Bowler Information:
Track diameter is 11 5/8.
PAP is measured at 4 11/16 over and 11/16 up.
Average ball speed (foul line to head pin) is 13 mph.
Axis rotation is typically 90 degrees
Initial rev rate is typically 200 rpm, "Tweener"
Lane Condition and Pattern:
New Berlin Bowl HPL 9000 Panel. Oil Pattern: THS condition medium oil outsides, heavier oil inside, semi clean backends.

Review:
While I am out recovering from Hip replacement surgery, I am having my daughter Ashley test this ball for me. 180 Average 17 year old with medium to slow speed and a low spinner type track.

The Diamondback simply reminds me of a sanded Rattler. The motion and reaction is the same but just more hook. For the money, it will outsell the Copperhead by far, reason, Activator Coverstock, proven winner for Brunswick with the rocket core. High performance, low money. Will be one of the best balls for medium to oily lanes for bowlers on a budget.

From her Copperhead, the Diamondback is cleaner through the fronts but is much stronger off the dry and more angular on the backends. Overall hook is 3 and 2 stronger then her Copperhead.

Brunswick has the world's best line of midpriced balls and this ball just improved it by a mile.

Thanks for reading my review.
Dwight

Layout:

Pin 5” from PAP, below ring finger
CG ¾” below and ¾” to right of grip center
No XH

Initial Surface Preparation:

Box finish

Purpose:

To fill the benchmark spot in the tournament bag. I have a couple of Copperheads that I’ve been using as bench pieces, and while they’ve served me reasonably well in this role, I’ve been looking for something that not only could be used to read a lane, but would also be strong enough to stay with as the condition transitions. I’ve also tried a Rattler in this spot, but I’ve been hoping to find something that would handle more oil.

Why this ball?

The solid Activator cover on the Diamondback has proven to be versatile, and I’ve always gotten consistent reactions from the lower-RG Rocket core. Also, for whatever reason, I’ve always had better luck with benchmark balls that have had solid covers.

Observations:

The first time I threw the Diamondback was at a center with five-year-old Pro Anvilane, in a second-shift league. The pair we drew that night has been playing tighter than the other pairs in the league, and getting the right midlane read has been tricky. However, the Diamondback handled this condition extremely well, blending out the lane from front to back and side to side. It read the oil without squirting, and from the dry, it made a defined move to the pocket without jerking or over-bouncing. We did encounter quite a bit of transition during the set, but I was able to follow the oil line inward without losing recovery. I didn’t seem to have the same inside limitation that I’ve experienced with the Copperhead, as the ball continued to finish strong and kick the corners as I moved in.

I’ve also used the Diamondback at a center with HPL in front and older wood in back, on a fresh house condition. The Diamondback read the friction in such a way that I could get my feet further left, allowing me to hook around the push, and keeping me further away from the burn in front. I did have to make several lateral moves over the course of the set, but I was able to do so without losing my angle to the pocket.

Conclusions:

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with the Diamondback. With the Snake line (as with the BVP line before it), the stronger pieces have been more even in nature, while the angular balls have been weaker overall. So you could imagine how pleased I was the first time I got the Diamondback wide of target, and saw the way that it came roaring back to the pocket.

It’s hard for me to draw a comparison between the Diamondback and other recent Brunswick releases. It’s not quite like the Ultimate Inferno remake, because the Diamondback doesn’t need to get all the way to the dry in order to make a defined turn down lane. It’s also not quite like a scuffed Rattler, because the move that the Diamondback makes at the break is noticeably stronger. The Diamondback definitely gives me a look that I don’t have in the bag right now, and that I haven’t seen in the mid-price line in quite a while.

NOTE: The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer and not of Brunswick Corporation.
--------------------
Ray Salas
Brunswick Amateur Staff
http://www.brunswickbowling.com

Bowler Information:

Initial ball Speed: 16.5 - 17 mph
Tilt: 10 Degrees
Axis Rotation: 30 Degrees
Rev Rate: 300-340 RPMs

Coverstock - Activator Solid
RG min - 2.496”
Differential - .043”

Drill Specs:
Pin to PAP - 4.5”
Degree From VAL: 25"
Vertical Pin Orientation: UP
Drill Angle - 65"

Surface:

4000 Siaair Micropad

The Diamondback is a new reaction shape for Brunswick in the Advance Performance line. If you are looking for a reactive solid with plenty of hook at the breakpoint, look no further! This ball takes a solid read of the midlane and then explodes into the pocket with an amount of angularity I have never seen in a Solid Symmetrical Ball from the great folks at Big B. Activator Solid is known as a smooth continuous reading solid formula, however, when pared with the Rocket Core it seems to become quite a bit more angular. Don't get me wrong, it's no C System 2.5 or Wild Thing as far as response time goes, but it is definitely more angular than past Brunswick solid releases in the Advanced Performance line. In fact, the ball had too much recovery in its out of box 2000 Siaair Micropad finish for our 40 food moderate to heavy volume house pattern, so I decided to take it down to 4000 so I wouldn't have to play so far in the middle of the lane. When compared to my similarly drilled 2000 grit Rattler, the Diamondback is 3 and 1 stronger with more angularity at the 4000 grit finish. From a pro shop operators perspective, it also compares very capably with other manufacturer's solid balls that tend to have faster response times than that of Brunswick and seems to possibly have more hook. In summary, this ball continues to improve on proven technology by providing a little bit of that new Brunswick angularity. If your looking for top tier performance at an affordable price look no further...The Diamondback is all of that and more!
--------------------
Chris Garrett
Upstate Pro Shop
Greenville, SC - 1-866-490-9980
Upstateproshop@charter.net

PBA Member
Brunswick Advisory Staff
Vise Regional Staff

The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the Brunswick Corporation.