BallReviews

Reviews => Ebonite => Topic started by: admin on December 31, 1969, 06:00:00 PM

Title: Apex Addiction
Post by: admin on December 31, 1969, 06:00:00 PM
Coverstock: Mac Daddy Particle Resin

 Box Finish: 1200 Grit Sanded

 Color: Neon Blue/Electric Pink

Core: Super Low RG, modified Fusion Core

BOMB Location: Six and three quarters from pin

BOMB Strength: .003

Flare Potential: 6"+

Length: 7.8

 Overall Hook: 29.9

 Breakpoint Angle: 9.4

 Best Lane Condition: Heavy Oil
Title: Re: Apex Addiction
Post by: Garcia on February 05, 2003, 02:58:18 AM
Drilled simple - Pin is located in the ring finger, Cg right below.
Lightly shined with 400grt NeoTac polish.

The Addiction is a re-creation of a certain type of drilling used in the original Apex's. For those who drilled the 'Bomb' out of the original Apex's, with either the thumb or a weight hole, found it to be a smoother rolling and continuous ball. Drilling out the 'Bomb' eliminated the Asymmetrical design of the core and made it a simple two-piece type design.

The Addiction is exactly that, a simple symmetrical core design, rolls nothing like previous Apex's. It is much smoother reving, easier to read, with strong continuous roll, with no sign of loping. Length is similiar to the Adrenaline but without the sudden change of direction. By far one of the best hi-performance balls Ebonite has produced.

Xeno Garcia
Ebonite Regional Staff
Sythlord79@aol.com
Title: Re: Apex Addiction
Post by: TimPenner on February 10, 2003, 12:30:12 PM
Drilled with the pin above the bridge, and a 2" CG makes this drilling a 5 1/4 x 2.

I put a huge crater in it hoping it would fill a void in my arsenal by being a very heavy rolling, but not over-hooking ball.  With a 1200 grit scuff, it is hard to throw it through the breakpoint.  It recovers rather well from a fair amount of out-of-bounds, but does not over-react to the dry like other heavy rolling balls.

It is another great addition to the Ebonite Apex line.

Tim Penner
Ebonite Regional Staff
Midwest Region
tenpiner2@hotmail.com
Title: Re: Apex Addiction
Post by: James Campbell on February 14, 2003, 07:57:34 PM
I tried a new layout I haven't used before. The bomb, CG, and pin are in a line with the bomb at 225* and the pin 2 1/2 inches from axis. I bowled the tour stop in Orlando Florida and used this ball all nine games. If it wasn't for me bowling a bad last game I would have made the first cut to 64 bowlers. The ball rolled great for me on the PBA pattern E. I started out keeping my hand behind the ball and as the day went on I was able to open the lane up. The ball rolled very good on this oil pattern for me. Note ( this is like drilling it on a 45* angle from the center of grip line.)


James Campbell
Ebonite South Region Staff Member
CCampCSC@aol.com
Title: Re: Apex Addiction
Post by: tfsabre on February 20, 2003, 12:12:28 AM
If you want a ball that hooks, then this is your ball.  But it all depends on how you throw the ball and if you know the right drilling patter to use.  I am right handed, throw the ball really fast and use a stacked leverage drill pattern with 1/2 oz of side leverage added.  I used it once with the out of the box condition and it did nothing, but once I had my pro shop buff it usuing a maroon scotchbrite, then wow, it hooked, and I carried a lot of extra pins I left using my Morich Collosus.  I hope the cover stock keeps well, I have heard that it gets saturated very fast, but I will keep using Fast Orange cleaner on it every time before I bowl to try to keep the oil out.

Title: Re: Apex Addiction
Post by: Doug Davidson on February 20, 2003, 11:58:45 AM

The APEX Addiction is one of my first balls out of my bag on fresh oil. I have it drilled with the pin at 5" and the Bomb @ 45 degrees. I hit the surface with a very light polish using Ebonite Powerhouse Particle Polish.

This is yet another great ball from Ebonite and can be used successfully with a variety of releases and angles. With the very low RG it revves very good off the hand but still keeps enough for the backend without losing hit. I have been the most successful with med-high ball speed and coming up the back of the ball playing about 13-10 on a typical house pattern.

I can very easily move in and turn it up as long as head oil remains. I lose no hitting power unlike the original APEX did. I think the difference in this ball is the Big Bang Resin as the base with the light load of particles.

