Post by: admin on December 31, 1969, 06:00:00 PM
Post by: strikealot300 on May 13, 2001, 10:02:18 PM
Yes they recalled some balls... They were punching up 68 on the durometer. I saw a few ladies throwing them during practice @ Queens... the ball really hooks and looks awesome going down the lane... I am waiting for my ball from Ebonite they are telling me that they will ship the wk of the 21st <PBA member>
Looking forward to drilling this one
Post by: ThatBowlinDude on May 28, 2001, 02:47:17 PM
This ball gets a 9 out of 10 on my scale, I didn't have to pay it but the price is high and you will leave some ringing 10 pins most of the time.
Post by: drillwizard on June 20, 2001, 10:40:02 PM
Anyway finally drilled mine today.
I used it in a summer league tonight
and had 739.
I drilled mine 4 x 4 with no hole
top wt at 1 side wt at 1/2
pin right on ring finger cg under stacked
bomb at 12:00
Ball has excellent lenghth and above average backend
Carry is good but nothing out of this world.
The ball looks awesome rolling down the lane I will say that.
I knocked the polish off with Liquid Sandpaper and also
went 1500 and a little more gloss than the box finish.
I liked the 1500 gloss the best.
Overall it is an awesome looking ball with good lenghth
and strong but not sharp backend.
I have a few left if interested 179.95 plus ship.
Kidace1@aol.com
Post by: mcarney on August 01, 2001, 12:43:06 PM
This is not an oil ball. The best line is outside playing a small oil-dry shot. It needs some oil, but so does urethane. Ebonite balls traditionally roll early, which favors carry so it does have that benefit. It looks cool but the ends don't justify the means.
Wait for a sale. I will.
Post by: Jace Peterson on August 26, 2001, 02:59:14 PM
and the bomb a 1-1/4 inches right of the grip center line. What I have
found, was the ball is very strong thru the midlane, with a heavy roll
thru the pins, with little deflection. The ball seemed very sensitive when
the lanes transitioned. It kept going longer, but still arced strong off
a later break point. When the lanes settled down, it appeared I had a ton
of hold when my other balls wouldn't read it, once I got far enough right.
And I didn't lose much carry. At which point I struck for a long time.
There were a number of people that stopped to watch, some because the
amount of striking being done on a new lane install(how do the new lanes
play best)and some because of the visual effect of the ball rolling down
the lane. Great ball once you learn how to use it effectively. Great job
Ebonite! I look forward to your next release.
Post by: thegame on August 28, 2001, 02:56:05 PM
Post by: Tony Glickley on September 12, 2001, 09:11:17 PM
My Formula 1 is a 15 lbs ball with a 3" pin out, 2-3/4 top weight. I drilled this with a 5" pin with the cg under the middle finger.
The shot I bowl on is a tube, 10 units from gutter to gutter, with 20 units from 10 to 15
length 34 feet.This ball reminds me of my first Matrix Trimax. The shell of this ball seems to have a smoother transition than the 1st Matrix. I like to pull this ball out when the the heads are starting to fry. Still, like all the trimax shells , the clear Optyx shell will get you down the lane with plenty left for the back end.
Good Ball, a little pricy
but I can't wait to see Jason couch throw it on T.V. 
Tony
Post by: BuddiesProShopcom - Bill on October 04, 2001, 08:14:40 AM
I must say that I wasn't impressed with the ones that I had seen thrown up to that point. All of the drillings on the Optyx that I watched had the Pin above the fingers and the CG right around the grip line, no more than 1/2" off the line. So we decided to drill mine stronger and see what happened.
Laid the ball out with the Pin outside my ring finger with the CG stacked in line. Note that the bomb was straight in line with the Pin and CG. The Pin and CG were 4 X 4 from my PAP.
I threw 3 games on 2nd shift and averaged right around 230 with this ball, then I used it 2 days later on 1st shift and average around 220 for the night. I found that this ball is strong on in the midlane and smooth continious arcing to the pocket. This ball hits like a truck.
This ball is fun to watch as it revs up and turns over. I think this ball is a couple boards stronger than the Vortex 2 and a similiar reaction for me.
