Author Topic: Melee....Meh.. (Read 5915 times)

MrNattyBoh · « **on:** December 31, 2013, 09:33:11 AM »

I just recently purchased a melee and I have mixed feelings about it. I had it at box finish and even had the surface taken down and didn't see what I have read that most people got out of this ball.

A few quotes from reviews about it that helped me decide that was the ball I wanted:

"The Melee is so much smoother but still strong of a motion on the back"

"This ball is a couple feet longer than the Versa with better continuation through the pins"

"took a hard arc on the backend. Lots of fun to see that kind of down-lane recovery. I think this ball is closer to a skid/flip ball than any other recent releases"

Yes this ball is smooth. Maybe too smooth for my liking. I have left more 2-8-10's with this thing than I care to remember. It just seems like it quits downlane and doesn't have the backend reaction than I have read about. This isn't the reaction that I have expected. The surface (brown scotch brite) that it is at now is too over/under. I just don't have the room of error with this ball that I get with my Hyroad or my old Almighty. I just don't have the trust in this ball like i have with my other equipment and this may end up being an expensive paper weight. Any help is greatly appreciated!

charlest · « **Reply #1 on:** December 31, 2013, 09:52:00 AM »

While the reviews have been variable in the utility and ball path (some say smooth, some say skid/flip), there is little doubt that this is a medium oil ball for the average revs, average ball speed bowler.

Your description of its use indicates that 2 possibilities: one, your driller did not drill it correctly for your release/delivery, and, two, you're not using it on the right amount of oil for whatever your ball speed/rev rate ratio needs (a speed dominant needs lighter oil, a rev dominant needs more oil, while a matched bowler can use it on medium +/- oil). You could be suffering from one or both of these problems or a little bit of each.

I'd suggest either redrilling it, if you and/or your driller can diagnose the problem, or selling it.

Jesse James · « **Reply #2 on:** December 31, 2013, 11:29:38 AM »

No need to reply on what your needs are.....Charlest already covered them all.

All the people that I've seen score with this ball are big-handed, rev-dominant types. I've seen people swing it, throwing the big wheel, and I've seen folks throwing a small swing in the middle of the lane. Again....the ball was smooth as silk, with big hit at the pin deck.....but in rev-dominant hands.

BallReviews-Removed0385 · « **Reply #3 on:** December 31, 2013, 01:49:24 PM »

I am far from rev dominant. I've tried to smooth out things over the years and probably fall into the "stroker" category. My Melee's surface is roughly 4000ish and the ball is excellent playing straighter lines through the front.

I typically see fresh oil on one league, and I'm basically playing the oil line around 10 board to start, and gradually opening up angles a little. This is not a big hook ball for me at all. It's a control piece that just reads the lane where it should.

My other league is second shift, and I can still play about 3 boards closer to friction than my more aggressive stuff. It's actually pretty close to where I play the Platinum Ringer, just less flippy.

I'd suggest getting it back somewhere close to factory, and then BARELY knock a little gloss off. Balls can be a bad mismatch when the bowler is trying to make it something it's not intended to be. If I were playing too deep with my Melee I'd probably not like it at all because I have other pieces better suited for playing in the oil (Mastermind). If you're leaving lots of 2-8-10s you're not lined up. Make a small move closer to friction and let the ball read what's there.

MrNattyBoh · « **Reply #4 on:** December 31, 2013, 01:59:54 PM »

Well that's my problem, I think. Its not reading anything. My hyroad "reads" the lane...the Melee just seems like a urethane piece in my opinion.....

BallReviews-Removed0385 · « **Reply #5 on:** December 31, 2013, 02:05:59 PM »

Make a small move closer to friction and LET it hook rather than trying to MAKE it hook. Right now it may be too dull. Get it like I suggested above and try it. Happy New Year, and my best wishes to you. Keep me posted.

BackToBasics · « **Reply #6 on:** December 31, 2013, 02:11:06 PM »

What I've found is just like the Versa you have to change the underlying grit. My Versas and Melees didn't come to life until I hit them with a base 500 then a final (1000, 2000, or 4000).

