That will happen if there's not enough oil for carry down. My guess is your friend is trying to use a heavy oil ball on medium or drier lanes. Xxxcel is designed to go right through the oil and have a sharp angular turn, but if the oil isn't there then it will react much sooner providing a longer smoother arc. The Arsenal Reactive was a step in the right direction as it is made for medium or heavy oil conditions. I was going to buy the Xxxcel myself, but several people persuaded me that it takes a lot of lane oil to use it well, and that the Xxcel was a much better choice. It has the same hook rating as the Xxxcel, but has a later reaction giving it more carrydown before making it's move to the pocket. It's an awesome ball, very predictable, and at a fraction of the cost of the Xxxcel, but unfortunately it is too much for the drier lanes at my bowling alley. Eventually, I plan on owning the Xxxcel just to see what it can do when I take it to some place where the oil floods the lanes, but for now I'll just sit back and wait for the prices to drop on a ball I can't use here.
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Look for me in the upcoming PBA Tour! I'll be the guy in the back row with the foam finger singing "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" during the 7th inning.

Edited on 12/14/2005 7:56 PM

I think the XXXcel is great with the right amount of oil, but what ball isn't I guess.  I can't find enough oil in San Diego to throw the XXXcel.  But I drilled it to go to Detroit where there was plenty of oil and the ball was tremendous.  I have it drilled in the rev leverage drilling and though it does not flip coming off the oil onto the dry, it is a very strong arc and the carry is tremendous.  I can move left for a while to keep in the oil, but eventually I will start leaving a ton of 10 pins.  Then its time to change.  Thats where I tried to use The One but since have drilled The Big Time, Big Time Pearl and the Cross Fire as transition balls.  The Cross Fire is great on light oil with a strong back end.

I had no luck with The One and I am still working with it, but the XXXcel with long enough oil has great carry and keeps the pins low to help with the lighter hits.  


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Nicanor (Ten On The Deck)