Not a ball for drying lanes or slow ball speeds, but great for oil and guys that need a little help in getting the ball to rev up.
--------------------
Doug Davidson
 Ebonite PBA Regional Staff
 Davidson's Pro Shop
 1137 Sweitzer St.
 Greenville, Ohio 45331
 937-417-3940
 doug.davidson@pba.com
Title: Re: Apex Addiction
Post by: Ray Edwards on February 21, 2003, 12:32:00 PM
This is a "particle ball" that acts more like a straight reactive.  Out of the box  it will provide a lot of hook potential or curve potential depending on drilling.  Mine is drilled 5x4 with a 2.5" pin over the ring finger.  Small hole at 6" from the midline back to zero.  This drilling maintains a little more energy for the backend which works well for dry heads and tighter than normal backends.  Out of the box it was pretty strong for my condition so I used some of Ebonites Particle Polish.  This did the trick.  It allowed me to swing the middle of the lane with great recovery and no roll-out.  Hitting power is around a 9 out of 10 due to its lack of deflection in the pocket.  Thanks to the particles for that.  Color scheme  is less of a distraction than the Intensity or Aggression so there is little problem reading the roll.  Overall a great addition for heavy oil conditions.
--------------------
** Ray Edwards **
Ebonite Regional Staff
edwards9@optonline.net
Title: Re: Apex Addiction
Post by: Norm Titus on February 23, 2003, 08:24:36 AM
Just wanted to let all the Adrenaline lovers know that this ball will fill that needed space, when you just couldn't get the Adrenaline to pick up in that spot. It reads the midlane just early enough to let you loosen up and let the ball do all the work. I have drilled mine with the pin just above my ring finger and the CG just about 1/2 and inch positive and it is a perfect compliment to my favorite Adrenaline.
Title: Re: Apex Addiction
Post by: Jim Lewis on February 23, 2003, 07:03:25 PM
The Apex Addiction from Ebonite is the Apex I have been waiting for.  I don't usually see enough lane oil to play with strong core particle balls, but thank God I have been able to play with this ball recently.  My one and only league is on Pro-Anvil lane synthetics and recently the combination of oil pattern and surface has been creating significant carry down issues.

  The Addiction was drilled 5 by 3 with a balance hole in my PAP. The pin is above the ring finger and the bomb in a strong position.  The Addiction was left in the box surface condition.  The Apex Addiction has performed well in this heavier carry down situation allowing me to cross the pattern left to right to the breakpoint to avoid choppy head conditions on the late shift.

  When compared to the Vortex 2 Particle, that I was using for this situation the V2 Particle with the same layout was leaving those nice 2-8/washout combinations or grabbing early on the lane for the adjustment.  The Apex Addiction with the same layout was crashing the pocket with no problem.  In comparison to the previous Apex's this is hands down the winner, when it comes to midlane movement in the oil.  This is a ball that I would recommend to anyone but bowler's with very low ball speeds for oil.

Jim Lewis
Ebonite Regional Staff
Title: Re: Apex Addiction
Post by: ballard2 on February 27, 2003, 07:43:34 PM

I have had the pleasure of drilling 2 of these balls,
being somewhat on the rev challenged side, i would have
to say this is the strongest reacting Apex so far for me.
If you feel that your strong equipment is not quite getting
it done, my suggestion would be to take your favorite layout
and punch one of these monsters up. With the early revving and
strong breakpoint angle this core/cover combo will create, you
should have no trouble at all in overcoming the oiliest of
conditions.

BOWL TO WIN

MATT BALLARD
PBA WEST REGION MEMBER
EBONITE REGIONAL STAFF
Title: Re: Apex Addiction
Post by: Tony Glickley on February 28, 2003, 02:04:32 AM
The Apex Addiction is a great complement to the Apex line up. The new Mac Daddy shell has been one of the most flexible shells to date from the big E. I've had the surface of this ball out of the box, = pray to the oil gods for some oil,this will out hook the aggression by a bunch. Then took the shell and sanded it to 1000 grit, Ebonite Factory Polish, and it was a dream. Talk about clean in the front, but still a great mid-lane roll, then hit it with some Ebonite Extender Polish, and then could throw it at the dry and let it rip.
Drill pattern on my Apex is a 4-1/2 x 4-1/2 with a weight hole on my axis.
Apex Adrenaline was length and backend
Apex Aggression was roll and arc
Apex Addiction was hook and hook some more
The Addiction has gotten me out of trouble in a lot of tournaments as the oil pushed down the lane. I could get the ball back and few could. When the lane gets spotty, pull this thing out, it will give you hook in carry down

