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Author Topic: Rejoining a league - Arsenal Advice  (Read 2860 times)

kram1337

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Rejoining a league - Arsenal Advice
« on: April 18, 2019, 11:43:12 AM »
Hello all.

It's been a couple years since I've bowled in a league. I've moved from Virginia to the New England area. The center I joined has a bit more oil than what I used to bowl at in the south. With that being stated. I'm starting to adjust, but I mostly throw the ball down 10 at the start of the night and slowly move left. Relatively straight. My main two balls are a Venom Shock and then a DV8 Outcast. I technically have a Primal Fear, but I'm not sure if I need to get it re-drilled. I didn't use it at all in VA. I got it drilled, then moved, and took a couple years off. I know it's drilled pin up, but it is overall a couple boards stronger than my Venom Shock and doesn't really snap off the break point. Kind of a smooth reaction.

I have a link to a couple videos I took back in VA, but I've been trying to stay more upright, everything else is relatively the same. Not sure about rev rate, probably moderate (400 ish?), but speed on the screen states 17.5-18mph. Axis tilt 24 degrees. PAP - 4 and 3/8ths over and 15/16ths up.

Couple videos of my release:
https://youtu.be/VSbfkYDl7LY
https://youtu.be/WDkX_CU438c

Looking at everything. I'd like something stronger than the Venom Shock. Stronger as in I can move in deep with as I can only go so far left throughout the night with the Shock. After a few games, after moving far enough, it just looses it's oomph when I try to cross the lane with it. My old PSO stated he'd prefer me stick with Symmetric balls, but never got into that conversation before I moved.

A quick glance at Motiv's site and really two balls are standing out. The Jackal Ghost and the Forge. With all that being said. Any suggestions or preference? If so, why? I'm not opposed to other brands either.

Thanks for any advice!

 

milorafferty

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Re: Rejoining a league - Arsenal Advice
« Reply #1 on: April 18, 2019, 12:35:05 PM »
The Venom Shock Pearl might be something to look at, especially if you want to move inside with a bigger move off the friction. The VSP has a slightly stronger core than the original as well as the cover is probably stronger overall. And it is an inexpensive ball.

The Jackal Ghost and Forge are both pretty big jumps from the Shock line. The Forge isn't really an angular ball for moving inside with and while it's more angular than the Forge, the Ghost isn't much of a skid/flip ball either. Maybe look to the Golden Jackal, with a little shine on the surface, it really booms off the end of the pattern.

Motiv has a big hole in the middle of their lineup right now in my opinion. Neither the Forza SS nor the Rogue Blade get me excited. The Villain is a solid ball, but the Scorn seems to be kind of a dud and the Forge is truly more of a heavy oil ball than Motiv has it listed as, at least for me.
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tritonj

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Re: Rejoining a league - Arsenal Advice
« Reply #2 on: April 18, 2019, 06:16:37 PM »
without getting into specific balls, for a league environment as a general rule i like to have 3 balls, 1 with surface, 1 polished, and 1 plastic for spares.  that should be able to cover most house conditions.

HighRevvin

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Re: Rejoining a league - Arsenal Advice
« Reply #3 on: April 18, 2019, 06:58:00 PM »
There's a number of good balls for THS but a lot depends how you want to attack the lane and where you feel comfortable playing.

There's a lot of hand in my league and players who will never move inside of the 3rd arrow, and really destroy the track area. I tend to select equipment that won't read the heads to aggressively. The Venom Shock Pearl has been amazing lately. I'm around a 450 rev rate and my speed is a little softer.

My opinion a Forge or Ghost would force you an arrow left of where you were with the Shock and may create even more issues carrying the corner. I love using solids on short and heavier patterns but for THS the Golden Jackal with a 2:1 ratio will work better with your ball speed, it will still be rounder though. The Venom Recoil or Shock Pearl would probably face up better than any of the balls in the upper lines for what you're describing.
« Last Edit: April 18, 2019, 07:00:17 PM by HighRevvin »
Just an unbiased bowling enthusiast trying too enjoy the game with each set.

