Post by: HamPster on February 21, 2007, 10:26:40 PM
Dark Thunder
Dark Thunder Pearl
Atomic Charge
Recharge
New ones I'm interested in:
Shift
Special Agent
Pyro
Paradigm Domination
Spit Fire
Need some stuff for my PBA Experience league this summer, but I also want to be able to use them for regular league too. Have one short dry pattern, one medium-medium pattern, and one that's all over the place. I need an oiler though, something that'll cut through on the backend, a first out of the bag ball (my 4.5 x 4.5 Red Zone is the one I use 90% of the time, and I can use it everywhere all night as long as the backends don't get too sloppy), and something for drier (my Smokin works very well as it's smooth, but strong). Suggest me some stuff here!
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Overdose, lethal metal level in my blood, it freely flows, embrace the pain, crush the suffering and cleanse it with the river surging through your veins.
Post by: Fluff E Bunnie on February 22, 2007, 07:20:04 AM
Some random thoughts:
I am a big fan of the Dark Thunder as far as smooth rolling arc goes. When I went up in weight I switched to the Thunderstruck Solid just because I could get it through my pro shop and I wanted to try it out. Now I am not sure which one I like better. The Thunderstruck Solid seems to be a bit of a stronger Dark Thunder. I use the Thunderstruck Solid mainly now but I bet the Dark Thunder would still work just as well and probably be a little less jumpy off the back which is nice sometimes.
I am interested to see how the Special Agent compares to a Brunswick ball, maybe someone can chime in and compare that one.
I am thinking of ordering either a Dark Thunder Pearl or a Thunderstuck Pearl to sort of round out my setup. Unfortunately I don't have one yet so I can't comment on it. I am also thinking of getting Pyro instead but my pro shop is going to have to convince me either way.
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Special... Agent-man!
Post by: Spider Ball Bowler on February 22, 2007, 07:36:20 AM
My opinion would be to get a Paradigm Passion for the heavy stuff, but make sure it's heavy enough for the ball, or you'll be dissapointed. The Special Agent is a 2000 grit ball, which would be a good step below the Passion, The Agent would be a ball you could probably use most of the time and most likely would be first out of your bag. If you want something that can be used on a lighter pattern, but is not a weak piece, I'd look at the Tropical Storm. I think this could be the most underated ball on the market. It's not for super dry conditions, but when they get lighter or squirrely, this would be the go to ball.
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Formerly SGC300
Post by: bowlingmaniac017 on February 22, 2007, 07:40:55 AM
. What a dumb*ss I was!Oh and you MIGHT still be able to find one of these on Ebay.
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Mike
Post by: Fluff E Bunnie on February 22, 2007, 07:50:38 AM
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Special... Agent-man!
Post by: Fluff E Bunnie on February 22, 2007, 07:51:36 AM
quote:
Hotrod Hybrid in my opinion is one of the best if not the best Storm ball ever made.
Yeah I wish they could put it back out and just call it the Thunderstruck Hybrid or whatever.
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Special... Agent-man!
Post by: bowlingmaniac017 on February 22, 2007, 07:54:04 AM
quote:quote:
Hotrod Hybrid in my opinion is one of the best if not the best Storm ball ever made.
Yeah I wish they could put it back out and just call it the Thunderstruck Hybrid or whatever.
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Special... Agent-man!
Lol... Only thing I hated about this ball was when I could string like 6 or 7 in a row because I would REALLY start to smell the cinnamon apple and if I was starving it made it ALOT worse. Heck! Half the time I was tempted to lick the ball just to see if it taste what it smelt like
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Mike
Post by: Spider Ball Bowler on February 22, 2007, 08:40:52 AM
quote:
How would the Red Zone compare to the Dark Thunder/Thunderstruck Solid? Is the Red Zone a smooth arcing ball like those? I thought it was, but I don't remember what I am basing that knowledge on.
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Special... Agent-man!
I can't really tell you how it would compare, since I haven't thrown either of the Dark Thunders, but the Red Zone that I had, had a heavy midlane, and it was pretty smooth on the back. Of course I only used this in practice sessions. I bought it used here to try one out, and it was 15 and I throw 16, so I never used it in league. I had a video of me throwing it, but it has since been deleted.
