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Author Topic: Developing a real love-hate relationship with the Evolution...  (Read 2924 times)

JessN16

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Developing a real love-hate relationship with the Evolution...
« on: October 15, 2008, 05:43:14 PM »
This is going to read like a minor rant.

I swear I've never seen a ball so allergic to oil as this one. Closest thing I can think of is a Track Solution Power Plus EX, but that's a ball specifically made for drier lanes.

This week at league, I managed to book the following set: 207-148-228.

Game one was with a Gold Nugget. The front nine were clean; the 10th frame, I leave a 3-4-7 and didn't convert it. Our lanes tend to transition badly right at the end of game 1 anyway (stuff starts jumping high), so I should have seen it coming.

I fight it for the first five frames of the second game and end up with three spares and two splits. So I switched out to the Evo, drilled label and in box condition.

The rest of that game -- which ended with me getting 6 on my fill ball to lose team total points by 1 -- saw me getting a great look with the Evo unless I pulled it inside by a half-board, and then I'd hit the 3-pin right in the face.

The last game, I moved outside, found something, and basically couldn't miss on my way to 228. I had one smash-10, one 4-pin and one split in that game (my old favorite 3-4-6-7-9-10, of which I picked up everything by the 4 and 9).

I'm scared to tweak the surface on it, because when it works, it really, really works. It fills a hole, but that hole is very small and narrow. If the lanes aren't absolutely perfect, I've done nothing but bring along a boat anchor.

This is one reason why I really HATE the old Columbia covers, and why it took so long for me to take a chance on a 900G-poured Lane #1. I finally bought a Supernova XP, and that ball is both super-strong and predictable, so hopefully when 900Global took over the old Columbia plant, they tweaked the coverstocks.

I'm really hesitant to consider changes to the ball but will listen if you guys would like to pitch in a few suggestions. What I'd really like to find is a ball that will handle lighter volumes than the core of my Lane #1 arsenal (Gold Nugget/Tsunami H20/Enriched Uranium/Supernova XP) without being so da*n oil-allergic if I happen to tug it. I've got a Dirty Bomb drilled for that purpose but I don't seem to match up that great with the bomb core.

Jess

 

Dan Belcher

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Re: Developing a real love-hate relationship with the Evolution...
« Reply #16 on: October 17, 2008, 09:33:47 PM »
quote:
The league I'm in doesn't have a lot of high-average bowlers in it, but some of the ones that do, and who have a similar game to mine, have done well using MoRich LevRG and NSane LevRG balls, as well as a couple of guys who use a Solid LevRG. But those guys have a lot better control over how far out they project the ball when playing an inside line.

I have a tendency to drop my shoulder too much when playing inside and send the ball too far out, and it hits too weakly. I tend to leave a lot of 10s and 2-4-5s when playing there.

Jess
Sounds like practicing this aspect of your game should be the first thing you need to address before working on your equipment.  A good ball matchup won't mean much if you can't hit your target consistently.

JessN16

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Re: Developing a real love-hate relationship with the Evolution...
« Reply #17 on: October 17, 2008, 10:06:36 PM »
quote:
Sounds like practicing this aspect of your game should be the first thing you need to address before working on your equipment.  A good ball matchup won't mean much if you can't hit your target consistently.


I wish I had the time to get out there and practice more but my work schedule doesn't allow it, believe me.

Jess

Strider

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Re: Developing a real love-hate relationship with the Evolution...
« Reply #18 on: October 17, 2008, 11:55:16 PM »
Is there a lot of games on the ball?  My Tsunami is a little oil allergic in general (maybe from the weal drilling), but when is soaks up some oil, it greatly exaggerates the effect.  If that's not it, don't be afraid of adding a little more surface.  If you don't like it, it's super easy to change back.
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JessN16

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Re: Developing a real love-hate relationship with the Evolution...
« Reply #19 on: October 18, 2008, 12:02:27 AM »
quote:
Is there a lot of games on the ball?  My Tsunami is a little oil allergic in general (maybe from the weal drilling), but when is soaks up some oil, it greatly exaggerates the effect.  If that's not it, don't be afraid of adding a little more surface.  If you don't like it, it's super easy to change back.
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The Evo? A below-average amount. I swap back and forth with equipment that I can't really give a terribly accurate estimate. Maybe 30-40?

