Post by: admin on December 31, 1969, 06:00:00 PM
Overall Hook Rating: 30.00 (scale of 1-30, least to most)
Breakpoint Angle: 9.85 (scale of 1-10, smooth to sharp)
Color: Black/Red/Bright Blue
Style: 029744-621
Target Line: Track Area and Inside Angles
Lane Conditions: Medium to Heavy Oil
Coverstock: Bomber Light Load Particle 1000 Grit Abralon Pad 6 3/4" from the pin, through the CG
Core: Modified Scalien Core Desgin
Weights: 16 15 14
RG: 2.52 2.51 2.50
Differential: .056 .063 .075
Post by: BowlerKidR on March 04, 2005, 04:22:58 PM
So, my first impression on this ball is that it over hooks. The reason? well the fresh backends were over come by this balls coverstock and new core, so it just took off like someone kicked it in the other direction. This sharp angle was WAY to strong, and i was leaving wack splits, and pins ive never left before, and everyone else using it had the same problem.
BUT....one you hit carry down THIS BALL SHINES. It didnt flip or ark, it was inbetween depending on how many revs u have, or how u throw it. anyway, i was carying every shot near or on the pocket, and i was getting amazing pin action.
Comparison between xcel particle and xxcel:
The xcel particle is a great ball, but it is not as aggressive as the xxcel. The xcel is more of a arc ball by far, and teh xxcel by far is more of a flipy ball. Both were great in the heavy oil, but i liked the xxcel better (once there was carry down)
Overview:
My overview of this xxcel, is that it is a great ball added to an already great line up of balls by ebonite. if u dont have a heavier oil ball, and u need one, consider this ball...you wont be sorry. the only downside to this ball is that it isnt a good first game ball. If u bowl in a first league with fresh backends, hold this ball till the second or third game, because it will over react. none the less, a great ball.
Ryan
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High Game- 287
3 Game High Series- 808
4 Game High Series- 901
I LIKE TO BOWL
Post by: BigHand868 on March 14, 2005, 02:54:55 AM
Post by: schwaig on March 18, 2005, 01:37:54 PM
Post by: Long Roller on March 19, 2005, 09:51:33 PM
shane
Post by: Long Roller on March 20, 2005, 06:25:21 PM
Shane
Post by: thegame on March 21, 2005, 01:54:45 PM
Post by: SCOOTER_26 on March 28, 2005, 05:05:08 AM
Post by: Brian Green on April 08, 2005, 12:53:05 AM
Hand : Left
Pap: 5 1/2 in over right on center of grip
Revs: Above Average
Speed: Above average
Average 216 (2003-2004 book average)
Conditions Bowled on:
House Shot
And Modified House shot
Ball Specs before drilling
weight 16 lbs
Pin 3-4 top top 3 1/4
Drill Pattern:
Pin above ring finger, cg kicked out 2 1/2 inches on the grip center line. Bomb around 45 degrees weight hole on axis
Ball Reation on house shot:
This ball really didnt work well on the house shot for me, there was too much dry for the ball it would burn up way too early in the out of box finish.. with polish i bet this thing would eat the house shot alive.... more often then not i couldnt keep this ball off the headpin
Ball Reaction on Modified house shot:
{THe oil pattern is very similiar to the house shot just a little more oil in the heads and the pattern is flatter. the shot is very playable but if u make a bad shot you dont get rewarded.......}
The xxcel was definately the ball to buy for this condition. in the out of box surface this ball allows me to open up the lane and not worry about the ball not finishing... this ball just turns up in the midlane like a partical ball normally does but it doesnt quit.. it turns and drives right through the pins...
Over all Opinion Of Ball:
The Ebonite xxcel is one very impressive bowling ball. If your looking for a ball for medium heavy oil that will get down the lane longer than a triditional particle ball but have the drive of a resin ball than this is the ball.. I usually drill brunswick balls but the xcel line as intrigued me from the start and i can honestly say the xxcel opened my eyes to ebonite equipment again...
my over all rating on this ball out of 10 with 1 beeing the worst and 10 being just plain awesome is a 8.... Very Impressive Job Ebonite you guys have my attention again
Brian Green
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you can laugh at the way i bowl but i will be the one laughin when i am takin your money
Post by: Dwight Albrecht on April 13, 2005, 06:47:58 PM
Ball Specs
The ball being drilled was a 3†pin out with 3.00 oz top weight.
