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Author Topic: Illusion  (Read 15655 times)

admin

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Illusion
« on: December 31, 1969, 06:00:00 PM »
Ball NPS Score: Not Available
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Coverstock: Aggressive “Big Daddy”™ reactive resin with ChromaFlair™ particle

Box Finish: 1200-grit sanded, then polished with Factory Finish Polish

Color: Gradiant shades of Cyan to Purple with white pin and logos

Core: Xenex core, a medium RG, medium flare BOMB core design

BOMB Location: 6-3/4 inches from the pin in the BOMB's Down position (on the same side of the pin as the CG).

BOMB Strength: .014

Flare Potential: Medium to high

Length: 16.25 (Ebonite's scale of 1 to 30, earliest to most) with factory box finish

Overall Hook: 18.50 (Ebonite's scale of 1 to 30, least to most) with factory box finish

Breakpoint Angle: 6.9 (Ebonite's scale of 1 to 10, most smooth to most angular)

Best Lane Condition: Light to Medium Oil
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Jim Lewis

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Re: Illusion
« Reply #1 on: February 23, 2003, 07:11:51 PM »
The Optyx Illusion by Ebonite is a great looking ball.  I have one Illusion with a 90 degree bomb layout and with the pin at 5 from my PAP.  There is no balance hole and the ball is in the box condition.

  The Optyx Illusion as advertised does skid a bit farther in the midlane than both the Vortex 2 Pearl and a shiny Vortex 2 solid with similar layouts.  I expect to find this ball useful, especially on choppy wood surfaces and synthetics with medium distance patterns that have broken down.

  The price tag on this ball may be on the steep side, but this is a high performance ball with unique additives.  The ChromaFlair particles in the coverstock REALLY make this ball look sweet.  Just stand at different angles from the ball and watch it glow with gold, purple, green, and blue.

  If you had an Optyx Spider or Formula 4, this ball gets deeper down the lane than either.  The Optyx Illusion would be a nice ball for bowlers with slow to medium ball speed and moderate or more rotation.

Jim Lewis
Ebonite Regional Staff
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TimPenner

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Re: Illusion
« Reply #2 on: February 24, 2003, 12:15:38 PM »
I echo Mr. Lewis' response to this ball.  Mine is stacked slightly right and above of the ring finger and the surface is out of box.

I drilled it stronger so that it would not be as speed sensitive on carrydown.
(If you read my reviews, I'm quite carrydown concerned )

This ball got through an average of 15 feet longer on extreme "dirt" than my least hooking balls to date; the Pearl Savage and Stinger 2-pc lo-flare.  Plus, it's a great looking ball to boot!  

I look forward to seeing other great introductions and technology to Ebonite's line!

Tim Penner
Ebonite Regional Staff
Midwest Region
tenpiner2@hotmail.com
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James Campbell

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Re: Illusion
« Reply #3 on: February 25, 2003, 07:17:11 PM »
I drilled this ball on label with the pin 4 1/4 inches from my axis. The bomb is at 180* or (below my thumb on center line). With this drilling the ball gets way down the lane before it hooks and still has some back end reaction. For me I think I will get another one and drill it very aggressive. I thank you will like this ball if you have any revs. I can see this ball used on anything form low to heavy oil patterns depending on your layout. Great ball for my game. This is the best Optyx ball to date.


James Campbell
Ebonite South Region Staff Member
CcampCSC@aol.com
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Garcia

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Re: Illusion
« Reply #4 on: February 25, 2003, 11:58:33 PM »
Drilled-Pin thru Ring Finger, Bomb 3"right of Thumb, X-hole.

This ball is a medium/low flare, medium/light condition ball. Dont expect a sharp angle at the breakpoint, this ball is smooth, smooth, smooth! Almost reminds me of a urethane type roll, very even revving. The carry was surprisingly very good, much better than previous Optyx bowling balls.