Robert

HighRevvin

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Re: Rejoining a league - Arsenal Advice
« Reply #4 on: April 18, 2019, 07:07:54 PM »
The Venom Shock Pearl might be something to look at, especially if you want to move inside with a bigger move off the friction. The VSP has a slightly stronger core than the original as well as the cover is probably stronger overall. And it is an inexpensive ball.

The Jackal Ghost and Forge are both pretty big jumps from the Shock line. The Forge isn't really an angular ball for moving inside with and while it's more angular than the Forge, the Ghost isn't much of a skid/flip ball either. Maybe look to the Golden Jackal, with a little shine on the surface, it really booms off the end of the pattern.

Motiv has a big hole in the middle of their lineup right now in my opinion. Neither the Forza SS nor the Rogue Blade get me excited. The Villain is a solid ball, but the Scorn seems to be kind of a dud and the Forge is truly more of a heavy oil ball than Motiv has it listed as, at least for me.

The gap in the middle... you're not kidding. Then again I treat the venom series as a middle reaction group regardless of it's "light/medium" designation.
« Last Edit: April 18, 2019, 07:10:12 PM by HighRevvin »
Just an unbiased bowling enthusiast trying too enjoy the game with each set.

Robert

kram1337

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Re: Rejoining a league - Arsenal Advice
« Reply #5 on: April 18, 2019, 08:45:00 PM »
Thanks for the replies so far. I just read a couple other posts where Milo was given praise for not putting a bow on a turd. Haven't heard a phrase like that since I moved, hahaha! I can also appreciate the honesty! I will also state the videos linked were from VA with lighter oil. I probably stand about 4-5 boards to the right and it throw the ball almost straight down the 10 board and I slowly move inside chasing the oil in.

I was originally hoping the primal fear would let me go more inside. At least on fresh conditions, it rolls similarly to my shock. Maybe a board or two stronger, but I'm still testing those waters. I'm okay with an overall more aggressive ball that moves me several boards left. It would allow me to play a different line altogether. However, the first two responses are to look at the VSP and the Golden Jackal...so I will do just that.

Regarding the Recoil, after reading some reviews, it seems like it is somewhere between the shock and VSP. I'm not sure if that would be too similar, but I'll continue looking into that as well.

Regarding attacking the lane and where I feel comfortable. I used to stand left and roll across the first arrow (15 board) and by the end of the set be rolling over the center arrow. I've not tried lofting the ball however, I'd just throw more up the back. That was when I threw 16lbs. I haven't gotten as aggressive as a ball since dropping to 15lbs. Probably one of my favorite balls that I no longer have was a Storm El-Nino X-it. It was pretty consistent and reliable, but that ball unfortunately cracked somewhere in the late 2000's.

Thanks again to everyone's responses!

BowlingForDonuts

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Re: Rejoining a league - Arsenal Advice
« Reply #6 on: April 18, 2019, 09:56:10 PM »
Milo is for sure not a turd polisher.  I would think also about grabbing a Venom Cobra while they are on sale before they disappear now discontinued.  More angular than the Shock but can handle more oil than the VSP.  Have a recoil on the way so can give my opinion eventually.  Venom line only Motiv balls really gotten my attention (have Shock and Cobra and love both, mildly thought about Tag Cannon but never pulled trigger, don't really have a spot for). 
« Last Edit: April 18, 2019, 10:00:29 PM by BowlingForDonuts »
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milorafferty

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Re: Rejoining a league - Arsenal Advice
« Reply #7 on: April 19, 2019, 10:33:47 AM »
I agree with BowlingForDonuts on the Venom Cobra. It's been discontinued, but there are still a few available through the big online sites. For me, it has been the best of the Venom line. Give it a 1500-2000 finish and it is a strike machine on a lot of flat sport patterns. In box finish(Which is listed as 5500 LSP, but seems to be more of a 2000 with light polish) it's a THS monster, at least for me.