 Tony Glickley
 Ebonite amateur Staff
 Bowl to Win!
Title: Re: Apex Addiction
Post by: Jeff Carter on February 28, 2003, 07:21:53 PM
Very solid ball getting a lot of play on the National Tour. Very surface friendly coverstock ( polishes easily ). Out of the box, ball is very stong in the mid-lane with a smooth direction change. I have 1 drilled at 1:00 at 4", pin below fingers. Ball sees action on patterns B (43') and C (39'). Polished this ball takes on a new identity. Very clean through the fronts and mids and stronger direction change in the back. I have 1 of these drilled at 5" at 11:00, no hole & pin over. This ball is very good for pattern A (37') when we can play out. This ball is quite posslibly the best Apex we've seen yet. Current favorite of touring player Jason Queen

Bowl to Win
Jeff Carter
Ebonite staff member
Title: Re: Apex Addiction
Post by: Jace Peterson on March 04, 2003, 02:17:52 PM
The layout, 3-3/8 pin bomb 1" right of thumb 6" extra hole. This ball is early, but more continuous than expected. I do not bowl on much oil in league, however the word was out that some pairs in the Milwaukee city tournament were very tight inside. After hacking up singles we moved to the doubles pair. A sanded V2 could not play out and would not hook in. After a change to the Addiction and many strikes from me (my partner bowled great all day) the city title was ours. This is a piece of the puzzle I didn't have before. Thanks again EBONITE.

Bowl To Win
Title: Re: Apex Addiction
Post by: DrThumb on March 06, 2003, 01:22:15 PM
If you liked the Adrenaline, you will love the Addiction. Easy through the heads and when it makes the turn, it just keeps on comin'. The ball rolls great and hits like a truck. Polishes easily and changes the reaction significantly. I liked  it enough to now have 3 of them. I like it better than my Adrenaline and it worked great last year at the ABC.

The Seniors loved the Adrenaline, and they will love the Addiction more.

Ebonite Senior Tour Staff Member

--------------------
Gary Hiday
Title: Re: Apex Addiction
Post by: SPEEDYR on March 07, 2003, 05:49:14 PM
HI ALL I WAS JUST WONDERING I HAVE AN ADRENALINE AND REALLY LIKE IT BUT FROM THE REVIEWS I AM SEEING ON THE ADDICTION I WAS WONDERING HOW SIMILAR THEY ARE AND HOW IT WILL WORK FOR  SOMEONE LIKE ME THAT HAS ALOT OF REVS AND THROWS IT ABOUT 22 MPH ANY RESPONSES WILL BE WELCOMED YOU CAN EMAIL ME AT  SPARKY30502@YAHOO.COM ONCE AGAIN ANY RESPONSES ARE APPRECIATED

THROW IT HARD A WATCH EM FLY
Title: Re: Apex Addiction
Post by: hokiecoach on March 11, 2003, 09:24:33 PM
I have drilled two Addictions.  Both balls have 3 3/8" pins.  One ball is stacked with an extra hole and the other has the bomb in my track, over the lavel with no extra hole.  Both balls have a light grey pad surface.  I have been very impressed with the versatility of this ball.  The ball with the extra hole I've used very successfully on a pretty tight flat pattern.  The ball reads the breakpoint very consistently and gives me a strong yet readable, hook/stop motion down the lane.  Best of all, it strikes when it hits the pocket.

The ball over the label pushes through the front of the lane a little more and provides a stronger arcing motion down the lane.  This ball actually allows me to cross boards through the heads if i need to and still arcs hard enough down the lane to recover.  Once again, this ball strikes when it gets to the pocket.
Title: Re: Apex Addiction
Post by: E Ramos on March 25, 2003, 09:42:33 AM
This ball is a great compliment to the Adrenaline.  Whenever I have trouble getting my adrenaline through the fronts, I can go to this ball to give me a little more push through the heads, but just as strong of a reaction in the back.  I have mine drilled with about a 4 1/2 inch pin with the pin above my ring finger.  Another great ball made by a great company!

