I recently picked up a very lightly used WCR from a user here. After talking with charlest about the ball and layout, I took it to the shop. I finally decided to go with the pin next to and about half under the ring (about 4 1/4" for my PAP). The CG is close to being stacked (4 3/8")...went with this position to allow for a weight hole if needed later. Statics ended with 5/8 side and 3/8 thumb IIRC (long pin, drilled thumb deeper).
After the plug work the shop decided to resurface the ball to smooth the plug out. I was handed a ball that was 500 grit wet sanded. It wasn't a real big deal since I own a spinner, but I wanted to try the ball out in OOB condition. At least now I can replicate the surface I put on it. I wanted it as close to box as possible so I decided on an 800 wet sand plus a coat of Ebonite's Factory Finish Polish. I didn't try to mirror it up, and I only did 2 sides. It polished EXTREMELY easy...probably the easiest I've ever seen. But more on that later.
The center I bowled at recently changed oil to Brunswick Authority22 to try and lessen pattern breakdown. I'm not a fan of it right now, but that's another topic. They are always tinkering with the pattern length and volume also, so it's very hard for me to say what I was throwing on. It played like a true "medium" pattern with clean backends.
I picked this ball up because I always wanted to try a L/LM piece, and because I have really been struggling with my carry for the past couple months. I took a couple lessons but my coach couldn't find anything really wrong with my game. Besides, it gave me an excuse to get another ball
The WCR gave me a look that I haven't had in a long time, and that was unlimited room to the right. I've been trying to lower my track slightly in order to get more recovery on the backend. My release is almost right up the back with very little axis tilt or rotation. With my other equipment, and even with the release change, I still didn't have much room. This ball changed that. What was odd about the reaction was that the ball started into a roll fairly quick, but it never stopped. I've used early rolling balls before and none have come close to having the recovery that this one does. After 4 games of league using only the WCR, I was impressed, but not satisfied.
I threw the ball VERY well, which is odd for me to say. However, my carry was marginal at best. I never had more than a 4 bagger. I had 1 split in the 4th game, and that was my ONLY non-9 count of the night. Unfortunately, I left 13 10-pins, 4 solid 9's, a 7, a 4, an 8, and a couple 2's that were bad shots. That's a pretty typical night for me besides the stone 9's. After a few balls I knew I was going to see a few of them...the angles I was playing were off and the ball was just so continuous that I could see it trying to drive in front of the 9. I should have moved right with my feet and my eyes and played a more up the back release in order to tame the backend a bit. I didn't really want to take the chance of giving up the pocket even though my carry was garbage again.
Like I said, I really am impressed with the ball. I think a new surface is in order though just to experiment. I don't need any more length out of, so I'll probably dull the surface ever so slightly to get it to read a hair sooner. About the polish job I did...it seemed that after a few shots that it almost wore off? The ball looked a lot duller after I finished than before I used it. I didn't really burn it in but I'd never seen anything like that before.
Don
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"On-base percentage is great if you can score runs and do something with that on-base percentage. Clogging up the bases isn't that great to me. The problem we have to address more than anything is the home run problem."~Dusty Baker being a total fool
