I've now used this ball enough to get a clear feel for it and where it seems to fit in an arsenal. Here are my initial impressions:
1. The TR is best used on mediumish shots. It works best with clean backends, but it can work with carrydown if you find a breakpoint or area that is relatively clean and dry. Once it begins its move, it moves pretty continuously, carrydown notwithstanding.
2. The ball is longer than the Thing by about three feet and, in my experience thus far, hooks as much or more in absolute terms. Maybe it isn't quite as good on hard wet-dry overblocked lanes, but on most house and sport conditions, it gets through the heads cleaner and retains more energy.
3. As might be surmised from the above, the TR overlaps substantially with the Thing, but is for different types of oil patterns. It is an excellent complement to the Element and Vendetta, which fit neatly on either side in terms of conditions covered.
4. The TR needs a little bit of axis rotation angle to be at its best. It doesn't quite work with minimal (say 15-20 degrees) rotation angle. Too much (75-90 degrees) and it becomes less controllable. For most of us in the middle, it hits and carries better than the Thing on most common conditions.
It's veddy veddy good. A 10+ for Cardinal Phil and his acolytes in taking a very good ball (the Thing) and making a better one.
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"I don't mind if you don't like my manners. I don't like them myself. They're pretty bad. I grieve over them on long winter evenings."