Hey everybody. I've now thrown the Rival for about 15 games or so, and here are my impressions of the ball. Overall, I'll say I'm REALLY liking it already.
Layout:
http://picasaweb.google.com/rcfinley/NewBowlingBalls/photo#5104665817521852562The ball was laid out by Mike Austin, and the pin is about 1 1/2" from my PAP. He also remeasured my PAP, and it was found to have changed from 4 1/2 over by 1 up to 5 3/16 over and 5/16 up. I've been working on keeping my hand behind the ball more, so it seems it has been working out!
I first used the ball a pattern that was basically shot, not having been run since the night before, and a league and open bowling had taken place on it since. I knew I wouldn't see what the ball was really capable of on this, but I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I could in fact keep the ball in play. I experienced some degree of roll out, but not as much as I expected. I was able to swing the ball into the blasted track area and it did not overreact. So far so good.
I next used the ball over the weekend in a tournament. The fresh shot was a heavier concentration flat pattern. I tried a few different angles on this pattern, and found my best success with the ball standing at about 21 and rolling it straight up the 10 board. Once the Rival started to turn the corner, it just plain didn't stop. I saw other guys struggling to find the pocket in the heavier stuff, but the Rival gave me a nice look. The reaction shape was a steady, rolly arc to the pocket, no snap whatsoever. This is just the kind of reaction I like, especially on flatter, more difficult shots where accuracy is at a premium. If I got the Rival too far out on this shot, it didn't have the recovery, but I wasn't surprised given the pattern I was on.
As this shot broke down, I just made small moves inside with my feet, generally keeping the second arrow as my target. The Rival started to check up a little sooner, but still had plenty of continuation through the deck as well as hold in the oil if I tugged it left. I was finding that if I was going to miss with this ball, it was better to miss it left than right.
I also rolled the Rival on one of the last squads of the day, after about 12 games or so had been played on the lanes. At this point, the pattern had transitioned to a "stand left throw it right" sort of look, and I wasn't sure if the Rival was up to that challenge. Fortunately, it was. All I had to do was change my hand position to get more side roll and put a little more pepper into the shot. Again, I wasn't getting any big snap out of the ball, but I was getting a great look on this broken down condition. The Rival was giving me an excellent, sweeping arc to the pins and giving me GREAT carry on light and off hits.
Overall, I think this ball will be a winner. It's not going to wow any onlookers with a huge backend move, but real bowlers will see the benefits of the consistent, readable arc with power that this ball provides. The Rival reminds me a lot of the Pain, only a few boards stronger and a little smoother. I bowl in leagues tonight, and will try to give my impressions of the ball on your standard, heavier volume THS. As far as flatter tourney shots go, I think the Rival is my new go to ball!
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Mr. Lebowski, this is Bill Salnicker with the Southern Cal Bowling League, and I just got a, an informal report, that a member of your team, uh, Walter Sobchak, drew a firearm during league play. If this is true of course, it contravenes a number of the league's by-laws, and article 27 of the league...