The best way I can describe how much I like the Venom Cobra is this, I'm taking two of them(different surfaces) to Vegas with me for Nationals.
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HighRevvin

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Re: Rejoining a league - Arsenal Advice
« Reply #8 on: April 19, 2019, 10:51:22 AM »
I get wanting to shell/ball up for transition, been there many times migrating left only to run into over/under. Just my experience the big asym solids force me to rotate even more around the ball to roll through the pins correctly. Recently had a 900 Global Black Ops 50x5x70 that I absolutely could not carry corners with. Shot my highest series ever with a Storm SYNC with the same drilling on sport.

The golden jackal allows me to migrate left on THS where there's usually an abundance of oil and still control the midlane without sacrificing backend. All without getting too goofy with the hand position.

Don't let me over sell the Venom Shock Pearl it's not a skid snap ball. The only criticism I ever come across is it doesn't pop, usually for those wanting to see one type of reaction (backend). It's round, reads the mids very nicely and has energy to turn the corner. 
Just an unbiased bowling enthusiast trying too enjoy the game with each set.

Robert

leftybowler70

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Re: Rejoining a league - Arsenal Advice
« Reply #9 on: April 20, 2019, 02:37:02 PM »
Milo is for sure not a turd polisher.  I would think also about grabbing a Venom Cobra while they are on sale before they disappear now discontinued.  More angular than the Shock but can handle more oil than the VSP.  Have a recoil on the way so can give my opinion eventually.  Venom line only Motiv balls really gotten my attention (have Shock and Cobra and love both, mildly thought about Tag Cannon but never pulled trigger, don't really have a spot for). 

Maybe you can tell me what sites you can find the Cobra’s, as I’ve had no luck finding any that maybe have any left. Help 😞

sneaky PETE

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Re: Rejoining a league - Arsenal Advice
« Reply #10 on: April 20, 2019, 03:42:28 PM »
what about the venom recoil
can i AXE you a question

BowlingForDonuts

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Re: Rejoining a league - Arsenal Advice
« Reply #11 on: April 20, 2019, 04:06:29 PM »
Milo is for sure not a turd polisher.  I would think also about grabbing a Venom Cobra while they are on sale before they disappear now discontinued.  More angular than the Shock but can handle more oil than the VSP.  Have a recoil on the way so can give my opinion eventually.  Venom line only Motiv balls really gotten my attention (have Shock and Cobra and love both, mildly thought about Tag Cannon but never pulled trigger, don't really have a spot for). 

Maybe you can tell me what sites you can find the Cobra’s, as I’ve had no luck finding any that maybe have any left. Help 😞

Basically a store front on ebay.  Can find for cheaper if look for specific weight but this seller seems to have 12 through 16 all in stock.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Motiv-Venom-Cobra-Bowling-Ball-Big-Backend-Choose-your-Weight/201701979299

As for Venom Recoil tried it out today.  Going to reserve judgment but cover is definitely stronger, can handle more oil than Shock but is a little smoother on the back end.  Carry well we shall see but initial impression not quite as good as Shock (but still darn good really) but was also on lighter house shot.  Good control piece.
« Last Edit: April 20, 2019, 06:04:49 PM by BowlingForDonuts »
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leftybowler70

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Re: Rejoining a league - Arsenal Advice
« Reply #12 on: April 20, 2019, 06:10:13 PM »
Thank you.

milorafferty

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Re: Rejoining a league - Arsenal Advice
« Reply #13 on: April 21, 2019, 12:42:48 AM »
Www.cheapbowlingballs.com
"If guns kill people, do pencils misspell words?"

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leftybowler70

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Re: Rejoining a league - Arsenal Advice
« Reply #14 on: April 21, 2019, 11:47:41 AM »
Thanks milo, eBay is the way to go to get this piece; Unfortunately, cheap bowling balls only has 12, and 16 lbs in stock grrrr.  :-\