Ball MotionFinished with a Rough Buff Polish, the Hell Raiser skids easily through the front and mid-lane with a very quick response to friction on the backend creating a highly angular motion that rips through the pins on medium oily to oily lane conditions. Reaction SetupThe DV8 Hell Raiser can be drilled using the standard drilling techniques developed for bowling balls with asymmetric cores. Ball MaintenanceTo reduce oil absorption and remove dirt from the surface of the ball, clean your ball with a cleaner designed for reactive bowling balls. WarrantyLook. We don’t screw around. DV8 bowling balls have been manufactured to the highest standards of workmanship and material. We warrant that they’ll be free of defects in materials and workmanship for a period of two years from the date of purchase. We agree to repair or replace the ball you bought if at any time during the warranty period it’s found to be defective in material or workmanship.
Title: Re: Hell Raiser
Post by: ShermDawg on August 01, 2011, 01:42:37 PM
BALL SPECS
Pin Length: 4
Starting Top Weight: 3
Ball Weight: 15
DRILL PATTERN
Pin to PAP: 5
CG to PAP: 5
X Hole (if there is one): None
BOWLER STYLE
Rev Rate: 475
Ball Speed: 17.5
PAP/Track: 4 3/4 and 1" up
SURFACE PREP
Grit: OOB
Type: (Matte, Polish, Sanded): OOB
LANE CONDITION
Length: 39 Ft
Volume: Medium
Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): THS
BALL REACTION
Back End: STRONG
Overall Hook: STRONG
Midlane Read: CLEAN
Breakpoint Shape: AGGRESSIVE
COMMENTS
Likes:
- Unbelievable Color Scheme!
- The ball just never stops. Extremely Continuous from the break point all the way through the pins
- The ball moves pins around like nothing I have ever seen before
- You can stay right in the track if you keep the ball speed up and hand soft without sacrificing hitting power
- If you want to get in and wheel the lane, all you need to do is slow the ball speed and let the ball roll. The hitting power is absolutely not compromised when doing this. I almost feel as if the ball hits harder the more you let it roll through the pins
- Hook. Hook. And More Hook!
Dislikes:
- Not having a second one in my bag yet!
OVERALL:
This ball is extremely surprising. The DV8 Equipment does not roll or hit like your typical Brunswick Equipment. It needs to be conveyed that these balls are different. These will be a great addition to anyone's arsenal looking for longer and stronger ball motions. The Hell Raiser definitely has strength to handle a higher volume of oil than I have used it on so far. I will be looking for more juice to see how this thing handles it. I will also be working with some surface changes and hopefully making a reaction video on house shot and Sport Shot. When the Misfit and Reckless come, I will do a comparison review between the equipment. So far, DV8 is surprising and is definitely going to make a bang in the market!
Kudos and will pop another review soon,
Mason Sherman Vise Regional Staff
Edited on 8/1/2011 at 11:44 AM
Title: Re: Hell Raiser
Post by: fatman_FUBAR on August 18, 2011, 07:56:38 AM
BALL SPECS
Gross Ball Weight: 15lbs 6 oz
Pin Position: 2"-3"
Top Weight: 2.1 Oz
Surface: 500; 1500 Siaair Micro Pad,
DRILLING PATTERN
Pin placed 4 1/2” to the axis, below the fingers. The Mass Bias is placed on the VAL at 40 degrees. A Weight hole was required, using a 25/32 bit and going 3” deep.
BOWLER STYLE
Multiple, Watch Video
LANE CONDITION
Length: 39ft
Volume:23.36 ml
Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): challenge
COMMENTS
Likes: incrediblely aggresive move to the pocket. great traction of the wet
Dislikes: NEEDS OIL. Its a beast of a ball and will HOOK!
Watch the Video, It will SHOW you how incredible this ball is!
Title: Re: Hell Raiser
Post by: robertbrowder on August 29, 2011, 04:10:57 PM
BALL SPECS
Pin Length: 2.5"
Starting Top Weight: 3 ozs.
Ball Weight: 15 lbs.
