I have two of these. One from back in 2004 made in USA, and one just re-released via the Ace-Mitchell re-orders made in Mexico. I can't tell the difference.

The older ball is drilled with the pin above and between the fingers, CG kicked out a bit to the right of the vertical mid-line, above the horizontal mid-line, X-hole on the PAP, my PAP is 5 1/4 over - 1/4 up. In box finish this ball killed. Depending on the shot I could play up 10, belly from 15 or 20 to 10 or if they were burnt play a fall back shot. I have this in 2000 abralon now and it's very close to box finish in it's reaction. This layout goes somewhat medium long and has a nice arc on the finish. Very good for most oil unless super swampy or desert dry. Wood or synthetic doesn't matter. Change your speed or hand position if you are getting too much hook or not enough, or move left or right. When this ball hits, IT HITS.

My newer Inferno is drilled almost "Rico" style. I would call this a Pin Down, Hole Down layout. Pin is on the vertical grip line a little bit more than halfway down between the fingers and grip center, CG is kicked out below the horizontal grip line at about 45 degrees and the X-hole is almost in perfect line with the CG at the same 45 degree angle from grip center just about 3 3/8ths down the VAL from the horizontal grip line. This ball is still in box finish. This layout revs the ball up very early but it doesn't overhook. It has a ton of juice left on it when it hits the backend and comes LEFT very very hard. I'd say the reaction is a very very hard arc snap, but smooth. Carry is no issue when in the pocket as anyone who has an Inferno will tell you.

I'm very sold on the whole family of Activator coverstocks as they LAST if you take care of the balls. My first Inferno is 3 years old and hits like new. All my other Activator based equipment rolls fine and I still have it. If you didn't get one of these when they first came out now's your chance. Don't sleep on this ball. Layout and knowledge of your track, style of bowling and PAP is key to properly lay one of these out. Bowl well.

Brunswick Original Inferno
Layout: Pin 4 1/2" from PAP, pin down. No x-hole. OOB Cover.

Bowler: 225-250 RPMs, 16 MPH. Release for this review: medium-ish tilt, medium-high side rotation. PAP is 4 1/8" over, 5/16" up.

Lanes: Typical House Shot - medium in volume, 40' in length, broken down from earlier, pretty dry on the outside, backs on the inside were on fire.

Review: Ah...The Original Inferno. I've heard so many good stories about this ball, and to say I haven't wanted to try one for awhile would be a flat-out lie. So when I got my grubby hands on one I JUMPED at the chance. I decided to lay it out 4 1/2 x, I hoped I'd have a decent ball on medium house shot conditions. Lately I've been looking, or "in the market" you could say, for a drier lane ball that I could play the track with, so I'm not stuck swinging the lane. Well the way this ball ended up, it filled my gap!

I started out standing on the 26, hitting 15-7 and the ball just was so smooth and powerful, I loved it. I decided to move further left, add some speed and forward roll. Remember, the further left today, the more my other stuff was going haywire, or burning up. The Inferno just held on line and then broke later and harder, giving me a ball I had versatile amounts of room with. I had a ball I could play my line I originally wanted, and then some chops to play deep when I wanted to. I'm excited to try this ball on something like the Cheetah or Scorpion pattern, where I have friction around me but I don't want to over-utilize it.

Excellent product by Brunswick, We'll see what happens in the coming weeks!
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My Arsenal: http://s85.photobucket.com/albums/k80/poetryinsane/Bowling%20Arsenal/

:Arsenal:
Brunswick Total Inferno
Mo-Rich Archon
Roto-Grip Mystic
Storm T-Road Pearl


BOWL UP A STORM!

KING OF 'EM ALL!

BEAR THE CROWN!

After giving up on the Fury line, I went back to my original inferno.  This ball must have nearly 1000 games on it, but still in my opinion no ball has ever or will ever be made that reads the midlane, makes the move, and continues through the pins better than the OI.  I wish they would bring it back for an encore.