BallReviews
Reviews => Ebonite => Topic started by: admin on December 31, 1969, 06:00:00 PM
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Just starting out? You want a ball that will grow with your skills. A ball that can remain a valuable piece of your arsenal. The new Tornado series combines the features of entry-level simplicity, kicks it up a notch with a higher tech weight-block for more backend punch, and wraps it inside of the consistent power of the Mega-Biteâ„¢ Super Tack Plus coverstock. Available in the blue sanded version (800 grit) for faster ball speeds, a factory polished pearlized sparkle, and a factory polished two-tone sparkle for medium to slower ball speeds.
Specifications are as follows:
Color: Blue/Violet Pearl
Ebonite Hook Rating (Scale 1-30): 13.0
Length (Scale 1-30): 23.4
Ball Speed: Slower
Axis Rotation: Minimal Side Roll
Available Weights: 10-16 Pounds
Revolutions: Power Player
Best Lane Oil Condition: Medium Oil
Backend Condition: Fresh
RG: 2.640
Diff: .034
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Drilled one of these up for a thumbless (literally, had his thumb cut off in an accident). It was 14#, 2 inch pin, pin just outside ring finger. This ball moves harder and hits a little better than Columbia Scout. May be the Mica in the cover. Not a ball for toast. Light oil yes. Luck Bullred.
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I will post a comparison of this ball the Too Hot and the Red
Hot on the Ebonite forum.
Thanks for reading
Regards,
Luckylefty
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I drilled the Tornado with the pin 5" from my PAP, weight-hole on PAP.
I was very surprised with this Tornado, it is an upgraded version of the Gyro. An $80 ball that reacts with the best of them. The Tornado excels on broken down conditions where the heads are very burned with medium carrydown. This ball doesnt read the first 20ft of the lane and has ALOT more kick than the original Gyros. One thing the Gyros lacked was carry power, the Tornado is much stronger in the midlane and much more energy stored for the backend. Great ball for the money, Great ball for broken down lane conditions. Plus Kim Terrell used it to win the US OPEN!
Xeno Garcia
Ebonite Regional Staff
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The Tornado is a good looking entry level price resin ball, or a ball for hooking lanes. I drilled the Blue/Violet Sparkle Tornado with a 6x5 pin high label layout. My positive axis point (PAP) is 5 1/4 by 3/8 up. This was a much stronger ball than I was expecting, when compared with a shiny black resin Gyro ball with stronger layout. Both balls easily cleared the front part of the lane but the Tornado had a more angular midlane hook even though the layout was deliberately too weak so I could see what this ball was capable of with a minimum flare layout. I drilled a another Tornado with a better layout (5x4) and it was much stronger. This is definitely a ball for broken down lane conditions that are hooking. The double puck/offset core design helps the Tornado store up energy and will hook in that situation for those with medium/soft ball speed. This is NOT a home run ball for oily lanes, but most of the problems I hear about lane conditions, when discussing ball reaction with customers is with hooking lanes, and most bowlers own TOO MANY balls for oily conditions and few if any for hooking lanes. The Tornado's performance and price suggest that it should be a must ball in many bowler's arsenals.
Jim Lewis
Ebonite Regional Staff
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this ball will fit into the surprising category
the price range being low end
you may expect the performance to match, but you will be pleasantly
surprised
5 x5 layout produced surprising length, but also surprising punch as
modified weight block really delivers when the lanes are past transition
and heading towards "blowing up".
a definite arsenal ball for tournament players.
matt ballard
ebonite regional staff
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This ball is awesome for beginners. I have been bowling for all of three months and have had my ball for a week and a half. And, on my second trip to the alley with it(yesterday 1/4/02)I bowled a 218 hitting 8 strikes in a row to close the game out, beating my old high score by a great amount of pins. Even, though this ball has only a hook rating of 13 it has exellent hooking abilities and can crush the pocket. Oh yeah by the way I'm 14.
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These balls are a great value.They are not only good balls for beginning bowlers but good for experienced bowlers as well.I have been using these balls for the house conditions that have been on the dry side.These balls get down the lane well and have plenty of hit.I have drilled some of these for some customers and they all agree that it is a great ball for the price.Good luck
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I drilled this one leverage, extra hole on VAL. This ball pushes a little longer than my Tiger, and has good back ends. Great entry level ball or night block ball. Hooks a little more than the red/silver one and I feel that it reads the back ends better. Thanks Ebonite.
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I drilled all three tornados the same and let the surface tell me what the ball will do. This is drilled with a 5 inch pin above the bridge. This ball hooked more than I thought it would. For me this ball hooks the most than the sea foam than the red silver. All three are good balls for being low end in price.
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My B/V Tornado is drilled approximate. 3.5" x 4.5". The cover is stock, plus some additional Finesse-it II polish.
