Well, after a little more run last night with the Code Black I bought I do not believe this is going to be a ball for me.  It does seem like the ball is exceptionally squirty in oil and a bit too much when there is friction.  It's not too versatile for me.  I felt like I could tell the overall motion was not for me instantly.  I have tried it on different conditions but that shape is just not what I was looking for even on conditions more suitable for it...I didn't get the look this ball is essentially slated for.  It's OK, it happens.

It's definitely not matched up in the spot I was hoping for in my arsenal, which is the biggest issue.   

It sucks....BUT I have a buyer and the loss I will take on it is actually quite minimal! 

So, I'm going to get a DareDevil....which is the other option I was looking at (and probably should have went with first).  I did try the CB b/c when you get that asymmetrical match-up it is amazing......but I'm going to go back to the symmetrical look.

So my question is:  Have any of you purchased a new ball and just knew instantly that it wasn't to be?

I would say so because we all know what reaction/shot shape we want out of a ball when we drill it. As such, when you throw it and see nothing close to what you were looking for, you have a pretty good idea that you've missed the mark. Now, that being said, it makes sense to try some surface changes and possibly even plugging and redrilling (sometimes) to try to correct it. But, yes, it usually doesn't take long to tell whether or not a particular ball is going to be what I was looking for.

Thanks for the responses guys........it's just a bizarre thing. 

I did tweak the surface some but still got that "blah" move at the spot. 

We've probably all encountered this so it should be interesting to hear some of the stories....

Once you've bowled for awhile and understand what works for you, it's pretty easy to tell.

I've figured out that most of my favorite balls have had a similar core shape in common

The only thing I know instantly is if the surface is not right for me.  There are very few balls that I can't make work for me, although some may give me a bigger "sweet spot" than others.

Quote from: Good Times Good Times on February 23, 2017, 09:54:52 AM

So my question is:  Have any of you purchased a new ball and just knew instantly that it wasn't to be?

 
Most recently, the Hammer Scandal. I tried every surface imaginable, and even had it completely plugged and re-drilled. I've got it to the point where it's marginally usable, but I should have trusted my initial instincts of a no-go and cut my loses.
 
It doesn't happen often, but sometimes a ball doesn't match up no matter what you do.

This is exactly the sense I got from it and a great way to state it......marginally usable.  That's what led me to make the change now rather than fight it. 

 Remember those Silver Streak balls so many people loved? 

 Well, I hated the one I had. I think it had about 1/2 game on it when I gave it to a junior bowler. He killed with it.  For me, it rolled way early, and puked on the backends.

 Go figure.

Let's see... Awesome Hook, Intense Inferno, Rule GP2, arsenal artillery...