Picked up this ball, Jan 2003. Bowled around 40 games on it, time for a review.
Specs: 15 lb, 3" pin, 4x4. Review my profile for speed, revs etc.
Used on a variety of conditions from medium-heavy, to medium, with carrydown. Put it back in the bag, when the lanes dry up.
This ball clears the heads nicely (for a particle pearl), gets decent length, and makes a hard, defined, arcing move to the pocket. Particle cover allows it to cut through the carrydown, without squirting.
Carry is devastating on flush hits, and it very good on light hits as long as you have a good angle into the pocket. However, if I raise the ball speed slightly, it can leave a number of 10 pins, as the ball enters the pocket just behind the head pin.
Variation in hand position, will cause the ball to hook more or hook less (in terms of overall hook). Doesn?t radically affect the shape of the movement or the carry percentage of the ball, but it allows you to play the area of the lane most comfortable to the bowler.
On medium oil with carrydown, this ball is superior to shiny resins (which tends to squirt and leave weak 10s and 7s), and heavy load particle (which tends to burn up a little in the fronts and mids).
On medium oil with fresher (but not screaming) backends, this is simply a decent hitting ball, which provides the bowler with control and predictability. On these conditions, shiny resins or very light load particles (Frenzy, V2 pearl, X-factor), would provide bigger move (on the lanes) and better carry on off-hits. However, the Pearl Bomb would provide the bowler superior consistency as the lanes transition from game 1 through game 3.
On heavier oil, with my revs, I?m able to move right and throw the Pearl Bomb between the first and second arrow, down and in. As long as the angle into the pocket is ideal, carry will be consistent. Can?t swing this ball into the oil, and expect it to come back to the pocket. Look for a heavier loaded particle (Super Carbide Bomb, Freak etc.), for that style on the heavy conditions.
On dry lanes or mediums with screaming back ends, keep it in the bag.
Conclusion: this ball is a superior piece of equipment on medium oil with carrydown, which can also be used successfully on a number of other conditions, as long as the bowler is willing to adjust (foot and hand position) to play slightly different areas of the lane.
If you ONLY play on medium conditions with fresh (or screaming) backends, there may be better options out there for you.