DRILL PATTERN
Pin to PAP: Dual Angle: 60 x 4" x 40
CG to PAP:
X Hole (if there is one): On PAP
BOWLER STYLE
Rev Rate: 325
Ball Speed: 16
PAP/Track: 5 1/2" over 1/8" up
SURFACE PREP
Grit: OOB
Type: (Matte, Polish, Sanded):
LANE CONDITION
Length: 42'
Volume:
Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): THS
BALL REACTION
Length: Good
Back End: Very Strong and Continous
Overall Hook: Incredible
Midlane Read: Strong
Breakpoint Shape: Strong Arc
COMMENTS
Likes: This is a incredibly strong ball that will hook from just about anywhere. Drilled this with a pattern that I've had good success with over the years, 60 x 4" x 40. After drilling threw on a lightly used pair and could not believe how strong the Hell Raiser is no matter how deep I moved it still made the corner with ease. Excited to see how this ball works on a fresh house shot as well as on The Team USA patterns and some of the Kegel patterns.
Raise Some Hell with the Hell Raiser.
Dislikes: None this ball is everything advertised and then some.
Title: Re: Hell Raiser
Post by: Silencer on August 30, 2011, 01:03:40 PM
BALL SPECS
Ball Weight: 15
Pin Length: 3 - 4
Pin above bridge with Mass Bias kicked just to the right of thumb hole and no extra hole. 3/4 oz. positive side weight and 0 finger/thumb weight. Vise Vacu Inserts and Vise 1 3/8" IT thumbhole.
SURFACE PREP
Grit: OOB
Type: (Matte, Polish, Sanded): OOB
BOWLER STYLE
Rev Rate: 450
Ball Speed: 16.5
LANE CONDITION
Length: 43
Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): 2011 Nationals with 30% more volume and 2 feet longer
COMMENTS
Likes: Very strong back end. When the Hell Raiser hits friction it goes dead left. The ball is continuous through the pocket and makes the pins fly. This ball gets through the heads with ease and saves ALL of its energy for the backend.
Dislikes: I'm not sure yet if it is due to the very oily condition I was on, but the ball doesn't seem to have much midlane roll. This can be looked at as good or bad depending on the shot you are bowling on. I have a strong feeling if I throw this ball on a THS it will be perfect midlane but on the heavy oil shot I was bowling on, it started to make its move just a little late.
I will update this post once I get a chance to bowl on a THS as I expect this ball to be a complete monster on.
UPDATE: Today I went and bowled on a THS and wow was this ball a MONSTER! It definitely is the opposite of any Brunswick ball I have ever thrown. It goes plenty long, gets through the heads great and when it hits friction, it is a dead left turn. This ball may just be the HARDEST hitting ball I have ever thrown. I was just throwing shots with it for over an hour and literally got tapped less then 10 times and even when I did get tapped, it involved messenger's and a lot of stone 9 pins. I would definintely recommend this ball as a first ball out of the bag on any THS and I expect a lot of honor scores from people around the country throwing this ball. Good Job DV8!
Jared Lawrence
Edited on 9/2/2011 at 6:40 PM
Title: Re: Hell Raiser
Post by: gilesdtg on September 04, 2011, 11:12:43 PM
Type: (Matte, Polish, Sanded): Multiple finishes used in review
LANE CONDITION
Length: 38 foot, 43 foot
Volume: medium to medium/heavy, heavy
Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): THS and PBA Shark pattern
BALL REACTION
Length: 8/10. Out of box finish this ball provides great length and recovery. Also this ball takes great to surface adjustments. Don't be afraid to adjust the Hell Raiser's surface to get more or less length.
Back End: 9.5/10. Back end is what the Hell Raiser is all about. I cannot tell you how many times I have sent the Hell Raiser wide and watched it fly back. This ball brings a new definition to back end...from your THS to the heaviest of sport patters this ball will find its way back to the pocket.
Overall Hook: 9.5/10 Right in line with its back end hook potential, the overall hook of the Hell Raiser is second to none!
Midlane Read: Midlane is one of the first things I look for in a ball, and the Hell Raiser fits the need. The Hell Raiser gets clean through the heads, and ever cleaner though the mids. For a high end ball you will find yourself in awe of how clean this ball is, even on your medium ths patterns.
