Outta the clear blue sky I got a knock on the door friday afternoon, about 3:30pm.

There stood my favorite person, the man in brown, yes, brown (UPS) is my friend. Unsuspecting he has

a one foot square box with my name on it. I rush in and tear the top off and there sits the new

BLACK EAGLE, what at beaut.  I get on the phone to Ballards Pro Shop, to see if I can get this drilled

before I leave to go bowl a SASBA tournament in Waco, Tx.  My driller, Derrick, says no problem, and off I

go, beeline to the Pro Shop.  I guessing that this ball is going to react somewhere in line with my Purple Eagle,and the TRAIN, hookers for sure. One of my favorite layouts (for me) is putting the pin over the middle finger, and the Mb about 3" right of the thumb hole...I don't get confused with all those fancy layout numbers, for me it's put the pin here, and the Mb here, and go throw it.  I didn't even get to throw it Friday evening, just packed it, and off to Waco. Saturday I was on B squad, so I get to watch A squad bowl, and see what going on with the pattern.

I'm seeing a pretty normal house shot (about 11 to 11, with strong backends, dry sides for sure) I'm thinking the BLACK EAGLE ain't going to see much action here, especially with OOB surface. Then I figure what the heck, and take it in the proshop and put a light coat of somebodys factory polish on it,... pretty glossy now.

B Squad goes on and I throw the first practice ball, like a hot knife thru butter, smooth as silk down the lane she goes, hits the backends and turns ups and WHACK !, wow. 10 minutes of practice and this is the ball I'm using today. The sides of the pattern were really dry, and the backs were really jumpy, but with ball I had a great look from about 18 to 9-10, and good carry. Granted I haven't been bowling too much over the winter, and was a little rusty, especially spares, but I stayed with the BLACK EAGLE both Saturday and Sunday. Most impressive was the ball zips thru the heads, does not get flippy or jerky off the track, and retains great hitting power.

In the games that I didn't miss a 10 pin or two, have a brain fart, I averaged about 240, and had a great look all day. I missed matchplay by 20 pins and was first out, hell I gave away a hundred pins in missed spares, (back to practicing I guess)..All in all the new BLACK EAGLE has a home in my bag. ALSO< call me old fashion, but I love a solid black ball, it's so much easier to watch the ball reaction, personally I wish they were all solid black, but that wouln't be no fun.  Strike to all  Jim Ensminger