900 Global Creature
15 lbs, 2-2.5 inch pin
Drilling: 4 inches pin-PAP, 45 degrees, 45 degrees (per Mo Pinel's new dual angle layout technique)
Surface: OOB
Lanes: Wood
Oil Condition: Short(er) pattern, reasonably flat. This is not a THS or Great Wall of China with a huge puddle in the middle; rather, it is a condition with decent volume in the front 15 feet, with plenty of friction downlane, due to both the short pattern and the higher friction lane material (wood).
Results: The Creature displayed easy length through the heads and a controlled backend ball reaction. This reaction was especially useful for playing a more direct line to the pocket; I could use the Creature far out toward the ditch, or dump/fudge it in the track area, to great effect. Many strikes were strung in this manner. Carry was superb, as is typical of most new balls on the market today; the pins were kept low, and all was well -- the Creature creates enough angle to carry the ten, but does not leave a ton of nine-pins like some balls do. As the lanes transitioned, small adjustments allowed me to continue playing the same area of the lane; this is a ball that I can either back off or up the speed/rev rate, and still produce a consistent ball reaction with. Still, at some point, the heads became too burnt, and the carrydown became too pronounced for me to continue playing far outside. Moving in, I kept my angle to the pocket as tight as possible, upped the speed, rev rate, and axis rotation, and once again found a very good line that produced a high number of strikes. The only time I found the Creature to not be at home was WAY inside; the weaker core's lower flare potential did not allow me to consistently carry from inside the 5th-6th arrow. Of course, this isn't where I would normally play with this ball, nor is it where I would like to play with any ball, if possible. I would much rather change my release or go to a weaker ball, than continue moving more and more inside (lofting the gutter cap is not my forte!).
In my opinion, compared to other balls out today, the Creature compares most favorably to either a Visionary Ogre Pearl or a Roto Grip Saturn. However, I believe that the Creature merges the two best parts of the two aforementioned balls -- it gets through the heads cleanly, makes a controlled arc to the pocket, and then punishes the pins, keeping everything nice and low. Plus, it looks great!
All in all, this is a definite winner from 900G that will undoubtedly find a home in my bag for most THS and shorter tournament shots (wherever friction is present, the Creature will go). I will update this review as more games are put on the ball (on different oil patterns and lane surfaces), and will soon put the finishing touches on a new video...
-- revTrex
