Well, after a year of wondering about the ELITE brand, I took the next step, and put my curiosity to the test. I got my hands on three of their pieces, and except for a short period of "short oil" where I had to use urethane due to a malfunctioning machine, have been able to use them a lot this season.

 Got my hands on three of their pieces, the ECHO, the ESPIONAGE, and the TREASON, and they were really great looking balls. If appearance means anything, you will be happy with the aesthetics these balls have.

 The TREASON is the most aggressive of the three. While it has the same weightblock as the ESPIONAGE, the cover is stronger. This let the ball cover heavier conditions than its brethren, and the "rolly" nature of the weightblock gave me that predictable midlane, and a "strong off the spot" arcing backend. This ball was pretty good at blending out the wet/dry without being too strong on transition. Of the three, I could play this one longer on it's intended condition before needing to make a ball change, and I think it was due to the balls rolly, predictable reaction. Pretty good ball!

 Ahhhhh, the ESPIONAGE.  For me, this one ended up being a niche type ball. It didn't really fit well between the TREASON and ECHO, because it and the TREASON were too similar in their box finish.  Then, when I added polish over the box finish, it became too "squinty" on the wet. A decent ball, but it ended up being a backup piece to the ECHO because with polish, it covered about the same condition, but with a different look.

 And, speaking of the ECHO, I have nothing but glowing terms to use in reference to this ball. I used it at box finish for a while, and this ball was just as good as ANY other balls I saw being used by the other guys. Maybe the best example I can give is to compare it to something that was very popular last year, and that was the storm frantic. In direct head to head on the same lanes, this ball covered just as much area, with just as much attitude, and gave up nothing in the hit and carry department.

 Not only that, but after we got a Kegel oiling machine, the lanes got significantly "slicker" than before. But, since I had been so impressed with the ECHO, I decided to try a surface change before giving it up.  This ball is a very versatile ball as well because, when I altered the surface, I continued to get the same predictable hook, hit, and carry as I had gotten at box finish on the mediums we had bowled on the earlier part of the season.


 The ECHO was, overall, the most impressive of the three. It covered it's intended condition well, but also has the versatility to " step up" with a surface change, without losing that great reaction it had in box finish. The ECHO seems to be one of those balls that many bowlers could probably do well with on a wide variety of conditions. Once I got used to this ball really being this good, I'm sorry to say that the others didn't get used as much as they could have been. I really, REALLY liked this ball.

 I ended up my two leagues with a 200+ average on both of them! and have absolutely NO complaints with either the quality, durability, or performance of these pieces. As a matter of fact, I cleaned and lightly shined the ECHO and, after around 75-100 games, it still looks almost like I just took it out of the box!

I got a Treason during the $99 free shipping, 60 day send it back guarantee if you don't like it days at Bowler's Paradise. 

I have everything drilled 4 x 4 x 2 like in Storm's drilling patterns and depend on surface and core to differentiate the reaction.

I didn't find the Treason to be a real heavy oil ball, skids a bit too much in the fronts for me  when our house puts out a heavy, flat shot on Mondays, I have to go more direct and slow down the speed more than our usual shot.  I used it in Wichita at the Southwest Tournament where it was a heavier pattern than our home house and had more success with my Critical Theory which is a lower RG ball and seemed to read earlier than the Treason. (I find descriptions of "heavy" vs. "light" oil to be user and place specific - your heavy oil may be light for me and vice versa.).

But the Treason hits VERY hard and has a STRONG recovery in the back end on our normal house shot.  I have resisted changing the surface since it is already a 1000 abralon finish, but that may be next to try to use it on heaviest conditions.

Tried to convince them to do the two for one deal counting my Treason as one, and getting an Alien Abduction for the other.  Didn't really want their other stuff since I already have balls that do what theirs do. 

BTW, the Treason is now on sale at Bowler's Paradise for 60 bucks. 

Well, to be honest, unless you are bowling on something extreme, I would recommend the ECHO and some surface adjustments.

 That ball, with differing surfaces, carried me on a WIDE variety of conditions. It is currently in my bag at 2000ab, and it is going to STAY in my bag. Good performance, and it's great looking too with its purple and silver swirled finish.

Weird....there are plenty of strongish 2.54 .048 balls out there wonder why the Echo works and something similar doesn't Juggernaut?  Maybe you just bowled better that day or hit a good pair?  It's usually the bowler not the ball from my experience.

Weird....there are plenty of strongish 2.54 .048 balls out there wonder why the Echo works and something similar doesn't Juggernaut?  Maybe you just bowled better that day or hit a good pair?  It's usually the bowler not the ball from my experience.

 I cant really say, because it's been somewhat of a mystery to me as well.  I've thrown several known "good" balls since I've changed houses, but havent really had anything really be a "matchup" for me here yet.

 Had the older ELITE stuff still in the closet, and figured what the heck. They worked reasonably well for me when I was using them before, and just thought I would give it another chance at this center.

 Whatever it was, it was easier than it has been all season so far. I will say this though, it does seem like I matched up really well with the ECHO right from the start, much better than I did the others I tried.

 I did throw it pretty decent this week, but I've done that before here without these type results. 14 weeks in and my best set was 640ish, then this comes right out of the blue.

 YMMV, but this ball has really one of those "hidden gems" for me. Don't really know why, and cant explain it, but this ball just works for me.

 

 

Just the whole deal, I may not know much but that was exciting.