Ball NPS Score: Not Available
bowling.com has the largest selection of bowling balls
Click here to shop.

Hunting is a means of survival. And so is beating the competition. The Predator is deadly on the lanes. The Mega-Bite Super Tack Particle (STP) does the stalking, the modified Puma core does the talking. Engineered for heavier oil patterns, this 800 grit sanded, medium-load particle provides that heavy roll associated with particle balls along with the predictable backend power generated by light-bulb cores. Time to go on the prowl!

Specifications are as follows:

Color: Blood Red/White Particle
Ebonite Hook Rating (Scale 1-30): 28.98
Length (Scale 1-30): 5.7
Ball Speed: Faster
Axis Rotation: Maximum Side Roll
Axis Tilt: Low Track
Revolutions: Low/Medium Revs & Power Player
Best Lane Oil Condition: Heavier Oil
Backend Condition: Carrydown
RG: 2.449
Diff: .043

Alright, I had a 16#, pin out 2-3" drilled up for me last night.  All my current equipment is drilled stacked leverage, and we decided to drill this up to hook - drilled maximum leverage.  The CG sits in my upper palm and the pin is located to the bottom right of my ring finger - I'm not sure of distances but it appears to be a 2" x 3" layout, like the 2nd drilling pattern tested in the July issue of BTM.

First off, I love the color of this ball as it really stands out.  After trying to get a feel for the ball in the first game, I had a couple of minor adjustments made to the grips.  This was all I needed, I was able to carry everything in the second game from light hits to high hits.  The ball gets throught the heads clean and revs up nicely.  IT is also predictable as it turns.  This ball was able to recover on a couple of mistakes with light hits.  I was able to swing it and play up in the middle of the oil.  This ball has a strong backened and finishes well.  But I have to warn you that this ball will hook out of the building on dry conditions.  This ball will fit in anyones arsenal especially for tournament conditions and first shift.  I am waiting for a sport condition to shoot on with this ball.  This is alot of ball for the money.

I was able to shoot with this ball last night in another league, different house than in the above review.  I was able to swing the ball and watch this baby come right to the pocket.  At times, it was to much ball for this house, however, with the hot and humid conditions here in NY, I was not comfortable with my release all night.

EBONITE PREDATOR                        

Style Around 17 mphs; above average revs;
Drilled3in pin drilled above left of center of the ring finger

Medium Oil with strong backends
I will rate this ball a couple of ways. Number 1, I will tell you my experience with the ball out of the box and Number will be hit with 1500 sandpaper and highly polished.

1:Positive I got it drilled for a longer roll and a strong backend. The first night I threw the ball, I was standing on 25 and threw over 15 to 10. I was real impressed the hitting power of this ball. I hate to use the old cliche but it was really "destroying the pocket". I also played a bit outside around the 5 with less revs with speed and this line worked real well to.  
  Negative This ball sometimes hits too hard where you will shoot the 6 around the 10 or leaving quite a few 7s for being a righty. I tried slowing the ball down and this is a big mistake. I left some real bad spilts, the ones you say to yourself "how in the h*** did I leave that?" You have to keep the speed up on a medium oil lane with strong backends.

2:Positive Doing this to the ball calmed the reaction down in the backend. It hit softer and I stopped leaving the 7 pins. It still hit the pocket well but it did not have the stronger reaction. The ball is a little bit more controllable for me by polishing it
  Negative If there is too much oil in the heads, the ball will slide a little too far out for even this ball to recover. I will actually use a sanded ball prior to bringing this ball out til the heads lose a bit I mean bit of its oil. I would also not recommend polishing it up if you are on a heavy oil lane unless you play maybe a stroker style.


Recommended for
High rev-Above average speed (16 to 17)
Medium Rev to low rev- Average speed (15 to 16)
Not recommened for
High rev - low speed player.