The house I tested at uses very dense oil. With the weaker shell of the Illusion, I thought I wasnt getting a true read. So I took a green scotch brite to the coverstock and re-tested. The reaction was simliar, but with a much stronger roll in the midlane, with the same smooth backend reaction. The core in this ball is awesome, hopefully they will experiment with a stronger coverstock in the future.

Get the coverstock to match the lane condition and this ball is pure. If you cant handle the new stronger bowling balls, this ball is for you. I know it is a great addition to the Ebonite Arsenal. Since we cant bring back urethane, this ball is the closest thing, but with HIT!

Xeno Garcia
Ebonite Regional Staff
Sythlord79@aol.com
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Garcia

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Re: Illusion
« Reply #5 on: February 26, 2003, 11:44:47 PM »
First nite of league with the Illusion: 300-194-235/729

Still with the green scotch brite surface, fresh backends. Carry was great the first game obviously, then the transition caught me off guard, but finished the nite decently. Great ball, played farely direct (10 to 5).

Xeno Garcia
Ebonite Regional Staff
Sythlord79@aol.com
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ballard2

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Re: Illusion
« Reply #6 on: February 27, 2003, 07:29:15 PM »

The latest release from EBONITE is the illusion, a ball that uses a new asymmetric core design that should help to save energy at the break-point, married to the big daddy coverstock with chromaflair particles
(ChromaFlair is smaller than that of the silica particles used in most of Ebonite’s particle balls) which should allow the reactive part of the shell
to have more influence in the balls reaction.

Enough tech stuff, in application the ball appears to deliver on these theories!
I drilled this ball with a 4 x 2 layout hoping to fit it into the weaker part
of my arsenal.
Recently we bowled a local tourney where they used PBA pattern A, the house
we bowled at has a prominent track area. So during the second day of competition
with stripping and oiling this pattern, it was important to clear the front
of the lane and not get a big jump at the breakpoint. The illusion was the ticket that day.

If you bowl in a house that would be considered to use a lighter volume of oil
or you are looking for a ball for a second shift league or ever changing tournament conditions the Illusion should serve you well.
Another great entry from EBONITE!

BOWL TO WIN

MATT BALLARD
PBA WEST REGION MEMBER
EBONITE REGIONAL STAFF

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BOWL TO WIN

MATT BALLARD
PBA WEST REGION MEMBER
EBONITE REGIONAL STAFF

Ray Edwards

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Re: Illusion
« Reply #7 on: March 03, 2003, 10:00:10 AM »
When I first saw the new Illusion I said "if this ball rolls as good as it looks, then Ebonite will have a winner!" I've got mine drilled fairly aggressively.  Pin is at 5" above the ring finger and the CG is at the leverage position 3-3/8".  The  bomb is at 70* just right and below the thumb.  Extra hole drilled on axis point back to 1/2 pos.  
As Ebonite suggests, this ball is designed for light to medium oil.  I used mine on a bad wood surface with a light oil pattern from deep inside (5th arrow).  It reacted very clean through the heads and saved up energy for the back.  Not a violent snapping back but controllable.  I had good numbers here.
Then I used it on a synthetic surface with a 7 to 7 wall pattern.  I squared it up  and played 12 to 5 with good results.  With this oil pattern I had to be aware of getting it into the dry area early as that would produce over bounce.  As long as I kept it in the oil line it worked great with good hitting power.  About a 9 out of 10.  This could become my new personal favorite - although knocking off the versatile V2 solid would be very difficult.
--------------------
** Ray Edwards **
Ebonite Regional Staff
edwards9@optonline.net
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** Ray Edwards **
Ebonite Regional Staff

joebxr

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Re: Illusion
« Reply #8 on: March 03, 2003, 04:16:31 PM »
Justin...I am an average league bowler, (192 avg), bowling 1 nite /week on synthetics.  Just bought this awesome ball and love it.  Oil pattern was heavy middle, wet heads, oil pushed to outside edges.  Ball is drilled w/bomb at 75 degrees, pin is right and below of ring finger, balance hole on vertical axis at about 45 degrees from pin and bomb.  That's the best I can tell you about the drilling.