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Formerly SGC300
Post by: TravisG on February 22, 2007, 08:51:07 AM
Post by: Fluff E Bunnie on February 22, 2007, 09:30:08 AM
quote:
I can't really tell you how it would compare, since I haven't thrown either of the Dark Thunders, but the Red Zone that I had, had a heavy midlane, and it was pretty smooth on the back. Of course I only used this in practice sessions. I bought it used here to try one out, and it was 15 and I throw 16, so I never used it in league. I had a video of me throwing it, but it has since been deleted.
I was just looking at the 2007 Ball Guide in the USBC magazine and the Red Zone seems to be pretty similar to the Thunderstruck Solid only the Thunderstruck rolls a bit earlier and is a bit smoother off the dry. The Dark Thunder I would say is very similar to the Thunderstruck Solid but a bit smoother and a bit less overall hook. If you didn't already have a Red Zone I would say definitely try out one of these but since you do have a Red Zone I wonder...
Now as far as the Shifts, Dominations, Spit Fires, and T-Roads go, hopefully someone can shed some light on those.
You say you are wary of the Reactor coverstock? Why is that? Maybe this will help someone recommend a certain reaction or ball.
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Special... Agent-man!
Post by: HamPster on February 22, 2007, 05:08:52 PM
Stopped by after class today to talk to my pro shop guy again, and yup, drilled a Special Agent. Figured I'd get some suggestions here for that ball, and didn't figure I'd go wrong with it. We drilled it something like 4 3/4ths x 3, pin under ring, cg kicked out, mass bias (I know, it doesn't have a marked mass bias . .) at 35 degrees, half ounce weight hole just a bit above my pap on my val. I've only thrown a few games with it on the special senior pattern, lol, 23 feet of oil, buffed to 35. Yeah, it's short . . and really dry. But the thing hooks. I could have comfortably played my Red Zone at 4th arrow (which is deeper than I normally play with it), and I was inside 5th with the Special Agent. Laying it down on 39 out to 5 and going through the nose. Rolled up great too, very strong on the backend and continuous, which is a first for me with Reactor. I wanted a clean, strong look on the backend, and I got it. The newer Brunswick stuff seems to be smoother and a bit lazy on the backends, and it wasn't working well with my style. I don't have to have hook in a box, I just need something that's got a decent amount of length and gives me a good read on the backend. I'm going back to practice on our slightly longer 23 feet buffed to 37 pattern in a few hours . . Got some timing issues to work out tonight too, but I definitely don't think I'll ever have to worry about oil being a problem anymore. I might put some polish on it, but not too much. Don't want to defeat the whole purpose of getting a strong ball, lol. Probably won't be a regular every day league ball, but that wasn't the point, and I think I'll be really happy with it on particularly the Shark and TOC patterns this summer. Not so worried about Reactor anymore . . my pro shop guy is really good with layouts, so I think we'll be able to make the stuff work! Thanks for all the suggestions and info, I'm planning on getting a few more balls, so keep it coming!
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Overdose, lethal metal level in my blood, it freely flows, embrace the pain, crush the suffering and cleanse it with the river surging through your veins.
Post by: HamPster on February 22, 2007, 10:30:56 PM
I was crossing over my own burnt track the further right I was moving, but the ball was reacting strong, so any early hook could easily be fixed by taking more hand out. By the time I got in to third arrow, the left side of the lane was torched, and the mids between 14 and 20 were done, and the backends from 8-12 were pretty much done too. There was a playable area outside that, so guess where I went? By the end of my 15 games (on one lane, remember), I was playing straight up 5 on a 37 foot pattern with 3 units from 7 out. This is a ball I could easily cover all the PBA patterns with. It's strong enough to play an inside line on the Shark, but also gives me enough length with a strong move to play straight up on the Cheetah. Very responsive to what I did with my hand, but the reaction stayed the same, it's just that the less hand I put in it, the further it went before making its turn. The ball is amazing, I couldn't be happier. If I came up the back of it, it'd set. If I came around it, it'd roll up and keep going. Probably about as sharp and as clean of a move on the backend as I've seen out of a solid, and easily the most controllable hook (next to the Super Charge, lol). Everybody needs one!