Breakpoint Shape: Aggressive Continuous Motion
COMMENTS
Likes:
Where do you start with the Hell Raiser? From its flashy attractive color scheme to its unmatched high end performance, this ball is second to none! First let me comment on this balls performance on my ths pattern. I bowl on a 38 foot medium ths, and the Hell Raiser has found its place as the first ball out of my bag. I love to take advantage of the strengths the Hell Raiser offers and show off its versatility in league. The H.R. allows me to get in deep and wheel! This ball surprised me quiet a bit with how clean it was through the front part of the lanes and how much hitting power it saved for the pins. Being used to most other high end balls I have ever thrown I was expecting to have to put the Hell Raiser away after the first game, but I didn't. This ball never burned up or lost energy, rather it seemed as the night went on the Hell Raiser found a way to come around the corner harder. As much as I have enjoyed this ball on my house shot, I enjoy it even more on the heavy volume patterns. Last week I had a chance to throw this ball on the Shark pattern, and it did more than I could have ever asked for. The Hell Raiser allowed me to get 2-3 boarders deeper than anyone else with ease...which is a big advantage because it let me play in an area by myself...so all I had to do was make the shots. There were a couple shots I put in what I thought was no mans land, but the Hell Raiser proved me wrong. There is not a better ball for heavy volume patterns on the market! With all of the strengths talked about so far, I have yet to mention its best strength yet. This ball takes to surface adjustments very well, which is essential to all bowlers. I feel like having this ball in my bag is like having 3 balls in 1 because it takes so well to surface adjustments and gives me any motion I need. And the messengers....oh the messengers! Do yourself a favor and go raise some Hell with a DV8 Hell Raiser.
Dislikes:
The only dislike that could even be considered about the Hell Raiser is that it didn't come out sooner!
PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS
See Direct Link above listed under drill pattern.
Also visit Link listed below for full album of my DV8 Hell Raiser before and after drilling:
Title: Re: Hell Raiser
Post by: robertbrowder on September 07, 2011, 09:42:35 AM
BALL SPECS
Pin Length: 2 1/2"
Starting Top Weight: 3oz
Ball Weight: 15
DRILL PATTERN
Pin to PAP: Dual Angle 60x4"x40
CG to PAP:
X Hole (if there is one): On PAP
BOWLER STYLE
Rev Rate: 325
Ball Speed: 16
PAP/Track: 5 1/2" over 1/8" up
SURFACE PREP
Grit: OOB
Type: (Matte, Polish, Sanded): OOB
LANE CONDITION
Length: 42'
Volume:
Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): THS - League Armadilla 2 Houston, TX
BALL REACTION
Length: Good
Back End: Excellent
Overall Hook: Excellent
Midlane Read: Very Smooth
Breakpoint Shape: Very Strong Arc
COMMENTS
Likes: 221, 290, 299 = 810 This was the first time I've used my Hell Raiser and the first time in 2 years that I've bowled at this center. I was thoroughly impressed at how well the Hell Raiser cleared the front part of the lane, read the mid lane and made a Strong arc motion to the pocket. The pins stay very low and mix up extremely well which I consider a Major plus for this ball. Looking forward to trying the Reckless and Misfit in the near future.
Title: Re: Hell Raiser
Post by: Zack Pelton300 on October 10, 2011, 12:37:47 PM
BALL SPECS
Pin Length: 3 inch
Starting Top Weight:1.8 oz
Ball Weight: 15lbs
DRILL PATTERN
Pin to PAP: It was layed out 55 X 5 X 35
CG to PAP:
X Hole (if there is one): x hole about 1/2 inch above my pap
BOWLER STYLE
Rev Rate: 320
Ball Speed: 16-17
PAP/Track: 4 1/4 right
SURFACE PREP
Grit: 2000
Type: (Matte, Polish, Sanded): abralon pad
LANE CONDITION
Length: 36ft
Volume:
Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): house shot
BALL REACTION
Length: It gets good length. Almost to good. Very speed sensitive even with the surface change I made to 2000. It is sometimes speed sensitive.
Back End: It has a lot of pop on the back end. A lot more of a check mark then a lot of the Brunswick stuff that I am use to throwing. But not really that much of a difference. I really have to stay behind the ball to get it to read sometimes
Overall Hook: The overall hook reminds me a lot of a ulti max. Not really the biggest hooking thing out on the market but it has its place
Midlane Read: The only time I get some mid lane read is when i'm really on top of the dry and send it right quick (a house shot of course).
Breakpoint Shape: Strong arc
COMMENTS
Likes: I like the length the ball gets and the more pop then the brunswick stuff. I sometimes have trouble getting there stuff around the corner. Makes me really stay under the ball, which helps on sport patterns.
Dislikes: Sometimes this ball is a tad speed sensitive and really doesn't hook a lot on the fresh. (my dark star out hooks it) However on the burn when I move in I can get deeper with this ball
PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS
Title: Re: Hell Raiser
Post by: dizzyfugu on October 24, 2011, 03:00:08 AM
PLAYER STATS Style = Stroker/mild tweener, right-handed Speed = ~14-16 mph PAP = 5" over & 7/8" up (high track) Axis tilt = ~20° Revs = ~275-325 RPM at release For more details, check out my profile, please.
