win a ball from Bowling.com

Author Topic: Mutant, Super-Freak, Phenom, Phenom Unleashed ????  (Read 2283 times)

charlest

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 24523
Mutant, Super-Freak, Phenom, Phenom Unleashed ????
« on: October 04, 2003, 06:29:58 PM »
All supposed super-oilers intended to handle truly heavy oil in their out-of-the-box condition (AFAIK), all released in the last 6 months from the same company. Without being critical of why they were released, how truly different are these balls in their basic nature? I mean, without polishing one or sanding the other.

I really want to know. I avoid such balls like the plague for several reasons, not enough oil, enough hand, not high enough speed, etc. When I see their reviews, I say to myself, there's no way I can use them. Why waste the money trying?

Re-edited:
If you have 2 or more of these balls and have not modified their surface, can you use them well and properly??

(I'd rather not get into marketing of balls.)

thanx.

--------------------
"Those who do not remember history are doomed to repeat it."

Edited on 10/5/2003 9:59 AM
"None are so blind as those who will not see."

 

jkiser01

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7124
Re: Mutant, Super-Freak, Phenom, Phenom Unleashed ????
« Reply #1 on: October 05, 2003, 09:36:08 AM »
The bottom line is this. If there wasn't people out there buying all these "super-oilers", all the companies would not be making them..

I am sure you could alter the coverstock on one to make it react like another, but thats something alot of bowlers don't do. I have altered factory box finish with mixed results..

If there was not a market for these types of balls, the companies would not produce and market them.

I have a Phenom and I love the ball. It does exactly what its supposed to do.

jkiser01

Edited on 10/5/2003 9:46 AM
Radical Bowling Technologies ...Its more than just an Attitude!

charlest

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 24523
Re: Mutant, Super-Freak, Phenom, Phenom Unleashed ????
« Reply #2 on: October 05, 2003, 09:49:07 AM »
jkiser,

I understand that. I did not want to get into marketing. I'd like to hear how users view these balls, as I indicated, without modifying the surfaces.

Thanks, anyway.
--------------------
"Those who do not remember history are doomed to repeat it."
"None are so blind as those who will not see."

jkiser01

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7124
Re: Mutant, Super-Freak, Phenom, Phenom Unleashed ????
« Reply #3 on: October 05, 2003, 10:17:06 AM »
charlest,

sorry about that!!

jkiser01
Radical Bowling Technologies ...Its more than just an Attitude!

C-G ProShop-Carl

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5825
Re: Mutant, Super-Freak, Phenom, Phenom Unleashed ????
« Reply #4 on: October 05, 2003, 12:08:27 PM »
charlest,

I cannot speak of the phenom unleashed because I have not thrown it, but each of the previously listed balls are different, primarily beacause of the core.

The Mutant is the stronger at the pins out of the it, the super freak and the phenom. Of the 3, the super freak rolls up much sooner, probably 3-5ft sooner. The Phenom gets far more length than the Mutant, with a more angular backend reaction(but you will definately cover more boards).

I have 2 Phenoms, and decided to try something different on one from the other. The first one I have drilled with the pin drilled leverage and MB 5 inches from PAP. The second is drilled with about a 4 in pin and 3 in MB. The first one gets down the lane much further, and the second rolls up very soon and is certainly more of an oiler.

Every one has "hook monster" on their mind when they see each of these balls, but a simple adjustment in drilling(maybe placing the MB in your track) can make these balls very playable without a coverstock adjustment.

I put a coat of ProTRACKtion on one of my Mutants, and it hooked about 8 boards less than the weaker of the 2 Phenoms. So these balls are very playable, extremely versatile. Do not get me wrong, you are not going to use these balls on dry lanes by any means. But your normal league shot with oil inside will keep you being able to use them, atleast during the first 2 games.

example----I drilled a phenom with 3 in pin and 3.5 in MB for a 68 yr old guy that is a pretty good friend of mine. He hits the ball pretty well, but only has about 13.5-14.5 ball speed. He can use this ball on just about any condition except when the heads are fried or the backends are REALLY hooking.


