Author Topic: AZO Fatman (Read 1865 times)

louie · « **on:** April 04, 2005, 01:45:08 PM »

I was lucky to get one of these reasonably priced from MadMax. These balls have 2 pins, and they obviously have different drill patterns than "normal" balls. I had a Littleboy a few years ago. That ball had the same core but a pearl cover. I really liked the way the LB hit, but the cover was very over/under. I was excited to try the Fatman. It has a very dull cover, and it appears to be a solid reactive. I drilled the ball with the top pin an inch right of my ring finger with the lower pin down and left at around a 45 degree angle. This is listed as the most aggressive drill on the drill sheet.

When these balls were on the market, the Littleboy was supposed to hook a lot more than the Fatman. My Littleboy was very mild and I didn't expect much hook from the Fatman. I threw a couple of test games with the ball. The ball covered a lot of boards due to the dull cover, but really labored in the oil and hit only ok when covering a lot of boards. I moved right with my feet and played with a lot more speed and more direct. The ball shattered the rack! Unfortunately, I can't be consistent with my speed that high. I took the ball home and tried to polish it up on my spinner to allow me to go more direct with my normal ballspeed. I've hit that sucker with Black magic plus and Lanemasters polish. It drinks that polish up and doesn't shine! It now appears maybe 1200 grit dull instead of 400 grit. Strange cover. Hopefully this will give me a little more length and allow me to play more direct. I'll roll it tomorrow and let you know. A strange ball form a strange company.

Ps

I get about 1 inch of flare from this ball. My Sonic X flares 3 inches. Weird!!

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Why does everyone laugh when I bowl?

louie

Edited on 4/4/2005 9:40 PM

Edited on 4/4/2005 9:40 PM

charlest · « **Reply #1 on:** April 04, 2005, 10:02:42 PM »

Little Boy was pearl; Fatman was solid.
Both had 2 pins because they had a massbias. 2nd pin was THE MB .., of course.

Pearl acts like a pearl; solid acts like a solid.

Having served in combat in Viet Nam, I can tell you the names are travesty of life, not a celebration of our killing enough Japanese to end a war that should never have been. (I guess today was just a bad day.)

louie · « **Reply #2 on:** April 04, 2005, 10:49:17 PM »

While the ball is asymetrical, it is a little different than most asymetrical designs. Both pins have the same mass. A typical asymetric has a main pin and some type of mb locator which is really a minor pin. I don't think azo's design was better, but it is different.
As for the name of the ball, I know it refers to the A bombs dropped in WWII. Since this name offends some, it was probably an unwise marketing decision. Azo did a lot of stupid things, and that's why they no longer exist. They did make some interesting b-balls though.
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Why does everyone laugh when I bowl?

louie

charlest · « **Reply #3 on:** April 04, 2005, 11:11:48 PM »

quote:
While the ball is asymetrical, it is a little different than most asymetrical designs. Both pins have the same mass. A typical asymetric has a main pin and some type of mb locator which is really a minor pin. I don't think azo's design was better, but it is different.
As for the name of the ball, I know it refers to the A bombs dropped in WWII. Since this name offends some, it was probably an unwise marketing decision. Azo did a lot of stupid things, and that's why they no longer exist. They did make some interesting b-balls though.
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Indeed, a friend loved their reactions a LOT, a couple of seasons ago.
Sorry, their names offended me a LOT.

Outrage300 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 05, 2005, 10:39:57 AM »

Interesting my father in-law and grandfather served in WWII. From hearing their stories the names don't offend me.

Outrage

louie · « **Reply #5 on:** April 05, 2005, 08:35:01 PM »

Got a chance to throw the ball some more tonight. Even with the polish, the ball wants to start early and arc. It's more of a control piece for me. The hit is very good pocket and half pocket. Very few taps on solid hits. It doesn't do a good job of tripping out the four pin on high pocket hits, and it will leave a corner on light hits. I can see this as a good ball on a tougher medium condition as it will keep you out of trouble. If you're rolling the ball well you could generate some very nice scores. I'll probably use this ball when the backends are flying. It reminds me a lot of my Blue Gryphon with more overall hook due to the duller cover. A good ball when you need to tame flying backends.
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Why does everyone laugh when I bowl?

louie

Jesse James · « **Reply #6 on:** April 05, 2005, 09:32:22 PM »

Yes Louie,
This is a very unique ball! I have one. I currently use it mostly for spares, however it does come in handy for flying backends, or the occasional tournament shot which has degraded to a REVERSE BLOCK! It has saved me on more than one occasion. Has a nice controlled arc, with relatively good carry. Mine is drilled with pin #1, one inch right of the ring finger, and pin #2, 2.5 inches right of the thumb, but one inch below it.

The cover is dull, but strange. It is that bright blue color, yet the coverstock is kinda like a cross between a plastic and chalk!! Definitely condition specific, but I always take it with me to tournaments.