BallReviews
Equipment Boards => Hammer => Topic started by: Weaser on August 15, 2013, 06:37:41 PM
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My driller has recommended this ball for use on Kegel High Street pattern (44' 21.1 ml on 19 year old Proanvilane). I am a 61 year old stroker that has 15/16 mph ball speed (at release) with less than stroker revs (225+/-).
My concern is that OOB may cause the ball to go too long. A Hammer tech that I have spoken to remarked that the OOB has been changed from PHFF to Clean n Sheen at the factory. Plan to do a 4.5" pin down.
Does anyone have any observations so that I can make a decision on the purchase of this ball or about surface changes that have worked for you? THX in advance.
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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.
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A friend has averaged over 230 since he purchased one this spring at the same house. He plays more direct with softer speed than I do. Trying to get feedback on what surfaces people are using/would use in my case. I used a 716C last night with the polish scuffed with a worn 2K pad, but had thumb issues until I opened it up enough the last game.
Since I am only bowling one league this year, I am trying to minimize the time to dial the ball in. I will try OOB first, but need a fallback plan if it is too over/under. THX for responding.
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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.
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Don't be discouraged by a particular problem with LEFTYS ball/drill.
Many people have issues with a particular ball on certain patterns, sometimes it just doesn't match up.
Generally speaking because we cant see how you toss it, The first blood will not be over/under with a surface change.
Does your driller know your game and does he know the lanes where you bowl?
Is he a reputable shop?
If so, then trust him, he would be the best source of information, not here.
Online opinions are just that, you know, everybody has one.
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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.
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I'm not at all dismissing your comment/experience.
Maybe I didn't explain myself well enough.
I meant to say. Use lefty50 as an example, not the norm.
I have had to re drill several good pieces of equipment because they just didn't match up.
I meant no disrespect what so ever.
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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.
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Assuming that I will have to scuff the polish or sand the First Blood to possibly 2000, would I be better to buy the Amp & use it OOB?? Just a thought - the drill prob will be 4.5" pin up for either ball.
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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
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Does anyone have any other comments - good or bad - about their drilling on the First Blood since my driller has ordered one for me? The AC has been down on our side of the house the past 3 weeks so it may be a while till I see normal conditions to see what it really rolls like. THX
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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)
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Driller says prelim layout will be 45-50 x 4.75-5 x 35-40. Since I am slightly speed dom with a tendency to float the ball to the right, I hope that it has the recovery that is advertised. Even though we have a long length THS, the track area goes after a game or so. I guess time will tell maybe with the help of abralon pads.
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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.
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I have to admit I also have been disappointed. I've had so many of them thrown against me and they all look great, but for me... not so much. I redrilled it, no joy. Very disappointed. Personally, I'm heading to another company.
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After 4 times in league, it has not been a home run. Granted that the operator has not been stellar, but the First Blood has not come alive till the third game on High Street. I have since knocked the shine off with a new 4K pad by hand to see if that is enough to eliminate most of those pesky 10 pins, but have not used it yet. If not , I have a 2k pad waiting for its turn. My friend averaged over 230 last year with one in my house on the same pattern, so this operator has not found the appropriate combination yet.
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I'm going to try a surface change before I take it out of the bag for good. However, I have yet to be happy with the way the ball hits even when I throw a strike. When I throw a strike with my Low Flare, everyone in the house knows it, when I throw one with my First Blood I barely even notice it.
About to decide it definitely never will fit my game ( which is why I'm staying away from the Cold Blood as well)
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I also have to agree that it has everything to do with the drill.
I have a very high tilt, similar to Robert Flunder IV, but when I ordered my FB, it was drilled pin down. I am used to long pin, pin up layouts, so this was completely different for me, and as predicted, the ball underperformed...
But it only underperformed from what I perceived it to do (per IV's videos).
Since I basically have 2 games I can throw (one which I wheel the ball like no tomorrow, the other I square up and go down and in), I actually found that this layout worked a lot better for my B game than it did my A game. So in the end, that layout worked great for me, because it gave me a better down and in look than I've had in a long, LONG time. Last time I had that good of a look was with my Fab Blue Hammer, and an Ebonite Apex Adrenaline.
my FB layout: 60 x 4.5 x 70, pin under the ring finger. By comparison to, say, Ebonite Challenge: 60 x 3.5 x 40, pin above pinky, CG kicked out.
All in all, this ball is great pin up, CG kicked out, but if you can work with it, it's a great pin down ball as well (perhaps also with CG kicked out?).
BL.