Ball Tested: THRESHOLD
Pre Drill Specs: #16.0, 2.5†Pin, 3.25 oz top weight
Finish Specs: 15 lbs 12 oz , 5/8 oz pos side, 1/4 oz finger, 1/2 oz top weight.
Drill Pattern: 4 1/4†PIN to PAP X 5 1/4†MB To PAP x 3†pin above midline. X hole 5 ½†right of grip center on mid at VAL
Bowler Specs: 15 mph, PAP 5-1/4â€> ½ up, 17* axis tilt, 45-60* rotation at release.
Oil Pattern: Standard house crown, 50 units in the middle, 18 units on the 10, 42 ft buff. Fresh, squeaky clean stripped back ends.
Preferred line: 34-15-8 @ 42 feet.
I chose this layout for two reasons; I have had previous success with this layout using asymmetric cores plus I had just drilled a buds ball with the same layout to use as a yard stick.
New core design, single density Threshold core 2.51rg - .055 rg diff with a new advanced Nex-Gen coverstock with micro particles. Interesting combo, also very close to another asymmetric core numbers from a competitor, also interesting for comparison.
The box condition was entirely too strong for my game, the Threshold stood up, ready to do battle about 10 feet before it found the pin deck and went left, way left. Ok major adjustment standing 44 (in the gutter) 4th arrow at 15 feet to 10 at 45 feet, still too much ball. Back to the shop for a 1000 grit abralon finish, better but still too strong, still way out of my comfort zone still. 1500 wet sand seems to be the number for me. 36-17-8 at 45 feet works real well for about 2 games then we migrate left for the final 10 frames.
The Threshold is an extremely aggressive ball OOB factory surface 800 grit. I could have only used it at box condition if the lane man had swabbed the lanes using a wet mop and STP oil treatment, as in swabbing the deck. It will truly handle most any condition it sees providing the surface is matched to the bowler’s game and the pattern used. The only exception being dry or toasted heads, I can not fathom anyone trying this without having the surface taken to 6000 grit or having super human ball speed. The Nex-Gen cover is as versatile as any D/T has produced, it produces results at every finish I have tried using. The ball has uncommon hooking ability to go with a strong backend motion generally only found in reactive equipment. To get a particle to go from side to side is remarkable to say the least. One thing that stood out was regardless of the surface test I never had the ball roll out, I find that amazing. The core numbers seem to be a perfect match for me with the cover at a higher grit finish. I can say we have a winner in the heavy weight oil category.
The Nutshell: I will not name names but I can truthfully say this ball is a hooking beast, as one of our staffers stated “hook stupidâ€. More hook than anyone could possibly need. This is not a knock by any stretch of the imagination. It out hooks anything I have seen and thrown from any competitor. Swing this baby all you want, and it will come home from next door.
At 1500 grit the ball is very clean up front, but it is allowed to read and not over react, smooth as silk, the backend is angular and recovers from no man’s land when a misfire happens. It gave me an additional 2 board area to play with no compromise in hitting power, carry or noticeable drop in performance. A ball designed for all bowlers with only one exception I have found, you can not use this ball on fired heads, or light, short oil patterns without surface adjustments. If you do you will see it hook out of bounds and jump the gutter cap and end up on another pair of lanes !!!!! Thanks to the “GUYS†for all they’re time thinking outside the box. Pun intended.
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Steve
Leading Edge Pro Shop
512-755-2947
e-mail tekneek@281.com
www.dynothane.com Capt Ramius "Vasili, give me one ping, and one ping only"