Thug
By: Bryan Bannach DV8 Regional Staff Member
DV8 describes the Thug as a ball that “Featuring the new Class 13F Hybrid Reative coverstock wrapped around the Thug core, the Thug 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.”
Understanding the intent of the Thug, I felt that I did not need to put a layout in the Thug that would help the ball get down the lane, as the ball was already designed to do that.  So I choose to put a 45x4 1/2x35 layout in the Thug.  I have used this layout in the past to get the ball to read the lane and make an angular move on the backend.
I cannot express enough how impressed I am with the Thug.  The motion I get out of it is like no other ball I have ever thrown.  Usually with a high end asymmetric ball I usually get the ball to roll early and somewhat die on the backend.  The Thug on the other hand still reads the lane, however it is more angular than any asymmetric ball I have ever thrown.
I first used the Thug on the 43 ft 2.89:1 ratio Kegel Dead Man’s Curve.  I had been struggling on this pattern with my Ruckus Feud.  It was either too strong playing down the boards, but would burn up and roll out if I started to move left.  But not the Thug!  The Thug was clean enough through the front to play square, and once I started to move in, it never quit.  I was able to move all the way into 25 and get the ball to recover with ease.  The Thug is able to handle a very significant volume oil, while still reading the lane properly and retaining all energy for a down lane move.
I also tried using the Thug on a medium volume house pattern, and it was by far too strong for my rev rate.  This proved to me that the Thug needs oil.  I was able to get a decent motion out of the Thug playing very deep around 25 board.  But as I moved left from there the Thug started to lose energy.  It simply needed more volume.
The Thug is the perfect option for someone looking for a ball for heavy volume patterns once the heads start to break down, or for a high rev player on heavy volume patterns.  Speed dominant players would also be able to use this ball on medium oil patterns.  The motion is something very special that many people will be seeking.  Get yours now!         

Thug is my first ball out of the bag when im looking for something strong.
I throw mine at the OOB surface. I used a pretty strong layout and this ball has NO quit down lane. Its really freaking strong

This is the Layout I Used

60 x 4 x 40

Its the strongest DV8 ball out right now and its not even close!

My name is Doug Cutler and i am a DV8 Regional Staffer. I throw left handed and i throw around 15-16mph.

The First Thug I drilled I put the Pin above my Middle Finger and the CG is stacked. The surface on the ball is out of the box.

I have used this ball on quit a few patterns but the one that I am going to do for this Ball review is the Route 66.

We bowled on the Route 66 early this year and it was one of the patterns that I was struggling as for carry and I used my Ruckus Feud and it was good but the carry was not as good and I did not have the Thug at the time and this time i used the Thug and it was what I was looking for on this pattern.  The Thug is cleaner through the Heads and still saved energy for the back and still hits really hard. I was able to use this ball all three games and was able to stay squared up and left.  I did try to move right and open the lane up and the ball still hit hard and did not loose energy.

This ball is what I have been looking for in a higher end that is polished and able to stay straight or move in and don't have to change the surface at all.  The ball is good for Medium to Oily Lanes.  I have tried to use the Thug on shorter patterns but the ball is to strong and just burned up to early. This ball needs OIL!!!

The Thug is the perfect option for someone looking for a ball for heavy volume patterns once the heads start to break down, or for a high rev player on heavy volume patterns.  Speed dominant players would also be able to use this ball on medium oil patterns.  The motion is something very special that many people will be seeking.  Get yours now at your Local Pro Shop!!

I let my friend Nick Campos try my Thug after league about a month ago and he really liked the motion, so he drilled one up that week and within 3 weeks he has thrown 2-300's.  One of my other friends just drilled up his Thug. 

I want to thank DV8 for making another fantastic ball and I think that Dv8 and the other Brunswick Brands are the best balls on the Market!  "TONIGHT WE BOWL"

Doug Cutler
DV8 Regional Staffer
PBA Regional Champion

The Thug is DV8's latest High Performance Hybrid designed for strong hook potential and backend.
Drilled 2 Thugs:  60x4x45 (pin up to the right of my ring) @4k  and 40x4.75x70 (pin below bridge) @3k

The pin up was quickly scuffed to 4k as out of box as I wanted something to be a step down from my Feud and this ball is an absolute killer.  I've used it on the 43' National's team pattern, 41' Beaten Path as well as on walls to constant success.  What impresses me most is how long I can keep this ball in my hand - my first tournament out with it I was able to use it the entire time by simply chasing hte oil left.  I was able to use it through 5games of Q, match play and to win in the title match.  Honestly with today's porous equipment it is rare to be able to stick with a ball for more than even 4 games of tournament play, let alone an entire afternoon while still maintaining the desired shape to maximize carry. 

My pin down is a bit of a mystery to me.  In box finish it didn't quite pick up as much as I wanted in the oil, but scuffed at 3k is a little flat when it finds the friction early.  I have used it on the house shot to moderate success and it has been alright on 37' Broadway in our challenge league where I can stay right and pipe it, but compared to the pin up it just isn't quite the same.  The pin up is a beast, the pin down is ordinary by comparison.

As for where the Thug fits in my bag, it is most effective on Medium to Medium/Hvy oil when I am wanting to creep left and want to see the ball pick up at the end of the oil.  The pin up is strong in the backend but still clearly an arc shape that reads consistently even when I am swinging the ball from deep inside.  The Thug is definitely cleaner than the Madness and Feud through the front but revs and picks up a little more than the Diva.  The Thug has a much stronger cover than the original Ruckus (which I didn't really like) but still manages to make a stronger corner.  I highly recommend this ball for anybody looking for a ball to use when they want to open up their angles.

LANE CONDITION

Length: 38"

Volume: Medium

Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): THS


COMMENTS

Likes:

This ball performs as advertised...while that may not seem like a "like", it gives credibility to the information about the ball that DV8 elaborated in their original specifications. 
The ball's motion is reliable and predictable shot after shot, allowing confidence when making moves in transition.  Normally I am not a fan of balls that move so much off the break point on the THS due to my rev rate creating enough backends, but this ball doesn't lose all of its energy making the turn...rather it is still driving equally flying pins (corner pins have been rare thus far).
Out of the box the ball is ready to go...while DV8 balls have proven to have tunable coverstocks, all I have seen throw this ball have kept the factory finish (keeping it's shine with Royal Compound).  The Thug clears the heads very well and doesn't create too large of a groove on the Medium THS.  I have thrown this ball for multiple games with less than three boards of movement and witnessed the same of a two-handed (very high rev) bowler.

Dislikes:
none noted



PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS

This ball is straight gangster! Clean thru the front and packin heat in the back, the thug is versatile on all lane patterns. I've drilled them pin up and pin down and have consistent ball reaction on short and long pattern and/or all three games of league. The best way to use this ball is always! Just watch the Orange stripe, you can read your ball motion easier and it helps you trust your moves in. The best part about this ball is you don't lose carry when moving in either. So, a ball that can talk the talk, and walk the walk? I'd say this is a weapon anyone would want in their corner. Get it, you won't be disappointed.
-johnnydv8

 
DRILL PATTERN

Pin to PAP: 5"

Pin up middle /stacked


BOWLER STYLE

Rev Rate: 350ish

Ball Speed: med-high

PAP/Track: 5 1/2 R and 1/8 up


BALL REACTION

Length: medium-long

Back End: strong

Overall Hook: medium

Midlane Read: moderate

Breakpoint Shape: Flip



Overall the ball gets down lane smooth and finishes strong. It also allows me to open up the lane a bit which is fun on THS - where I am usually a down in player.