Speed: 16.8 MPH
Rev Rate: 425
Axis Tilt: 3deg
Axis Rotation 75 deg
PAP: 6" right 1/8 down
Layout: 80 x 5 3/4" x 38
My favorite ball of 2017 was the OG Rhodman. My favorite ball of all time is Gamebreaker/Gamebreaker 2 and while all of my GB2s are getting a little weaker over the years, the Rhodman was the replacement that I needed as a dull solid ball that was predictable but still had a lot of motion down the lane that you could shape with your hand. Enter the Rhodman Pearl.
I put my favorite symmetrical layout on it. Pin about 1 1/2" above my ring, no hole although I may add one soon, which is about a 5 3/4" pin to axis for me. For me this layout normally gets the ball through the front and choppy mids and makes most of it's motion in the last 20 feet. The Rhodman Pearl is quite a different beast from the original. It actually is about 3-4 boards stronger overall IMO.
The thing I like most about this ball, is much like the OG Rhodman, it is nearly impossible to throw it past the breakpoint, unless the pattern is just too long. I have about 15 games on it or so and the first impressions are very promising. It's rare that you get a pearl ball that revs so hard in the midlane that you can still cover a lot of boards with. Normally, I would like this look for later in a block where I have to move deep inside and not give up the 3 pin, but the Rhodman Pearl and it's strong cover can really haul ass downlane to recover huge down lane.
What I thought was going to be an early rolling "control pearl" is more of a hard chugging, big backend piece that I'm going to have to open up my angles with. Playing direct with this ball for me is just a no-no. It makes a big strong move down lane and in my practice sessions I was really fighting this ball from going high while playing more up the boards. This ball is strong enough to start with on the fresh and reminds me a lot of strong Low RG pearls like the Brunswick Inferno, Absolute Inferno, and Marvel Pearl. It's closer to the roll of the Marvel Pearl for me and was a dead on lock as a replacement to that ball in my bag.
The shelf appeal is rock solid on this thing and as long as the pattern isn't on the shorter side, you will be able to find a home with this ball in your hand. I let my two hander friend try my ball and he ran off 17 in a row and immediately has his PSO order one. It is a very impressive ball. We sent a lot of messengers with this one, and I left a lot of 3-10 splits with it too.
This ball will let you know when it's time to put it down. No false reads, it will just duck hook through transition. When I missed it at the bottom and wide, it had the guts to get back, but the continuation wasn't as strong. It's not so touchy to the point that you have to be perfect with it at the bottom. When I overhit it, the ball just made a stronger move downlane and not an earlier move. In the transition, I think there will be better options, but if you're on a flatter pattern where you need to create some angle downlane with a strong roll in the mids, this a good option. This will be a great play off of my 2 OG Rhodmans when they are a little too early.
Versatility - 7/10
Overall Hook - 7/10
Hit/Continuation - 9/10
