Author Topic: Thing mini review (Read 2149 times)

Strider · « **on:** July 31, 2003, 08:43:04 AM »

Got my Thing drilled today. 3.5" pin + 3.6 top before drilling. See my profile for the rest of the details. Threw 2 games before drilling the weighthole. Driller had to go to a doctor appointment, so I threw it a bit before he returned. The Thing didn't read the lane like I hoped, so we put the weighthole 2" past the PAP to increase flare a bit. Still didn't like the reaction with the factory polish. Put it on the Haus machine (gray pad) to dull it a bit. Now we're talking. The Thing acts like a lower RG ball. Doesn't like to cover a lot of boards. Keep it in the oil and you still have a margin for error. You won't get a ton of recovery, but it will hit if you throw ir correctly. Nice heavy roll if you don't over swing it. It definitely reads the lane better the straighter you come through the shot. If you like to circle the lane, this is not the ball for you. The Thing and my Silver Strak Pearl are about as far apart from each other as they could be.
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Penn State Proud

Strider · « **Reply #1 on:** August 01, 2003, 12:55:24 AM »

Mine certainly isn't dull, but it is much stronger and reads the lane much better than with the factory polish. The box finish didn't look like overkill, maybe 1000-1200? Squirty is a word in my book. That would describe the box finish to me. Even in the drier (not DRY) afternoon session, it didn't want to read the lane soon enough for me. Continuous is another word I'd definitely use for the Thing. Thanks for the comments New Guy.
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Penn State Proud

charlest · « **Reply #2 on:** August 01, 2003, 08:23:10 AM »

Gee guys, you both are certainly impatient.

Adjusting the cover after the first game? Give it a little time. Mine is definitely getting stronger over time.

Strider, I wonder if you aren't using it on too much oil. Being partly a pearl and having a light shine, it does need to hit the dry, but it does react well.

Were you using it on a wet/dry or on a house blend? Your reaction ,

quote:
Even in the drier (not DRY) afternoon session, it didn't want to read the lane soon enough for me.

sounds more like a wet/dry, in which any ball is problematic. The Thing's even reaction is good for wet/drys. I wish my pin were longer (1.75"); then I think mine would be more continuous than it is. It's drilled 4x4.5.

Well, you sound like you like it and I think most people would.

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"Those who do not remember history are doomed to repeat it."

Strider · « **Reply #3 on:** August 01, 2003, 01:29:19 PM »

quote:
Strider, I wonder if you aren't using it on too much oil. Being partly a pearl and having a light shine, it does need to hit the dry, but it does react well.

It's a slightly heavier than normal house shot, but I can get several of my other pearls to outhook the box condition Thing by quite a bit. The Nighthawk M2 needs to bounce off the dry a little, the Silver Streak Pearl (very shiny) does not. You are right however, I may have overestimated the cover strength of the Thing. When I saw Tony Menendez throw his in Louisianna, I thought I got a good read of it.

quote:
Were you using it on a wet/dry or on a house blend? Your reaction ,
quote:
Even in the drier (not DRY) afternoon session, it didn't want to read the lane soon enough for me.

sounds more like a wet/dry, in which any ball is problematic. The Thing's even reaction is good for wet/drys. I wish my pin were longer (1.75"); then I think mine would be more continuous than it is. It's drilled 4x4.5.

That's why I took the shine off the cover. I now get a very effective read without too much hook or over reading of the dry. I could throw my M2 and not bounce off the dry (in the afternoon) and it would get a strong backend. The shiny Thing wouldn't grab in time to be effective. The shot is kind of hard to describe. It's supposed to be a house blend, but it rarely plays that way. This house's transitions have always been hard for me to read. I think the machine has some maintenance issues they aren't aware of or don't care about.

quote:
Well, you sound like you like it and I think most people would.

Yes. It's nice to have a ball you don't have to cover a bunch of boards with and still carry consistently.
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Penn State Proud

charlest · « **Reply #4 on:** August 01, 2003, 05:49:42 PM »

Strider,

I think the problem is that house shot; I'm kind of surprised the M2 handles it that well (strong core in weak, well, pearl cover.) If you are using the Thing only for this house, then it sounds like what you did to it should make it work well there: 10:30 drilling plus earlier lane grabbing cover. That oil might be too spotty or maybe the backends are not cleaned well?

For that shot I think the stock Vendetta Black would have been a better choice in that you would not have had to modify the cover. The positives are you have a Soaker coverstock and that cover will get stronger when you have 25+ games on it.
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"Those who do not remember history are doomed to repeat it."

Strider · « **Reply #5 on:** August 01, 2003, 08:12:16 PM »

quote:
Strider,

I think the problem is that house shot; I'm kind of surprised the M2 handles it that well (strong core in weak, well, pearl cover.)

It doesn't always handle it well, that's why I was looking for an alternative. M2 can be too weak, SS Pearl can be too erratic.

quote:
If you are using the Thing only for this house, then it sounds like what you did to it should make it work well there: 10:30 drilling plus earlier lane grabbing cover. That oil might be too spotty or maybe the backends are not cleaned well?

They are always having problems with the backend. They usually have to hand spray extra stripper before running the lanes. I will be trying the Thing at the other house. Normally a wide open shot, but lately the backends have softened. I don't know if they are oiling a little more or longer. The shot opens up during the second game, so it's not carrydown.

quote:
For that shot I think the stock Vendetta Black would have been a better choice in that you would not have had to modify the cover. The positives are you have a Soaker coverstock and that cover will get stronger when you have 25+ games on it.

Maybe so, but I wanted to try a Thing and I got a heck of a deal on it.
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Penn State Proud

charlest · « **Reply #6 on:** August 01, 2003, 09:42:05 PM »

good luck and keep us posted.

I can kick myself for not bringing my Thing to my Wednesday night. The oil for the whole season had been so light; the Thing was too strong and too much hook. Sooooo, of course, this past Wed, the owner breaks out a brand new oil machine (and, I am 100% sure, a new brand and type of oil) and all my light oil balls are too weak. I executed really well but couldn't carry crap, not one positive break all 5 games: if it could stand, it would. Besides the shot was a little longer and little heavier; around the 3 game mark, we started getting hang spots on some lanes (you move pairs after each game) you started getting carrydown PLUS hang spots (had to make a 2-10 to break 200 one game). I was --- peeved.

So next week I bring the Thing ...
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"Those who do not remember history are doomed to repeat it."

Phillip Marlowe · « **Reply #7 on:** August 01, 2003, 10:41:34 PM »

quote:
So next week I bring the Thing ...

One should always remember one's Thing.
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"I'm just a hack, so there's no need to pay attention."

Author Topic: Thing mini review (Read 2149 times)

Strider

Thing mini review

Strider

Re: Thing mini review

charlest

Re: Thing mini review

Strider

Re: Thing mini review

charlest

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Strider

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charlest

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Phillip Marlowe

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