Post by: admin on December 31, 1969, 06:00:00 PM
Box Finish: 1200-grit sanded, then polished with Factory Finish Polish
Color: Gradiant shades of Cyan to Purple with white pin and logos
Core: Xenex core, a medium RG, medium flare BOMB core design
BOMB Location: 6-3/4 inches from the pin in the BOMB's Down position (on the same side of the pin as the CG).
BOMB Strength: .014
Flare Potential: Medium to high
Length: 16.25 (Ebonite's scale of 1 to 30, earliest to most) with factory box finish
Overall Hook: 18.50 (Ebonite's scale of 1 to 30, least to most) with factory box finish
Breakpoint Angle: 6.9 (Ebonite's scale of 1 to 10, most smooth to most angular)
Best Lane Condition: Light to Medium Oil
Post by: Jim Lewis on February 23, 2003, 07:11:51 PM
The Optyx Illusion as advertised does skid a bit farther in the midlane than both the Vortex 2 Pearl and a shiny Vortex 2 solid with similar layouts. I expect to find this ball useful, especially on choppy wood surfaces and synthetics with medium distance patterns that have broken down.
The price tag on this ball may be on the steep side, but this is a high performance ball with unique additives. The ChromaFlair particles in the coverstock REALLY make this ball look sweet. Just stand at different angles from the ball and watch it glow with gold, purple, green, and blue.
If you had an Optyx Spider or Formula 4, this ball gets deeper down the lane than either. The Optyx Illusion would be a nice ball for bowlers with slow to medium ball speed and moderate or more rotation.
Jim Lewis
Ebonite Regional Staff
Post by: TimPenner on February 24, 2003, 12:15:38 PM
I drilled it stronger so that it would not be as speed sensitive on carrydown.
(If you read my reviews, I'm quite carrydown concerned
)This ball got through an average of 15 feet longer on extreme "dirt" than my least hooking balls to date; the Pearl Savage and Stinger 2-pc lo-flare. Plus, it's a great looking ball to boot!
I look forward to seeing other great introductions and technology to Ebonite's line!
Tim Penner
Ebonite Regional Staff
Midwest Region
tenpiner2@hotmail.com
Post by: James Campbell on February 25, 2003, 07:17:11 PM
James Campbell
Ebonite South Region Staff Member
CcampCSC@aol.com
Post by: Garcia on February 25, 2003, 11:58:33 PM
This ball is a medium/low flare, medium/light condition ball. Dont expect a sharp angle at the breakpoint, this ball is smooth, smooth, smooth! Almost reminds me of a urethane type roll, very even revving. The carry was surprisingly very good, much better than previous Optyx bowling balls.
The house I tested at uses very dense oil. With the weaker shell of the Illusion, I thought I wasnt getting a true read. So I took a green scotch brite to the coverstock and re-tested. The reaction was simliar, but with a much stronger roll in the midlane, with the same smooth backend reaction. The core in this ball is awesome, hopefully they will experiment with a stronger coverstock in the future.
Get the coverstock to match the lane condition and this ball is pure. If you cant handle the new stronger bowling balls, this ball is for you. I know it is a great addition to the Ebonite Arsenal. Since we cant bring back urethane, this ball is the closest thing, but with HIT!
Xeno Garcia
Ebonite Regional Staff
Sythlord79@aol.com
Post by: Garcia on February 26, 2003, 11:44:47 PM
Still with the green scotch brite surface, fresh backends. Carry was great the first game obviously, then the transition caught me off guard, but finished the nite decently. Great ball, played farely direct (10 to 5).
Xeno Garcia
Ebonite Regional Staff
Sythlord79@aol.com
Post by: ballard2 on February 27, 2003, 07:29:15 PM
The latest release from EBONITE is the illusion, a ball that uses a new asymmetric core design that should help to save energy at the break-point, married to the big daddy coverstock with chromaflair particles
(ChromaFlair is smaller than that of the silica particles used in most of Ebonite’s particle balls) which should allow the reactive part of the shell
to have more influence in the balls reaction.
Enough tech stuff, in application the ball appears to deliver on these theories!
I drilled this ball with a 4 x 2 layout hoping to fit it into the weaker part
of my arsenal.
Recently we bowled a local tourney where they used PBA pattern A, the house
we bowled at has a prominent track area. So during the second day of competition
with stripping and oiling this pattern, it was important to clear the front
of the lane and not get a big jump at the breakpoint. The illusion was the ticket that day.
If you bowl in a house that would be considered to use a lighter volume of oil
or you are looking for a ball for a second shift league or ever changing tournament conditions the Illusion should serve you well.
Another great entry from EBONITE!
