Post by: JessN16 on October 07, 2008, 05:01:45 PM
I've got a friend who is getting a NIB Secret Agent (I'm drilling it for him) and we're replacing a Track Crash that literally crashed tonight at league (chunk taken out of the ball and huge crack, courtesy of a lane malfunction).
The ball has a 3-inch pin and about 3 oz. of top.
This friend is an older gentleman who throws almost a full roller (meaning the way he holds/releases the ball he doesn't track between the thumb and fingers, but you would think he should judging by the way his release looks). Without yet measuring exactly, I'd say his PAP is about 5.5 over 0 up to 6 over 0 up, looking at the oil rings. He throws with very good speed for his age (74) and decent revs, but nothing special. He suitcases the ball because his wrist doesn't allow him to get a true power release.
What we're trying to do is set this ball up for our league. He only bowls at one house, never in tournaments. He picked the Secret because he does need a little help getting to the pocket and carrying. He tends to play straight up 10.
Our house runs on THS, but not an automatic-hook THS. The pattern is short, there's not a drastic wall outside and the total volume is medium to medium-light. The crown in the middle is flatter than most THS shots.
I'm thinking the box surface prep is going to be a little too much. We need the ball to clear the heads and save something for the backend.
Would going to 2000 Abralon plus Moon Shine be a good option? And any layout suggestions you might have would be appreciated.
I'm a decent amateur driller who understands layouts but I'm not a pro. I typically only drill for myself and my wife but I'm trying to help this man out financially. We only paid $55 for the ball NIB.
His Crash was a 4-inch pin, with the pin way off to the right of the ring and slightly above. I think they got the pin too close to his VAL. Whoever drilled his Crash didn't spend a lot of time with this very kind man and I hope to do him a good turn.
Jess
Edited on 10/8/2008 1:06 AM
Edited on 1/11/2009 1:59 AM
Post by: Rc Charger on October 08, 2008, 06:57:36 AM
Rob
Post by: moooorich on October 08, 2008, 07:21:41 AM
Post by: Monster Pike on October 08, 2008, 08:41:31 AM
quote:
Moorich said: Do your friend a favor and throw it in the river...I know of at least 5 people that bought this ball last season and it did nothing for them. Theres a difference between "getting down the lane" and doing nothing. Just my $.02.
Typical. Guy w/a different brand user name & no profile comes on w/a stupid answer. If you can't help answer the question then just stay at the Morich board. Thanks.
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"The last time I saw a mouth like that, it had a hook in it." Rodney Dangerfield
Edited on 10/8/2008 8:42 AM
Post by: moooorich on October 08, 2008, 09:00:37 AM
Post by: Monster Pike on October 08, 2008, 09:12:41 AM
quote:
like I said.....that's just my experience with the ball, seeing that everyone I know that had the ball did not like it....even the die hard Ebonite fans. I'd hate to see the guy drill a ball for his friend and it sucks...who's to say it's the ball or his layout. Seeing several different layouts and the same result, I'd say it's the ball. Just because I didn't set up my profile dosen't make me stupid. I at least gave my opinion, Monster Pike... did you have anything intelligent to put forth???
Again: If you can't help answer the question then just stay at the Morich board. Thanks. Throwing the ball in the river is not answering the layout question.
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"The last time I saw a mouth like that, it had a hook in it." Rodney Dangerfield
Post by: JessN16 on October 08, 2008, 11:57:34 AM
quote:
Drill the secret with a 4x3 pin down, extra hole down. I wouldn't play with the surface untill he throws a few games with it. I personally like this ball with a stronger drill on it because gets down the lane really well. Good Luck
Rob
Rob,
In the event we decide to add polish, is Moon Shine the best match for this ball? I have Moon Shine, ReactaShine and XtraShine on hand.
Also, where exactly would you suggest the extra hole? On the VAL?
Thanks,
Jess
Post by: Monster Pike on October 08, 2008, 12:27:27 PM
I know you asked Rob, but I would say depending on what grit you're trying to finish to would be the polish to use. My best guess would be the Moon Shine. Because the Reacta Shine finishes to a 3500 grit, unless that's what you want. I believe Moon shine is just a polish w/no grit factor. I could be wrong.
On a side note, I used Storm's Step 2 on my Dimension. I couldn't use it at box finish either. Too strong. I brought the cover down w/a 1000ab pad & then step 2'ed it. Works great now.