BALL SETUP Ball was 15.04 lbs. with 3 ounces of TW before drilling and a 3” pin . I had preferred a longer pin (placement above the fingers, for extra length), but the 3" pin specimen was the only thing available at the moment. My ball driller, Michael Kraemer from Michaels Pro Shop in Duisburg, Germany, suggested to simply drill the pin out with the ring finger hole, though, and that's what we finally went for, with the MB set at almost 90° and avoiding any extra holes due to a CG slightly shifted left from the pin-to-MB line.
Dual angle specs: 60° drilling angle 4.75" pin to PAP 55° angle to VAL
+ = Pin (placed in ring finger hole) # = CG m = mass bias/PSA marker
Surface was left OOB to see what the orb is capable of. For ball and layout pictures pls. refer to the video included at the review's end.
LANE CONDITION(s) Length: typically 37-40' Volume: 18-24 ml Type: fresh and worn THS, as well as a mild sport pattern (~5:1 ratio), all on synthetic surfaces (Brunswick, Qubica)
COMMENTS I bought the Hell Raiser out of curiosity, without a true gap in my arsenal. It had been some time since I tried a ball with an asymmetrical, high mass bias core (an Awesome Finish). But I wanted to try (again) a state-of-the-art coverstock which offers less traction up front but a more responsive reaction in the dry back end than, say, classic PK18. Another aspect: strong low RG cores tend to be pretty rolly and erractic for my style. But the Hell Raiser's higher RG core with a medium strength MB looked promising. And so far, this ball is... impressive.
Likes:
First of all, this ball is STRONG! Even as a shiny pearl ball, it handles long and high oil well - very impressive. The 'Class 5 Reactive' coverstock (unique to the Hell Raiser, not a recycled Brunswick cover) reminds me somehow of Activator+, just cleaner overall and with a more spontaneous reaction to friction. Overall, the Hell Raiser reminds me of a less rolly, more light-footed Shock & Awe – with a certain twist: its ‘steam’ is hidden in the cover, not in its core.
For such a strong coverstock the stuff is pretty clean through the heads, and the Hell Raiser can be used even when a track has been played into the lane's front part. It needs head oil, though, but not lots of it - you quickly recognize weak hits and can adjust.
Probably due to this cover-dominance I found the Hell Raiser easy to read, esp. when trying to control the breakpoint through hand and wrist position changes. It reacts well and responsive to such adjustments. Taking hand out to delay the breakpoint and control the amount of hook works pretty well. Even if you play only with a 70% release, the cover and the core still help getting the ball through a proper skid/hook/roll transition for good carry. On the other side, moving deep is no problem at all. Give it hand, and it will break as if someone literally kicked it from the side. The true challenge is to keep the ball's entry angle in effective measures, though. Beware! With so much 'power reserve' the ball offers a lot of room for different lines and lane strategies, it is surprisingly versatile.
With my setup, the ball shows clearly defined reaction phase transitions from skid to hook and roll, and this seems to be an innate trait since a friend's Hell Raiser shows a similar behaviour, even more extreme than mine. I hardly dare to imagine what this beast can do in the hands of a player with more hand and speed, and with a more powerful layout!
The ball even handles long oil and carrydown situations. It won't hook a lot on higher volumes, but you can easily play the oil line. With its good traction and high RG core the ball will show some pop at the pattern's end and still turn the corner, with good carry. Here, its asymmetrical core is IMHO a true benefit.
A final thing to mention is the ball's garish design. There are some balls on the market with a yellow/red/black cover, but with its huge and well defined colour bands the ball not only stands out in the shelf or on the ball rack. This design also makes reaction observation easy.
Dislikes:
Not many, only typical things so far. This is supposed to be a higher end pearl reactive with a mid-powerful, asymmetrical core. Hence, do not expect a smooth control ball - this thing wants to move, a LOT, rather violently, and it IMHO needs some experience to be properly exploited. It will appeal to those who just want a “hook-out-of-the-box”, but the Hell Raiser has much more potential. I can understand why Brunswick staffers are disappointed because they are not allowed to use this ball officially.
