BallReviews

Equipment Boards => Visionary => Topic started by: BowlingforSoup on March 26, 2017, 08:52:12 AM

Title: The Crow
Post by: BowlingforSoup on March 26, 2017, 08:52:12 AM
You guys that have had the crow now for awhile.Tell me your thoughts.To me most urethane balls out do not flare enough.I tried the new blue hammer and 900 global BooYah.They didnt really flare enough to be very useful.I want to try the Crow,but at 139.95 it better be special.What got my attention was this video.Look at 55 seconds in there is some serious flare on The Crow.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qS4lNARcDxw
Title: Re: The Crow
Post by: scotts33 on March 26, 2017, 09:22:41 AM
With a 4.75" pin to PAP I get about 3"s of flare.  The Crow is made for medium type conditions.  Depending n your bowling stats. (mine are in profile) will depend on how you should lay out.  If you are looking for a medium ball with a slower response cover The Crow could be it. 
Title: Re: The Crow
Post by: JamminJD on March 26, 2017, 06:57:42 PM
The Crow hooks! I can get deep with it over any other urethane and still carry.
It flares quite a bit. I have used it on up to 42' modified house shot with out of bounds outside of 5. Later in the set got to 20 board out to 8, shot 248 that game. Ball is a great urethane option.
Title: Re: The Crow
Post by: WOWZERS on March 28, 2017, 01:41:24 PM
Attached is a pic of my Crow after an initial shot. Lots of flare for a true urethane ball and tons of hit as well.
Title: Re: The Crow
Post by: scotts33 on March 28, 2017, 06:12:54 PM
The amount of flare for a .044 15 lb.or .048 14 lb. depending on your pin to PAP distance isn't something out of the ordinary.  One would get the same amount of flare with a Raven, Raven Invasion or Raven Attack with same same pin to PAP and all balls with the HDC Ogre weight block. The Crow to me is not a light oil ball it's a medium volume ball and where VBP states it falls.  I do feel some think it's going to be useful on light conditions where some urethane balls are marketed.  Of course everyone's definition of lane conditions can be different especially lefty to righty.
Title: Re: The Crow
Post by: JamminJD on March 28, 2017, 07:15:25 PM
The amount of flare for a .044 15 lb.or .048 14 lb. depending on your pin to PAP distance isn't something out of the ordinary.  One would get the same amount of flare with a Raven, Raven Invasion or Raven Attack with same same pin to PAP and all balls with the HDC Ogre weight block. The Crow to me is not a light oil ball it's a medium volume ball and where VBP states it falls.  I do feel some think it's going to be useful on light conditions where some urethane balls are marketed.  Of course everyone's definition of lane conditions can be different especially lefty to righty.


+1
Title: Re: The Crow
Post by: bowling_rebel on April 07, 2017, 06:29:54 PM
yeah, well as pointed out, the core is different so it flaires.

I think at times people attribute qualities to urethane that has nothing to do with cover-stock and everything to do with core.

Other urethanes are designed and marketed for light oil, so they have low flaire cores to get them down the lane.

A myth I also see is that urethane moves oil down lane and resin doesn't. The urethane balls from 80's didn't flare, so of course would pick up oil and deposit down lane. The new one's won't b/c they flare.


Title: Re: The Crow
Post by: MI 2 AZ on April 08, 2017, 01:30:50 AM
yeah, well as pointed out, the core is different so it flaires.

I think at times people attribute qualities to urethane that has nothing to do with cover-stock and everything to do with core.

Other urethanes are designed and marketed for light oil, so they have low flaire cores to get them down the lane.

A myth I also see is that urethane moves oil down lane and resin doesn't. The urethane balls from 80's didn't flare, so of course would pick up oil and deposit down lane. The new one's won't b/c they flare.




If you don't wipe the flaring urethane off between shots, what will eventually happen?

I can throw the Crow and then change balls the next frame to a reactive and I will see much more oil on the Crow than I will on the reactive ball.

Reactive urethanes soak up oil at a much faster rate than the plain vanilla urethanes.  That is probably the biggest reason for reactives not depositing as much oil down lane.