It was better fresh out of the box than it is now, in terms of dealing with oil. It's got the same reaction in the dry as it did right out of the box but whereas a slight pull into the oil was something I used to be able to get away with, not anymore. A board or less left off my hand means I have no idea what's going to happen at the breakpoint. I've got some recovery right with this ball but not left.

Jess

LuckyLefty

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Re: Developing a real love-hate relationship with the Evolution...
« Reply #20 on: October 18, 2008, 07:03:43 AM »
I hear the term Label and I wonder does that mean....Label leverage ie pin about 4 inches from PAP and cg back towards grip center?

I was in a center once and Randy Pederson was there and he said...."Label leverage....does anyone drill that anymore?"

However after saying that....I have friends who are up the backers ala Walter Ray with about 25 degrees axis rotation and they put that drill on EVERY ball and look great.

Me with about 65 to 70 degrees axis rotation tend to have to put the cg out and have a weighthole to smooth and stabilize reation.  Stacked even works for me with stabilizing weightholes.  Otherwise the side roll gets me into very jumpy reactions.  The only time I use any of these cg back toward grip center drillings is on a pattern with a ton of friction in the midlanes....or playing way wide up the boards.......say up the 5 board.

Otherwise some sort of stack or kick out tends to give the midlane often needed on patterns today!  Especially for playing inside...swing lanes.

REgards,

Luckylefty


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T-GOD

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Re: Developing a real love-hate relationship with the Evolution...
« Reply #21 on: October 18, 2008, 12:50:49 PM »
The first worthwhile post in the Lane #1 forum I've heard from you in this a long time..!! Are you turning over a new leaf..? Good job with your answer..!! Please keep up the good work. =:^D

Dan Belcher

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Re: Developing a real love-hate relationship with the Evolution...
« Reply #22 on: October 18, 2008, 01:03:39 PM »
quote:
quote:
Sounds like practicing this aspect of your game should be the first thing you need to address before working on your equipment.  A good ball matchup won't mean much if you can't hit your target consistently.


I wish I had the time to get out there and practice more but my work schedule doesn't allow it, believe me.

Jess
Then that could be a significant problem in getting better.  The ball you're throwing means nothing if you can't throw it where you're aiming.  During your league, focus not just on trying to score well, but also just on improving your accuracy.  Be very honest with yourself on whether or not your last shot was actually a good one.  Just because it struck doesn't mean you didn't miss three boards right and caught a litle extra friction to bring it back to the pocket.  When you start looking at things this way, it really helps develop better accuracy over time.

bowlerdawg

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Re: Developing a real love-hate relationship with the Evolution...
« Reply #23 on: October 20, 2008, 12:18:04 PM »
im all about the bowler making the ball, not the ball making the bowler, BUT

i took my EVO up to 4000, and that helped me


JessN16

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Re: Developing a real love-hate relationship with the Evolution...
« Reply #24 on: October 20, 2008, 10:20:20 PM »
quote:
I hear the term Label and I wonder does that mean....Label leverage ie pin about 4 inches from PAP and cg back towards grip center?



LL,

On a Lane #1 drill sheet, you're basically talking about a pin adjacent to the ring somehow (below, next to it, or in my case, just above it), CG in grip center and the MB marker on the track side of the thumb, in close to it. I've heard some other Lane #1 fans say (and I agree with this) that it's a good match for the Diamond core and its derivatives (WAS, Fusion). The Bomb cores need a different treatment.

I've never had a problem getting any of my other Lane #1 stuff to read it's just the Evo. I'm going to try 4000 Abralon first if I decide to make a surface change.

Jess