Coverstock: Evolution P2
Ball Color: Black/Blue Ice All colors do vary somewhat from the picture shown.
Finish: Polished
Flare Potential: 5.5" (Low)
RG Average: 2.58 (Medium-High) on a scale of 2.43-2.8 Very low-High Break Point
RG Differential: 0.040 (Low) on a scale of .000-.080 Low-High Flare
Recommended Lane Conditions: Medium-Heavy Oil
Description: Don''t be fooled by the Terminator''s appearance. It has a unique ability of handling heavier volumes of oil that are uncharacteristic of its poilshed finish. Amazing! ...all that needs to be said of this balls ability to start clean, rev up fast and charge the pins with a powerful turn to the pocket. A must have ball for the player who desires more than whats on the surface.

Ball Review for the Lane Masters Terminator

I am posting this review to help clear the air about one of my all-time favorite heavy oil balls and to put this information in its proper perspective.  This is not so much a technical review as it is a comment on ball selection choices I have seen by customers and other bowlers.  Those who read this will get some solid feed back and information on which to make their Lane Masters equipment choices.

We get many e-mails from bowlers who read our reviews and want an opinion from us on many new ball releases. We have both a tournament and a pro shop staff at our disposal that tests and evaluates almost all new releases as soon as they come out.  In that way, we are able to get timely and accurate on-the-lane feedback from bowlers with a wide range of skills and styles.  We then pass this information to our pro shop customers so they can make good choices when it comes to their bowling equipment investment.

We strive to be honest and fair in all our assessments of all test equipment from any and all companies.  But, at the same time, after a careful evaluation by our testers, our assessments will not “pull any punches” and will tell you exactly what we have discovered during this extensive testing.

Lane Masters has quickly become one of our favorite companies, especially when we get such complimentary feedback from both our testing staff and customers.  Most comments included their top notch performance, hitting power, reaction predictability, coverstock quality, and the looks they get from the other bowlers when the ball hits the pocket.

We want to post this review to help set the information straight about the Lane Masters Terminator. We read too many review postings that lead us to believe that there are many owners of this great ball that just did not fully understand what they where purchasing.

Let's start out by saying that the Terminator IS NOT a backend personality ball!

The Terminator, as well as the majority of balls from Lane Masters, is built for a smooth and controlled hooking reaction.  Lane Masters has determined that balls that have symmetrical cores and an arcing personality are more predictable and will score more consistently on a wider range of lane conditions.  This is what helps make Lane Masters balls some of the best on the planet.

We get weary of reading reviews by bowlers who just do not understand the technology of core and coverstock combinations -- which provide a certain “personality” for every ball that is manufactured.  Trying to make a ball do something that it is NOT designed to do is like running uphill on ice.  Very few bowlers can overcome the built-in personality or intended lane condition for which a specific ball was intended.  In other words – “Don’t try and MAKE the ball do what it wasn't meant to do on a condition it wasn't meant to be rolled on!”

The Terminator is one of the best and strongest HEAVY OIL balls on the market today! Don’t let the shiny coverstock fool you.  Please keep in mind that the shinier the coverstock on this ball is, the more length and energy this ball will retain (i.e. a stronger move to the pocket).  But again, keep in mind that the move that this ball will make for most bowlers will be an arching hook and roll reaction -- NOT A SNAP!  The stronger your release skills are, the more you will be able to change the look and shape of the arc/hook that you will get from this oil monster. Also keep in mind that high flare/stronger pin placement layouts will also contribute to this ball using all of its energy early if there is not enough lane oil to help this ball get down the lane.

The only place that most bowlers will see enough lane oil for this ball to work well will be in PBA experience leagues, USBC sport leagues, or at local tournaments where you know they are laying out a longer or heavier oil volume.  Attempting to use this ball on a typical league play house condition is very unwise and will result in a very frustrating experience for most bowlers.  Even with this ball shined up, the amount of oil that you will get for a typical league play situation WILL NOT be enough for this ball to work as it was intended to.

The Terminator is a great ball for those special events or sport conditions where traction and controlled hook are essential.