I was expecting a tamer, more mellow reaction compared with my lightly polished V2 and Savage, but much to my surprise, the Tornado often seems very strong in comparison. It excels on medium lanes and drying lanes, often saving more for the backend than either the V2 or Savage. It also works well for me oiler conditions (probably due to my slower ball speed). However, it does lack the predictability of the Savage on heavy oil, and the V2 is easier to control on most mediums. But if you combine the Tornado's low price tag, potent back-end, excellent carry, and its performance on drying conditions, you'll find that the B/V Tornado is an excellent value, one of the better deals around.
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After throwing this ball for a while i decided to
write a review. This ball is definitely a good
ball for freshly dressed lanes no matter if it's
wood or synthetic. I had this ball drilled 4 x 4
shined with STORM polish.
The ball has length and can be very angular in the
backend. I had a good set on a christmas tree shot on
synthetics last night in league. The ball would skid and roll.
I was very impress.
Also, on wood on a short pattern this ball is really effective.
Even hooking the ball from gutter to gutter and carrying everything from light to flush was amazing.
A great tournament ball on fresh and broken down lanes.
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this is my first ball that i had and it was conventional and i got my first 200 with this ball then i put it up for a while and i got t plugged and redrilled fingertip andnow i use it when my deuce hooks too much or when i need a ball to go a lil bit longer.with this ball i shot my first 600+ but im mad cause ebonite discontinued this good low price powerful ball
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Have had this ball for awhile--
Drilled pin over the bridge with the CG an inch or so off my mid-line. I find myself able to use this ball on pretty much any line including swinging the whole lane when the heads burn up. One bonus I have found to this ball(or maybe its a curse) I find that I am able to "over-rotate" on the ball and it still will hold its line and nail the pocket. This ball flat-out out performed both my Eraser Blaze and Hammer 4-D when it came down to it. Guess that's why I gave both those balls to Jr. bowlers.
Excellent ball at an excellent price, have found no equals among the comparable balls made by other companies.
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Rob Moore
Charlotte, NC
The pocket 7-pin right hander
Bowl to Win.....
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OHHHHH Yeah!!!
I've tried a lot of the 3 piece puck with offset balls.
On lighter or shorter patterns all have impressed me with their hook!
Among those tried are the Scout reactive, Dynamic Groove and now this the monster of the bunch!
A friend had it, he's weaker handed and basically said it just wouldn't hook!
I had given him a Trauma that hooked too much for so one day he surprised me with this babe!
WOW!(PS hooks more than the WOW!)
This thing is earlier and more controllable than the Scout reactive pearl and Dynamic Groove, also pearl!!!! Those balls due to the high rg and slippery reactive stock can really skid and skate.
This when I first tried without getting hole pitches right for me followed straight behind my EZ Money, basicaally as soon as the oil had thinned so that the EZ Money was just a touch too much I could stand the same place and use this medium oil monster to play nicely deep inside and get all the recovery I could imagine.
Now I don't know if my weak handed friend tried to scuff this a little to try to get hook but basically it is not a light condition ball as set up, it is a medium length or lighter condition moderate length monster.
Drilled 4 1/2 X 5 for me pin near ring and cg just 1/2 inch off grip center.
Yesterday on our recent lighter condition I had 3 other balls to match it to.
The Smash/r which went to early and then did not have enough backend did not match well.
The Tornado babe was played standing 28 throwing 15 to 8 and supplying all the recovery and hit imaginable from this inside angle, note no 7 pins in 3 games a couple of 10 pins from shots looped outside.
The awesome Revolution Rebel Ecx(being brought out as the Time Zone ) by Brunswick also was played on the same line and could strike but just revved up too early and supplied a nice round backend that would carry but not as good as the tornado.
The Dynamic Groove was played about 4 boards straighter standing 24 swinging 13 to 9 with a lot of potential skate at the breakpoint was just a little too flighty for this pattern.
Note this is one powerful ball and maybe with the high diff of .41 probably isn't quite dry lane ball even if polished.
Light mediums(with polish) to mediums plus when you want to have some angle on the backend this is a big smooth and sharp movement ball with all the hit one could ask for!
REgards,
Luckylefty
PS I was bowling against a regional player who was using his Freak out and playing 12 to 9, This ball had so much more backend on this matchup!
He's lucky I didn't average 240 against him, a little sharper sparemaking(this thing wants to hook even with a broken wrist) and one extra carry a game and I would have.
PPS In this house I often leave 7 pins as a matter of habit, 3 games no or maybe one 7 pin!
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this ball is something else. my "ole faithful" gets me out of tough situations. great on light medium or even heavy if you have a dry backend. had this baby polished up, goes way down, you'd think it'd never recover, yeah right. comes screaming back, demolishing anything in its path. on a heavier shot, my V2 clean (which rolls earlier but arcs more)skid the entire lane just hardly starting to roll. this ball, though what the heck, threw it, and it crossed over the headpin! had to throw this ball way out to keep it right of the headpin. any condition, this ball is clean through the heads and if there's a dry backend, this ball really turns the corner. dont know the specs, pin is about 1" up and 1" right of the ring finger. great beginner ball or even, better for more advanced players who need that light oil ball. recommend this as an all around ball. i'd give it a 9, because it can be a little speed sensitive with such an angular backend.