As to your other urethanes are designed for light oil so they have low flare cores, I would think that different cover stocks would give you different reactions (ability to handle more oil).  I don't think it is just because of the core but if you can post a link to support that, I would appreciate it.  I'm still learning at this game.
Title: Re: The Crow
Post by: bowling_rebel on April 08, 2017, 05:22:31 PM
Urethane and Rg

The lower the Rg, the sooner the ball wants to roll. Higher Rg, more mass towards cover and will hook later. higher differential - the more flair

Rg's of urethane balls:
Crow: 2.56, diff .044
Pitch blue/ Pitch black: 2.57, diff .022
purple hammer: 2.65, diff 0.015
booyah: 2.61, diff .026
blue hammer: 2.57, diff .032

The the crow has a moderately high diff, the other urethanes all lower, so crow will want to roll earlier and flair more. With a more aggressive cover, it seems that it's the most aggressive urethane out on the market.
Title: Re: The Crow
Post by: nord on June 06, 2017, 01:04:38 AM
I have The Crow and have been trying to use it at stock grit (500) on house shots and this ball is just too strong!
It out hooks reactive balls!
Last night in league I could not get my Hammer Dark Legend Solid to even grip the lane and it was at 1000 grit.
Then I tried my Radical Rack Attack at 1000 grit and the same non-reaction and slide by.
So I pulled out The Crow and this thing was a monster. Very early with a big arc.
I had to keep it on, or left of second arrow. If I hit right of second arrow then immediate crossover!
Based on the last few sessions, for my game, this ball is just too strong at stock grit of 500.
It just hooks too early and hard.
I will take it up to 1000 grit and see if this smooths out the reaction and gives me the extra length I need.
I have been very impressed with this ball and it is probably the strongest and hardest hitting urethane ball I have ever tried.
I highly recommend it, but it needs oil, it is not for dry lanes.
It is definitely a house shot killer.
Here is a look at me using it at stock 500 grit. Look how heavy this thing rolls:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tYCnkmk-Mo

And just to show you how strong and early it is, here is a comparison video of The Crow vs. the Marvel S on a house shot.
Same exact shot with each ball, one shot after the other so you can see how they each react on different parts of the lane.
On this day the Marvel S just won't grip, while The Crow is actually too strong.
Check it out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQeTjBc5hQ0
Title: Re: The Crow
Post by: LarsCarring on June 06, 2017, 05:40:27 AM
Attached is a pic of my Crow after an initial shot. Lots of flare for a true urethane ball and tons of hit as well.

Nice!Cool!
Title: Re: The Crow
Post by: JamminJD on July 13, 2017, 01:23:06 PM
Well I did make a place for this ball after all and am glad I did.  It has become my go to ball as its not as condition specific as I feared and its great for practice due to being tough as nails and not having to worry about dead ball with it.  As my first true urethane though do notice it has a funky smell.  Don't mind really (sure smells a lot better than my burning solder and flux smelling EPX T1) but was wondering if that's is true of most urethanes?  Don't remember the Black Hammer I saw in the pro shop smelling but don't think I got nose that near it (edit:  actually starting to kind of remember some smell close now I think about it).  That said I don't buy balls because they smell like berries and cream.  This ball is the real deal on THS even if you are reved challenged like myself.

Crow is a great urethane, I really like mine. Glad you could find a place in your bag for it!
Title: Re: The Crow
Post by: LookingForALeftyWall on July 17, 2017, 12:57:27 PM
I got The Crow for short oil.  I have not had much success on short patterns lately and my best look has been with an IQ Tour Solid - which is a fairly smooth resin ball.  However, the IQ Tour Solid has been too much ball on the shorter patterns - which made me curious to see what the Crow could do.  I was hoping that The Crow would be a good step down from the IQ Tour Solid.

Last night, I tested it out on WTBA Sydney (33 ft/1.2:1 ratio pattern) - a very tough flat pattern.  The Crow did not overreact on the 27 feet of back end.  The 500 grit out of box surface bled energy early with no angularity and a considerable amount of lope to the pocket.  It displayed the quintessential urethane shape with a desirable amount of control.   

