I drilled a pro-pin Reign a few weeks ago, and finally feel I have enough time on the lanes to give an honest review. First off, I drilled the Reign pin and cg stacked on my grip, and kept it at box finish. The first chance I had to use the ball was on Cheetah, last years 36 foot edition. I was able to get the ball to the spot very easily, but could not keep it from leaving the 2-4-7. I have a pin up/ strong Virtual Energy that I was using to compare to. The VE and the Reign both read the fronts the same, but the VE was more controllable at the breakpoint. this is one of the reasons I drilled a pro pin ball, to have more down lane motion. It didn't seem to matter how deep I got with the Reign, it still went high. The next time I used it, was on our house condition, the next morning left overs. The pattern had play on it, and was settled down at this point. This center is the place that I drilled the first Natural for, so I wasn't expecting too much from the ball. To my surprise, I was able to get in deep, fourth arrow out to 5 board, and hook most of the lane, without any lose of hitting power. The ball just kept coming from off the spot! I then got a chance to use it during practice session at the regional in Lancaster, PA, bowling on Shark. I was able to get to the pocket playing deep in side, but getting the seven out was an inconsistent task. I did try hitting it with a little surface, all it did was make for an earlier reaction with the same results. A slightly stronger drilling would work to get the ball to face up better on this pattern. I used the ball on the house shot at a different center (DBA surface). Here, the ball was just too strong in the backend, and after moving in deep, there was just too much oil in the middle of the lane to yield a consistent reaction. The last pattern I used the ball on was Scorpion, the new edition. This ball picked up in the backend better than everything else in the bag. I was able to stay in the middle of the lane with it, but the heads dried up too fast, and I wasn't rolling the ball consistently enough to try and stay in with it, and fight the transition. I switched to a pin under Special Agent, and went up and in the last game.
After the testing of this ball, I have come to the conclusion that this ball will give me the reaction I drilled it for. It will cover alot of boards, and allow me to open up the backend when I need to get deep, and the pattern is of a moderate length. I probably will not see this that often, but it will be great to finally have that piece in the bag that I have been lacking.
The Reign is the complete opposite of the Natural. It is all about opening up the backend with this ball. I only wish I had this ball at the open this year, as it would have given me that backend continuation that I needed as I had to get deep on that pattern.
As a side note, I drilled one of these up for a right hander who likes to play the lanes down and in, with not much axis rotation, and he absolutely loves it! In fact, he wants to order another one and keep at home, if this on should ever get lost or chewed up by a pin machine.
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Tommy Gollick
Storm Regional/Pro Shop staff
Red Crown Pro Shop Harrisburg, PA
stormbowling.com