If you’re looking for a great Lane Masters ball with the strongest finishing hook then we suggest that you consider the Big R Bang or the new Terminator Rebellion.  Both of these balls will provide most bowlers with enough hooking board coverage that everyone around them will be asking – “Since when did you get that much hand in the ball?”

The Lane Masters Terminator is by far one of the best balls that we have ever experienced when it comes to conquering heavy oil lane conditions. As long as you understand where this ball fits in your arsenal, you will have a great tool for heavy or long oil lane conditions. We highly recommend this ball to anyone who wants to experience the power of a Lane Masters Ball.

To your continued bowling success,

Bowlpro

www.riptherack.net
www.americanmastersbowling.com

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Bowlpro

With all due respect to Bowlpro, I take just a bit of issue with some of his blanket statements. I suppose that for a cranker/high rev player, the Terminator is too much ball for a THS. But I use it, with good success (about a 212 average) on a THS every Friday Night, and on a second flight league (210 average) every Tuesday night. I also use it on fried lanes on Wednesdays and Thursdays in pot games (won two pots tonight).

Mine is drilled stacked leverage. I'm pretty much a Tweener or "power stroker", with med ball speed (around 15-16). My revs pretty much match my speed. On a fresh shot, I typically roll this ball  from about 10 to about 5. When the lanes dry a bit, I go about 12 to 5, and when they're fried, I go about 15 to 7. The ball works like a charm on each of these lines. It is very versatile FOR ME, and not just an "oiler."

I also used it with good success on a tournament where there was about 45 feet of oil. I went straight up 10, and it carried wonderfully.

So again, no disrespect to Bowlpro, but I thin we need to be careful with blanket statements that seem to assume that everyone will get the same performance out of this or any other ball, and that it is a "sport" or "special occasion" ball only. I own 16 balls, and this one gets the most use, by far. For me, if I had to cut my arsenal down to only 2 balls, I'd have the Terminator and my Columbia White Dot for spares.
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"Love God, laugh more, spend more time with the ones you love, play with children, do good to those in need, and eat more ice cream. There is more to life than bowling."

Scott F. Guinn, USBC Certified Coach

Purchased ball on 1/09/2009, had ball drilled up around end of 1/2009. Ball came 15-2 lbs, 3 TW and a 3" PIN and was laid-out 60* X 4" X 65* which placed the PIN below the RF, with a WH 1" past VAL, 1" down, CG 1" below the midline.

Pin carry is excellent as the ball was best suited for me in the medium-heavy to heavy conditions.. OOB this ball can cover alot of boards, but with a heavy dose of polish I could make it a usable piece on the more medium conditions.  The Terminator arcs extremely hard and surprises alot of bystanders with it's beautiful color-scheme and explosive hitting power.

Yet another excellent ball from LM................
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Pat Patterson

one of my favorite l/m balls.reads the lanes so well.hits unbelieveable.shot 2 of my best series with this one.like so much i have three.got two from friends.all drilled different.one pin next to finger stacked to maxed sanded at 800.rolls terror through oil.one pin down stacked sanded at 800 also.usually tournament read ball.third one pin in ring finger.very smooth for house shot.630 league fresh oil.the other two sometimes are way to much.if they were to remake these i would by   more .tony tm3  palmernator ball blue and silver ball with this weight block.with particle heavyloaded pearl coverstock maybe.me and palmer joke about this.

just wishing  i could make that one
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you haven"t really been beaten you just been tracked

I guess the soon to be released Terminator Resurrection is the ball I was looking for.

check forum.the release dates are there
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you haven"t really been beaten you just been tracked

I had forgotten how strong this ball really was.  It is drilled 5" pin to PAP with the cg right of center.  I refinished the ball to 600 grit sheen, just because it sat in a box for 5 years.

It was a controllable Monster.  255-218-257 for 730 right out of the pro shop in league.  My love affair has been renewed with this ball.

Now, how will the Resurrection compare to this one?

PS:  I forgot about the sound that this Lane Master ball has when it hits.  Nothing like it.