However, given my rev rate/high speed, I had to reduce my speed a little bit to get it to the pocket from outside of 5 (inside of 5 was a no go with everything going Jersey - which should be expected).  I would say it is 2 steps down from the IQ Tour Solid (with my Tundra being the first step down).  My initial take is that The Crow seems like it's a good option for me for shorter patterns with some built in friction outside of 5.  I have not had the chance to test it on a house shot yet and would like to see how it would handle a really dry (not fried) outside shot.  I'm hoping it's use will not be limited to shorter/tougher patterns.  TBD.
Title: Re: The Crow
Post by: JamminJD on July 17, 2017, 01:06:03 PM
I got The Crow for short oil.  I have not had much success on short patterns lately and my best look has been with an IQ Tour Solid - which is a fairly smooth resin ball.  However, the IQ Tour Solid has been too much ball on the shorter patterns - which made me curious to see what the Crow could do.  I was hoping that The Crow would be a good step down from the IQ Tour Solid.

Last night, I tested it out on WTBA Sydney (33 ft/1.2:1 ratio pattern) - a very tough flat pattern.  The Crow did not overreact on the 27 feet of back end.  The 500 grit out of box surface bled energy early with no angularity and a considerable amount of lope to the pocket.  It displayed the quintessential urethane shape with a desirable amount of control.   

However, given my rev rate/high speed, I had to reduce my speed a little bit to get it to the pocket from outside of 5 (inside of 5 was a no go with everything going Jersey - which should be expected).  I would say it is 2 steps down from the IQ Tour Solid (with my Tundra being the first step down).  My initial take is that The Crow seems like it's a good option for me for shorter patterns with some built in friction outside of 5.  I have not had the chance to test it on a house shot yet and would like to see how it would handle a really dry (not fried) outside shot.  I'm hoping it's use will not be limited to shorter/tougher patterns.  TBD.
On the house shot you will probably have to move left especially if its in the 36 to 40' range. The Crow needs some friction but it will work on oil. I have thrown it on a 43' blended house pattern and was 18 to 9 with great success. This ball on house conditions is more a Medium shot. Not saying you  can't use on lighter than Medium but this ball is strong!
Title: Re: The Crow
Post by: LookingForALeftyWall on July 18, 2017, 08:03:51 AM
Almost better to think of the Crow as a benchmark solid ball than a classic urethane.

Based on my limited experience with it, I couldn't disagree more.  It does not have a ball motion anywhere near what is common of a mid-level solid reactive.  When I throw it, it has a classic urethane shape - very similar to the Black U-Dot that I have owned since 1987.  You obviously feel differently, and that's fine.  However, what you describe is no where near what I've seen so far.
Title: Re: The Crow
Post by: scotts33 on July 18, 2017, 08:10:31 AM
Usage of Crow is all dependent on your bowling stats. and type of lane condition it's used on plus layout.

For me, I found it to be not for light oil at all.  It flares a ton with a 4.75" pin to PAP pin above and for me is good on medium house shots.  VBP states it's a medium ball on their website. 

A new EBI Hammer produced Blue Hammer would be a better light oil urethane choice IMO.

My stats. are in profile.
Title: Re: The Crow
Post by: LookingForALeftyWall on August 11, 2017, 08:11:40 AM
Bowled on the older WTBA Stockholm 34 foot pattern last night and The Crow was awesome. It was the first night on a short pattern this season where I was totally confident in my ball reaction. Happy that this ball is now part of my short sport arsenal.
Title: Re: The Crow
Post by: JamminJD on August 11, 2017, 08:34:58 AM
Bowled on the older WTBA Stockholm 34 foot pattern last night and The Crow was awesome. It was the first night on a short pattern this season where I was totally confident in my ball reaction. Happy that this ball is now part of my short sport arsenal.

Nice, The Crow is a good urethane. If anyone is looking for a stronger urethane they need to look at Visionary The Crow.
Title: Re: The Crow
Post by: Impending Doom on August 24, 2017, 08:44:38 AM
Not gonna lie... I'd drill one of these. #vivalaurethane
Title: Re: The Crow
Post by: Matt C on November 21, 2017, 01:09:33 PM
Well here we are... End of Nov.. Nothing.. very discouraging
Title: Re: The Crow
Post by: MI 2 AZ on November 21, 2017, 05:30:36 PM
Wonder if Seismic is keeping them that busy.  Seems like because now you can't even get the Warlock Pearl IIRC.  Didn't realize those Warlocks are 2 piece or might have picked one up.  That said yeah their line is due for a refresh.  Love my Crow and Ogre Urethane so much hard to be too hard on them.

Warlock XV Pearl was discontinued quite a while ago.  The Warlock XV and Samurai will be discontinued soon if they haven't already.  If you want one, better get it now.