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Author Topic: Ransom Demand -- believe the hype!  (Read 2157 times)

dougb

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Ransom Demand -- believe the hype!
« on: August 26, 2011, 10:55:58 AM »
I know there's been a lot of discussion about the amazing review this  ball got in Bowling This Month and whether it could live up to the hype.
 
 I'll let others be the judge, but I threw it today for the first time and I was sold!
 
 About me: I am medium revs/speed stroker.  I told my driller I wanted  this ball to be able to really open up the lanes and asked for length  and backend.  He put a 5 x 2 1/2 drill on it with a weight hole.  You  can see from the pic this put the pin above the bridge and the cg kicked  out.
  
 
Well length and backend is exactly what I got, with a strong arcing motion throughout.  And a very heavy roll.
 
  I played on a 40-foot freshly oiled league shot, and they laid it down   heavy.  First three shots out the gate were strikes.  You know that's a   good sign.
 
 I took the ball back into the shop and had my guy measure the oil rings and I was getting 6" of flare, which is a lot for me! 
 
  I had no problem playing in my normal tracks around the second and  third  arrow, but I found the best line standing on thirty and watching  the  ball break at 5 board.  The ball was not skid/flip but it made a  serious  change in direction.  It never jumped off the friction and was   absolutely predictable. It kept the pins very low and delivered  strikes.  This ball felt great!
 
 I only played two quick games,  but a few people came over and asked me  what I was throwing because of  the motion this ball made. Over the next  week I'm going to try it on a  medium shot and see if it merits the  ratings BTM gave it.
 
 The  pic shows the dark maroon coloring throughout, kind've like the   original Black Widow.  I think the ball would look good polished too.
 
 I expect we're going to see a lot of these around soon.   
 

 

jaydee

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Re: Ransom Demand -- believe the hype!
« Reply #1 on: September 14, 2011, 06:54:20 AM »
I'd be interested in hearing how it did on the medium shot, to hear if it lives up to BTM's medium oil ratings.

dougb

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Re: Ransom Demand -- believe the hype!
« Reply #2 on: September 21, 2011, 07:39:56 PM »
Sorry for the late response, but I have only had a few chances to bowl this month and wanted to get some more time with this ball before I replied.
 
The short answer is it lives up to the medium oil ratings.
 
I used it again today on a lane that had been oiled this morning but when I arrived the bumpers were up.  There was still oil on the lane and I started out standing on 12 and throwing it up the second arrow.  Five games later I had moved to 19 and was still playing the second arrow. After three more games I was standing on 33 and playing the a little left of the third arrow. 
 
This ball works extremely well on medium, it just needs a little bit of oil to keep it from burning out before it hits the breakpoint.  I think on the C300 website video Chris Barnes says he really liked the ball once it took a shine from the lane oil, and I agree.
 
The only bad thing I have to say about this ball is that it is a mother to keep clean.  Picks up everything.  I also just don't find it to be a sexy looking ball, except when it hits the pocket!  But I like a ball that looks good on the rack, too.  Just my preference... 
jaydee wrote on 9/14/2011 6:54 AM:
I'd be interested in hearing how it did on the medium shot, to hear if it lives up to BTM's medium oil ratings.