PLAYER STATS
Style = Stroker/mild tweener, right-handed
Speed = ~14-16 mph
PAP = 5" over & 7/8" up (high track)
Axis tilt = ~20°
Revs = ~275-325 RPM at release
For more details, check out my profile, please.
BALL SETUP
Ball was 15.04 lbs. with 3 ounces of TW before drilling and a 3” pin . I had preferred a longer pin (placement above the fingers, for extra length), but the 3" pin specimen was the only thing available at the moment. My ball driller, Michael Kraemer from Michaels Pro Shop in Duisburg, Germany, suggested to simply drill the pin out with the ring finger hole, though, and that's what we finally went for, with the MB set at almost 90° and avoiding any extra holes due to a CG slightly shifted left from the pin-to-MB line.
Dual angle specs:
60° drilling angle
4.75" pin to PAP
55° angle to VAL
==========
===o=+====
==========
=====#====
==========
====O=====
=======m==
==========
+ = Pin (placed in ring finger hole)
# = CG
m = mass bias/PSA marker
Surface was left OOB to see what the orb is capable of.
For ball and layout pictures pls. refer to the video included at the review's end.
LANE CONDITION(s)
Length: typically 37-40'
Volume: 18-24 ml
Type: fresh and worn THS, as well as a mild sport pattern (~5:1 ratio), all on synthetic surfaces (Brunswick, Qubica)
COMMENTS
I bought the Hell Raiser out of curiosity, without a true gap in my arsenal. It had been some time since I tried a ball with an asymmetrical, high mass bias core (an Awesome Finish). But I wanted to try (again) a state-of-the-art coverstock which offers less traction up front but a more responsive reaction in the dry back end than, say, classic PK18. Another aspect: strong low RG cores tend to be pretty rolly and erractic for my style. But the Hell Raiser's higher RG core with a medium strength MB looked promising. And so far, this ball is... impressive.
Likes:
First of all, this ball is STRONG! Even as a shiny pearl ball, it handles long and high oil well - very impressive. The 'Class 5 Reactive' coverstock (unique to the Hell Raiser, not a recycled Brunswick cover) reminds me somehow of Activator+, just cleaner overall and with a more spontaneous reaction to friction. Overall, the Hell Raiser reminds me of a less rolly, more light-footed Shock & Awe – with a certain twist: its ‘steam’ is hidden in the cover, not in its core.
For such a strong coverstock the stuff is pretty clean through the heads, and the Hell Raiser can be used even when a track has been played into the lane's front part. It needs head oil, though, but not lots of it - you quickly recognize weak hits and can adjust.
Probably due to this cover-dominance I found the Hell Raiser easy to read, esp. when trying to control the breakpoint through hand and wrist position changes. It reacts well and responsive to such adjustments.
Taking hand out to delay the breakpoint and control the amount of hook works pretty well. Even if you play only with a 70% release, the cover and the core still help getting the ball through a proper skid/hook/roll transition for good carry. On the other side, moving deep is no problem at all. Give it hand, and it will break as if someone literally kicked it from the side. The true challenge is to keep the ball's entry angle in effective measures, though. Beware! With so much 'power reserve' the ball offers a lot of room for different lines and lane strategies, it is surprisingly versatile.
With my setup, the ball shows clearly defined reaction phase transitions from skid to hook and roll, and this seems to be an innate trait since a friend's Hell Raiser shows a similar behaviour, even more extreme than mine. I hardly dare to imagine what this beast can do in the hands of a player with more hand and speed, and with a more powerful layout!
The ball even handles long oil and carrydown situations. It won't hook a lot on higher volumes, but you can easily play the oil line. With its good traction and high RG core the ball will show some pop at the pattern's end and still turn the corner, with good carry. Here, its asymmetrical core is IMHO a true benefit.
A final thing to mention is the ball's garish design. There are some balls on the market with a yellow/red/black cover, but with its huge and well defined colour bands the ball not only stands out in the shelf or on the ball rack. This design also makes reaction observation easy.
