Ball: Brunswick Lethal Revolver
Layout:
Pin 5” from PAP, above ring finger
CG on midline, ¾” to right of grip center
No XH
Initial Surface Preparation:
Box finish
Purpose:
I must admit that I’ve been waiting for a ball that would give me a look that is similar to that of the Loaded Revolver, but that can handle conditions with more volume. The Loaded has been great for me when I’ve needed to control the reaction off of the dry, such as mediums and drier mediums with a defined area of friction to the outside, or shorter patterns where I need to tame down the back end. I have a Revolver that I’ve used in this spot in the arsenal, but it has a tendency to read the friction too strong to let me play more direct lines.
Observations:
In order to compare the reaction of the Lethal Revolver to that of the Loaded Revolver, I wanted to use the same layout, with the pin 5” from PAP, above the fingers. I thus chose a Lethal with a 4” pin-to-CG distance.
I’ve had the opportunity to use the Lethal Revolver on conditions that have varied from wet-dry house walls to flatter Kegel patterns. Because of the warmer Summer weather, the house conditions I’ve seen have had quite a bit of friction. On these shots, the Lethal has been just too strong overall when I try to use my normal release. However, I’ve been able to make a favorable ball reaction in one of two ways. If there is a decent amount of volume to the inside, I can move further left, soften up the speed, and go more from the oil into the dry. I had expected to lose some hit by doing this, but the Lethal remained continuous through the pin deck as I moved to the left. For the patterns that are playing more blended, I’ve been able to tighten up the trajectory through the front part of the lane, and fall the ball back off of the oil line. The Lethal is clean enough through the front part of the lane to where it won’t burn up before it reaches the end of the pattern.
On the flatter patterns, and from deeper inside lines, I can increase my speed and go to a release that gives me more forward roll, so that I don’t give away too much of the pocket, I can stay with the Lethal on these patterns as long as there is enough volume in the front part of the lane to keep the ball on line through the front, and even when moving deeper inside, the Lethal continues well through the pins.
For me, the Lethal has been anywhere from four-and-two to seven-and-four stronger than the Loaded Revolver, and two-and-one to three-and-two stronger than the Revolver. The difference has been larger for me on the flatter patterns, mainly due to there being less volume to the inside to hold the ball on line.
Conclusions:
When I first took the Lethal Revolver out of the box, and saw the factory surface preparation, I was afraid that it give me more hook than I was seeking. So far, I haven’t been disappointed by the amount of overall hook, but I have been surprised at just how strong this ball is at the pin deck. The Lethal will roll more through the midlane than the Revolver, but it will be continuous down lane without over-reading the dry.
I’m now looking forward to the start of tournament season, and being able to use this ball on more volume. I see the Lethal as being the ball that I’ll be using when the bench pieces aren’t quite giving me enough reaction, and I need to get the ball to start up quicker and still have some strength down the lane. I also see the Lethal as a good complement to the Wicked Siege or C-(System) alpha-max for higher volumes. I’ll use the Lethal when I want to play a more direct line from front to back, and one of the asymmetricals when I want to open up the midlane.
NOTE: The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer and not of Brunswick Corporation.
Ray Salas
Brunswick Amateur Staff
http://www.brunswickbowling.com