Igniter is drilled 5 x 3 with the pin below my bridge and the cg in the thumb positive quadrant. Balance hole is 1" below my PAP. Coverstock it adjusted down to a 1200 grit wetsand as I do with most pearls to smooth out the breakpoint and fight over/under issues.
I've used the igniter primarily on a 39ft medium (for most people), I call it light oil christmas tree that has rather strong backends. I've also used it on a second shift, shorter pattern, but not enough to comment accurately on how the ball performs on that condition.
Anyhow, on the 39ft. medium oil pattern the igniter clears the heads fairly well. The ball revs up quite hard through the midlane, and has a rather angular move at the breakpoint which finishes with a hard arcing move to the pocket.
At first the ball was rather deceiving to me at the breakpoint, because generally balls that are as angular as this ball at the breakpoint will result in a really wild flip on the backend. However the igniter's backend reaction is noticeably more modest than most stronger pearl reactives on the backends. With this type of breakpoint and backend it has been easy for me to keep up with what is happening on the lanes, and it seems that I never have to make any drastic adjustments to keep the ball flush in the pocket.
The igniter's reaction is not the type of reaction one would want to use to try to open up the lanes, as the ball generally will not make it back if I miss right. There is a bit of hold on the slight tugs, but in general on this pattern the igniter does not create a lot of area. What it does do is provide as consistent and easy to read of a line to the pocket as it's user allows it to provide. If I do my part, it for sure does it's part. I would imagine that a different layout, perhaps a stacked layout might be better suited for people who want more ability to open the lanes up with the igniter. However I personally would caution against such as the tendency of this ball seems to be to get length and help control wet-dries moreso than to open up lanes and create large amounts of area.
The igniter does seem to be sensitive to hand position changes, which I like in a ball as it allows me complete control over the ball's reaction throughout the lane. If you are one who struggles with consistency in hand position I can foresee you having troubles getting a consistent reaction out of the igniter as it will do what you make it do, and nothing else. In general I start out the set staying more behind the ball, giving it an earlier roll and a smoother backend, and simply adjust slightly throughout the night to coming around the ball a bit more to get a tick more length and recovery out of the ball as I chase it further in. If I stick with staying behind the ball too long it will tell me very quickly by standing up just short of the pocket. I know then that I need to make the adjustment to get a bit more length on the given lane. Seems like I always know what this ball is going to do, which is much more than I can say about many other pearl reactives I've had ahold of.
I'll have to add to the review as I get more experience with the ball on things such as how to know when to go to a different ball, etc. So far the only answer I have on when to switch to a weaker ball is simply whenever you get in deeper than you are comfortable playing on the lanes. It seems to like deeper, tighter lines as much as anything, so the limit to how deep you play the lanes with the ball is simply how deep you are comfortable playing.
I'm not going to waste a lot of time on hit and carry. I can carry with a white dot, so I have no problems carrying with this ball. I do however often think that what this ball does to the headpin should be illegal because it is so much fun to watch.
All in all the igniter is one of the best pearl reactives I've thrown. It provides a strong but easily readable and controllable reaction, and allows me to make whatever adjustments I feel necessary. People who like those qualities in a ball will like the igniter.
If you are not consistent with your release, and you want a ball that will react in a manner that corrects for release inconsistencies, you WILL NOT like the igniter. It does what you make it do, not what you think it should do regardless of how you release it.
So for a brief synopsis:
1. Hits and carries as well as anything
2. Gives bowler a lot of feedback as to what the lanes are doing
3. Very powerful yet equally controllable
4. Great for wet-dry conditions
5. If you don't like your igniters send them to me