The ball’s carry is impressive, but I found that the line between powerful 'collateral damage' strikes and wide splits can be very thin - due to the deep entry angle the Hell Raiser can create, esp. when you take speed out. 'All or nothing' could have been another appropriate name for this product. But if you stay alert, trouble can be easily mended. I cannot tell anything about durability yet. With the few games I have on my NIB specimen, tracking appears to be normal, but its OOB surface already shows first signs of wear. I suppose it needs frequent surface maintenance, and I hope that I can effectively replicate the original "500; 1,500 Siaair Micro Pad; Rough Buff Finish" when I touch up the surface in the future? But with so much power, I might even try to use some Trizact rubbing compound, for even less surface than the Rough Buff finish. Another thing that needs to be mentioned in this context is that the ball literally attracts dirt, dust and grime. Maybe it stands out against the bright yellow, but I have the impression that ANYTHING the ball encounters on the lane and in the pin machines adheres to it! Anyway, frequent and thorough cleaning is recommended, as with any current high end piece.
Finally, I am a bit sceptical about overall integrity and longevity: the cover is only 0.5" thick at best. I am afraid that I might lose this one rather sooner than later through cracking... we'll see.
PERSONAL RATING SCALE
Length/through the heads: EasyoooooXoooooNeeds head oil
Breakpoint shape: ArcooooooooXoAngular
Hook potential: LowooooooooXoHigh
Control: StableoooXooooooErratic
Durability: PooroooooXooooHigh
Suited for… DryooooooXoooOily
Range of utility/lane conditions: LimitedoooooooXooBroad
Subjective overall rating of this ball: PooroooooooXooExcellent
This scale is inspired by popular rating methods and the results ultra-subjective. Surface prep, layouts and different playing styles will change the results for sure - it is just personal experience with the reviewed ball at OOB finish
LANE UTILITY CHART (Pattern length vs. oil volume)
|S M L |h e o |o d n |r g |t _____ |0 0 +| Light volume |+ X X| Medium volume |X + 0| Heavy volume
Legend: X = Best suited with effective control & carry + = Fairly suited (works, somehow, but can lack control and effectiveness) 0 = Unsuited (ineffective, either slips helplessly or burns up)
The chart’s concept is borrowed from Storm's 2003 print catalogue. Surface prep, layout or a different playing style will change the result
VIDEO For those who wonder what a ball does in the hands of a mediocre league bowler... Taken in my club's house, on Brunswick 2008 synth surface and with a modified THS, 38' long and with 22ml of oil. Nothing fancy, and the buffed outside area really blends out the much stronger and sharper reaction, esp. in the comparison with my benchmark Revolution Renegade.
As a side note, in direct comparison the lines for the Hell Raiser and the Renegade look very similar, but don’t be fooled: I had to play the Hell Raiser with much less hand and more axis rotation (the Renegade is played rather ‘normal’), therefore it also shows less revs than usual. Even on this virgin 38' pattern and on rather slick new synth surface I had to use such release tricks in order to keep the line tight and controllable and prevent the ball from running Brooklyn!
DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany 2010/11 Benrather BC Club Champion Confused by bowling? Check out BR.com's vault of wisdom: the unofficial FAQ section
Edited on 24.10.2011 at 4:59 AM
Edited on 14.11.2011 at 9:53 AM
Title: Re: Hell Raiser
Post by: ProQuest Pro Shop on November 04, 2011, 07:56:51 PM
Likes: Great colors, Awesome ball reaction, Most hooking ball I've thrown in atleast a year, Carries very well in heavy oil and
Dislikes: It got dirty pretty easily.... thats all I got
PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS
Title: Re: Hell Raiser
Post by: BrunsWolf on November 14, 2011, 04:23:32 PM
DV8 Hell Raiser
Bowler Specs:
18-18.5mph
375-400revs
Axis Tilt: 11 degrees
Axis Rotation: ~40 degrees
Layout:
60* by 4” by 30*
OOB Surface
Purpose:
I’d heard all the reports about the insane backend response on this ball so I decided to use this to help make the reaction where the ball would be guaranteed to flip on basically any condition I bowl on. Thus, this ball is to check up hard and roll strongly through the pin deck and the layout it to bring out that reaction. I wasn’t really concerned about the layout enhancing continuity, as that would come with the ball regardless.
