BallReviews
General Category => Drilling & Layouts => Topic started by: lefty50 on June 08, 2015, 03:25:25 PM
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After a disastrous trip to Nationals, I decided to start comparing some of my equipment and layouts. I just came back from a practice session that doesn't make sense to me. Constructive comments are appreciated.
Left handed, both balls sanded identically at 1000 before practice. Both balls also have nearly identical location of thumb positive weight holes.
Ball number one is a Radical Guru with essentially a double thumb layout... pin just left of ring finger and MB right next to thumb hole.
Ball number two is a Brunswick Mastermind with pin just left of finger, but this time the MB is swung out 35 to 40° towards my PAP.
I thought the double thumb layout would provide early hook, but it goes REALLY long and snaps ( a bit weak, but noticeable) at about 50 feet. The Mastermind is at least 5-7 feet earlier and covers 5-6 more boards at least. Did I mis-understand the purpose of the double thumb layout?
And for those whom I know will ask... Guru went to Nats. Mastermind stayed home because I thought they would be fairly similar. At least today, I was dead wrong.
Thoughts?
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From my experience, the double thumb layout would create more length and sharper backend. Your Mastermind would start earlier with a more controlled breakpoint.
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Well for most of the pieces I have used, the double-thumb hole acts as recovery on the backend. I've had shiny pieces I used on heavy oil in the past that just skated long, but snapped hard on the back, because of this hole! Most of my friends who don't have hand, get dbl-thumb holes for that reason.
When you swing the MB out towards your PAP, you tend to get an arcy ball that wants to flair a lot. How much it flares and when it flares depends on your surface prep, of course. The shinier it is the more it flares on the backend and the rougher it is, the earlier it flares.
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Then it sounds like the double thumb may be doing what it is designed to do, but the recovery in my case is extremely weak and definitely not worth the added length. I'll try playing with surface and see what happens. As it stands now, it's a re-drill for sure.
Thanks for the feedback.
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Also keep in mind, layouts are only relative to the ball. It's fine tuning the natural reaction of the ball, not creating the reaction itself.
In my experience, the mastermind cover is earlier than the guru, and most other balls on the market.
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Then it sounds like the double thumb may be doing what it is designed to do, but the recovery in my case is extremely weak and definitely not worth the added length. I'll try playing with surface and see what happens. As it stands now, it's a re-drill for sure.
Thanks for the feedback.
The double thumb helps increase the RG and the Intermediate differentials. Larger differentials increase the potential flare. Where that flare occurs depends on the ball's coverstock, the surface applied to it, the amount of oil on which the ball is used AND the bowler's ball speed and release.
If the ball gets long length due to the combination of the above factors, the flare will be applied at the backend, providing a lot of recovery and backend hook.
If the ball hooks earlier, due to the above factors, the flare will translate into more overall and earlier hook.
From my experience at Nationals in past years, you do not want all your hook to be at the backend. That is, you don't want a flippy ball reaction. Often the oil pattern at Nationals is oilier than 95% of your average house shot. You want "SOME"degree of midlane "grab". Again, how much depends on the your release/ball speed and the oil pattern you see. (Remember what you see at Nationals is not always what is advertised.)
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Not to hijack, but does that mean the double thumb would be good for balls like the Hy-Road Pearl?