Drilling: Pin 3 1/2" from PAP and Mb 4 3/4" from PAP (approximately 60 degrees) pin is Above Ring finger, 3" above grip midline. Weight Hole 2" past my pap.
Bowler Information:
Track diameter is 10 1/2.
PAP is measured at 5 1/4 over and 3/8" up.
Average ball speed (foul line to head pin) is 17 mph.
Axis rotation is typically 90 degrees
Initial rev rate is typically 300 rpm, "Tweener"
Lane Condition and Pattern: Village Bowl in Memonomee Falls WI. Wood Lanes Oiled to 40 feet, semi-clean backends. Bowlero Lanes. HPL 9000 Panel. Oily up front, semi clean backends, carry down issues all year.
REVIEW:
One Word: BRAVO. Bravo Ron Hickland. What a ball. Best Ebonite ball I've thrown. Now this is a ball. Quick Revving like the X-cel, but Ron added the two small flip nuggets to the side of the core and now this ball corners. Definately a ball for oil and low rev players. I don't think the high rev players will like it unless the ball was shined and drilled with a length drilling. One of the hardest hitting, fastest spinning balls I've thrown. As long as I had oil in the heads this ball threw pins everywhere. Ball reacted well on both the HPL panel and the wood lanes of Village. Not for dry and not the ball for dry heads, otherwise, you will love it. Great Job Ron!!!
Compared to my other Balls:
Big Bully:. The XX-cel spins up quicker than the Big Bully, The XXcel hooks 3-4 boards more with stronger backend.
Absolute Inferno Sanded: The Absolute does not rev up as quick but is much cleaner through the heads and is more angular than the XXcel. The XXcel's breakpoint is much earlier.The XXcel is 1-2 stronger over hook than the sanded Absolute Inferno.
Thanks for reading my review.
Post by: GateCityProShop on April 16, 2005, 11:50:49 AM
No Weight Hole
Surface: Changed to 1500, w/ Ebonite Particle Polish
The XXCel is definitely the best ball Ebonite has ever released in my opinion, and could easily be one of the most versatile on the market.
Originally I threw this with the box finish, even though the ball wanted to read early it still managed to conserve energy pretty well. Once the surface was changed to what I mentioned above, the ball reaction became 10 times better. This surface won't work for everyone, but if you are a higher rev player try it, I guarantee you will love this ball.
In comparison to what I have thrown in the past couple weeks, the XXCel is stronger by far than almost anything I have thrown, the Hammer Big Deal is close but is still a completely different look at the breakpoint. Great Job Ebonite!!
Bowl Great!
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Jimmy Martin
Gate City Pro Shop
Greesnboro NC
Post by: dizzyfugu on June 19, 2005, 05:24:42 PM
)This ball is awesome! I was looking for a state-of-the-art performance ball and wanted a strong, controllable reaction for medium to med-oily conditions.
A pearl reactive like the Absolute Inferno was out of discussion for me, since I often have problems controlling balls of this type. But since I ever fared well with light load particles like the Fuze Eliminator or the Eraser Particle Pearl, I gave Ebonite's Xxcel the try – especially, because I have some very convincing older Ebonite balls in my arsenal (TPC Player and TPC Shooter). And: the Xxcel simply looks very nice with its 3-colour surface and bright green engravings. It's not only substance, but also style...
And I got BOTH!The ball and its setup:
I wanted to make this ball a complement to my Fuze Eliminator, which handles heavy oil very well and shows the typical Brunswick early rolling motion. So I asked for a later reaction on medium-oily conditions. Once more, many thanks to Michael Kraemer in Duisburg, Germany, for his competent drilling support. The ball does a perfect job!