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"The last time I saw a mouth like that, it had a hook in it." Rodney Dangerfield
Post by: abrown on October 08, 2008, 12:49:17 PM
Post by: stormed1 on October 08, 2008, 12:51:26 PM
Post by: Mr Straight Ball on October 08, 2008, 02:59:49 PM
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Baker...Why doesn't my ball h
k?40 Boards & A Ball Tournament Director
www.40boards.com
The left sucks & the right is wide open! R.I.P. Brizmo 6/15/08
Post by: thirtyclean on October 08, 2008, 03:06:57 PM
1/2 inch up. This layout does get above average length, and more of a contolled back end. Nobody was thowing these in the river in our area !
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Thirtyclean (Well maybe 29, or 28, most of
the times !)
Post by: moooorich on October 08, 2008, 03:14:45 PM
quote:
hey mooo what does a die hard ebo guy have to do with drilling up a storm ball? the problwm with the secret agent is for it to truely be effective for me i had to have a lot of head oil i threw it on a hevy sport shot and it was great on a house pattern yeah i didnt really hook that much but if you know what your looking at it was rolling out
Sorry about the ebo/ storm thing.....I got interrupted and lost my train of thought. Looks like I wasn't the only one that didn't see change of direction with this ball. NO....not every one want's a 90 degree turn but ya gotta have somethin there to get pin carry, or else ya might as well throw a $30 plastic ball.
Post by: Dan Belcher on October 08, 2008, 03:55:14 PM
quote:Throw it on the right conditions and it should carry. Norm Duke made it look really good in the first match of the PBA World Championships last season...quote:
hey mooo what does a die hard ebo guy have to do with drilling up a storm ball? the problwm with the secret agent is for it to truely be effective for me i had to have a lot of head oil i threw it on a hevy sport shot and it was great on a house pattern yeah i didnt really hook that much but if you know what your looking at it was rolling out
Sorry about the ebo/ storm thing.....I got interrupted and lost my train of thought. Looks like I wasn't the only one that didn't see change of direction with this ball. NO....not every one want's a 90 degree turn but ya gotta have somethin there to get pin carry, or else ya might as well throw a $30 plastic ball.
Post by: JessN16 on October 08, 2008, 05:11:48 PM
quote:
Why not a T-Road Pearl? This ball will "help" your friend who has a lack of tilt. The Secret is going to use up a lot of energy and not give him the direction change down the lane. No matter what age, we all want to see it change direction.
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Baker...Why doesn't my ball h
40 Boards & A Ball Tournament Director
www.40boards.com
The left sucks & the right is wide open! R.I.P. Brizmo 6/15/08
The main reason we have a Secret to work with was the price. At around $50 for a NIB ball with good specs, we couldn't argue, and it's already been bought and can't be returned/swapped. This gentleman doesn't have a lot to spend.
Your point about the downlane change of direction is precisely why I was asking about polish/surface options.
Jess
Post by: Gazoo on October 08, 2008, 05:28:18 PM
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"I don't want to be remembered, I want to be forgotten"
Post by: JessN16 on October 08, 2008, 05:31:46 PM
Jess
Post by: themagician on October 08, 2008, 06:18:17 PM
Thats just my take, good luck and hope all works out for you two.
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http://www.absolutebowling.com
Post by: Mr Straight Ball on October 09, 2008, 10:00:22 AM
K.I.S.S. Pin on the centerline about the fingers, CG slightly kicked out and you can always add a hole to get more out of it or smooth it out.
GOOD LUCK!
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Baker...Why doesn't my ball h
k?40 Boards & A Ball Tournament Director
www.40boards.com
40 Boards is proudly supported by Storm Products & Glen Burnie Pro Shop
"The left sucks & the right is wide open!" R.I.P. Brizmo 6/15/08
Post by: JessN16 on January 11, 2009, 12:59:05 AM
Drilled it for him fairly straightforward (pin just above and at 1:30 to the ring, CG 4:30 and just below the ring, for a 4.5 x 4.5 drill) based on what he said he wanted it to do.
Before I started drilling, I asked him some general questions about his preferred hook shape. He said he wanted it to go long before hooking. So I took it to 2000 and polished it using Storm Moon Shine.
For several weeks, he had a lot of problems with the ball. Too condition-specific and wouldn't read the lane. He was worried that it wasn't moving and said, "I'd like to see it hook some." So this past week, I took it back from him and put it at 2000 Abralon with no polish.
Well, now we've seen it hook some. (g) This guy has virtually no axis rotation and very little tilt much of the time. This week he was getting the ball to go left-to-right-to-left with ease and his carry was up. He seems to be happy with it.
Thanks for the help.
Jess
Post by: Z Jellsey on January 11, 2009, 01:03:31 AM