One think I want to know that I think this ball is driller sensitive and you must be aware of where the Bomb is going to end up on the ball.
On a scale of 1-10, I would give this ball a 7.5. I think that it can fit into most bowlers hand without a lot of problems. The ball is exciting to watch because of its look and the way the ball explodes in the pocket. I would give this ball higher, but I have seen what bad layouts can do with this ball.
If you have any questions, please email me at Bill@buddiesproshop.com
Thanks
Bill
BuddiesProShop.com
Post by: Phatdon on November 14, 2001, 05:11:14 AM
Post by: Malvyn on November 16, 2001, 11:53:59 AM
wanted to know you have the same problem? 
I own a 14lbs drill pattern #3.
Rolled for about a week and found between the clear cover and the core there are some air bubble. Rolled for another few session this bubble spread and it now look like a huge map. 
Try to check with EBONITE.com they did not reply my mails. Look like this is kind of a defect in product design. Anyone can share info about this? Otherwise it is a good ball to roll with.
Post by: GLC300 on November 16, 2001, 12:40:24 PM
Have mine drilled 3 3/8 x 3 3/8 leverage. First time out with the ball, shot 300 with it and 750 series. Last night shot 196-277-267=740. No matter what anyone tells me about the ball, I'm not listening. Heard many rumors that this ball is a piece, but whenever I throw it, I have the world. I'm 17-18 mph, 45 deg axis and this ball rolls very well. Have lots of area, 5 boards with this drilling. Haven't shot anything under 650 with the ball. Everytime I take this ball out, people tell me to put it back because they believe it sucks, thats when I show them who the real boss is. This is my $$$$ ball. Thanks.
Post by: 2Powerful4u on November 20, 2001, 04:15:21 PM
to help me. I just purchased an Optyx and i would like to
know some stuff about it. What would be the best things to
do to maintain the ball? Do i need a rag or something to whipe
the oil off the ball after every shot? If so, why? I heard
some balls soak up the oil from the lanes, and it ruins the ball. Any
information would be appreciated. THANX!
Post by: Jim Lewis on December 17, 2001, 06:27:52 PM
Jim Lewis
Ebonite Regional Staff
Post by: birddog on January 20, 2002, 10:42:01 PM
dont know exact drilling
but he said he drilled it for maximum backend
and it has just that
I love how this ball comes back at the last second
and it looks cool going down the lane
I play down and in shot
awesome ball in my opinion
Post by: GJACKSON on February 19, 2002, 11:23:37 PM
My Optyx is 1200 grit and polish to 1200. It's drilled 4x2 (pin over the ring finger) The lane conditions I bowled on was medium oil 10 to 30 and light 10/30 to the gutter and down to about 38 feet. I started out standing on 27 placing the ball around 16 and going to 5. WOW what a backend reaction.
The first game was a 257. The second was an identical, another 257. The last ball of the second game and the first of the third the ball went a little high but still struck. I move one board left and there I was back in the pocket. I finsh the last game with a 248. Finish the night with a 762!
That my highest yet! (Last September I rolled 755 in the same house with the same ball.)I can't say enough THANKS EBONITE for your great equipment! Keep up the good work!
Feel free to email me with your questions at JACKSON4LIFE@MSN.COM
Post by: lafbowler on August 07, 2002, 11:48:08 AM
Post by: cursedinvt on August 12, 2002, 02:42:29 PM
Post by: ACE300Bowler on October 02, 2002, 11:56:18 AM
Post by: cocamidoproply on October 19, 2003, 04:53:29 PM
Top weight = ???
Pin = 3 inches
15#'s
Pin is above and right of ring finger, CG directly below, parallel to holes.
THS
This ball fitted the niche in which i had inteded it for perfectly. A lane condition where my Cold Fusion wasn't enough, and my Assault was too much.
HEADS: This cover here seems to be weaker than a solid, but stronger than a pearl. Clears the heads pretty well, but that is also aided on by the high RG core.