On the lanes:
39ft THS on Pro-Anvil:
My THS has medium-low volume so the OOB surface is really needed for me to get the ball down the lane on this THS. I was able to play with a laydown of 28 out to 7 and never have to worry about it not coming back. When this ball flips, it flips hard. No doubt about that. It gets back from almost anywhere. Several times I would miss it at the bottom and send it right and it would STILL find a way to make it back flush to the pocket. I took a hint from Nick Smith and, for fun, kept trying to have a mixer strike. I’m not going to say it’s impossible for this ball to not come back flush, but it’s difficult. It always wants to flip up flush. Can’t complain about that.
41ft 6:1 ratio pattern on AMF HPLs:
The house I bowled this tournament in recently might have the least hooking HPLs I’ve ever bowled on. Many had troubles getting their equipment to finish on the backend and to not still be trying to hook is it hit the pins. Not with me and my Hell Raiser though. I could throw this ball in the meat of the pattern and still have a reaction that would stand up and go through the pins correctly and not leave all the corners that plagued everyone else. That day there was no doubting the Hell Raiser on the fresh.
Highway to Hell Kegel pattern on HPLs:
This house with HPLs actually has the amount of friction you’d expect. That being so, the Hell Raiser still projected down the lane nicely and really helped me open up the lane as the day wore on. I could move further inside into the oil and throw the ball out to the burn and just keep watching it come back.
On average, I’d say the ball is about 3-4 boards less than the Nexus Solid, the same overall amount of hook as the Alpha Max but with more backend, and about 3 boards more than the Ulti-Max with an equivalent backend motion. That being said, if you have an Alpha Max but are looking for more backend or if you have an Ulti-Max but want more overall hook with the same reaction shape, then the Hell Raiser should be the first ball you consider.
Conclusions:
This is a terrific ball regardless of the price tag. All other high-end balls are now pushing higher and higher but the Hell Raiser is about $30-40 less than the competition with all the ball reaction you want. It gets down the lane easy, ever so slightly picks up in the midlane, and then roars back with authority on the backend. All doing so with tremendous hitting power and plenty of hook to recover from almost everywhere. This ball would be able to fit in everyone’s bag because of the attributes that it has that are unique to it. The amount of length and backend recovery is hard to find is hard to find in such a strong ball. So much so, that I’d be willing to put
this ball up against any other strong asymmetric and prove it.
Brunswick Advisory Staff
Jared Wolf Jonesboro, AR www.bowlingchat.net
The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer and not of Brunswick Corporation.
Title: Re: Hell Raiser
Post by: bcorbin on November 29, 2011, 09:42:54 PM
LANE CONDITION
Length: 39 ft
Volume: Medium
Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): THS
COMMENTS
Likes: Drilled this ball up 1 day ago and from the get go I was in awe. This ball has great length and huge hook potential. I drilled this ball stacked for good length and a sharp backend. Excelent to move left and swing the ball. DONT PULL IT. If you do its gone. But I absolutely love this ball straight out of the box. May need to polish the ball but if you want a ball to open the lane up this is the ball you want.
Dislikes: NONE
PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS
Title: Re: Hell Raiser
Post by: TamerBowling on January 20, 2012, 04:00:40 PM
LANE CONDITION
THS: 38ft modified Kegel Easy Street
Sport: 42 ft Kegel Autobahn
COMMENTS
The bowler is a medium speed, rev and speed matched style. Originally, the ball was intended for a specific pattern, but we found more flexibility. Ultimately, this ball is pretty strong and works very well on heavier, longer conditions. The ball worked very well and made a consistent move on the Autobahn pattern. This is a heavier pattern. The OOB finish worked perfectly on this condition. For the house pattern, this ball is quite honestly too much ball for this style, at least in the out of box. It just struggled to carry because of how much energy it used up. If you are faster with your speed, it would certainly work better. However, with 4000 abralon and polish, the ball worked much better as expected. It took to the surface change easily enough.
In the end, the preference for such a strong ball is going to be heavier patterns, be it sport or house. Don't be afraid to make some surface adjustments if you want to use it on different conditions.
PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS
A detailed review is coming soon but check out the video at:
Everything Bowling, coaching tips, ball reviews, General bowling discussions USBC Certified Level I
Title: Re: Hell Raiser
Post by: bannachb on February 03, 2012, 08:52:42 PM
I have drilled 2 Hell Raisers
Hell Raiser 1
DRILL PATTERN
5 7/8” x 5” x 2 ¾” Pin Buffer
X Hole (if there is one): None
BOWLER STYLE
Rev Rate: 525 – 550 RPM
Ball Speed: 20 MPH at Release
PAP/Track: 5 ¼ x ¾ Up
Axis Rotation: 65*
Axis Tilt: 12*
SURFACE PREP
Grit: 1500
Type: (Matte, Polish, Sanded): Sanded
LANE CONDITION
Length: 42 Ft.