Erik Ramos
Ebonite Regional Staff
Title: Re: Apex Addiction
Post by: Dwight Albrecht on April 06, 2003, 10:50:38 AM
Ebonite’s Latest Apex is certainly Ebonite’s best Apex. The chemists at Ebonite continue to improve their coverstocks with the “Mac Daddy” Particle Resin. This 1200 grit lightly sanded particle has the same shaped weight block found in the previous Apex family of balls. The core is a low RG of 2.44 which really helps this ball “Rev” quick off the hand and creates a smooth but strong finishing “Arc” to the breakpoint of this ball.

I drilled my addiction with playing the outside angle in mind on heavy oil patterns, which this ball was designed for. I drilled the Addiction with the Pin 3 ¾ from my axis and placed the M.B. at a 65 degree or #3 position angle. One of my favorite layouts.

I used this ball for my 1st time at AMF Bowlero in our couples league. 1st shift heavy oil, with more oil position in the center, and less on the outsides. On this condition, the ball reacted beautifully. Clean skid through the first 15 feet and a strong but smooth continuation on the backends and at the breakpoint. I felt the overall hook of the ball was similar to the Columbia WOW Flipside with a similar shape of the breakpoint. The hit was excellent. I feel the bowler with more side rotation or more tilt would benefit from this ball than the ”Up the Backer” or “End over Ender” bowler. Great ball for the low tracker or spinner release. Not a ball from a deep inside angle unless that bowler has a lot of hand into the ball to get it to recover. The 1st 3 games with the ball I shot 706. Very Impressed with the combination or predictability but also strong hit, not like the other Apex’s that seem to jump strong when the ball sniffed any dry boards.

In closing Ebonite continues to stride forward with their improved coverstock technology and proper weight block design to match the coverstock/weight block in a proper marriage thus with a winner with this latest Apex. Thanks for reading my review and best of luck with your bowling.

Dwight
Title: Re: Apex Addiction
Post by: Gatch on May 13, 2003, 10:22:06 AM


I just drilled my Addiction last week as I am preparing for some amature competitions here in the Philippines.  I needed a stronger ball to play the heavy oil conditions I was expecting in the upcoming tournaments.  The Addiction did not disappoint me.  On my first practice, already bowled two 240 plus games and it was on tough lane conditions after a league where there was tremendous carrydown.  But the Addiction went through it as if it were not there.  Hits like a Sherman Tank!!  

I recommend this ball to anyone who needs a hard hitting ball to play on heavy oil.

Gatch
Manila, Philippines
Title: Re: Apex Addiction
Post by: Zman on July 12, 2003, 03:53:35 AM
15 lbs. 2 oz out of box. Drilled 3 1/2 x 3 1/2, 3 inch pin 2 3/4 ozs. no extra hole required.

PAP is 5 1/2 over and 1/2 up.

Used on a medium house shot typical 10 to 10 but not walled outside ten 37 feet buffed to 41 feet wood lanes fresh shot.

I can throw this ball on a medium shot due my lack of revs with medium speed.

This ball suprisingly cleared the heads better than expected and gave me more area than any ball I have had in a long time. Also the slight amount of carry down others had had no effect on this ball.
The hit was good but nothing great and did manage to stone two nines and an eight pin even with my lower rev rate the last game.
I like this ball but will wait to see how this "different" cover stock holds up.
--------------------
Zman
Cleveland State Vikings.
Title: Re: Apex Addiction
Post by: pinhead on February 13, 2004, 02:04:23 AM
My darlin' got her Addiction 4 days ago......SO FAR, SO GOOD!  Although we are both considered high handicappers...(she averages 144 and I 167), this ball has increased her average immensely! She has only thrown 18 games on it, and has averaged a SOLID 178! (Nothing much higher, and nothing much lower)....I AM DEFINITELY BUYING ME ONE!  The only problem we can find with the ball is it does need cleaning after every series to stay consistent. The coverstock seems to "load up" quickly when the lanes are real oily. Even at that, when she moved her mark to the 3 board, she was right back in the money. The ball seems to forgive a lot of "bad shots", and is real forgiving...it doesn't leave a lot of nasty splits that she was rolling with her other ball.....Guess only time will tell.......We will update this review when she gets another 60 or so games on the ball....
--------------------
PINHEAD
        Remember....Never judge a man until you have walked a mile in his shoes....that way, when you do judge him...you are too far away to catch and what the heck! The shoes are free!
Title: Re: Apex Addiction
Post by: BrianN on June 03, 2004, 03:37:58 PM
4" pin, 3 oz top., rev leverage with pin about 4" from axis on a line below fingers, CG a couple of inches below centerline stacked, bomb strong, weight hole low in the thumb positive quadrant. 11/16 side, 3/8 thumb weight.