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Lane Conditions: Medium-Light Oil
Typical Conditions: House Shot
Type of Lane: All Synthetic
What part of the lane did you play? Second Arrow
Did the ball track out? Normal
Weight of bowling ball: 13
Surface of bowling ball: Polished
What grit was the surface of the ball? Burgandy Scotch Brite
Likes: I LOVED THIS BALL! IT WAS MY FIRST HOOK BALL AND IT DID ME WONDERS! ITS AWESOME FOR MEDIUM-LIGHT OIL! AND I LOVED IT!
Dislikes: I WISH I DIDNT SELL IT! I COULD HAVE USED IT!!
I SOLD IT!!!! IM DUMB!!!!!!! I MISS IT!!!
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Actually, my review is on an ebonite ball that isn't listed, the Tornado Royal Sparkle.
Lane Conditions: Dry or med-heavy oil
Stance and board: Standing on 22/hitting 10 or 9
Wet sanded to 800 grit.
Pin centered over fingers, CG 2" below rf/kicked out to the right alittle.
At first, I was standing on twenty, five step approach, and throwing over 10. The ball would make a slow turn to the pocket and hit like a wet banana. It left too many 5- splits. This was while I had the ball in box condition and polished.
I changed the cover to 800 grit following vertex's resurfacing guide. However, I started with the fingers and thumb holes facing me. Made all of the difference in the world!. Threw it again a few days later standing in same spot and it hooked left. I made a slight adjustment left. Now standing on 22 or 23 and throwing/swinging it out over 9. It would arc going from 9 to about 5 and turn hard left toward the pocket. Nice hitting power for a beginers ball. Started to leave too many 10 pins evern after making an adjustment.
Cheers
rf79756
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I have Tornado Royal sparkle and It was my first reactive bowling ball drilled conventional. It works great for the bowling ally i go to with a dry out side (which is where i throw it) but throw it on oil and you might as well throw a straight ball or at least for the way i bowl. In all though it is a good first reactive ball for those who have dry lanes. it helped my average go from 98 to 150s (providing i was also getting help from other bowlers)
Update:
I recently got my ball redrilled Fingertip getting more hook on the ball now and it feels great.
if any one is looking for a first reactive ball (and dosent mind leaving a few pins every now and then) i would reccomend this ball to.
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I have the Tornado raspberry/green. http://www.ebonite.com/products/product_page.php?PRKey=193 I am a tweener.
If you are looking for a dry lane bowling ball, this ball might not be the one to go with. If you have problems sometimes on your league with the ball over hooking, this would be a great ball to go with. Unlike the Ebonite Stinger Low Flare that I bought 3 years ago, this ball is for dryer conditions. Still though, the ball will most likely over react on dry open bowling conditions. The Tornado Warning might be the better ball.
This is definitely a great ball on days where the weather gets warm outside for the time of year and the mechanic did not oil the lanes according to the weather outside. It should also work great in the 2nd and 3rd shifts in tournaments because this ball works great when I bowl at my house after the leagues are done even when two leagues have already bowled on them.
This is a great ball to have in a 3 or 4 ball arsenal as your milder ball. I know this is a great ball to go with when my Zone Classic is hooking too much.
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Brandon
Owner of a Vertex Mold 1/2 HP.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bowling_tips_group
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I got this 16'lb ball also off ebay for $9.99, Its pink and green. Any way I drilled it pin above both fingers and to my surprise the ball works, Tried it out first time for league. I got used to the ball quick. I wet sanded the polish down to 400 grit. During practice I shot 4 strikes which I should have saved for later.
The ball reacts good in oil, I got the best carry down at the start of the night. I play the outside lin and watch the ball come back to the pocket. When it got dry the carry was ok but I just had to keep my speed up. The thing I like best about this ball is that you dont have to put speed on it to get great reatcions, actually the slower you roll it the better the reation. On slow releases I cover 5 boards, On speed releases just 2 or 3 boards. Im happy with my tornado
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I have the new turquoise/navy/silver Tornando that isin't on the site yet, but has the same or extremely similar charateristics as the current batch of Tornadoes. This ball is my first reactive and has instantly improved my average (I am just starting back bowling and giving up Golf). Anyway, I have used this ball on house shots and have noticed that it certainly has limitiations (as expected) on more than light oil, but performs better than expected and hits hard on light to slightly dry conditions. Got my first Four strikes in a row with this ball. Although it likes light oil, on the one house that is extremely dry at times, the ball underperforms but seems to overly hook or hit light compared to another house that has more oil out. Overall,a great ball for specific conditions (also considered Scout Reactive and Ebonite ICE).