About me:
Style = Stroker/mild Tweener, right-handed
Speed = 13,5-14,5 mph
PAP = 5" & 7/8"^
Axis tilt = 18,7°
Revs = 250-300 RPM at release
For more details, check out my profile, please.
My Xxcel is a 15 lbs. 2 oz. ball with 3 3/4 oz. top weight before drilling.
It is a 3 3/4" pin-out, with the CG kicked out 1 1/2“ to the left from the direct line between pin and BOMB due to some odd core placement.
All in all, my Xxcel received a drilling similar to Ebonite's standard pattern #4, adjusted for more length with the pin above the fingers: Pin at 4 1/2" from PAP and directly at 1:00 above the ring finger hole.
CG ended up in direct line below the ring finger hole, 1/2“ to the right of the midlane/grip center. The BOMB marker was placed 2“ away at 4:00 from the thumb hole, effectively in a strong position at ~75° from PAP. Due to the CG shift inside of the ball to the left, no X-hole was necessary to keep the ball legal. Silicone oval finger inserts and a polystyrene thumb slug completed the job.
======*==
===o=o===
=========
=====#===
=========
====O====
=======b=
* = Pin
# = CG
b = BOMB marker
The surface remained in the shiny, polished 1.000 grit box condition. This already offers a lot of traction and is very clean in the heads when there is some oil.
For a picture and surface changes, see the addendum below.
Some general performance notes:
This ball shows an astonishingly strong performance: a violent, late reaction, with a STRONG move in the backend (O.K., it's drilled to produce this, but the way it performs lets you grip your seat). My Xxcel seems to float down the lane, break smooth and strong as spider silk and deliver its energy with a burst of revs and a wide, curving hook to the pocket.
It is not flippy at all and does not have a sharp breakpoint, rather a typical particle reaction. Somebody used the picture of a truck being driven by a drunk: goes straight down the road until the driver jerks the steering wheel left, and 40 tons of steel start turning... My Xxcel reminds me of this.
This ball recovers from almost anywhere on the lane and blasts the deck! I never thought that I, as a stroker, could produce such a ball reaction!
It is stronger than I expected it to be. The testing program:
40' crowned (6:1 ratio) pattern:
The Xxcel shed bright light immediately during its maiden tests after drilling and thumb hole adjustment. I was able to play very different lines on a slick new synth surface with equal succcess:
* standing at 20 with right shoe tip, playing over 2nd arrow
* standing at 24, aiming at 12th board
* standing at 30, aiming at 16th board and the area 3' behind
* standing at 33 and playing over 4th arrow
Anyway, with my drilling I get a steady breakpoint at 42-44' on the 6th board down the lane, where the ball turns so violently and relentlesly towards the pocket. With its light-load particle coverstock the Xxcel is also quite unimpressed by carrydown and even very safe at spare-shooting across the lane. It grips like velcro tape, but it is still surprisingly clean through the front. A very god balance between grip and skip.
Only when the oil in the head area burns away and the track turns dry after some games, the Xxcel loses some of its energy prematurely, but it still remains very predictable and stable. Only a slight adjustment deeper (1 or 2 boards) is enough to keep it in play. I guess that this 40' oil with a slick surface is ideal turf for this ball, after some experience on other occasions this ground turned out to be the best house to use the XXcel.
Flat 42' sport pattern:
A though shot with a 1994 Brunswick synth surface, featuring a general low grip level. Here, on a fresh lane, the Xxcel could finally be pushed to its grip limits. The ball started out slipping beyond control – tribute to the polished surface, I think. When the lane was played down a bit after about 10 games in total, a track opened up and the ball started to move and carry much better.
On this occasion I tried two lines:
* standing at 23, aiming at 12
* standing at 27, aiming at 15
The latter worked quite fine until the end of the session, again with convincing performance, carry and control. Due to the late and strong recovery, a swing shot seems to be the best option. Down-and-in results in a weak/steep entry angle for me which leaves more 10 pins and the like.