BOWL TO WIN
MATT BALLARD
PBA WEST REGION MEMBER
EBONITE REGIONAL STAFF
Post by: Ray Edwards on March 03, 2003, 10:00:10 AM
As Ebonite suggests, this ball is designed for light to medium oil. I used mine on a bad wood surface with a light oil pattern from deep inside (5th arrow). It reacted very clean through the heads and saved up energy for the back. Not a violent snapping back but controllable. I had good numbers here.
Then I used it on a synthetic surface with a 7 to 7 wall pattern. I squared it up and played 12 to 5 with good results. With this oil pattern I had to be aware of getting it into the dry area early as that would produce over bounce. As long as I kept it in the oil line it worked great with good hitting power. About a 9 out of 10. This could become my new personal favorite - although knocking off the versatile V2 solid would be very difficult.
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** Ray Edwards **
Ebonite Regional Staff
edwards9@optonline.net
Post by: joebxr on March 03, 2003, 04:16:31 PM
Playing straight up the 5, ball is controllable and predictable, arc is smooth and hits the pocket like a Mack truck. People from other lanes couldn't believe the power and were all asking what ball it was, etc. 237 out of the box, with a 660 nite...I love it.
Changed the line during 2nd game and went 10 out to about 5 or 6...still came in and smashed the pocket. Left 1 ten pin and 1 split all night. Gotta say, this ball w/my V2 solid, V2 Particle and trusty Red Wolf Pearl...I'm covered.
I highly recommend this ball. Hope this helps.
Post by: Jace Peterson on March 04, 2003, 11:23:30 AM
Post by: Doug Davidson on March 04, 2003, 12:36:26 PM
I could play anywhere from 15-25 depending on speed and revs and get the ball to my breakpoint with no problem. The Illusion hit like a freight train for me.
This ball did not work very well for me on a fresh house pattern as my ball speed is too high. This ball will be a great go to ball on shorter patterns and dried up lanes for me.
--------------------
Doug Davidson
Ebonite PBA Regional Staff
Davidson's Pro Shop
1137 Sweitzer St.
Greenville, Ohio 45331
937-417-3940
doug.davidson@pba.com
Post by: Garcia on March 06, 2003, 11:34:08 AM
Xeno Garcia
Ebonite Regional Staff
Sythlord79@aol.com
Post by: MarkJohnson on March 06, 2003, 12:19:06 PM
Post by: DrThumb on March 06, 2003, 12:59:05 PM
Mine is drilled with the pin app. 4 inches from the PAP by the ring finger which gives it app. a 60 degree angle.
If you don't like a ball that snaps hard but gives you a strong roll up on the back end, this ball is for you.
Gary Hiday
Ebonite Senior Tour staff member
I think I will drill another one with a different pattern.
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Gary Hiday
Post by: threeballsnobag on March 07, 2003, 02:46:29 PM
Post by: Strike Machine on March 10, 2003, 02:51:26 PM
If you want a ball where you can hit it full boar and not get any over-reaction on dry backends, or dry lanes, I'd give this ball a try. The pro shop guy said 2 guys ordered the ball after watching me throw this one in league this weekend.
Post by: hokiecoach on March 11, 2003, 09:32:17 PM
CHRIS HANS
EBONITE AMATEUR STAFF MEMBER
Post by: K_Korner on March 18, 2003, 10:49:54 PM
I can't see how any high rev player would use this ball on a sport shot. It would snap way to much and too far down the lane, especially on the 45ft patterns.
3/19 - OK, now that it absorbed some oil, it is a bit tamer. I shot 240-279-196. The 196 was when the lanes broke down and I lost control of it. It's an OK ball. B+
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The Perfect Fit Pro Shop
www.theperfectfitproshop.com
www.usedbowlingballs.com
Post by: DaleTraberHater on March 26, 2003, 09:22:08 AM
drilled 5x4, it hits like a wet diaper.
stay away from this overpriced toy, unless you dont care about money.
Post by: jlmcker7 on March 28, 2003, 08:32:39 PM
Post by: Deadbait on May 16, 2003, 11:36:44 PM
Post by: rockyjaye on October 10, 2003, 03:48:34 AM
Post by: chaos on October 24, 2003, 10:21:37 AM
It doesn't hook like crazy but it hits like a rocket, it always take out the 5-pin (and of course the other nine
)!No over-reaction, stable through the fronts and late snap reaction just before and in the pins.
This ball won't show you heaven on heavy oiled lanes, but if you can find a drier track, hit it with your illusion and your opponent will lose all their illusions of beating you!
Post by: Captain Stabbin on January 13, 2007, 11:06:10 PM
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Captain Stabbin
Post by: Captain Stabbin on January 15, 2008, 08:37:46 PM
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Captain Stabbin