Stats in Profile:
Alright, I have had this ball for about two weeks now and have thrown around 20 or so games with it. I ordered the S&D from Buddies Pro Shop on Saturday morning. It arrived at my door on Monday evening. I requested a layout via the MoRichbowling.com request form. I was looking for a layout to give me a controlled reaction on medium volume sport, tournament, and other flatter oil conditions. I was instructed to use a 4 1/2 pin to PAP, 5 1/4" mb to PAP and locate the pin approximately 2 1/4" above the midline. I punched the ball up and weighed it out. Ended with approximately 3/4oz side and 1/2oz thumb. I decided to take the ball out and throw it a little bit prior to deciding on a weight hole.
I threw the ball on a broken down house shot (after several hours of open bowling). Open bowling typically causes the oil patten on these synthetic lanes to vacate the head area and push all the way to the pin deck. Usually there is some decent oil remaining outside around the first arrow. I stood about 15 on the approach, and rolled the ball towards 5 at the arrows. About the time it reached the arrows, the ball checked up and took off left. I progressively move in on the lane, rolling the ball towards the 2nd and 3rd arrows, and pretty much saw the same reaction. Finally once I moved in deep enough to get the ball to push through the heads (around 23 at the arrows), it reached the terrible carry-down and fizzled out. It tried turning the corner, but I'm not sure any ball would be able to under these conditions.
Later on that evening I had league in which we bowl on second shift conditions (after a ladies league). Generally, the conditions are similar to the above described, but just not as severe (usually there is some head oil remaining and the terrible carry-down has not yet set in). From my earlier experience, I decided to take this ball back to the shop and put a little polish on it (Ebonite Particle Polish) with the hopes of getting through the heads easier and having a little more backend reaction. I took the ball out in league and found a much different reaction than I had experienced earlier in the day. The ball now became very over/under. If I got the ball into the dry too quick, I would take off... any sort of pull into the oil and the ball has no finish whatsoever... If I was able to hit within a few board area, the ball rolled up very well (acted like a strong urethane) and carry was excellent. I stuck with the ball all night to get some games on it and ended up shooting 630. Not a terrible score considering the high set that evening in our scratch league was 660 (yes, they are very tough lane conditions).
The next day after league, I decided that I just didn't like the reaction I was getting from the polished surface. So I took the ball back and hit it with a 1000 grit Abralon pad, followed by a 2000 grit Abralon pad (box finish on the ball is 1200 grit matte). This gave the ball a shiny sheen finish. I also decided to drill a weight hole in an attempt to get a little stronger break point from this ball. I placed the weight hole 1" past my VAL on a line from the center of grip through the cg. I used a 11/16" hole 2.5" deep and pitched away from the center of grip. That night I bowled league in a different house on a fresh wall pattern (wood lanes, tons of oil inside and dry outside). I threw the ball through warm-ups and the first few frames of the night...but it was just very touchy. It didn't seem to have enough recovery to cross the soup and bounce it off the dry. If I was very precise with my line, launch angle, rev rate, etc. I was able to get back to the pocket and carry.. otherwise it just didn't quite have enough to make it back... I wasn't too surprised by this as I had layed this ball out for control on medium oil volumes... not really the shot I was playing. Also, the surface of the ball didn't really match up to the volume of oil. For this shot, my leverage WMB with box finish matched up much better.
Still looking to get a better reaction out of the ball, I hit it with 800 grit sand paper. As a general rule of thumb, I don't match up well with dull equipment, especially with surfaces of 800 grit or stronger, but I figured I would give it a shot. Surprisingly, 800 grit didn't dull the sirface all that much, but rather appeared to still have a sheen finish...
I took the "stronger" S&D out and it acted like a different ball. This ball now starts up a little earlier than my leverage WMB and overall covers 4-5 more boards!
Updated ratings:
Looks: 6 (still an ash-black color)
Hit/Carry: 9
Versatility: 5 (upgraded from the previously disappointing number)
Overall: 7.2
Overall I have upgraded the ball due to increased preformance/results for me from a surface change. With an 800 grit matte finish, the ball is now stronger than my leverage WMB in box condition. The S&D now needs a bunch of head oil in order to get down the lane. The more oil on the lane, the greater the length and the bigger the backend. The hit and carry of the ball is still well above average..the only pins I have left are 2 pin or 7pin or 10 pin on light hits (probably 75% of light hits carry). So far (knock on wood) I have carried all flush and high flush hits.
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