My specs
Speed: 15-16mph off my hand
Revs: Not sure exactly but Stroker/Tweener type revs
Not sure of my axis tilt or rotation but my PAP is 4 7/8" over 1" up.

Ball specs
15lbs 2oz
3 1/4" oz top weight
2.5-3" Pin to CG
Box finish

Drilling information
Pin is next to ring finger about 3 1/2" from PAP, with the CG kicked out to the right. The layout is about 45°.
There is a weight hole on the grip center line 5" from my grip center, about 1" in diameter and about 3" deep.

Conditions
I got this ball to be a benchmark ball; in other words, skid too far on heavy oil and overreact on the dry. It does that perfectly. This ball is very middle of the road reaction wise- it is not extremely aggressive or weak. Very consistent, predictable reaction on medium oil. Also hits well. It can play straight up or swing out a ways without any trouble depending on the conditions. The overall shape of the reaction is a strong arc- smooth and continuous. The midlane is strong, but it does a good job of getting down the lane and saving it's energy for the backend at the same time.  Very little flip to this ball, but that also may be a product of the drilling. My target line will vary depending on where I'm bowling, but typical lines are straight up 5, 8 to 6, and similar lines wherever I can find some friction.

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Arsenal:
Light: Rhino Pro LE
Med-Light: El Nino 2000
Medium: Vapor Zone
Anything above that: Awesome Revs

We got The Heist test ball and I was eager to drill it up.  I laid it out with the pin 4 5/8" from my PAP and 1 5/8" above the midline of my grip, and the CG 3 5/8" from my axis.  I left it in box finish (1000 Abralon with light compound).

On our house shot The Heist was very surprising.  I was able to play every part of the lane with nothing more than a hand position adjustment.  The ball motion was as predictable as it comes.  

The one thing that stood out to me most was the hitting power from various angles.  No matter what part of the lane I was in, pins continued to fly around.

This seems to be a great go-to ball that would fit many bowlers styles.  It won't out-hook most of the ball market, but will give you something to dig you out of a hole.  Sure to be a winner from the newest version of AMF.

Any questions, please call me at the shop, 1-877-BOWL-PRO
-Tim
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www.BuddiesProShop.com

The Place All Bowlers Shop

I wanted this ball from the get go but was not willing to pay $150. I finally just picked it up for considerably less.... Well I would have paid $200 for it if I knew it was going to do what it's been doing!! This ball is not jumpy (so you skid/snap guys need not read this) This ball has one of the strongest arcs I have ever seen. (and I've been throwing brunswick my whole life) It is predictable and like may others have said, you can play practically any part of the lane. I have mine drilled just as you see it in the VBR video. Pin just under center with the cg about 45. This ball has been discontinued but if you can grab one, I strongly suggest you do!

Left handed power tweener throw 16-18mph depending if i ate my wheaties that day.  Have above average revs that dont match my speed most days more speed dominant than rev dominant.  that said on to the review.


I bowled on a variety of shots since i ppurchased it anywhere from a synthetic heavy oil house shot to a old wood med light oil house shot.  Ball is 15lb has a one inch pin and 2.5 top i placed the pin just below my ring finger which is sarge easter so it is pretty close to midline if not below it.  No weight hole neeeded. Left in oob condiiton.


On the heavy oil house shot was able to compare it to my amf mega friction and 900 global bounty.  Mega friction was at 1000 abralon and the bounty was polished and then hit with a 4000 abralon pad giving it a ruff buff finish.  On this shot the heist was money, was playing 12 at arrows to 7 at 48 feet and made a great hard arc to pocket with phenominal hitting power.  If i got it out to the dry where the other two lefties were playing it moved even harder but didnt over react to it still staying in pocket.  If i tugged it in a couple boards it held line and still ahd enough hit to get corner out.  It is a very readable piece and is why it is now my bench mark ball.  On same shot the bounty i had to move 5 and 5 right which place the bouty at 17 at arrows with same break point but making a much stronger move on back end withe equally strong hitting power.  The mega friction at box finish was 8 and 8 right of the bounty which put it at 25 at arrows to about 12 at break point making an arc to pocket but it was losing energy still wasnt enough oil for this ball.  Overall the heist fits perfectly between bounty and my break pearl.

