An update on the No Mercy. It's only taken a year (I bought it on the 5.5.07) to figure it out, after having mixed success with it. I usually bowl a fairly fast shot (about 2.2 seconds from release to pins) with a moderate amount of revs, and a more up the back release. It always hit hard, but didn't always hook, making it a great ball for bowling outside and fairly straight.
It has the #1 drilling, where the pin is about 4 1/8 inches from my PAP, and the first flare usually goes right through the Hart. Went with this pin distance based on the latest No Mercy drilling sheet advice – high track/ lower revs.
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn251/deanchamp/NoMercyLay-out.jpgFollowing discussions on the Hammer forum, I located the Mass Bias in the ball. As I have the #1 layout for a high track bowler, and with the Mass Bias 6 3/4" around from the HART and pin, this would give me about a 25 degree layout. Now the 25 degree layout is designed to have a smooth change of direction and a mild arc to the pocket, for when the lanes are slick in front and very dry in back (courtesy of Denny Torgerson), yet the Hammer drill sheet says length with an aggressive backend.
Considering this, I decided to drop my speed a bit and put more side roll on the release, so it wouldn't get into a fwd roll as quickly due to my usual release. Also resurfaced it back to the 4000 grit abralon.
All I can say is WOW! This ball has finally, finally showed me its true potential.
In the last week i have bowled my first 300 with it, and last night my highest series of 792 (278, 258, 256) with all 36 shots in the pocket. Just left a few 9 pins and 10 pins, and missed a 10 pin by a bees dick in the last game to just fall short of my first 800 series. [Would have been a 900 series for 9 no-tap though lol]. Only had to move a few boards to the left all night, where the No Mercy was clean through the heads, then read the lane beautifully for a consistent reaction.
The difference now that i have observed is that it actually hooks off the breakpoint, with a hard arc, then gets into its heavy roll further down the lane than it did previously, hitting the pins with a higher entry angle and with more retained energy. It doesn't seem to be flaring any more or less than it was, just reading the lane better.
Having unlocked the mystery that was the No Mercy for me, I can see many more high scores on the way with this absolutely awesome ball.
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It’s bush league psych-out stuff! Laughable, man!
