Ok, so at least it was half as good as I wanted it to be, so I guess I'll settle for it. I wanted a ball that reacted like my original X-Factor, but stronger. So I figured that a particle pearl with a lower rg and higher differential with the same drilling would work. Nope. The RSP is a good step below my X-Factor in everything (even leaving it at box surface). Total hook, midlane, and backend. RSP is very smooth, and hooks very little. Pin is above the bridge, and the cg is about 2.5 inches right of my grip midline. 7/8ths weighthole drilled 2 inches deep is about 2 inches straight right of where the mass bias marker would be.
The lanes I bowled on were a little oily, but my X-Factor still read the mids and backends (albeit very little) while my RSP just rolled and didn't do a thing. The fit was a little off, so it was a game or two before I started throwing it well. Still didn't hook much at all though. Lots of buckets, washouts (even on bad shots I still hit the headpin, I haven't blown through a breakpoint in years), and even a 5-7-10. All the ball really did was burn my mids. Move left, and it's skating.
However . . When it hooks, it rolls up to the pocket. No hook/set, no roll out. It ROLLS exactly like I hoped it would. A couple games later the lanes started to burn more, so although I was throwing it slow, I was able to throw it smoothly, and the reaction was beautiful. It only went high when I pulled it (never read the pattern too early), and it was a nice, smooth, predictable arc on the backend. Had a couple games where all I left were 10 pins and a couple solid 7's. I know it wasn't too much ball for the lanes, because the drier they got and the jumpier my X got, the stronger the RSP got. I put a little polish on it, and all that really did was make the backend just the slightest bit stronger.
All in all, aside from the lilly and the myriad of flat 10's, the ball hits really well. On light hits it was really throwing the pins around. I had a couple messengers and deck sweepers. I'm just really disappointed in the hook potential. I needed something that reacted just like it to use until the lanes burned enough to allow my X to pick up a little earlier (have a problem with 10's until the track wears a little). However, I think it'll allow me to throw a little slower and smoother than my X will without being jumpy like my X is. The RSP would absolutely kill a spotty shot, and it was once my mids and backends started burning. My X would hook a bit, skid a bit, jump a little, and skid some more, but the RSP was smooth and strong the whole way down the lane. The house I bowl at tonight has heavy oil, but strong backends, so hopefully I'll be able to use it tonight. It's less sensitive than my X, so if I swing it just a bit, I ought to be able to stay in about the same spot all night.
I think I'm going to like it, and with the way it reacts, it'll stay in the bag at all times, but it's not what I was looking for at all. I might have to get another one and drill it stronger, but hopefully the reaction shape will stay the same.
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New member of the Metal Militia!!! If you think Simple Plan is metal, then you must die. And not get to be a member . .\m/!!!