On the med to med liight by time they break down the heist was compared to the break pearl.  I started off throwing this ball 15 at arrows to 7 at break point and it made a really strong move to pocket with pins flying everywhere.  On this lighter condition i could miss left of target and it would hold pocket but a couple board miss right and it was either in beak or brooklyn.  I was only able to use this ball until heads started to go and had to puit away at end of second game to where i brought out my break pearl and was able to throw the same line for the rest of the set.   This ball is porbably one of the most underated balls on the market that nobody throws, tooo bad their loss my suggestion to those looking for a great controlable med to med heavy ball you will not go wrong by putting this piece in your hand it is pure money!!!!!
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I should only hope that someday i win something that matters so I can be lucky enough to be on staff for the best company out there amf/900 global.

The ball: 15 pounds, 1.5-inch pin, 1.38 oz. top weight before drilling
The drill: 5 x 4, pin through the middle, CG through the ring, no weight hole. Surface is box.
Me: PAP 4 over 3/8 up, tweener revs, good speed, Prefer higher axis rotation (75+ degrees) and not much tilt, but I can change as needed

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Bought this one for several reasons -- first of all, it is my first post-900Global AMF ball, and second, its low top weight allowed me to try an experimental (CG through the ring) drill that I'd been wanting to try for awhile. I also knew this ball would have a reputation for being smooth.

The fact the pin was drilled through the middle puts it 5 away from my PAP and thus limits this ball's flare potential dramatically. I'd say I'm getting about 2 inches of flare, if that.

Hook shape of the ball is, at first, an arc, but with a little punch at the very end. The longer pin-to-PAP distance allows this ball to lay off through the heads. But the box finish makes it check up too soon on shorter patterns and expend energy.

The result is a ball that likes to leave a lot of corners, whether it's the half 10 or a swisher 7. Moving to the right causes it to check up too soon and bring solid 4s and splits into play.

A coat of polish would almost surely help. The cover on this ball has acquired a reputation for easy changes and I probably need to make some. It would also help to be bowling on a slightly longer pattern.

The best thing about this ball is predictability. Bad shots thrown result in what you'd deserve from throwing said shot. I wouldn't necessarily describe this ball as "forgiving" but that could be a factor of the relationship between surface and lane condition.

What surprised me about this ball was that it showed more angularity at its point of reaction than I was expecting. From the day this ball came out, most others I've talked to refer to this as a smooth ball with a crescent-shaped hook pattern. I found it to be smooth enough but a little stronger than I expected.

I think the overriding point to make here is that this ball is stronger than some might think and will need to stick with mediums and up if the user chooses to retain the box finish. Given its surface tunability and predictability, this would make a fine league choice and I think it would do well on sport patterns.

The good: Sufficient strength, predictability shot-to-shot, tunable cover.

The bad: Shorter patterns will give it trouble in box finish, forgiveness isn't its strongest point.

Overall: A good benchmark ball for people who need to cover a wide range of possibilities and don't need a ball to recover from 20 boards outside of target.

Jess

This review is for the Heist Pearl limited edition.
I had this ball drilled with the pin 1/2 inch right of ring finger. This ball is very controllable! I just started using this great ball lately. The Heist works well on Medium lane conditions. It tends to skid just a bit on oily lanes. This ball is forgiving for the most part. I like the way the ball powerfully strikes the pocket! I do not leave 7 or 10 pins often when the ball is on point. I am looking forward to my 2010 season with this "pearl" of a ball for sure!

This review is for the Heist Pearl

February 2010 review

Layout: 45°x5"x40°
Surface: white scotch bright over factory

Was told this ball was a smooth rolling piece. I had my doubts because it is a pearl, and with a 5" pin to pap drilling, was expecting good length and a flip on the backend.

What I got out of the ball was a nice smooth rolling piece....with some length. Not a jumpy piece, but some decent length with a smooth arc to the pocket. In its oob surface the length was too much, so I hit it quickly with a white scotch brite pad to knock a wee bit of polish off.

For a limited release, this ball is MONEY, and should have been marketed better. I feel many people would love throwing this one. I do!