Reply #10 on: March 24, 2002, 10:55:29 PM »
This ball is beast. Threw it first set in league today. playing abuot 15-7 on a mid to dry shot. This ball pushed down with ease. Not sure of exact drilling. It was a used ball, and the pin had already been drilled into. I'm a tweener who's statred to put more on the ball. Abuot 15-16 Mph. Usually i just find balls on racks and use em', but i decided to by the Spike. Now i'm usually playing straight up, and usually out to the gutter. Not the case here, more of an inside shot. Ball was grwat downt he lane, very predictable. i kewn when it owuld turn and how much it would turn, and when i was leavin' a 10. In the 3 game set i rolled today, i only missed the hole 2 times(one was a 2-6-9-10, other one was a 4-6) left 1 7 and 2 or 3 10's. Shot 233 267 255 (only 2 non strkies a game) for 755, which is  apersonal best as long as the High Set in the league which ended today. This ball is definately a keeper in my bag.
When all else fails?STRAP THE LANE!

Roglen

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 6
Re: Spike
« Reply #11 on: April 18, 2002, 07:50:02 AM »
After a few weeks of using this ball, i can finally say it has earned it's permanent spot in my bag. I pulled it out 2nd game after going 248 first game(speed zone). Then threw front 10, left a 4-9 287. Next game first 4 solid 5 pin. then sheet for 279-814. This ball just hit and didn't miss the hole once, so predicatble and excellent carry. This was on a fresh shot, ball just rolled up and right into the pocket. Never a doubt about carrying dimes. Great product from Faball. Lets see some more like this in the future.
When all else fails?STRAP THE LANE!

Roglen

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 6
Re: Spike
« Reply #12 on: November 04, 2002, 11:56:10 PM »
I think it's tiem foranother review after having used this ball on many a shot. This ball is the longest going ball in my bag, and it is also the most distinct in it's movement. The only other pearl ball im thorwing at this time, is my Tude 3. And the spike blows this ball away with length and comeback. When the tude hits a dry board outside(even after 3 coats of black magic polish!) the tude still hooks out of the house, and when it's pulled into the oil.. it just sits. NOW my spike when it hits those dry boards.. pushes a lil further down, and when pulled into oil.. holds and moves. And the sharpness of the angle it makes is incredible and it still carries!
When all else fails?STRAP THE LANE!

superman83180aolcom

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 5
Re: Spike
« Reply #13 on: March 13, 2006, 02:42:31 AM »
Still in the bag I use this ball on semi oily lanes. has great backend when trown with some fingers.I alawys go to this ball if the big one is hooking to much. it goes longer than any ball i  have owned yet stacked  pin next to ring finger great ball ganna have resufaced to add some life to it.
--------------------
Marc Lawrence niles, ohio freeway lanes