Picked up my Xtreme Damage from Impact Pro Shop in Sun City, AZ. Patrick Knight punched this one out for me using a Vise thumb mold and inserts. The Pin is above the ring finger with the CG kicked right. 15 lbs, 1 oz, 3 1/2" pin. The color is listed as Ruby/Orange. S/N 689 (still on the shelf) is this color. My ball, S/N 688 is closer to caramel. It reminds me of an early-70's Columbia White Dot caramel. Started out with 4 in a row, then a solid 10-pin miss, two more strikes, a 2-4-5, then off the sheet for a 244. Second game: Started with the first eight in a row, then a solid-10 miss, two more strikes and a 4-pin for 266. Third game: Two light 7-pin spares, three strikes, solid-10 miss, strike, then 3-4-6-10 split, followed by a low pocket 7-10 split, followed by a 2-4-5-8 bucket spare, then a fill ball strike for a disappointing 181---691 series.
First impressions: The Xtreme Damage gets good length, retains energy well through the heads and midlane, then makes a strong, controlled turn. Similar reaction to my polished Black Diamond. My Xtreme carried slightly off-pocket hits well and carried a few hits that I thought would leave 10 pins. The left lane had a three pin off spot back and left a little all night, which caused everyone on the pair to leave ring-10s unless you hit high flush. I had a couple of messenger 10s that carried. My late third game struggles were more about me trying to stay too long on the 13 to 6 line without jumping across the track. It is promising that I was able to play this line for two and a half games without moving on a 5-man team league with nine righties on our pair. My current bag consists of a Black Diamond, then Xtreme Damage, then Buzz Attack, then Black Pearl Reactive. My tournament bag adds a pin-down Conquerer and either a Buzz or Hornet for the late burn. My Xtreme Damage fits nicely between my Black Diamond (solid medium-load particle, high differential RG) and Buzz Attack (Reactive Pearl with Mica soft particles, medium differential RG). The XD is a light load particle pearl with a high differential RG. I'll post a full review later when I get another 21 games or so on it.