****NOTE THIS IS FOR THESE LANE CONDITIONS ONLY****** RESULTS MAY VARY!!

Rating
out of 10
Out of the box.    
Hook:10.                        
Control:7.                      
Length:8.                    
Overall:8.                      

polished
Hook:9
Control:8
Length:9
Overall:9

--------------------
Streeker2k []

Ball...3.5" pin, 3 oz. starting TW

Thinking that a lightbulb core for control and a light particle load for a little midlane read would be a good combination.  Box condition turned out to be a little too much for me.   Used a green scotchbrite with some 600 grit polish (medium) and tried the ball on a fairly hvy condition to 38 ft.  Ball was great.  Started up easy at midlane and held on the backend.  My evaulation of a ball concerns mostly what happens if you have a decent roll and angle at the pocket, what do the pins do.  This ball doesn't "blow the rack".  Pins stayed low.  Carry percentage was great.  For a midpriced ball, couldn't recomend one any better.  Might be a "sleeper", like the Vortex II.    Luck

Let me start by saying that i do love the "cat series" from
ebonite. Started with box finish and 2 1/2 X 2 1/2 layout.
house shot approximately 36ft.
this ball will not disappoint any current ebonite users and
will most likely convert the rest to loyal customer status.
ball will read the front of the lane predictably and give you a really
strong arcing look in the backends(wahsam).
may be a little strong as the lanes transition but looks like the perfect companion for the savage at that point.

Hey the DUDE say this ball is good and easily changed for different reactions, I Drilled this one up for a longer pattern, With the Cg Out about 2 Inches. Placed the pin just above the and slightly to the left of the ring finger. So this is like 4 1/2, by 3 3/8 for me.We have sold About 14 of these in the last three weeks. And we have got mixed reviews, I have one and it wasn't everything i xpected. I Have a lot of revs and lift so i thought that if i polished it would be good. I was mistaken. I used it in box condition for six games on a pattern that is 38 feet and buffed to 42. That is a heavy and long pattern in my area. Liked the ball, but Wanted to delay the break point a little more. I put a coat of Track particle polish and felt it wasn't enough. So i went to the ball spinner again. I used it in a 2nd shift league, with about 3 bowlers per lane before. There was carry down and i thought time to shine, I Was able to carry but had to move, Right to shot it to the dry or the Ball on my normal shot(Way, left, Over The 23 Board to the 10 or 7 board.) With this ball i was shotting a down and in shot. over the 10 sitting on the 3 board and Kaboom, power, just pure power.I was doing well with that shot but didn't like it, it was leave too many 9s or 10s. So, following the advice of a more experienced Pro shop operator, i Sanded the ball to 600 and then took it to 1200, and left it there. The Ebonite ball rep(He is a rep for Brunswick and hammer) Said move to the right a little bit and shot over the 15 board to the 5 Board lots of speed and keep the revs down. The Ball found it's place on the lane.The only trick with this ball is down be afriad to play around with the coverstock. It can be changed easily, don't forget as my mentor Has always says" The coverstock is the only that comes in contact to the lane surface. The R AND D money is really focused on the Coverstock. With the Hundreds of different cores they all claim the samething more power more roll and increased energy and carry. Your coverstock is the most important thing to keep in mind when choosing equipement." I thank my mentor and boss evryday for this advice, and guidance.
Thedude Says, thanks to  my boss Jean(french) for the oppertunities and coaching.

Well, Ive now found my favourite ball.

My last ebonite ball was a Sea Wolf, and that was a fantastic ball as well. But this ball tops the lot. I throw a heap of revs, and also bowl very fast (around 28 - 29 km/h average), so wanted something I could get back for wet lanes, and serious carrydown in tournaments.

I was recommended either the Predator, or the Columbia Roll, but looking at my budget, the Predator was like $230 cheaper in Australia. Drilled it up for biggest backend reaction, and a bit of mid lane hook.

Left it dull and had a chuck, but the ball gripped way early, so best not to leave it dull for super rev bowlers. Took it to my league that night, and put some TEC Renew It on it while using a ball spinner. The surface came up VERY tacky, and looked spectacular. Second game in league, 12 strikes later, my first ever 300. I have never seen a ball come so hard back into the pocket. I noticed my ball was rolling out with a slighlty lower speed, so a quicker speed allowed it to continue in the pocket.

For a budget ball, this one superb ball. Ive seen the Tiger in action, and that also looks like a great ball. I think I might get myself a tiger now :^)

I drilled the Predator with the pin 5 1/2" from PAP, no hole.

I drilled the Predator to combat the wet/dry conditions we face in the morning squads at our regionals.  Out of the box, the shell was much too aggressive to play up the lane.  I went to the ball spinner and took it to 1000grit wet sand, no polish.  I got just enuff length to get it thru the heads and still get an even reaction thru-out the lane.  The Predator is one of the hardest rolling balls on the market, great for wet/dry conditions.  Dont expect a swooping backend on this ball, there are definitely better choices for that (Savage).  For those of you wanting a strong rolling ball for wet/dry conditions, Predator is for you!

Xeno Garcia
Ebonite Regional Staff