Playing straight up the 5, ball is controllable and predictable, arc is smooth and hits the pocket like a Mack truck.  People from other lanes couldn't believe the power and were all asking what ball it was, etc.  237 out of the box, with a 660 nite...I love it.

Changed the line during 2nd game and went 10 out to about 5 or 6...still came in and smashed the pocket.  Left 1 ten pin and 1 split all night.  Gotta say, this ball w/my V2 solid, V2 Particle and trusty Red Wolf Pearl...I'm covered.

I highly recommend this ball.  Hope this helps.
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Jace Peterson

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Re: Illusion
« Reply #9 on: March 04, 2003, 11:23:30 AM »
I drilled this one with a 3-1/2 inch pin and the bomb below my thumb.  I bowl on a sport condition and every other week couples. This ball pushes farther down the lane than my shooter but not as far, as my pearl savage.  The sport condition hooks but the ball stills plays well.  One thing I have noticed is when the track starts defining the Illusion,changes directions quick and continuously arcs.  This is a good thing on a sport condition.  There is a little forgiveness.  I tried to use this in our city tournament but the wall is so high it would not read.  I don't have excessive ball speed so this ball fits a medium to medium light pattern for me.  Faster speeds could use this on drier lanes.  I like the ball because I always know where it is going.  It looks great too. Thanks Ebonite.
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Doug Davidson

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Re: Illusion
« Reply #10 on: March 04, 2003, 12:36:26 PM »
The first time I threw this ball was the next morning after two shifts of leagues the night before. (5 Man league then 5 woman league) The surface was wood (good surface)

I could play anywhere from 15-25 depending on speed and revs and get the ball to my breakpoint with no problem. The Illusion hit like a freight train for me.

This ball did not work very well for me on a fresh house pattern as my ball speed is too high. This ball will be a great go to ball on shorter patterns and dried up lanes for me.
--------------------
Doug Davidson
 Ebonite PBA Regional Staff
 Davidson's Pro Shop
 1137 Sweitzer St.
 Greenville, Ohio 45331
 937-417-3940
 doug.davidson@pba.com
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Garcia

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Re: Illusion
« Reply #11 on: March 06, 2003, 11:34:08 AM »
Just for the record, none of us regional staffers get paid to post these reviews. They are for the consumers to read and get an idea for the ball. I will never exaggerate of the performance of equipment just to make the company look good. And I dont think any of us would be on staff if we thought another ball company was making better equipment.

Xeno Garcia
Ebonite Regional Staff
Sythlord79@aol.com
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MarkJohnson

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Re: Illusion
« Reply #12 on: March 06, 2003, 12:19:06 PM »
I have my Illusion drilled with a 5" pin and the bomb at 45*. This ball gets through the fronts very easily and has a good continuous backend reaction, it does not make a jerky move. I have used it on a condition similar to the 2002 ABC pattern and the ball worked very well. On the house shot, I had too much of an over/under reaction because of the size of the wall and the dry boards out. A very nice ball for Sport conditions or drier lanes.
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DrThumb

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Re: Illusion
« Reply #13 on: March 06, 2003, 12:59:05 PM »
This ball is a strokers jackpot.  The Illusion get through the heads very easily and has yet to jerk on me down the lane.  The ball also hits great.

Mine is drilled with the pin app. 4 inches from the PAP by the ring finger which gives it app. a 60 degree angle.

If you don't like a ball that snaps hard but gives you a strong roll up on the back end, this ball is for you.

Gary Hiday
Ebonite Senior Tour staff member

I think I will drill another one with a different pattern.
--------------------
Gary Hiday
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Gary Hiday

threeballsnobag

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Re: Illusion
« Reply #14 on: March 07, 2003, 02:46:29 PM »
i got this ball with with a 2 inch pin drilled reverse leverage with 1 1/64 oz top weight. I bowl on a super oily front end with dry back end. this ball is no better than a maxim. i can't get it to hook or anyhing. i average 167 at my house but i can't get ove r 125 with thsi ball.
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