On another occasion in summer 2005, with high temperature (almost 90°F) and tropical air humidity, the Xxcel's coverstock proved its traction ability: on a flying backend, the ball could only be kept in the pocket with force and excessive speed. Much too often it started to move earlier than on "normal" conditions and went for Brooklyn. So, you definitively need some head oil.
Short 32' Christmas tree pattern with dry outside boards:
Just to see what it would do, I also tried the Xxcel on my local "desert wars" THS with its short & spotty oil, very grippy, dry backend and a 7 board wide, bone-dry walled shot. It is almost impossible to play a strong ball there with some hand... Well, I just completed one game, since the XXcel was definitively NOT made for this. But I was curious how the Xxcel would react?
With the length drilling, its tencency to arc and the glossy coverstock the Xxcel was astonishingly playable, although I needed to stand at 40th board and beyond, aiming between 3rd and 4th arrow area and having the ball make a long, long journey across the lane towards the right gutter and back to the pocket. I even made some strikes! The Xxcel still went rather far down the lane and retained its good carry, but it was impossible to keep it consistently in the pocket – either it burnt out or went for Brooklyn. Speed helped, but I sacrificed exact ball placement. Yet, a positive surprise even on this scorched condition, confirming my experience from the toasted 42' sport pattern in summertime before.
Some conclusions:
The Xxcel is predictable, versatile, even looks great and (thank god) does not smell like a blue berry
. This ball HOOKS - lots of it! But the good thing about it is that it's in the player's hands (literally) to make it move or not - although I struggle sometimes to tame it down for straighter shots. It just wants to move...Lane utility for tested ball (pattern length vs. oil volume):
|S M L
|h e o
|o d n
|r . g
|t
_______
|0 0 +| Light volume
|0 X X| Medium volume
|+ X 0| Heavy volume
Legend:
X = Best suited with effective control & carry
+ = Fairly suited (works, somehow, but lacks control)
0 = Unsuited (ineffective, either slips or burns up)
The chart concept is borrowed from Storm's 2003 catalogue. Surface prep and drillings may change the results, it is just personal experience with my style
On medium to medium-oily conditions and long patterns of 40' or more I give it a personal solid 10 out of 10 - but only in this condition window.
From my tests and ongoing experience, I would not recommend this ball for light oil or shorter patterns, a 6 or 7 out of 10. It will run off, moving, moving, moving... it arcs and seems unstoppable! And then, it can become hard to control or just burns up. Additionally, I have been struggling with this ball to work on several lane surfaces. For me, it is a bit condition specific and has not found its place in my tournament bag, since it only works perdictably in 1 local house. I am not sure whether it is me or the ball itself? That's the only drawback so far.
The Xxcel is not itchy on the dry like a strong pearl reactive would be, therefore you get very good manual control - just what I wanted from it. I think that the box surface is the ideal match for the coverstock. With the original 1.000 grit polish you can get it surprisingly far down the lane and make it react late, unleashing a real burst of energy which the modified Scalien core with its added flip nuggets saves very well.
The Xxcel can handle a burnt track in the heads and the midlane quite well. Just move 1 or 2 boards inside, find some oil, and you stay in the game. If not, you are in trouble... Maybe, with a real 1.500+ grit high-gloss polish, it could be made playable on less than medium conditions or short patterns?
A true flood is definitively too much for the Xxcel, at least in box condition or when you are not able to adjust release and speed to let the ball make its move by physics. Wet sanding it to 1.000 or 800 grit matte should make it playable on tougher oil, but there are also the Xxxcel and the Xcel Particle who should do this job in box condition.
To me it does not appear that the Xxcel is starting to roll as early as Ebonite claims in the technical specs. Initially, I expected it to be very similar to my Fuze Eliminator, but it is definitively not: the Xxcel is by far not as rolly, has much more length. Even a friend's Absolute Inferno in box condition starts to roll much earlier than this particle beauty.
In direct comparison to a friend's Xxxcel with a similar drilling as my Xxcel, the OOB Xxcel has more length and a sharper hook, while the Xxxcel has a slightly higher overall hook potential and starts to break 4-5' earlier, needing more oil to be handy and being better suited for a flood.
