dont look at the ball in terms of factory surface finish...that can always be changed. people put wayyyyy too much emphasis on that. when looking at a ball, if you find yourself saying "well i dont know if the surface will be too _____ for me" and that is the only thing that is holding you back, go ahead and get the ball. YOU CAN ALWAYS CHANGE SURFACE it is not a big deal. plenty of people dont like a ball and they change the surface and love it.

I have a similar style to you, 225 revs (from the left though...) I like my First Blood, but I drilled it pin down for Nationals, and regret that choice. Don't get me wrong, I love the ball and have lost more games to people throwing it against me, but for me, the ball's sweet spot is diminished by using it pin down. Every time I throw it I get the distinct impression the ball is being held back by the drill. In fact, I'm going to take it in for plugging tomorrow and go pin up. We'll know in a few days.

Good luck.

Dave, not sure how to take your comment. As you say, online comments are indeed just that. Respectfully however, I for one would love to see a LOT more personal commentary than those followed by "staff member", brand X" on this board. How many times have we all seen balls that are supposed to be the best thing since sliced bread, only to have personal experiences not matching what we hear, followed six months later by everyone saying "yes, that didn't quite work as well with this ball as it should have, but look at the successor product".
Respectfully again, I believe I will continue to comment. Please feel free to put me on your ignore list however.

Depending on the drilling the First Blood can change quite a bit. I would recommend looking at the reaction video Hammer put out for it on Youtube. I have mine drilled pretty close to the #3 layout and it will handle some decent oil with OOB. With this drilling, for me at least it reads much earlier but still has some nice backend pop.

I don't think it would go too long tbh unless you go with #1 type drilling which is more length and more backend. It took me a bit to grow into the ball but once I got a few games on it I've begun to like it more and more.

I'm a stroker as well.  I like the First Blood it hit hard when you put it in the pocket.
Mine is drilled with the pin right of my ring finger ( I'm right handed) It is drilled
with the 3rd layout strong/aggressive high track.  Works well but I think it would have been better if I went with a skid/flip layout. (layout #1) Been thinking of buying
another First Blood and do just that. hope it helps

After throwing it some more lately, I'm kind of wishing I had gone with a more skid/flip layout ( currently #3 with pin in the finger). Just for me personally, I'm not super impressed with it, but I think it has more to do with it just not matching up with my game. ( I'm in love with Low Flare I got at the same time ).  Just for me, it feels like the ball really naturally wants to go long and then snap, but my layout just isn't quite right for that with my game.

( Note: I don't think its a bad ball, it just feels like with the layout and my game, the ball is in between what it wants to do and what I need it to do)

I have a first blood, pin up over ring finger with cg in my palm. I am only bowling kegel challenge series patterns, and right now we are on Sunset. I threw it for 1 game (2nd game) and it went too long for me. I think I left 5 10pins from coming in behind the headpin. I tried moving and hand positions with no luck. For next week I will knock the polish off of it to see if I can't get it to roll a little sooner, and smoother for that matter. If that doesn't work I'll either trade, sell, or redrill. I've heard from a lot of people including pro shop owners that it is a conditional ball. Not really what I was looking for when purchased.