BallReviews
Equipment Boards => Storm => Topic started by: prototypev on March 26, 2018, 05:10:23 PM
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Could use some advise on building an arsenal for the USBC open this year. It'll be my first time attending such a major event.
My current arsenal:
Sure Lock (pin up, CG kicked out to the right)
Phaze II (pin down, CG kicked out to the right)
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Spare
300 rpm, 18mph off my hand. Don't have exact tilt/rotation measurements, but I'm low-tilt (probably 10 degrees), low-rotation (probably 20 degrees). My A-game is playing down and in. If I need to play left of 3rd arrow I'm pretty much hosed.
My Phaze II is my bread and butter ball. I normally start practice with my Sure Lock to burn up a track outside of 5, then I switch to using the Phaze II for the rest of the series - slowly inching inwards as the lanes transition.
I absolutely love the shape of my Phaze II, and wonder what would be the next ball down from it that would give me a similar shape that I can use during later parts of a series?
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Here is a pretty good approach for USBC tournaments ball choices. It is ebonite focused, but gives you a good sense of what to bring.
https://youtu.be/TeGwS5CwhEY
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I bowled well with a Phase ll last year. Shot really doesn't change all that much from year to year. You will probably have to get a little deeper as the shot transitions. Do you have any experience on sport patterns in the 38-41 foot range. That would help you find something that matches up to your style.
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I bowled well with a Phase ll last year. Shot really doesn't change all that much from year to year. You will probably have to get a little deeper as the shot transitions. Do you have any experience on sport patterns in the 38-41 foot range. That would help you find something that matches up to your style.
Yup, I've played in medium sport patterns quite a bit. In fact, I just bowled a 197 scratch average over 5 games in a WTBA Seoul (39') local tournament just this past weekend with my Phaze II.
The last game was a grind to 180, with lots of flat 10s, but I had no weaker equipment, which leads me to this post. :)
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Pick a pearl to get deep with as they transition. My choices will be Code Black and Hy-Road Pearl.
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I'm taking an iq tour and 900 global break down... probably some others but those 2 will get lane play for sure..
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If you feel comfortable with your Phase II then one possiblity might be drilling one pin up and smooth the surface out a little with wet 4000 pad or some compound.. compound unlike polish allows for the sheen but still some surface.
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Pick a pearl to get deep with as they transition. My choices will be Code Black and Hy-Road Pearl.
+1 for the Hy-road Pearl. If you're a down and in player and don't like to move too deep then the ball shape of the HYP should fit you well.
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Pick a pearl to get deep with as they transition. My choices will be Code Black and Hy-Road Pearl.
+1 for the Hy-road Pearl. If you're a down and in player and don't like to move too deep then the ball shape of the HYP should fit you well.
I'm -1 for the Hy-pearl
Hydroplane with an unpredictable backend was the hyroad pearl last year. And I'm probably the biggest hyroad hybrid, pearl, and solid fan out there...
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Personally, if I was doing a 4 ball bag, it would be
Covert Ops, 2000, pin down
Honey Badger, 4000, pin up
Badger, oob, pin down
Boost, polish, pin down
I can back my hand out of it to shoot spares with my Boost. Imo you won't need the Sure Lock.
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Pick a pearl to get deep with as they transition. My choices will be Code Black and Hy-Road Pearl.
+1 for the Hy-road Pearl. If you're a down and in player and don't like to move too deep then the ball shape of the HYP should fit you well.
I'm -1 for the Hy-pearl
Hydroplane with an unpredictable backend was the hyroad pearl last year. And I'm probably the biggest hyroad hybrid, pearl, and solid fan out there...
Knocking the polish off the Hy-pearl with a 4000 abralon pad makes a huge difference in backend predictability and will read the breakpoint better.
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I'm taking an iq tour and 900 global break down... probably some others but those 2 will get lane play for sure..
IQ Tour would always be my first ball out of the bag on a new non THS pattern.
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I'm taking an iq tour and 900 global break down... probably some others but those 2 will get lane play for sure..
IQ Tour would always be my first ball out of the bag on a new non THS pattern.
This!
U don't need very much pearl or polish.
It's all surface??
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Soniq.
Leave it polished. Still rolly, but will give you added length and some extra angle.
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Soniq.
Leave it polished. Still rolly, but will give you added length and some extra angle.
I did consider a Soniq, but isn't it a bit too strong to be considered a ball down from the Phaze II?
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Soniq.
Leave it polished. Still rolly, but will give you added length and some extra angle.
I did consider a Soniq, but isn't it a bit too strong to be considered a ball down from the Phaze II?
Shouldn’t be too strong to ball down from Phaze 2. Phaze has a stronger cover and more surface. Surface is still the majority of ball reaction. If you keep your Phaze around 2000 and keep the Soniq polished, you should get much more length from the Soniq. Soniq is surprisingly strong off the spot, but it’s not strong in the heads.
FWIW, I already bowled. Soniq came out to play halfway through team and by game 5 of D/S.
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Shouldn’t be too strong to ball down from Phaze 2. Phaze has a stronger cover and more surface. Surface is still the majority of ball reaction. If you keep your Phaze around 2000 and keep the Soniq polished, you should get much more length from the Soniq. Soniq is surprisingly strong off the spot, but it’s not strong in the heads.
FWIW, I already bowled. Soniq came out to play halfway through team and by game 5 of D/S.
Good stuff. What were you using before Soniq?
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Not going, but if I was I would start with my Phase ll, or Hyroad nano, along with Marvel Pearl. I would fill out my bag with Blue Vibe, and Eruption pro ( 2x2 layout ). 90 % chance the Phase or Marvel would be my options
Going back over 20 years my best performances have been with strong pearls. Including Excaliber, Green Bolt, X Factor, Vapor Zone.
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Shouldn’t be too strong to ball down from Phaze 2. Phaze has a stronger cover and more surface. Surface is still the majority of ball reaction. If you keep your Phaze around 2000 and keep the Soniq polished, you should get much more length from the Soniq. Soniq is surprisingly strong off the spot, but it’s not strong in the heads.
FWIW, I already bowled. Soniq came out to play halfway through team and by game 5 of D/S.
Good stuff. What were you using before Soniq?
Started with Hammer Gauntlet (pin down) or Brunswick Mastermind (pin up), both @ 1000.
In both sets, transitioned to a No Rules Pearl @ 4000, then to the Soniq.
I had a Storm Drive with me as well as a sanded symmetric option, but that only came into play for me at the BTM side tournament..
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I recently had a Hustle HYB drilled up and it's surprisingly aggressive at that price point. I can see that ball coming into play if the patterns are anywhere close to last year's.