Ball: Brunswick PythonLayout:Pin 5†from PAP, above ring finger
CG on midline, ¾†to right of grip center
No XH
Initial Surface Preparation:Box finish
Purpose:To give me an option for drier mediums, to get me from the Rattler to the Avalanche Slide. Even though my Slide is drilled relatively strong (4†from PAP), it doesn’t quite have the guts to make the corner on conditions that have broken down to where the Rattler is burning too soon off the dry.
Why this ball?I’ve always been impressed with the cleanness and versatility of the EnMotion cover, especially on conditions that are choppier in the front part of the lane. Also, when I need to go more away from the pocket, I tend to have more success with lower RG symmetric cores, as they give me the midlane reaction that I need to generate a more favorable angle at the pins.
Observations:The Python made its maiden voyage on a fresh house condition at a center with HPL in front and older wood in back, and it was right at home on this condition. The Python was extremely clean through the front and the early midlane, and then went into a hard arc at the break. As the condition broke down, I was able to make proportional moves, maintaining the same breakpoint, and the ball never failed to recover. I’ve used the Python on two other occasions at this center, on pairs with varying amounts of transition, and I’ve yet to find an inside limitation with this ball, as it remains continuous no matter how far left I’ve had to move.
I also used the Python during a practice session on a broken-down house condition at a center with five-year-old Pro Anvilane. The Python ignored the choppiness in the front part of the lane and made a dramatic move in back, so much so that I had to cheat left with my starting position. I would have expected this to adversely affect my carry, but it did not, as I left very few corner pins.
I threw the Python in a tournament at a center with newer synthetics as well, on a blended house-type condition with less of a defined dry area than what I typically see in league. Even on this condition, the Python read the pattern extremely well, treading the oil without hydroplaning, and reacting strongly off of the dry without jumping.
Conclusions:The Python has a breakpoint shape that I can’t recall having seen in the Brunswick line in quite some time. Previous offerings in this class have either been clean in front but lazy in back like the Punisher was, or have started up too quickly to be effective on truly drier medium conditions like the Swarm and Rampage were. So far, for me, the Python combines the best of both worlds, and does so without having an inside limitation. In fact, the Python seems to get better in the back part of the lane as I move further inside.
What has really surprised me about the Python is that, no matter how far right I’ve missed with it, I’ve yet to see it not recover at least enough for a shaker hit. Also, despite the polished box finish, I’ve yet to have the Python squirt enough to blow past the breakpoint. Granted, I haven’t thrown this ball yet on higher volumes, but nothing else that I have in the bag has consistently exhibited this level of forgiveness the way that the Python has.
NOTE: The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer and not of Brunswick Corporation.
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Ray Salas
Brunswick Amateur Staff
http://www.brunswickbowling.com