Dislikes:
Not many, only typical things so far. This is supposed to be a higher end pearl reactive with a mid-powerful, asymmetrical core. Hence, do not expect a smooth control ball - this thing wants to move, a LOT, rather violently, and it IMHO needs some experience to be properly exploited. It will appeal to those who just want a “hook-out-of-the-box”, but the Hell Raiser has much more potential. I can understand why Brunswick staffers are disappointed because they are not allowed to use this ball officially.
The ball’s carry is impressive, but I found that the line between powerful 'collateral damage' strikes and wide splits can be very thin - due to the deep entry angle the Hell Raiser can create, esp. when you take speed out. 'All or nothing' could have been another appropriate name for this product. But if you stay alert, trouble can be easily mended.
I cannot tell anything about durability yet. With the few games I have on my NIB specimen, tracking appears to be normal, but its OOB surface already shows first signs of wear. I suppose it needs frequent surface maintenance, and I hope that I can effectively replicate the original "500; 1,500 Siaair Micro Pad; Rough Buff Finish" when I touch up the surface in the future? But with so much power, I might even try to use some Trizact rubbing compound, for even less surface than the Rough Buff finish.
Another thing that needs to be mentioned in this context is that the ball literally attracts dirt, dust and grime. Maybe it stands out against the bright yellow, but I have the impression that ANYTHING the ball encounters on the lane and in the pin machines adheres to it!
Anyway, frequent and thorough cleaning is recommended, as with any current high end piece.
Finally, I am a bit sceptical about overall integrity and longevity: the cover is only 0.5" thick at best. I am afraid that I might lose this one rather sooner than later through cracking... we'll see.
PERSONAL RATING SCALE
Length/through the heads:
Easy oooooXooooo Needs head oil
Breakpoint shape:
Arc ooooooooXo Angular
Hook potential:
Low ooooooooXo High
Control:
Stable oooXoooooo Erratic
Durability:
Poor oooooXoooo High
Suited for…
Dry ooooooXooo Oily
Range of utility/lane conditions:
Limited oooooooXoo Broad
Subjective overall rating of this ball:
Poor oooooooXoo Excellent
This scale is inspired by popular rating methods and the results ultra-subjective. Surface prep, layouts and different playing styles will change the results for sure - it is just personal experience with the reviewed ball at OOB finish
LANE UTILITY CHART (Pattern length vs. oil volume)
|S M L
|h e o
|o d n
|r g
|t
_____
|0 0 +| Light volume
|+ X X| Medium volume
|X + 0| Heavy volume
Legend:
X = Best suited with effective control & carry
+ = Fairly suited (works, somehow, but can lack control and effectiveness)
0 = Unsuited (ineffective, either slips helplessly or burns up)
The chart’s concept is borrowed from Storm's 2003 print catalogue. Surface prep, layout or a different playing style will change the result
VIDEO
For those who wonder what a ball does in the hands of a mediocre league bowler... Taken in my club's house, on Brunswick 2008 synth surface and with a modified THS, 38' long and with 22ml of oil. Nothing fancy, and the buffed outside area really blends out the much stronger and sharper reaction, esp. in the comparison with my benchmark Revolution Renegade.
Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zlner8Xlw8U
As a side note, in direct comparison the lines for the Hell Raiser and the Renegade look very similar, but don’t be fooled: I had to play the Hell Raiser with much less hand and more axis rotation (the Renegade is played rather ‘normal’), therefore it also shows less revs than usual. Even on this virgin 38' pattern and on rather slick new synth surface I had to use such release tricks in order to keep the line tight and controllable and prevent the ball from running Brooklyn!
DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany
2010/11 Benrather BC Club Champion
Confused by bowling? Check out BR.com's vault of wisdom: the unofficial FAQ section
Edited on 24.10.2011 at 4:59 AM
Edited on 14.11.2011 at 9:53 AM