Bad things follow when I lose backend reaction because of carrydown. I lost 6 sticks of average since February bowling on tight backends. Say what you will about TEC, but of all the balls I own, the only thing that could turn the corner on this was a rejuvenated Columbia Game that was on the verge of dying again.

When these came up cheap on Ebay, I got one just to be an arsenal piece. I understand that this cover has about 50 games in it max. So on different days, I put two games apiece on a fresh league shot, a fresh 42' flat shot and a second shift league shot with lots of carrydown. The ball was wiped between shots and meticulously cleaned afterwards.  

The best thing to say about Addiction is it shines on carrydown; it's hands down the best thing I have ever thrown where the backends are tight but you can still get to head oil. Rev leverage and this cover are perfect for it. The carry was exceptional. So I got exactly what I wanted.

It is also very good to open up the outside on a flat shot. Many sport patterns want you to play inside. This one is big enough to go up the boards in a putative OB. It would have been nice to have last winter on sport league just for this reason. Again, the carry was exceptional. This is a big, powerful particle ball.

This will be a ball I leave in the back of the locker, just in case. It will not be a league ball for me. To play a normal release, I had to keep it in the oil the whole way. It was so strong, there was no hold if I tugged it, but if I got it outside too quickly, it would burn up. However, it still carried very well even when it rolled out.

To play in it on a league shot, add some polish, use a lot of speed, or kill the revs. The low trackers and spinners might like it on some oil. I am too much up the back to play it comfortably. It is hard to imagine a cranker liking this ball under any circumstances.

This is a very strong, early rolling piece of equipment. If the comparison is meaningful, it plays like a slightly bigger, earlier V2 Strong. There's not much else to distinguish these two. All things equal, it is not as long or angular as the Adrenaline, nor the purple V2 Particle. Most of the TEC2 balls are longer and snappier.

Versatility: 6.5. A specialized arsenal piece for me anyway. Other styles may like it more on a normal shot, some styles will not find any use for it at all. If you like an early-rolling ball with a strong cover, and have oil and heads, this could be a useful ball. Mine will mainly sit in the locker against need.

Hit and Carry: 8.5. If you need something that can carry when thrown in the oil and get out the corners on big carrydown, this is your ball. It carried like great for me even when it rolled out.