Volume: 19 mL
Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): USBC Blue 1
Surface Type: Synthetic
BALL REACTION
Overall Hook: Strong
Breakpoint Shape: Smooth Roll
COMMENTS
At out of box surface the Hell Raiser pushed down the lane too far for my high ball speed. At 42 ft, I needed that ball to pick up sooner. The Hell Raiser made a strong move at square angles, however once I had to try to open up the lane, it pushed too far. So I adjusted the surface from OOB (1500 Rough Buff) to 1500 sanded. The Hell Raiser game alive at this surface, and I could get as deep as I wanted as long as there was head oil. When the head oil started to burn up, the Hell Raiser burned up early. As with most High Performance equipment, this ball needs oil to perform at it’s best. I would describe the ball motion as a strong arc. At 1500 sanded surface, the Hell Raiser rolls strong and smooth.
I can see the Hell Raiser working on many different lane patterns. It will perform it’s best on heavier volumes and longer patterns. It could also be used to blend out an extreme wet/dry condition found in many house shots.
Likes: The strength and recovery in oil. And the strong controlled move at the break point.
Dislikes: At OOB surface, it was a little “squirty” for my high ball speed.
PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS
Hell Raiser 2
DRILL PATTERN
55* x 4 ½” x 40*
X Hole (if there is one): None
BOWLER STYLE
Rev Rate: 525 – 550 RPM
Ball Speed: 20 MPH at Release
PAP/Track: 5 ¼ x ¾ Up
Axis Rotation: 65*
Axis Tilt: 12*
SURFACE PREP
Grit: 1000, High Gloss Polish
Type: (Matte, Polish, Sanded): Polish
LANE CONDITION
Length: 39 ft.
Volume:
Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): THS
BALL REACTION
Breakpoint Shape: Angular, Skid/Flip
COMMENTS
This was my second Hell Raiser I drilled. My first Hell Raiser struggled when the heads started to burn up, so I wanted a ball that made a similarly strong move at the break point but gets through the heads much cleaner. This ball did not disappoint! At this surface the Hell Raiser glides through the heads with ease, and when it gets to the break point it makes a strong angular move to the pocket. This is the ball I switch to when the heads are breaking down, but there is still volume at the end of the pattern. This ball hooks from the deepest angles and does so with vengeance.
This will be my go to ball on longer sport patterns when the heads break down but I still need a strong ball to make the corner.
Likes: Ease through the heads, and strong angular break point.
Dislikes: None
PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS
Bryan Bannach
DV8 Regional Staff Member
www.damngoodbowling.com
The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer and not of Brunswick Corporation.
Title: Re: Hell Raiser
Post by: Jcom on February 17, 2012, 08:51:38 PM
BALL SPECS
Pin Length: 3.5"
Starting Top Weight: 2.5 oz
Ball Weight: 15 lbs.
DRILL PATTERN
Dual Angle Layout: 65* x 4" x 35*
BOWLER STYLE
Rev Rate: 475 rpm
Ball Speed: 17 mph
PAP/Track: 4" > 1/2" ^
SURFACE PREP
Grit: Out of Box
Type: (Matte, Polish, Sanded):
LANE CONDITION
Length: 43 ft
Volume: Medium/Heavy
Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): 1.3 : 1 ratio sport
BALL REACTION
Length: good
Back End: strong
Overall Hook: strong
Midlane Read: clean / smooth
Breakpoint Shape: Angular
COMMENTS
Likes: The color scheme is awesome! Ha ha but seriously this ball is very clean through the heads and makes a very strong move on the back end with great continuation.
PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS
Jordan Harrison Strike Zone Pro Shops Salt Lake City, Utah DV8 Regional Staff
The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer and not of Brunswick Corporation.
