The last time I said this about a ball it was the EMB.  Out of the box this ball skids way too much (drilled as recommend on the ball decal) and when it hits the dry it over reacts way too much. If there is any carry down forget it.  

This is not even a medium ball out of the box let alone a heavy oil ball.  (I know its not a heavy oil ball),  If this ball doesn't find a dry patch somewhere, it will skate forever.

So I took some polish off on my home spinner and it was a little better.  I took it to a pro shop for them to take some more polish off and it was a touch better.  The ball still skids through oil like sharp ice skates on ice, but it does read the lane a little earlier and does work somewhat better in carry down playing a little straighter, but it is still strong off the break point and more consistent, not near as skid flippy, but then you have to be very consistent with your release.  If you come around the ball a little too much, the ball reaction is very erractic.

So the ball is driller unfriendly, the box surface on the ball is useless unless you want to see an erractic skid flip and the ball is extremely dependent on consistent (correct) ball release.  

But then the ball is no good on short oil either.  In either box condition or with polish removed, this ball over reacts when it hits the short oil pattern.  The ball hasn't rolled out/burned up on me, it keeps on hooking, but off the lane.

This is my opinion and I compare it to the EMB. I throw all Ebonite now, so its not a slam on Ebonite. I see that others love this ball.  Thats great.

I throw the XXXcel, Big Time Sanded, Big Time Pearl, Cross Fire and struggling with The One.




--------------------
Nicanor (Ten On The Deck)

mine look sgood so far.

BUT
it is not a heavy oil ball-id call it a medium

i have mine drilled
pin in ring finger and mb 1.5 inch right of thumb
i hit it with a white scotch pad(just to take a slight shine off)

id call myself a cranker

on frsh heavier oil-i cant get it to move enough(2-10 syndrome)

have only used it 3 games
last game in a set-256
2nd and third game last night (246-268)

BUT i would never be able to use it first game those nights

If you pin over bridge and mb strong ball is very erractic redrill pin in ring or below and it will be a whole new ball. I have watched alot of Ebonite staffers using this ball with great success with pin under drilling including high rev player Dave Wodka. He has aton of hand and 90 degree rotation and still uses pin under ring and about 1500 surface, this should tell you something that if you are in a low friction center go down with surface and pin.

I had the ball drilled like the label you are talking about and traded it off right away with my driller after 4 surface changes, i felt you pain and unless they are ebay cheap do not want another one. Ball hooks hard one shot next shot goes 55 feet, at 1000 the ball burned up even moving inside to 4-5th arrows. I honestly like Hammer stuff alot better i kick azz with my hawg and hammer raw doom, but ebonite lately for me just does not match up well. The big time and overtime are great balls but the high end stuff just is not worth the extra money IMO. My big time outhooks my xcel particle by 2-3 boards on medium/heavy shots all day long, funny part is i had to shine up big time so it would not hook too much upfront. Me and the scalien core just do not get along well, good luck redrill or dump it my friend.

The other BArry

Nic, where have you been bro?  Haven't seen you in a while.
--------------------
Trusted BallReviews.com member since 3/31/2003 (since 2001 under the now late user name buzzsaw16...back when I used nothing but Lane#1)

A balance hole pitched parallel to the axis will add some flare and get it to roll good even with the box surface.
--------------------
Everyone get all the breaks but me.  I earn every pin I get.

I'm in the process of buying The One for $50.00 shipped in almost new condition. I find all of this information very fascinating, and can hardly wait to see how the ball reacts. I read in one forum a woman named Erin had hers drilled at the #3 configuration, and when people saw her bowl, they all requested that their balls be drilled the same way. Nicanor, after an accident like that, I would prefer bowling. The only way to hurt yourself like that in bowling is to be a cranker on wooden lanes, and fail to let go of the ball. ;-)

Everyone in my area loves the ball.. Several people had had to change the surface to get the reaction they wanted, but its a great ball. If for sure does not suck for me. I love the ball. Its the first out of the bag every night. I have shot 7 or 8 700's including 757 with it last night..

Nicanor, sorry its not working out for you but I wouldn't give up on it just yet..
--------------------


jkiser01

Most all the ones I have seen including mine are drilled pin above with the cg out and the mass bias right of the thumb area..

If you don't like the ball, sell it. Not every ball matches up with everyone but to say the ball sucks because it didn't match up with you makes no sense to me, but your entitled to your opinion..
--------------------


jkiser01