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Overdose, lethal metal level in my blood, it freely flows, embrace the pain, crush the suffering and cleanse it with the river surging through your veins.
Post by: CBowl on February 23, 2007, 05:25:51 AM
Post by: Fluff E Bunnie on February 23, 2007, 06:22:45 AM
quote:
Very responsive to what I did with my hand, but the reaction stayed the same, it's just that the less hand I put in it, the further it went before making its turn. The ball is amazing, I couldn't be happier. If I came up the back of it, it'd set. If I came around it, it'd roll up and keep going. Probably about as sharp and as clean of a move on the backend as I've seen out of a solid, and easily the most controllable hook (next to the Super Charge, lol). Everybody needs one!
It's funny that you mentioned that. I am finding this to be true as well.
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Special... Agent-man!
Post by: Fluff E Bunnie on February 23, 2007, 06:24:47 AM
quote:
Welcome to the dark side
Dark side episodes 1-3 or 4-6? There's a difference... One is extremely cool and the other has a guy named Dooku.
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Special... Agent-man!
Post by: stopncrank on February 23, 2007, 07:14:25 AM
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STORM:If You Hear The Thunder,Sorry,The Lightning's Already Struck!
Post by: grizfan on February 23, 2007, 07:22:43 AM
Post by: Fluff E Bunnie on February 23, 2007, 07:48:38 AM
quote:
if you don't like the reactor cover, then shy away from the domination. i'd go with a regular paradigm.
quote:
If you liked the Smokin, I would suggest the Domination.
So that's one NO and one YES for the Domination.
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Special... Agent-man!
Post by: HamPster on February 23, 2007, 07:53:40 AM
My pro shop guy is doing sort of a have-a-ball promotion for the PBA league, of Storm and Roto stuff, so I'm going to get either a Domination or a Shift (for $165 drilled . .) when it starts at the beginning of May, but I still need a benchmark pearl, which will probably be the T-Road, and another solid, but I haven't decided if I want a lower end one, or get another Special Agent, drill it weaker and polish it.
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Overdose, lethal metal level in my blood, it freely flows, embrace the pain, crush the suffering and cleanse it with the river surging through your veins.
Post by: Fluff E Bunnie on February 23, 2007, 08:09:19 AM
Of course my style may be totally different from yours but I am sure you know which one to try next. I know there was one guy on here who had a few different Special Agents set up differently and there was someone else who had a two Thunderstruck Solid arsenal.
The T-Road is supposed to be nice and it will have the pearl version of the SA's coverstock and the thunder core... That has to be a good thing.
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Special... Agent-man!
Post by: HamPster on February 23, 2007, 09:04:15 AM
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Overdose, lethal metal level in my blood, it freely flows, embrace the pain, crush the suffering and cleanse it with the river surging through your veins.
Post by: Fluff E Bunnie on February 23, 2007, 09:08:29 AM
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Special... Agent-man!
Post by: HamPster on February 23, 2007, 10:51:37 AM
quote:
Seriously...If the Thunderstruck Solid looks too angular for you then Skip The T-Road for now...The Pyro sounds like a Perfect fit for what you are looking for. Clean through the heads earlier midlane roll and a nice strong readable arc on the back..Plus it handles the carry down whereas a T-Road and Domination may get squirelly on sloppy backs.
Then you will have a dull solid with your Special which will handle your heavy stuff and a very versitile Pearl (Pyro) with a light load particle. This should do you good on any medium condition out there. I seriously think that the Domination and Paradigm and the Shift may be more ball than you are looking for in a compliment to your Special...The Pyro Hooks Plenty..Then you win some money and try out one of the other balls.
Now if your not happy with your Special then I would look at a Shift or Paradigm. However a Pyro would still be great compliment to any Strong ball you purchase.
Read the reviews fro the Pyro on this site.
And as always run this by your Pro-shop folk.
Edited on 2/23/2007 11:23 AM
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Overdose, lethal metal level in my blood, it freely flows, embrace the pain, crush the suffering and cleanse it with the river surging through your veins.