Although I play rather slowly, I think that high speed and/or high rev players can greatly benefit from this ball since it goes so cleanly down the lane OOB and shows a very stable reaction. The more I can push it, the better it seems to work on any condition.
To conclude, a quote about boxing about Mike Tyson which fits the Xxcel well, too: "Move like a butterly – sting like a bee".
Real high-end stuff! Despite some personal problems with the ball, a great job, Ebonite!
Addendum 5/17/06:
After my XXcel suddenly lost its great back end after about only 50 games and building up a visible track, I tried soaking it but it did not help much, so I had the ball resurfaced. This brought the ball immediately back to its former hook level.
Since I wanted to move the XXcel "away" from my Eliminator, I had the ball sanded to 800 grit for heavier conditions and longer oil I face in league and on tournaments. Here is a picture of the ball.
The matte finish has dramatically changed its reaction shape: The XXcel is much, much more arcing now. Visual target and foot position on the approach are much the same as before, but the ball is much smoother now and there is no flood I was not able to conquer with this orb so far. It reads the lane much earlier with the matte surface - about 10' sooner! Midlane traction and backend move are both impressive.
The overall hooking action will probably tame down a bit over time as the surface wears off, but I hope the ball will not need constant sanding to keep the performance up - a real drawback I had with an X-Factor RE-Loaded, very time- and material-consuming.
Addendum 10/23/06:
Ball still at 800 grit, and it has not lost any power so far (even though I did not have much opportunities to use it in summertime). It shines on true heavy shots and on carrydown on high oil volumes. It surely has a place in my tourney bag this season!
Addendum 02/08/08:
Sad day, but true: my XXcel, sitting still in the shelf and waiting for duty, cracked yesterday evening without a plausible cause. I just heard from the neighboring room a popping sound, as if you were bending a PET bottle. I did not think of anything bad, But next morning, when I checked my equipment for an upcoming league start, I found my XXcel with a straight crack from the ring finger all around the ball to the thumb!
I did not use the ball for several weeks, due to lack of oil on local lanes,a nd that might have been the cause. Last thing I did with it was wet sanding its surface gently by hand with a grey pad under flowing warm water in the sink - nothing hot or anything I could think of what could have caused tension in the coverstock or between surface, filler and core. Last oil extraction in the bucket had been months ago. It just sat there, and cracked out of a sudden!
Very sad event, since it had been my heavy oil ball - and a very good one, too. Looks as if I will have to reanimate my old Eliminator...
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DizzyFugu --- Reporting from Germany
Team "X" league website: http://homepage.mac.com/timlinked/
"All that we see or seem, is but a dream within a dream..." - Edgar Allen Poe
Edited on 26.09.2011 at 7:39 AM
Post by: TrimMan on June 27, 2005, 09:38:34 AM
3 1/4 tw
3-4 pin
pin 4 1/2 from pap, under ring finger. MB right of the thumb hole. No x-hole
4000 grit abralon
38' THS Have used this ball only for a few shots in this house just to strong, just reads the lanes to early for me.
41' THS I bought this ball for this house. At first I had the finish at 2000 abralon was reading the lanes to early and was leaving alot of 4 pins and 4-9 splits. Changed the finish to 4000 abralon WOW. I understand why USBC now has changed rulings on differrential. This ball flat out flares, when it turns it is strong and keeps coming. I have made alot of money pot bowling with this ball. When everyone else is complaining about how tight the shot is I have plenty of room. I have been easily exploiting this shot.
Overall, you need oil and longer oil patterns. At this finish this not a true flood ball, but usable. Perfer my GP2 on that condition. Bought this ball to go under my GP2 and that is what I have. Another great product by Ebonite.
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You have your whole life to have fun, but you have only one chance.
Post by: Ball DR on September 24, 2005, 05:38:22 PM
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www.strikingdifference.com
Post by: ebonick on September 30, 2005, 12:29:23 AM
Speed - 22-24 MPH
Revs - About 450
Desription:
Weight - 15lbs
Pin to CG distance - 3-4in.