MIDLANE: This is where the ball starts to expend its energy. Has a great midlane read that hardly ever causes an erratic breakpoint. Very consistent on where it releases its energy.
BACKEND: This is where this ball really shines. When that Matrix core stands up, watch out! The backend on this ball is absolutely insane! It easily outbackended an EMB pearl, Messenger Ti BSP, and a Wicked (original). Just absolutely amazing.
ROLL/HIT: Again, another strong point. Every Ebonite i have ever thrown has a very distinctive roll characteristic to it. Gets into a very stong roll which equates to pin punishing power. Carries very well, in fact, this is the ball i used to shoot my first 300.
SENSITIVITY: The ball has a couple of weakpoints that i've noticed. It seems to be more than sensitive to carrydown. After about the second game, i have to move farther outside, and sometimes, I have to come up the back of the ball more to aid in geting it into an earlier roll to get it through the carry down. It also doesn't too well when tugged. Even on THS, this ball will overpower the oil lane and go Brooklyn. It also doesn't like to hit low in the pocket, the lower it hits, the more 4,7,and 8 pins i saw.
SUMMARY: Very good ball so long as you have some head oil to get it to the backend. Once it gets to the backend, if its on the right side of the lane, it will find the hole. VERY adaptive to release change. I can make this a spare ball just as soon as i can make it my strike ball. Seems to know what you want it to , and then accomplishes it. When the oil carries down, you either need to play more direct, or find some dry midlane. Serves as my current benchmark ball. Reads the oil aptetrn very well, and i can use it with alot of luck in tournaments.
--------------------
Clay
Pink and purple polka-dotted elephants are really cool, but i haven't seen any yet...
Post by: JessN16 on June 28, 2008, 07:59:20 PM
The drill: pin above ring, CG under ring, BOMBS Away leaves MB strong, down and just inside the VAL and below right of the thumb. Works out to 3.75 x 3.5 x 4 drill for me. No weight hole. Finish is box.
Me: PAP 4 over 3/8 up, tweener revs, good speed, good circumference coverage
---
I've had this ball since it was a new model but have never used it as my primary piece of equipment. Still, after some recent testing I thought it might be interesting to review this older, unique piece of equipment on today's oils.
For testing, I rolled in on a modified THS that has decent oil volume outside 8. Two lengths were used, 37 and 40 feet.
When I first bought this ball around 2003, I was amazed with its performance given that I thought it was a bit of a gimmick. For those who have never seen one, the outside inch or so of the shell is clear, but reactive. There is debate over whether it's a pearl or a polished solid. Ebonite calls it a polished solid, but its performance characteristics are more like a strong pearl.
What's interesting about this ball's performance is that it is strong, strong, strong. The core is out of the Matrix, strong for its time but now one of Ebonite's weaker offerings. Still, the combination of that core and this cover make for a ball that is a midlane monster, with great continuation off the spot.
It also carries exceptionally well, owing to its strength.
Many people bought this ball thinking it was a dry-lane ball or even for medium-drys, but that is not the case. This ball, even today, needs medium oil to shine, and can actually handle more than that.
Its shortcomings can be summed up thusly: When it stops working, put it up. This is one of the least versatile balls I've thrown. It works great within a very narrow range of conditions, but it doesn't take changes in input well and if you try to force it, you'll be battling over/under all night long.
As for surface changes, I have not tried any. I'm a bit scared that I can't get the surface to come back up to box finish so that the underlying graphics can show through.
Another plus for this ball that I must mention is that it defies, somewhat, Ebonite's reputation for quick ball death. I now have about 60-80 games on this ball and it's performing like new, even though I've done very little maintenance to it.
These balls are very rare but do show up on eBay from time to time and, for some reason, tend to be sold at very low prices. If you can find one, pick it up. Even if you don't use it, it's a great conversation piece. The summary:
Positives: Stronger than you'd think, great on mediums, above-average carry even when compared to current-day offerings.
Negatives: Very narrow range of effectiveness, not a dry-lane piece, not what you want for a benchmark ball.
Overall: For what it does, it does very well. For what it's not designed to do, it won't do at all.
Jess