Age: 29
Average: 233 (House Shot), 215 (Sport Shot)
Style: Tweener
Ball Speed: 18mph in the heads
RPM: 380 - 450 (depending on the shot)
Layout: Pin above the middle finger and MB about 2 inches right of the thumb.
Surfaces thrown: 2000 and Box
Patterns Thrown On:
Second Shift Late League
Kegel Main Street
PBA Viper
I purchased this ball knowing that a lot of people had reservations about the ball. While it has been a condition specific ball for me, it has still been a good purchase. Overall, I have discovered the weakness with this ball is that you can't use it on high friction surfaces. When the ball is used on lanes with large amounts of built in friction the ball gets to angular at the breakpoint and you can't control the reaction down lane. Basically you end up playing the never ending game of chasing it left if you use it on the wrong pattern. I am going to try changing the under grit of the ball to 4000 and see if this takes out some of the over reaction down lane.
The correct place to use this ball is on low friction surfaces and sport shots, because this ball does nothing but create hold and area down lane. I have only been able to use the ball on Kegel Main Street at a low friction center known for turning house shots into sport shots and PBA Viper. On the hosue shot I can use this ball all three games if the surface is take down to 2000. On Viper this ball really shined. I was able to use it at the box surface for all three games, and the ball just created miss on it's on 2 boards right. Do you know what 2 boards of miss on a sport shot can do for your score? It's the reason I shot 300 with it the first night out on Viper.
In the end, I understand why people have qualms with the ball, but when used on the correct surface the ball makes the lanes play ridiculously easy. This like the other Track balls are own are amazing because basically I just need to release the ball cleanly and I always know it's going to make the turn back.
BALL SPECS
Pin Length: 3.5
Starting Top Weight: 2.75
Ball Weight: 14.02
DRILL PATTERN
Pin to PAP: 4 1/2 (Drilled 60 x 4 1/2 x 45)
CG to PAP:
X Hole (if there is one): P2 weight hole. 3/4", 2" deep.
BOWLER STYLE
Rev Rate: Med (never had rev rate analyzed)
Ball Speed: 14.25 - 14.75
PAP/Track: over 5 3/4 up 3/4
SURFACE PREP
Grit: OOB
Type: (Matte, Polish, Sanded): OOB
LANE CONDITION
Length: 37'
Volume: Medium
Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): THS
BALL REACTION
Length: Very good length. Usually pull this ball out at start of game 3 when my other equipment starts burning up and losing energy at the pocket.
Back End: Very strong as long as I have dry to bump off otherwise ball tends to shoot past breakpoint.
Overall Hook:
Midlane Read:
Breakpoint Shape:
COMMENTS
Likes: Ease that the ball gets through the heads and maintaining energy on backend. As long as backends are clean, ball has excellent recovery. Any carrydown, ball struggles to recover and make it back. In line with other review, if I were to hit it with 2000 or 4000 abralon, ball would be a little more predictable but then I would be duplicating my other arsenal. Leaving OOB, I have a great go-to-ball my third game during second shift leagues.
Dislikes: Color. Track has some unique color schemes. Was initially hoping for this to be my benchmark ball and was very disappointed in the beginning. Once I realized the time and place to use this ball, I have been completely satisfied with it.
J. Helton
Perfect Approach Pro Shop
BALL SPECS
Pin Length: 3 3/4
Starting Top Weight: 3 1/8
Ball Weight: 15lbs 4oz
DRILL PATTERN
Pin to PAP: 4 3/4
CG to PAP: Mass bias is about 45 degrees
X Hole (if there is one): P3
BOWLER STYLE
Rev Rate: Medium, 300-350??
Ball Speed: about 16 mph
PAP/Track:4 9/16 over and 3/4 up
SURFACE PREP
Grit: added Rough Buff
Type: (Matte, Polish, Sanded): Polished
LANE CONDITION
Length: 38 and 41 feet
Volume: as much as 100 units in the middle of the lane.
Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): THS
BALL REACTION
Length: Very long, very easy length
Back End: Very strong on some dry, need some dry back ends for this ball to work at it's full potential.
Overall Hook: Medium
Midlane Read: Not much midlane read, ball is very clean and is best suited to drier fresh and/or broken down patterns.
Breakpoint Shape: Very sharp on the back end when there is some dry. Almost a spare ball on heavy oil. Some over/under when the track breaks down and there is still heavy/fresh oil in the middle.
COMMENTS
Likes: Drilled this ball with pin over bridge, 45 X 4 3/4 X 45 (roughly) for you dual angle fans. Very nice length, for me this ball is great on some dry lanes to broken down conditions. Great length with plenty of recovery. My THS had too much oil until recently, and with the pattern change, this ball is awesome. I can be left of everybody else on the lane, throw right to where everybody else is playing and open up the lane. High speed players will use this on dry lanes. Slower speed players will love this ball for the length it gets.
Dislikes: Over/under with box surface on fresh conditions. Works better on drier fresh, some shorter patterns.
Mike Austin's Bowling Dynamix Pro Shop
Houston, TX
I'm back doing what I love and couldn't be happier!!!
Pin: 4 inches
Top: 3oz
LAYOUT
Pin 5 inches from PAP
MB 4 inches from PAP
Pin over ring, MB 2.5 right of thumb
Weight hole on Val 5-5/8 from center of span through the CG downSurface redone at 1000 abralon with Motiv Polish giving it a flat sheen shine
LANE CONDITION
Volume: N/A
Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc):THS
Likes: Clean through the front with a nice angular backend. Best reaction on second shift tournament shots when lanes are really wet/dry with blended backs. I used this ball at our City Mixed Tournament and shot 300-226-236 = 762.
Dislikes: Not good on Medium Heavy to Heavy Oil, Over under with out of box surface due to glossy surface.
Edited on 1/11/2012 at 4:01 PM