The last time I said this about a ball it was the EMB.  Out of the box this ball skids way too much (drilled as recommend on the ball decal) and when it hits the dry it over reacts way too much. If there is any carry down forget it.  

This is not even a medium ball out of the box let alone a heavy oil ball.  (I know its not a heavy oil ball),  If this ball doesn't find a dry patch somewhere, it will skate forever.

So I took some polish off on my home spinner and it was a little better.  I took it to a pro shop for them to take some more polish off and it was a touch better.  The ball still skids through oil like sharp ice skates on ice, but it does read the lane a little earlier and does work somewhat better in carry down playing a little straighter, but it is still strong off the break point and more consistent, not near as skid flippy, but then you have to be very consistent with your release.  If you come around the ball a little too much, the ball reaction is very erractic.

So the ball is driller unfriendly, the box surface on the ball is useless unless you want to see an erractic skid flip and the ball is extremely dependent on consistent (correct) ball release.  

But then the ball is no good on short oil either.  In either box condition or with polish removed, this ball over reacts when it hits the short oil pattern.  The ball hasn't rolled out/burned up on me, it keeps on hooking, but off the lane.

This is my opinion and I compare it to the EMB. I throw all Ebonite now, so its not a slam on Ebonite. I see that others love this ball.  Thats great.

I throw the XXXcel, Big Time Sanded, Big Time Pearl, Cross Fire and struggling with The One.




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Nicanor (Ten On The Deck)

Why doesn't anyone following directions?  I saw that the ball comes with a sticker on it advising how to drill the balls.  On their web site and drilling instructions they advise DO NOT DRILL, and refers to the label drilling layout.
Understand something about high mass bias before ruining a good ball.  Yes the finish is too polished but add a little surface overe the polish and the ball is really good.

This is a bit off on a side ways direction but I felt I had to respond.  The Tombstone was a ball WAAAAAYYYY ahead of its time.  It was virtually a particle ball, very large load.  You can feel this in the cover.  On drier wood lanes with burnt heads, this ball is going to be useless.  Shooting off the gutter, its going to burn up.  Unfortunately when it came out, that's what was the most common lane surface around.  This ball was just manufactered and presented before its time.  It was, IMO, Ebonite's most condition specific ball for its time.  So remember...."its not a bad ball, just misunderstood."  
Erin

Solid9,

You are right about the EMB.  Thank you for clearing that up for those confused.

For those that did not read all the post on this subject,  I did drill The One very, very close to the sticker.  The only difference I drilled it at 43 degrees rather then 45 and I did take the surface down to 1000.  and that did make it better.  But still skids in oil.  Throwing at the 7 pin is a new challenge with The One.  It skids all the wasy through the oil like throwing a plastic ball.  But I am making the adjustment.

The Tomestone was a ball before its time and I still have the ball.  But in its time (when first released) the ball sucked. I should pull it out again and try it on some of today's heavier oil.




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Nicanor (Ten On The Deck)

The only reason you say the Tombstone sucked is because you could not control it and were probably using it on the wrong condition.  

Erin

Let me tell you something about The ONE from Ebonite.  A few weeks ago at the Super Hoinke the backends were snot tight and no ball was to be found hooking on the back.  Jeff Lizzi drilled me up The One and I proceeded to make the top 8 while my bro won the sweeper on Wed night with The One. This ball cuts the oil in the back and hits a ton.  


Dave Piroozshad

BRANDON R
I SEE YOU FELT THAT THE BALL WAS TOO SHARP FOR YOUR STYLE,
I AM ASSUMMING YOU HAD THE BALL DRILLED ACCORDING TO EBONITES SHEET,
WHICH IS STRONG, STRONGER AND STRONGEST,  YET FOR SOME BOWLERS, BELIEVE IT OR NOT,  THIS IS TOO STRONG,  A SMOOTHER DRILLING ON SUCH A STRONG MB BALL MAY HAVE WORKED FOR YOU.  HOWEVER THERE IS NO SUCH DRILLING OFFER ON THIS BALL,  BIG WARNING NOT TO DRILL MB IN TRACK.  SO MOST SHOPS WILL NOT DO THAT, AND I CAN'T BLAME THEM,  BECAUSE EBONITE HAS PUT IN INTO THE HEADS OF BOWLERS THAT THIS WILL NOT WORK, AND ONLY THERE PATTERNS WILL,  BUT AS YOU HAVE NOW FOUND OUT AFTER $200.00  IT DOES NOT WORK FOR EVERYONE.  I NOTICED THAT ON THE NEW SEEK AND DESTROY BALL BY MO RICH  THERE IS NO SUCH WARNING,  THEY ALSO DON'T SHOW A DRILLING LIKE THAT,  BUT THEY DON'T PUT THE BIG X ON IT EITHER, THEY LEAVE IT UP TO THE PRO SHOPS,  BELIEVE IT OR NOT  THERE ARE SOME PRO SHOPS THAT ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

JUST THE FACTS  PIG DON'T FLY
IF YOU SAY IT WILL DO SOMETHING, THAN IT SHOULD DO IT.
BUT AS YOU CAN SEE FROM SEVERAL REVIEWS IT SOMETIMES NEEDS ADJUSTING
AS PER BRANDON WHO WAS GOING TO SELL THE BALL ON 12-9,  NOW LOVES IT ON 12-16
POSSIBLY HAD SOME WORK DONE TO ADJUST COVER, BECAUSE EARLIER IT WAS TOO ANGULAR FOR HIM, NOW HE LOVES IT,  AND THIS IS TRUE WITH MOST HIGH TECH BALLS
THE BOX FINISH IS A STARTING POINT, AND YOU NEED TO GIVE THE BALL TIME AMD SOMETIMES IT TAKES SEVERAL COVER CHANGES TO GET IT TO PERFORM FOR YOU.
THAT'S WHAT I LIVE BY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!