Control: 8.5. Big and smooth with no sudden change of direction. Should play well for the stroker on the PBA and sport shots.
Title: Re: Apex Addiction
Post by: toomanytenpins on June 22, 2004, 01:04:58 PM
i hate ir more everytime i pick it up boiled it polished it sanded it now garaging it
Title: Re: Apex Addiction
Post by: bwlerdude on March 27, 2005, 10:51:34 PM
Well I am a south paw and a tweener. I needed something for heavy oil and my dad gave me this ball because he did not like it. I got the pin drilled underneath the finger. I shot my first 300 with this ball and many 700s. It reves up early and hits the pin deck hard. There is only one problem with this ball, you cannot let it get too oil soaked or it won't move for you.
Title: Re: Apex Addiction
Post by: ttjakt on May 08, 2005, 05:56:36 PM
I've had this ball for 1 1/2 years & it's just OK. It performs at times but overall it's just OK. I've had a lot of disappointments with Ebonite.
--------------------
Thank you, TS7299
Title: Re: Apex Addiction
Post by: toomanytenpins on July 16, 2005, 03:32:27 AM
I have to say it must be me, i had this ball polished again expecting to use it on medium to light conditions but i must say all of a sudden the ball is rolling thru oil shots like nothing else i have.Shot on a pretty wet sport shot today 43 ft. of oil outside of 10 38  feet up the middle.This is the only ball i have that is rated for heavy oil that even came close to being what i needed for the shot. I have an oracle and a wmb,and this ball put them both to shame.I moved 5 boards in with the other 2 and couldn't get nearly the back end the addiction had .I wasn't pleasantly shocked.So if u have one and its out of box is dead or dying don't fight it polish it and see how it works. I am a med speed low rev player and i believe polishing for me allows the ball to spin more giving it the energy u need to turn the corner even if i got would the ball finished maybe not striking, but not a washout from going into an ice cube on roller skates type slide to the ten pin like my other 2 disappointments.
Title: Re: Apex Addiction
Post by: Slopsurprise on October 02, 2005, 01:02:54 PM
I have had an Addiction since they came out of few years ago. I think it is drilled 3 3/8 and I have low to medium revs and ball speed 15-16MPH. I have retired this ball a number of times becasue I couldnt get it to work for me at all. I tried changing the surface many times to get my desired results and with no luck. A few months ago, I got the ball rejunivated and got the cover taken to a 400 grit cross/hatch with the same results. After retiring it again for a few months I decided to polish the crap out of it and try it again!! I took it with the 400 grit cross hatch and polished it insainly! You can see that the cover is a bit rough from the Cross Hatch but, it is the shinyest ball on the rack by far. The Results, WOW!!!!! This is now my first ball out of the bag!!! I found it to be very forgiving. If I threw it past my break point it still seemed to find its way back to the pocket! I am gald I gave it one more chance!!!!!
--------------------
Hey, it might be slop but, it all looks the same on the scorecard!!!!!
Title: Re: Apex Addiction
Post by: toomanytenpins on October 06, 2005, 10:48:42 PM
i must say that i had the same sort of repore with this ball it seems to be a bit of an anomally because it seems to rect to change well ,but the result never seems to last long every thing that i have done to it polish resurface weight hole everything has made an improvement but none that has been lasting it still isnt a go to ball in my opinion. As you make the change the ball responds,put it away and come back to it it is dead again ,its like and old rechargeable battery and sooner or later they get thrown away too.
--------------------
my style, the art of bowling without bowling
Title: Re: Apex Addiction
Post by: Slopsurprise on October 08, 2005, 11:58:58 AM
Toomanytenpins,
  You may be correct!!! I have had no luck the past few days with it. It seems to have lost its magic once again!!! I agree with your last review of it!
--------------------
Hey, it might be slop but, it all looks the same on the scorecard!!!!!
Title: Re: Apex Addiction
Post by: LeoAnalyn on August 18, 2006, 06:15:26 PM
This ball was my Primary ball for about 2 years. Very aggressive for High Rev bowler. One thing about this ball you have to keep it on 1000 grit (Original Sanded) or 800 grit. This Particle does get shine easily after a couple of games. Once it gets shine this ball will go all over the board. The extra spin will snap aggressively around 2 to 3 board difference. Sanding it will bring the magic back and full control.

Drilled: Drilling #5
Overall It's a good retired ball. Now I'm using Brunswick Inferno's ball. Now, I never thought bowling is much easier.
Title: Re: Apex Addiction
Post by: jabatam on March 26, 2007, 10:32:24 AM
Had mine for 3 years now with strong drill (don't remember exactly which one).  I'm a tweener bowler and this ball is very aggressive on the back ends on medium oil but still turns pretty good on heavy oil if ball speed is kept down (its my ball of choice for the Shark pattern in my PBA Experience league).  Soaks up oil like a sponge though and after a few games it burns out.  Throw it in the dishwasher with the gel detergent and its as good as new again, just gets old doing that every couple of weeks though.
Title: Re: Apex Addiction
Post by: felix_soto on January 24, 2008, 05:14:00 PM
I am not a very good bowler but I am still in the learning process, I play 3 leagues a week and average 180-190.
My first ball for heavy oil conditions was a 16 pounder Apex Addiction, The first time I used it, it worked extremely well but the flare went away too fast (after 2-3 weeks). I had it sanded and the ball became very aggressive on heavy oil. Last year on advice of the most experienced bowlers I started turning my arsenal into 15lb and I was able to get a hold of a used 15lb Apex Addiction from a former PBA player, I had it sanded and it works like new. It is my first choice whenever I start a game, and I always have to switch ball on the second or third game because it eats all the oil in its path very fast, I think it is because of the Mac Daddy Particle Resin Coverstock. One thing I learned with the 15lb vs the 16lb is that I needed to increase speed and rev to hit the pocket, otherwise the ball breaks too fast. Retired but still a Great ball on heavy oil.