Title: Re: Hell Raiser
Post by: Brandon Riley on February 24, 2012, 04:50:00 AM
LANE CONDITION
Length: 40
Volume: Medium
Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): USBC White #2 on Anvilane, HPLs and Pro Anvil
COMMENTS
Likes: Colours, has a very different roll which is effective on Medium Oil
Dislikes: Extreme wet or dry, did not take particularly well to surface changes
The Hell Raiser was an odd ball for me. I have thrown 3 of them: 90x3.5x90 (best), 60x4.5x60, 60x4.5x90 and have used a variety of surfaces on all of the balls. I did not see the big hook reaction that Brunswick was talking about in their videos and marketing literature. What I did find was a medium hooking ball that gave me a distinct mid lane shape that I have never seen before on medium lanes. I found that with all 3 balls in box finish I saw squirty reactions in oil, but the ball would want to roll out in the friction. The pin up was particularly sensitive to oil and touchy, but liked being thrown wide into the friction. Both pin downs were smoother, but still didn't have enough teeth to be balls I wanted to play too far inside the oil, but burnt up when catching the friction too early.
With that being said, I would classify the Hell Raiser as a condition ball for medium volumes and more parallel angles. It is a bit too sensitive for some of the wet/dry walls and extreme oil conditions, but on a medium oil tournament type condition the Hell Raiser simply gives me a slightly different read than anything else in my bag.
Who I would recommed this ball for: Tournament bowlers looking for a medium hooking ball to read the midlane hard on medium type patterns. If you are looking at trying your first DV8 ball, check out the Too Reckless, that ball represents everything that DV8 is about. The Hell Raiser is something that rolls a little different and will help fill a gap in your tournament arsenal, but don't be surprised if it is not as aggressive as the marketing material has suggested.
Brandon Riley
DV8 Regional Staff
The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer and not of Brunswick Corporation.
Edited on 24/02/2012 at 4:29 AM
Title: Re: Hell Raiser
Post by: Brunswick_fan_BrandonH on February 28, 2012, 10:02:46 AM
BALL SPECS
Pin Length: 4"
Ball Weight: 16 lbs
DRILL PATTERN
Dual Angle: 65 x 5" x 50
X Hole (if there is one): none
BOWLER STYLE
Rev Rate: Higher, between 370 and 410 rpm, aka Cranker
Ball Speed: 16.50
PAP/Track: 5 3/8" over and 7/8" up with a high track
SURFACE PREP
Grit: Box (500, 1500, Rough Buff)
Type: (Matte, Polish, Sanded): Polished
LANE CONDITION
Length: Multiple
Volume: Multiple
Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): multiple
BALL REACTION (out of 10)
Length: 7
Back End: 9
Overall Hook: 8
Midlane Read: 7
Breakpoint Shape: 9
COMMENTS
Likes: This ball is very strong when reaching the friction
Dislikes: none
PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS
The Hell Raiser works good on most any condition. I have used it on house shots and sport conditions with a strong reaction on both. With a higher RG core, it retains energy for a strong downlane motion which is what I like in this ball. It has an angular motion at the breakpoint and can handle higher volumes of oil. The Hell Raiser allows me to keep chasing the oil left in little moves without leaving 10 pins. The coloring of this ball is cool going down lane and each one is unique. I have kept it at box condition and it has performed good for me with the rough buff finish. If it is too angular, you can take the polish off to smooth out the reaction. If you are looking for a strong ball for most any condition, don't pass up the Hell Raiser.
Brandon Hinderer
Brunswick Advisory Staff
The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer and not of Brunswick Corporation
Title: Re: Hell Raiser
Post by: GreatWhite on March 23, 2012, 06:39:19 PM
LANE CONDITION
Length: 38' - 42'
Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): THS/Sport
COMMENTS
No different than the rest of the DV8 bowling balls, the Hell Raiser gets to the end of the oil pattern, hits the dry, then makes a sharp turn towards the pins. On most house patterns the Hell Raiser will allow you to move your feet left, project the ball through the puddle to the friction, and then just stand back and watch it do its thing. The Hell Raiser is great to change to when the Hell Raiser Revenge is making its move earlier than what I am looking for. Making this ball change gives me the extra length I am looking for, while still allowing me to be confident in knowing the Hell Raiser will still make a hard turn at the end of the pattern and continue its drive through the pins.
By the way, does your bowling center host a lunar bowl/rock and glow that has been keeping you from valuable practice time when they shut off the lights? All DV8 bowling balls are black light reactive, so now you can watch your ball motion in any lighting!
Barry McKee
Brunswick Advisory Staff
The opinions expressed are soley those of the writer and not the Brunswick Corporation.
Title: Re: Hell Raiser
Post by: Arsenal22 on July 27, 2012, 11:43:09 PM
LANE CONDITION
Length:
Volume:
Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc):
COMMENTS
Likes: i like it the 1st week i got it because it was a really strong ball, but it soon wore of on how strong it hit. drilling might have been the issue or my release