Got my first chance to throw The Thing Lives today.  My first one.

It's a 2" X 4" layout with a small hole on my PAP.  A small amount of polish... just to purdy it up.  House shot, plenty of oil in the heads, medium-strong backends with hang outside of 5.

First I was throwing my Thing Returns.  I was laying the ball down around 22 at the arrows and could swing it to 7-10 and it would recover fine.  One of my stronger balls.  After getting comfortable with that shot I took out the Thing Lives, threw the same shot, and hit the 3 pin in the face... as I expected.

I moved 5 right with my feet and aimed for 17-18 at the arrows, with the break point near the same spot.  Five bagger.  Scooched my feet one board left and tried to get it wide a little, maybe with the breakpoint around 15... light strikes.  Carried the 10-pin nicely.  

The Thing Lives is a stronger ball, by design, than the Thing Returns and I didn't need that.  Putting the pin 2" from my axis really calmed the ball down.  Very readable and deliberate backend, performed very well on the fresh oil.  With three games on the ball, I can say I like this reaction.  I was sceptical because I have not had success with solid Soaker covers (i.e. Element/Anomaly).  But I think the SoakerX (new improved formula) has changed that.  I think I will drill another one and put the pin 3/4" - 1" farther from my PAP (maybe a larger hole on the PAP) and that should give me an extra 5 boards in the backend.

This ball gets the Bamaster Seal o' Approval!

Tony
http://www.allBowling.com

The Thing Lives is a great name for this ball. After confering with a couple of layout gurus, I opted for a 4 1/2 x 3 1/2. box surface, no x holes. Drilled it up just before my Tues Mix league. The shot is a flooded THS, edges blended, and fresh dry backs. I normally use my Ven Pearl, play a little swing shot around 10,..and maybe move 2-3 boards all night...yawn. Four or five practice shots, and I'm 2 arrows left, playing 20 to 10, holy cow Batman. Ring the bell and off we go,....300 first game,..WOW. I'm pumped,..second game starts, 2-8-10, and a 4-6..ouch. Carry down and hook off the track,..scramble and scratch out a 198...Third game,..and I'm determined to stay with this ball,...giant step left, more speed, now I'm 26 to 12 for 254, a four pin, a flat 10, and Greek Church fill ball. I felt like I had been in a fight,..752. Observations: This ball needs some head oil for me to get it down the lane, the new Soaker coverstock makes the oil rings disappear after each frame getting the same reaction shot after shot. Speed is critical, as in any hooking ball. This is the strongest ball on the DynoThane menu, I may have to put just a touch of shine on mine, or more....jim
--------------------
www.dynothane.com

Is this longer and stronger than Anomaly, or earlier and stronger?
--------------------
-DP3

has anybody seen it in comparison to brand X's rule? thats the only other ball that has my intrest right now, I'm just curious as to what the similarities and differences would be.

mmm great point and i like the ball to SNAP!