LANE CONDITION

Length: House, 41 ft heavy volume, 39 ft medium medium volume

THS/ Sport Condition

Likes: Wow Ebonite has really hit the map with this new ball the Innovate. This ball is really clean through the front and has a strong continuos motion on the backend. On house shots this ball is very versatile out of of the box. I was able to play straight up the lane with firm speed and then move in soft hooking the lane where the backend motion was incredible. On both the 41 ft and 39 ft patterns I was able to test this ball on I had too take 2000 abralon to it to get it to read the lane sooner. It was able to read the midlane and still continued on the backend. This ball fits any bowler in my opinion. I was able to drill this ball stronger off my PAP which is 4 5/8 over and 7/8 up.I drilled it 4 3/8 off my pap and it was a great ball for when the lanes have more shape to them. This ball is best used in the medium lanes condition and on some dry lanes conditions. Also it can be used on oil when there has been quite a bit of break down.

The New Innovate from Ebonite is very clean though the first part of the lane, and provides me with a very strong move in the backend. I have my Innovate drilled 55x5 1/2x45 using the dual angle method, which has the pin right above my middle finger with the mass bias just to the right of my thumb. My rev rate is 425 and my speed is 17.5 mph. I have used my Innovate in a couple tounaments and it has excelled when called upon. It looks great on tougher patterns when there isn't the free push in the front part of the lane, and it has looked great when the lane starts to push me left and I need a ball to make that big move in the back part of the lane. I have left my Innovate in its out of the box condition.
 
Steve Jacobs
 Town n Country Lanes Pro Shop
 Ebonite Amateur Staff

I got the Innovate a few weeks ago, and now, after about 20 games in different houses, I'll say what I think about it.  So far, it's been an amazing ball for me, it doesn't quite have the flip and hard change of direction I think I was expecting, but, that isn't the worst thing in the world.  It's length is very impressive, my Tuesday night handicap league starts at 8 pm, and they don't oil before, so there is plenty of friction there, and the Innovate has been very impressive in how far it can clear the pattern before wanting to check up.  I see others struggling with their reaction being too soon, but the Innovate seems to push that extra foot or two and generally creates a good carrying entry angle.  It can also handle medium volumes of oil well also, allowing me to move over and play straighter and still kick out corners pretty well.  Right now the Innovate is fitting into my medium dry spot in my arsenal, below my Mission, and Anarchy.  I unfortunately have yet to use the Innovate on a sport or PBA shot, but I will be taking it with me to a regional next month.  Great job on this one Ebonite, enjoying using it quite a bit right now.

BALL SPECS

Pin Length: 3 1/2"

Starting Top Weight: 2 oz

Ball Weight: 15


DRILL PATTERN

Pin to PAP: 4 1/2"

MB to PAP: 4 1/2"


BOWLER STYLE

Rev Rate: Medium-High

PAP/Track: 4 7/8" Right, 1" Up


SURFACE PREP

Grit: Box


LANE CONDITION

Length: 41 ft

Volume: Medium-Heavy

Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): THS


BALL REACTION

Length: 9/10 - Great easy length.

Back End: 8/10 - Good reaction to the friction. Ball stands up nicely and makes a predictable, angular move to the pocket.

Overall Hook: 7/10 - Adequate hook. Not by any means the biggest hooking ball in the bag, but a great medium piece.

Midlane Read: 5/10 - A little lower of a number, but honestly, this isn't really what the ball is intended for.

Breakpoint Shape: 9/10 - One of the more angular balls I've thrown.


COMMENTS

Likes: Ordered my Innovate from www.bowlerx.com and as usual, it was shipped very quickly, with exactly the specs I was looking for.  I received it yesterday and drilled  it up last night. Let me start by saying that my intent was to use it once the lanes started breaking down. Threw a couple balls during practice and to my surprise I had a pretty good read on the fresh shot, so I stayed with it. Although I have balls that hook more, I was very pleased with the Innovate's easy length and strong move to the pocket. I was able to play a little straighter than normal, and the Innovate gave me great length and a strong, continuous move.

For me, probably the thing that I liked the most about the Innovate was the hit and forgiveness. I had quite a big area that I could hit and still strike. The polished cover gave me room inside, as it would hold quite well, and when I got it outside the pearl really drove in hard.

I was able to throw the ball starting the night, and stick with it  throughout the transition period, without sacrificing carry. The Innovate turned the corner hard enough throughout the night to create the entry angle needed to carry, no matter how deep the shot forced me to play.

I'm pleasantly surprised by the Innovate. It's exactly as it's advertised to be. A medium strength peal with easy length and a nice strong, angular move to the pocket.

Dislikes: I really had to think hard to come up with a dislike, it's kind of nit-picking, but I did come up with one. Although the overall hook is adequate, it wouldn't bother me to start playing a little bit deeper than the Innovate allowed me to do. That being said, if I was starting deeper with it I would end up WAY deep toward the end of the night after the breakdown. Overall a great ball.


PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS
 http://youtu.be/PiuLG28VkVY

The Innovate is very clean through the front part of the lane and stores its energy for the back end reaction. It provides great length with a strong continuous move to the pocket.

Being right handed, my Innovate is drilled with the pin on the right side of my ring finger and the CG is about three inches directly below the pin . The ball has good length and has a strong continuous roll to the pocket. Using this ball on a house condition, gives me the versatility to play a deeper line and still have corner carry after the track area has burned. This ball should be in every bowlers arsenal especially when the lanes have burned.