Ball NPS Score: Not Available
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Spirit II
When we team up with our urethane supplier, BASF, the game catches on fire. Well, we’ve ignited the lanes again with our new Spirit II. You’re game for this high-performance, polished pearl of a ball that won’t polish off your budget. When the two peice performance core and the reactive particle coverstock light up in medium oil, sparks fly. So turn up the heat. Enjoy the fireworks.    

Weight Rg Differential Rg
16 lb. 2.514 0.043
15 lb. 2.567 0.038
14 lb. 2.663 0.029
 
Total Hook             Hook Potential
                   (in Oil) (Dry Backends)
36                    13          23


Color:Burgundy with Hot Pink Engraving
Finish: Polished
Track Flare: 4-5
Available Weights: 16,15,14,13,12,11,10

 
Proven light bulb shape core with top flip block. Creates dynamic ball properties generating track flare to increase friction with the lane.
Reactive -  We teamed up with our urethane supplier BASF again to bring you a great coverstock at a great value.
75-78 ABC/WIBC approved.

I've tried this ball in two layouts, and I can state without a doubt that it most definitely is NOT a reincarnation of the original Spirit-I. This is bad. However, on the plus side, if you're looking for a dry lanes ball, this one will fill that niche. My favorite Spirit-I is layed out like this:

http://www.pipeline.com/~randyo/15spirit1.jpg

With this layout, the ball goes looooooong, and has a strong but controllable move on the back end. Carry is excellent. It is a fantastic step-down ball from my Time Zone (laid out pin over bridge and CG kicked right a bit). Similar reaction to the Time Zone but the Spirit-I plays longer and a couple of boards further right when the shot starts to go as it is much cleaner through choppy heads.

Since the 'new improved' Spirit II has a lower RG in 15# than the orginal Spirit (2.567 vs. 2.59), I laid out this Spirit II with the pin over the bridge and the CG kicked right similar to the original Spirit layout, in an effort to duplicate what I get from the Spirit-I:

http://www.pipeline.com/~randyo/15spirit2.jpg

In just about every ball that I've drilled with this layout, I get length with good backend. The new Spirit II with this layout gives me a different look - "Length with no backend".  WHAT? DID YOU MEAN THAT? Yup - Length with no backend. It was so weak that it had a similar look to my polished urethane black hammer, maybe a board stronger. If you need a track-jammer, or like to play up the boards, this is your ball. If you like to belly it a few boards and stay in the track area while everyone else is moving left, this is your ball. If you like to swing the ball out and bring it back - forgeddaboudit. Drill something else.

Bowling This Month hit the nail on the head in their review -
"Exceptional length is this ball's main strength. It is cleaner through the front part of the lanes than most balls on the market. The straighter the line through the front, the better the back end reaction will be".
Can you read between the lines? "No Backend" is what I read.
Does it hit? Well, I carried dead flush hits. Nothing else impressed me in the carry department. Will I be buying anymore of these to try other layouts? No. Will I find a use in my arsenal for either of the Spirit II's that I drilled? I might keep the longer one in case I run into some really bad lanes, but so far I'm not impressed. I think this new Spirit will play well for crankers looking for something to keep them in play on crappy lanes, and strokers wanting to keep it in the track area. A niche ball. Maybe that's what Columbia was looking for. It's not what I was looking for.
If I run into a condition that changes my mind about this ball, I'll update. For now, it's just another 'niche' ball.

1. Other observations- I've seen 5 Spirit II balls - the two I have and three in Pro Shops. As with the original Spirit there are variations in both the color and the loading of whatever that light particle enhancement stuff is. Some balls are darker than others, and some have much more swirling/pearlization/particle stuff in cover than others. Nothing like good quality control

2. It is definitely a 2-piece design. Core and a thick cover. No filler core in this one.

Apparently I sent my last review in a little early.  This ball is more versatile than I thought!  I tried my normal shot with this ball and hit everything light during warm up.  I thought I could force the ball to work anyway.  After opens in the first 2 frames I moved 8 boards to the right and shot straight up the 8 board and had the next 7 strikes!  By the third game I was back at 27 to 17 to 8 and finished with a 236, 238, and a 247 for a 721 set!  First one in about 2 years!! Try to tell me it's the ball, not the bowler now!!

