I drilled up two of the new DV8 Ruckus, the first one with the same layout as my favorite Endless Nightmare, 65 by 4 5/8 by 40.  My Endless was really strong in the midlane, and gave me the most continuation on heavy oil that I've ever had.  This Ruckus displayed the same shape on the lane: strong midlane with a continuous, smooth backend.  The biggest difference would be the amount of oil it can handle.  I can throw the Endless on the heaviest of lane conditions.  If the pattern is a little flatter than a normal house shot but still has some friction, I can throw this Ruckus.  When it wiggles too much, I know to throw my Endless, and when it burns up a bit in the front and doesn't drive through the pins, I know to throw my second Ruckus.  My Endless was about 6 or 7 boards stronger than this particular Ruckus.

My intentions for my second Ruckus were to give it a cleaner move through the front of the lane, with more pop off the spot, which led me to 65 by 5 1/8 by 35.  When I need to play in the middle of the lane or further inside and get it around the corner, this is my go-to ball.  Long, strong, and great through the pins.  This particular ball is a little too long on fresh or heavy oil conditions, but it was not designed for that.  This ball is just as clean as my Brutal Nightmare, but is about 3-4 boards stronger off the breakpoint.

When you need a ball for length and a crazy move on the backend, pick up a Ruckus and make some noise!

-Tim
@BuddiesTim

DV8 describes the Ruckus as “Featuring the new Class 8F Hybrid Reactive coverstock wrapped around the new Ruckus core, the Ruckus skids easily through the front and mid-lane flipping on the backend for the most breakpoint potential of any DV8 ever on medium to oily lane conditions.”
Wow… just Wow!  When this ball is used properly it is something I have personally never experienced before.  First off, let me say this ball is NOT intended for heavy oil.  It is intended to be used on MEDIUM volumes.  For the first time in recent memory for me, a company finally came out with a ball that will give you an asymmetric motion, but doesn’t need a lake of oil in order to retain energy.  And for me, that is something very special.
After a few discussions with a couple people that had already drilled a Ruckus, I decided to go with a pretty strong layout in my Ruckus.  I was told “Put a 45x5x70 in it and have some fun.”  Since I was undecided on what to do I said “It’s worth a shot.”  This layout puts the pin below my ring finger.  I was a little nervous because every single time I put pin down in an asymmetric ball, I don’t like it.  They burn up before the arrows and are dead at the pins.  NOT THIS BALL! I have used the Ruckus on a few different patterns and have had a great look from all over the lane.
First trial was on a medium volume house shot.  The Ruckus got through the heads clean, and made that strong midlane move that I am used to seeing with asymettric balls.  I was afraid there would be nothing left at the pins because that is what I am used to.  Boy was I surprised!  The pins exploded! The Ruckus still had every bit of energy left at the pins.  I could not believe my eyes.  So I set out to prove myself wrong and make it lose energy.  I could not do it.  I moved right into the track, BANG full energy. Move way left and wheel the lane, BANG full energy.  It was insane!
Second pattern I tried it on was the 2013 USBC Open minors pattern.  I was able to use it the first 3 games until the heads started to get a little too burnt up.  This is still a strong ball that needs a little volume in the front.  But the look I had the first 3 games was really good.  I started playing fairly straight down 8 board, and was able to use the Ruckus until I got into about 17 at the arrows.  I then needed to ball down to a Dude. 
The last pattern I tried was a very heavy volume house shot.  This was not the shot for this ball.  There was just too much volume in the middle and I could not get the ball to read the lane correctly.  So I learned that the Ruckus is not for heavy volume, save it for medium volumes.

Bowler stats:
Right Hand
Avg 300 rev rate based on CATS program at Kegel Training Center
Ball speed: 17 mph at breakpoint from CATS program at Kegel Training Center
PAP: 4 5/16 RT, 7/16 up
Axis Rotation: 5-20 degrees
Axis Tilt: 0-20 degrees

DV8 Ruckus 45x5x30 Pin centered above fingers
MB kicked out 1 inch right of thumb hole
No balance hole
OOB Surface
 
LANE CONDITONS
#1: Typical House Shot for 5-man League (41ft), Oil: Kegel Ice:
Played Ruckus on fresh oil using my target 17 board @ 17ft with my breakpoint around 9 board @ 40 ft. Ball was very clean thru the heads and made an angular movement towards the pocket with excellent carry. With the backend reaction the ball produced, I was able to play deep inside all night. At the house I bowl it, this was a first for me. Normally I am forced to play outside in order to get a good ball reaction. One adjustment was needed during the night, a two-one move left. The ball continued to get thru the heads very clean and still retained energy at the backend of the lanes to allow continued good scoring. With the Ruckus’ clean movement thru the front and mid part of the lanes, ability to retain energy and still have continuous motion thru the pins and carry, it is a ball I recommend for people that want to open up the lane especially for low rev rate bowlers.

#2: Typical House Shot for Friday Morning 3-man Senior League (42ft) ), Oil: Kegel Ice:
The lanes have not been thoroughly cleaned, especially the backend for the morning league so I played the Ruckus more towards the outside of the lane, targeting the 9 board @ 17ft with my breakpoint around 4 board @ 40 ft. The Ruckus reacted well despite the conditions with very good carry and the continuous motion thru the pins.

I received comments from some league bowlers that were very impressed with way ball rolled thru the front part of the lane and the ball reaction once it read friction down lane. Even on the morning league, several bowlers were impressed on how the ball reacted. The DV8 Ruckus has allowed me to play inside on a typical house pattern (when lanes are cleaned properly) which is something I have not been able to do except when I bowl PBA50 regionals or other tournaments which do not use the typical house pattern shot. Excellent thru the front parts of the lanes, handles transition very well with tremendous results at the pins. Ball has continuous motion thru pins for excellent power and carry.

Compared to my Nightmare with similar layout this ball is about 4 boards stronger, gets thru the heads cleaner with a better backend reaction. Both balls complement each other very well.

This is another great ball from DV8.

Mike DeVore
Senior PBA Regional Member

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

BALL SPECS


Ball Weight: 16 lbs


DRILL PATTERN

Dual Angle Layout: 70 x 5" x 50

X Hole (if there is one): None


BOWLER STYLE

Rev Rate: Higher, between 370 and 410 rpm, aka Cranker

Ball Speed: 16.50 mph

PAP/Track: 5 3/8" over and 7/8" up with a high track


SURFACE PREP

Grit: Box

Type: (Matte, Polish, Sanded): Polished


LANE CONDITION

Length: Multiple

Volume: Multiple

Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): Multiple


BALL REACTION

Length: 8 / 10

Back End: 9 / 10

Overall Hook: 8.5 / 10

Midlane Read: 8 / 10

Breakpoint Shape: 8.5 / 10 (Angular)


COMMENTS

Likes: Strong controllable reaction

Dislikes: None


This ball is good for heavier oil conditions, and fits between the Endless Nightmare and the Brutal Nightmare. When the Endless nightmare starts hooking too much, I switch to the Ruckus to give me a little more length but still need a strong backend reaction. In the box surface, the Ruckus clears the front part of the lane, gets into a heavier roll, and keeps hooking through the pins. I really like the strong backend motion of this ball like the other high end balls in the DV8 lineup. I have used this ball in heavier oil conditions and on THS with the same predictable strong overall reaction. If you are looking for a stronger ball for tournaments or league, this ball fits the bill.