Post by: bowlingmaniac017 on February 23, 2007, 10:58:58 AM
quote:
Good points . . I think I will look into a Pyro. I DO want something angular too, but not for a benchmark solid. The Pyro might work for my benchmark solid spot, even though it's a particle pearl. I really don't need anything lower end, because if it's too dry for me to use something reactive, I'll be using plastic anyway. I want something pearl that hooks about the same amount as the Special Agent though, because if the backends are firm enough for me to use something pearl, I'd rather do that to keep from burning up my track too quickly.quote:
Seriously...If the Thunderstruck Solid looks too angular for you then Skip The T-Road for now...The Pyro sounds like a Perfect fit for what you are looking for. Clean through the heads earlier midlane roll and a nice strong readable arc on the back..Plus it handles the carry down whereas a T-Road and Domination may get squirelly on sloppy backs.
Then you will have a dull solid with your Special which will handle your heavy stuff and a very versitile Pearl (Pyro) with a light load particle. This should do you good on any medium condition out there. I seriously think that the Domination and Paradigm and the Shift may be more ball than you are looking for in a compliment to your Special...The Pyro Hooks Plenty..Then you win some money and try out one of the other balls.
Now if your not happy with your Special then I would look at a Shift or Paradigm. However a Pyro would still be great compliment to any Strong ball you purchase.
Read the reviews fro the Pyro on this site.
And as always run this by your Pro-shop folk.
Edited on 2/23/2007 11:23 AM
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Overdose, lethal metal level in my blood, it freely flows, embrace the pain, crush the suffering and cleanse it with the river surging through your veins.
Just get an Agent and drill it the same way as your Special Agent. I have mine at 3 3/8 by 3 3/8 and I can use the Agent and when the lanes get tighter I pull out my Special for a few games before they get a little drier then I just move inside and throw my Agent again.
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Mike
Post by: JessN16 on February 23, 2007, 03:23:33 PM
Jess
Post by: HamPster on February 23, 2007, 04:38:05 PM
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Overdose, lethal metal level in my blood, it freely flows, embrace the pain, crush the suffering and cleanse it with the river surging through your veins.
Post by: stopncrank on February 24, 2007, 12:28:39 PM
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STORM:If You Hear The Thunder,Sorry,The Lightning's Already Struck!
Post by: JBracer2 on February 24, 2007, 09:27:38 PM
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http://members.bowl.com/FindAMember/memberView.aspx?mp=1369&ms=2612&s=2006-2007
Post by: strikestriketapped on February 24, 2007, 10:22:43 PM
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Hammer, Brunswick, and Storm.
www.hammerbowling.com
www.brunswickbowling.com
www.stormbowling.com
Post by: Fluff E Bunnie on February 26, 2007, 06:37:41 AM
quote:
Since this discussion has a lot of Thunderstruck v. Dark Thunder mention in it, let me note that those are two different coverstocks. The Dark Thunder and Dark Thunder Pearl wear Monsoon (and Monsoon Pearl) as their coverstock.
Yeah and the Monsoon on the Dark Thunder is supposed to be "reformulated" to handle Medium-Heavy oil. I am not sure what that means compared to the original Monsoon but I can say that the DT is very nice.
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Special... Agent-man!
Post by: JessN16 on February 27, 2007, 12:43:37 AM
quote:quote:
Since this discussion has a lot of Thunderstruck v. Dark Thunder mention in it, let me note that those are two different coverstocks. The Dark Thunder and Dark Thunder Pearl wear Monsoon (and Monsoon Pearl) as their coverstock.
Yeah and the Monsoon on the Dark Thunder is supposed to be "reformulated" to handle Medium-Heavy oil. I am not sure what that means compared to the original Monsoon but I can say that the DT is very nice.
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Special... Agent-man!
I don't have a Thunderstruck line ball yet, but I do have a Dark Thunder and even Ron C.'s 40-foot flat-oil shot at the BR Gathering last year wasn't enough to keep me from being able to hook the ball. It's probably the most versatile ball I've got and if you simply take it down from box 1000 grit to 600 grit, it's a darn good oiler.
Jess