Ball:
#1 Pin 4 1/2 from PAP above ring finger, mb 4 3/4 from PAP(1 1/4 right of thumb). Weighthole on VAL 2 inches below PAP. Factory Finish
#2 Pin 4 3/4 from PAP below ring finger, mb 5 1/4 from PAP(under the thumb 1/2 from centerline). Factory Finish, and have altered it to 1000 abralon.

Lane Conditions: Various house shots and PBA patterns.

HOOK:
Heavy: The Total NV is not meant to be used on heavy oil, but with the proper layout and surface prep I think it would perform well. Ball 1 shocked me because of how strong it left the pattern and turned the corner enough to recover to the pocket. Ball 2 gets into its roll sooner, but it lacks the ability to turn over enough in the backends.

Medium: Both of them fit perfectly for medium oil. Ball 1 is a beast, there is no stopping it. For my style it is rare to have a ball take out the corners as well as this ball playing so deep. Ball 2 is a smoother version, actually more of a benchmark type ball.

Light: MAYBE with the proper layout and surface prep the TNV could be used here. MAYBE.

TOTAL HOOK:
Ideal for medium oil patterns...and can typically handle med/heavy as well. Both of these balls are benchmark type balls, they just do it in a different way.

CONTROL:
Ball 1 has much too strong of a breakpoint to be a control type ball, but with that strength at the break also comes consistancy. Ball 2 is very controllable. It read the pattern earlier than ball 1 due to the surface, but is much more predictable at the breakpoint.

EXPECTED REACTION:
I had ball 2 first and loved the way it performed, I just wanted more recovery at the breakpoint and ball 1 does that perfectly. With each of these balls I got what I wanted out of them.

STRENGTHS:
Strong roll, strong hit and consistancy. The ball gives you what you make it do, and it is very forgiveable when you miss. Very useable on a wide variety of patterns.

WEAKNESSES:
Typically longer patterns will give the TNV a difficult time. Just keep it used on what it is meant for and you will be fine.

COMMENTS:
The TNV is my firt venture into Ebonite for the first time in a long time. I am very happy with every aspect of this ball. FOR ME ball 1 is tremendous. I do not see breakdown and generally only have to move my feet 1-2 boards throughout league. One thing I wanted to comment on was carrydown. Ball 1 cuts through carrydown with ease, ball 2 starts up sooner, but still does not have enough kick in the backend to finish the job. Overall the TNV is an extremely solid performer that I would suggest to a bowler that wants a very versatile medium oil ball.



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Carl Hurd
C-G Pro Shop (owner/operator)
Youngstown Ohio


Tag Team Member #1

TAG TEAM COACHING!!!!!!/Co-Founder

Its a great ball, I still love mine to death. I just drilled an angular one and its finding a place in my heart as well. Do you have any plans to drill one up as well?

If you read my signature you will know that by no means am I a Ebonite fan but the TNV is quickly changing my mind about Ebonite I like this ball more and more everytime I throw it
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Cobalt Pearl,Tsunami,XL,XXL,XXXL,
Total NV

Thats Just What I Carry In The Bag

And In Storage
Cobalt Bomb (NIB),BCB(X1-NIB),
Original SD X1 NIB
Pearl Cherry Bomb (X2-1NIB 1 is 16Lb)
H2O,
Pink Raspberry (X1-16Lb)

And Always Looking For More

F.O.S. To The Bone
         

Heavy: The Total NV is not meant to be used on heavy oil, but with the proper layout and surface prep I think it would perform well.

Although there are some that poo-poo the idea that the TNV can be used as a heavy oil ball, my experiences with my TNV mirror Carl's in that with the right set-up (drilling and surface prep) the TNV can work very well in the soup. There are some that say that the only reason Tommy Johnson gets away with using the TNV in heavy oil is that TJ puts so many turns on the ball, which is true (I've seen Johnson bowl in person, and it's amazing to see what he can do with a bowling ball), but what they conveniently neglect to mention is that TJ also throws the ball a zillion miles per hour, so although there are indeed a lot of revs on TJ's ball, his ball goes down the lane so quickly that it doesn't hook as much as it would if thrown at the more normal speeds that the vast majority of us throw. So although most of us don't turn the ball as much as Tommy Johnson, we also don't throw the ball as hard either, and common sense would tell us that at slower ball speeds the TNV is going to have more time to grip the lane, and thus for the average Joe the TNV can indeed be considered as an option to throw in heavy oil - maybe not the absolute best option, but at least an option.
I would also reiterate that I've found that the TNV soaks up the oil like no ball I've ever seen before, and when throwing in heavy oil the TNV very quickly makes a track for itself, and very quickly starts turning hard at the back end.
As always your mileage may vary, and it would be great to hear from other TNV owners that have actual experience throwing their TNV's in heavy oil.