Box they come too polished and really more for light to light mediums.

kidlost2000 · « **Reply #7 on:** December 31, 2013, 06:47:34 PM »

I have a Melee and think its okay. At box I can't use on the fresh because of its length. Speed has to be just right because of its length. Knowing the intent I drilled the ball with a 2.5" pin and a flare increasing xhole. It is very similar to my slingshot which is on the same layout. I actually like the Ringer Platinum a lot more. It cost less and gives a more consistant reaction out the box.

I think the Melee is a good piece for less oil but isn't a great ball for the price point. It is definitely a step down from my Stike King and Ringer Platinum.

UpstateProShopChris · « **Reply #8 on:** December 31, 2013, 09:56:46 PM »

I find that the Melee works better for those with less rotation when using stronger pins distances between 3 1/2 and 4 from the axis point along with shorter angles. The surfaces that work best seem to be 2000 and 1000 Siaair on fresher lane conditions. I would suggest trying a smoother surface like 1000 grit with less grit in your case and finishing with 4000. You should see less urethane like roll and a quicker response time. Can you give us some layout specs?

Maine Man · « **Reply #9 on:** January 02, 2014, 10:43:45 AM »

Take the Melee back to 500 and add ONLY the Royal Compound, and leave off the Royal Polish like it has on the ball from the factory. The Royal Compound is a 2500 grit polish so it will get the ball clean through the heads but start up a little quicker than the factory finish. The Royal Polish is a 5000 grit polish, and with the problems you are having with the 2-8-10 combination, that just may be the key to getting the ball to read the lane better for you. Never be afraid to adjust surfaces.

tommymo · « **Reply #10 on:** January 02, 2014, 10:53:51 AM »

I like my Melee very much! As others have said, it's smooth with great continuation through the pins. I have mine @ 500/1000/3000 and I am able to use it on our 43ft house shot as well as medium volume challenge and sport patterns. The OOB finish was just too over/under. It still had great length but the motion wasn't what I like to see. Mine is drilled 70/4.5/30. How is yours drilled? What conditions do you use it on?

MrNattyBoh · « **Reply #11 on:** January 02, 2014, 12:03:36 PM »

I don't know much about the drilling other than the pin is above my ring finger. It also has a small weight hole close to the thumb hole. I see the length this ball has which is great, but the continuation is something I haven't seen yet. I had the OOB changed to 500 underlying and then I believe 4000, I saw a preview of the continuation but still not quite what I want. After that surface change and some more testing, I took it to about 800 with a scotch brite pad. I saw it come to life a bit more! I bowl league tonight and the lanes are a bit more forgiving on Thursdays in my house. I will post with more updates. Thanks for all the info/ideas! I believe I will talk with my ball driller tonight to see what else we can modify!

dougb · « **Reply #12 on:** January 02, 2014, 12:52:03 PM »

I am a lower revs/speed stroker and have my Melee at OOB still. Drilled pin under ring with CG kicked out slightly. The ball is absolute money. Gives me about 10 boards to play with when the shot breaks down. Even better than my Versa-Max. Took me to first place in my league this week where I walked away with $300.

As others have suggested, I find it works best when I hug the friction line and swing it out slightly. Put it out too far and it will come back, but doesn't carry the corners.

I know that surface is paramount, but I can see with the wrong layout this ball being a dud. Pin over for me wouldn't work for me at all.

tattoo4139 · « **Reply #13 on:** February 05, 2014, 11:35:46 AM »

From what I hear. The ball seems great. If u use it at the rigt time. Smooth reactions are greqt. And if u use this bll on drier conditions u will win. I am rev dominant so its hard to find a smooth ball for broeknn down lanes for me. If u r on fresh shot of heavy volume use a different ball. It seems like people who dont like this ball are expecting it to shine on every condition. And its not strong enough for thqt. But get on a dry lane and I bet it makes it easy to find the pocket

Author Topic: Melee....Meh.. (Read 5915 times)

MrNattyBoh

Melee....Meh..

charlest

Re: Melee....Meh..

Jesse James

Re: Melee....Meh..

BallReviews-Removed0385

Re: Melee....Meh..

MrNattyBoh

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BallReviews-Removed0385

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BackToBasics

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kidlost2000

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UpstateProShopChris

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Maine Man

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tommymo

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MrNattyBoh

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dougb

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tattoo4139

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