I drilled my Slingshot pin down and strong and it's a step above the Power Grooves I had. It's definitely more smooth as opposed to my Power Groove, which went long and turned more abruptly.  On the conditions I see, the Slingshot is a couple boards stronger overall.

 

 

 

 

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer and not of Brunswick Corporation.

 

 

I've owned both a PowerGroove and a Slingshot. Overall, I'd put the SS to be about 2 boards stronger overall than th PG out of the box; with the SS having more midlane. I also had my Slingshot drilled decently strong and pin down (about 4" from axis). This ball was MONEY on house shots and basically any pattern under 40'. I kept it sanded to 4000 and it was the single most versitile low end ball I've ever seen. I could play up the boards on sport shots and play closer to the oil line on house shots with a smooth and consistent reaction. That ball alone has made me a pretty penny over the years. People told me all the time something to the effect of "a cheap ball like that isn't supposed to hit so hard" one of whom includes an exempt pro.

 

You seriously can't go wrong with the ball. I'm one of those crazy people that tend to think the color does have a minor impact on ball reaction, so I'd stick with the Black/Chrome (that's what I had). For the most part, I'd say drill it on the strong side and more pin down (larger VAL angle). What are your release specs? Perhaps I can help you out more....

 

 

Jared Wolf
Jonesboro, AR
Brunswick Advisory Staff

It is all relative to how you bowl and how you drill the ball.

 

Both have the same cover, the PG is actually an asymmetric core with a much higher diff then the SS. So the PG over all will be a bigger hooking ball and much more angular. The SS with the much lower diff should be a lot smoother when it transitions. I have a few different PGs drilled up a few different ways. One as about a 3.5" pin to PAP and is a very strong over all hooking ball. It gets into a very strong roll midlane and keeps on hooking down lane. A very very impressive ball to say the least. One that is great for THS and heavier oiled conditions because of the very strong midlane.

 

I have one SS with a 4.75" pin to pap and a p3 weight hole. It is very clean through the heads and has a very even move on the backends. If you were to drill both balls identical the PG will be more angular where as the SS will be much smoother.

 

Also on the PG with out knowing the actual location of the MB/PSA it is hard to know the exact location of the Pin/low rg axis of the ball which makes things a guess when drilling the PG. 

"1 of 1." 

Ray: In that case, with your specs, I'd imagine a simple pin down layout about 4-4.5" from axis and no hole would work just fine. By the way, is the speed you gave at the pins or off your hand? You're slightly rev dominant if that speed is off your hand but I can't pinpoint an exact layout without axis tilt and axis rotation numbers also. However, being a simple symmetric core, any pin down layout with the pin about 4-4.5" from axis, no hole (unless needed), and about 2000-4000 grit should work wonders (I loved mine at 4000 over a scuff of 1000). When I had alot of success with this ball, I had both a higher rev rate and speed than you, but was the same level of rev/speed ratio as you are now. That being the case, I don't know why such a ball and layout wouldn't work for you.

 

ON EDIT: Depending on your axis tilt and rotation, with that PAP, even a pin over (smaller VAL angle) might react just as well for you

Jared Wolf
Jonesboro, AR
Brunswick Advisory Staff

 

Edited by BrunsWolf on 1/2/2012 at 2:58 PM