Carl Hurd

Austintown Ohio (Wedgewood Lanes)

900 Global, AMF Staff Bowler

Tag Team Member #1

<b><i>TAG TEAM COACHING!!!!!!</i></b>/

charlest

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 24523
Re: Mutant, Super-Freak, Phenom, Phenom Unleashed ????
« Reply #5 on: October 05, 2003, 12:25:46 PM »
quote:
charlest,

sorry about that!!

jkiser01


JK,

No need to be sorry. Yours was a perfectly reasonable reply to my complex and not so properly expressed question. That's why I edited it.

Marketing is a significant factor and there are plenty of fluffers who will buy these balls. I had one who was using a Phenom on Monday and covering maybe 4-5 boards total with slow speed. I was using a Barrage, my weakest resin and having to heave it to keep it in play. How anyone used one without Excaliber's speed is beyond me. Ironically, the guy shook my hand after the set was over and almost crushed my hand. (They beat us 2-5, so he couldn't have been mad!)
--------------------
"Those who do not remember history are doomed to repeat it."
"None are so blind as those who will not see."

charlest

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 24523
Re: Mutant, Super-Freak, Phenom, Phenom Unleashed ????
« Reply #6 on: October 05, 2003, 12:46:15 PM »
Excaliber,

Thanks for the very nice summary. I know you have the speed that I don't  (although I wouldn't characterize my speed as slow).   A few questions:

1 - By "The Mutant is the stronger at the pins", do you mean it moves them more, greater pin movement OR ____?

2 - The Phenom gets greater length. Roughly how much?
3 - Withthat greater length, I'd normally assume it would retain greater energy once it hits the pins. I guess this is related to question #1.

4 - I'm concerned about your use of ProTraction (polish, I assume). I have read here by someone that it reduces hook, like Neo-Tac's Control-it.  AND you seem to be saying the same the thing. Am I correct in that assumption.
    (Aside: I have some Protraction and never even liked the way it applies. It seem to dry too fast and leaves caked-on pieces that are hard to remove, sort of like old-fashioned car waxes.)

5 - Fascinating about your 68 yr old friend. IF I were to get one, I'd get a 2-3" pin, place pin under bridge, drill it 4.5x5, with MB barely to the left of the thumb OR 3-4" pin, place pin over ring fimnger, drilled 5x5.5, with same MB. I am righty. Might have to wind up polishing it. One league is varying oil from medium-heavy to medium, always good head oil.

Thanx for your input.


--------------------
"Those who do not remember history are doomed to repeat it."
"None are so blind as those who will not see."

C-G ProShop-Carl

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5825
Re: Mutant, Super-Freak, Phenom, Phenom Unleashed ????
« Reply #7 on: October 06, 2003, 12:19:57 AM »
charlest

-1, stronger at the pins...hits harder, pins fly all over, great pin action
-2, Phenom from me gets about 2-3 ft further than the Mutant
-3, In my opinion, the Phenom does not hit as hard......BUT the difference is very small. I think the difference in HIT is from the core. This is just my opinion though
-4  My experience with protraction is nothing like yours. It applies a very light coat...it seems like maybe 1000-1200 TOPS.....it just gives the ball a little more length but does not seem to affect the overall hook. The way I applied it was just 2 drops (nickle size), doing this...with 4 sides of the ball instead of 6. ProTraction cut the hook LESS than Clean n Sheen for me. I do not see it on the current list of polishes, so maybe they discontinued it, but I have had no problems.
-5,  He controlls the ball very well. This ball will hook, but I thin it is useable for most bowlers. This is the reason that they(all companies) have starting make particle coverstocks so easy to adjust. The box surface is not for everyone.



Carl Hurd

Austintown Ohio (Wedgewood Lanes)

900 Global, AMF Staff Bowler

Tag Team Member #1

<b><i>TAG TEAM COACHING!!!!!!</i></b>/

charlest

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 24523
Re: Mutant, Super-Freak, Phenom, Phenom Unleashed ????
« Reply #8 on: October 06, 2003, 08:00:54 AM »
Thanks, Excaliber, for your time and patience.
--------------------
"Those who do not remember history are doomed to repeat it."
"None are so blind as those who will not see."