Surface prep - Out of Box
Drilling: - I'm not good with drills, but It's a modified Drilling Pattern #1 on the Ebonite Xxcel sheet
Conditions:
I bowl at 2 houses.
House #1: They use a Med. Christmas Tree Pattern. I don't know the lenght of it, sorry. It seems to move well on it. I play over the 4th arrow out to 4-5 board. It moves back very nice and crushes the pocket. I leave more nines with this ball than I do with my others. It seems to work well until I get to the lighter oil.
House #2: They put down something different almost every week. If I want a pattern the laneman don't mind putting it down, so it is a little hard to tell how it works here. The main pattern they use though is a 42ft. Med. THS. This ball is perfect here. Don't really have to worry about lanes drying here, but I do deal with a lot of carry down. This ball acts great in carry down. Can't even tell its there
Ball path shape:
This ball has great backend on it. It gets to dry and kicks left. With my drilling it has a nice snap to it. The ball will not work well if the heads are burnt. I have real trouble with this on Sun. Youth/Adult so I have to throw it in the bag, but when theres oil, it will rip through it and shred the rack.
Post by: babb300 on December 02, 2005, 11:17:02 PM
Post by: moedog19 on April 18, 2006, 11:41:18 AM
Every single week no matter what house I'm bowling in, my Xxcel is the first ball out of the bag! all because this is by far the most versatile ball i have ever used. u can play inside or outside with ease. the ball is very controllable and overall great. i used to just try to throw a big hook but have recently tried to shoot more up and in and have done great. the ball holds well and will make up for mistakes!!
Bowled my first 280 with this ball, just to find out later the ball was drilled completely opposite of what it should be for a full roller like my self!
since then i've had it redrilled correctly and have avg'd almost a 205 with it!(190 before)
I'd definitely give it a 10 out of 10 , another great ball Ebonite!!!
Post by: cavalier1968 on January 20, 2007, 07:57:51 PM
12:00 LEVERAGE
15lb ball
I usually go straight up the 10 board.....as I am a player with med speed and fairly low revs. I wear a Robbys wrist device for my weak wrist...so far its working well!... The drill pattern is a very strong drill...
With this ball, I have to swing it a little....standing on 15 and throwing to 10.....WOW.....the strongest ball I've ever thrown. Hits hard and has predictable arc...My avg is 194.....So far with this ball 207....IT hooks and hooks hard.....My strikes are stronger....good pin mix.....
Rating 1-10
Price (used 20$, 20$ drilling) 10
Strength 10
Hook 10
Predictability 9
-----------------------------------------------------
I believe you'll need oil....after awaile the ball loses a little.....
STILL......WOW
Cav
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It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone."
Post by: kingpin268 on December 14, 2008, 03:43:52 PM
17-18 mph
300+ rpm
Moderate axis rotation and tilt
Ball Description:
Surface at 2000 grit
Pin below bridge, CG kicked out to the right
Small weighthole
Reaction:
I've had this ball for a few years now and it has easily been one of my favorites. Reaction can be described as early revving followed by a very strong arc backend. With more surface, I have found the ball to be way too early and die on anything but heavy oil. At that, I have kept the ball around 2000 grit, which gives it the length I want and a breakpoint I can work with. On the house shot, the ball is very even. It reads the midlane smoothly and delivers a strong arc off the breakpoint. Almost a perfect matchup. Strong enough to grip in the oil inside and smooth enough to give you some area if you miss outside. On sport/college patterns, this ball may be even more useful. It is excellent for controlling the breakpoint and responds accordingly to release adjustments. I can easily move left and get the ball to move as well as move far right, take hand out and come right up the back to point it at the pocket. By far one of my favorite sport condition balls. Carries excellent despite being an older piece. The bowling populous did not seem to take to the Xcel series by Ebonite but from what I've seen from this ball, the core and cover match up perfectly to deliver that smooth and powerful reaction that goes overlooked by the newest "hook in the box" that seems to come out every month. Very good job Ebonite with this piece. 10/10
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Penn State Men''s Bowling Team