Let me start off by saying...I am a new bowler to the scene and my opinion can be taken with a grain of salt. I do not know the jargon I have read, though I know what I have been scoring and how I throw. You '"professional" bowlers can let me know what means what....Ok I just purchased this ball this week and threw about 10 games so far...coming from a Plastic Brunswick, there is a world of difference..I am throwing around a 180 game to 160 average, no bad for a guy who just bowled this month for the first time in over a year..When I approach the lane I have my right foot on the far left arrow(whatever that means) I then aim to the arrow second to the right of the front arrow...my ball had a lot of movement last night because the lane was kinda dry...it was coming all the way from the right gutter and going just but the front pin and hitting the first one to the left (my left). This was good movement in my opinion, so I put less spin and a little more speed to even it out and hit the strike zone, well after a game of 140 over shooting that spot, I hit the strike zone over and over and had 6 in the game, and a couple of splits, which i missed. All in all, so far I am satisfied, i do not play in a league and can expect these types of conditions down the road, though the night prior the lane was med-oil and it was hitting great.. Not that much power but good movement for a low price...$116, drilling and inserts included, ...I'll take it!

I felt compelled to review this ball again. The lanes have been dryer lately so I decided to give the Spirit II another shot. Well I have been pleasantly surprised! I started playing straight up 5 and the ball was too stronge after about 6 shots. I moved left (RH) 5 boards and threw about 8 to 4/5 and struck for 6 or 7 frames but it started hitting way too hard leaving 9 pins. Then, I moved my whole game 5 boards left and wow what a difference.I threw 12/13 out to 7/8 and this was it. I could spray it right and still strike, if I tugged it it sat in the oil and carried occasionally leaving the 10 pin. I shot 255 and 247 if not for missing the 10 pin a couple times could have shot 268/279.

I had left this ball in the closet until last week. Since I have shot 670 and 645 going to this ball after struggling the first game with another ball.

I know this is a place to REVIEW balls and not talk back and forth with fellow bowlers, but amlite, what the heck.  Read the information on the ball, it tells you that it's for dry backends, meaning light oil in most cases.  Also, what do you mean "no matter how I drill it?"  I bet you didn't plug it one time, you just got ripped on the first drilling pattern.  I got mine drilled stacked, the most basic of all patterns, and the only problem I come across with this ball is corner pins because it's a light 15#.

well I just picked up my redriled spirit 2 and have it drilled with a 3x3 stacked leverage with a 7/8 inc weight hol about 1.5 in past  belo my axis point.  Anyone out there have any ideas on wat drill pattertern to use other than a 3x3 for this ball if so let me know.  so far with my 3x3 drill I have actually sho decen with this ball dring my weekly open prctice section.  so far with just the  spirit 2 I have had games today of 195 215 206and 229 for a 4 game total of 845 and a 4 game average o 211.25 as I said any sugesstions for other drill patterns are always welcomed

My Spirit 2 is 14 lbs with a 2.5 inch pin and 3 ounces of starting topweight. I kept the drill simple. Cg just above and right of span center and the pin next to ring finger. About a 5.5x5.5 for me.
This ball is great for drier lanes. It gets effortless length and then arcs mildly on the back end. I wouldn't use it on fresh conditions unless the pattern was very short. It needs a lot of dry to help it hook.
On its intended condition the Spirit 2 hits great. If the ball doesn't have enough dry to work with it won't hook or hit.
This is not a first ball out of the bag, but is a really nice option when you're looking for a ball that hooks and hits a bit more than plastic.
Use the ball where it's intended and you will be pleased with its reaction.
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Why does everyone laugh when I bowl?

louie