Author Topic: My search for a HEAVY OIL ball is O.V.E.R. !!! (Read 2875 times)

Ric Clint · « **on:** January 17, 2004, 10:22:35 AM »

As some of you may know, I've have been looking for a good Heavy Oil ball that ACTUALLY hooks on Heavy Oil... even though they say nothing really hooks on a FLOOD - maybe they should try a THROTTLE!!! This is by far the biggest hooking ball that I thrown ever since I started looking for a OIL ball!!!

Here's a list of all the OIL balls that I've tried that just didn't work out an they simply wouldn't even move hardly at all... that is until I bought the Columbia THROTTLE.

1.) Reaction Roll
2.) Reaction Arc
3.) HPH
4.) Detonator
5.) Trauma Response
6.) Angle Evolution Tour
7.) 1st Phenom
8.) 2nd Phenom
9.) Super Freak

Now I've accumulated these 9 balls over the past 6-8 months or so and as you can see, the above list of balls are all known for being Heavy Oil balls... but for me they wouldn't hardly move! I couldn't figure it out? So with each of the above 9 "so-called" HEAVY OIL balls, I tried each one in box finish and when they wouldn't cut through the OIL strong enough, I'd add some polish to for the fear that maybe they were burning up too early and losing too much energy and therefore having nothing left for the backend... and then they REALLY DID skate on Heavy Oil with the polish added.

After that, I took each one down to 600 grit with scotchbrite and they still wouldn't cut it... so I thought I'd try 320 grit with scotchbrite and then they each got a little better, but never was I impressed with them.

And let me add that the PHENOM was the BIGGEST disapointmant FOR ME (not really anybody else, just me for some reason?) that I've ever had in a bowling ball... and I had 2 of them (they were drilled different to see if maybe it was just a bad drilling on the 1st Phenom, but it wasn't because the second one sucked too!). I posted my thoughts and feeling's on the Phenom in the TRACK forum of this site several weeks back and some people thought I was stupid because I couldn't get the either one of my PHENOM's to hook. If some of the people that think the Phenom is a big hooker, they would not beleive their eyes if they could throw the THROTTLE!

So I started thinking that maybe I needed to change the way I play the lanes on Heavy Oil, and then I realized, "Well good golly, I'm already playing as tight (straight up the 10 board or 8 board) as I feel I should have to play on Heavy Oil.".

And then came the THROTTLE... ahhh what a perfect match of core, coverstock, flare potential, RG, and RG Differential...

Another guy I bowl with has one and says that it's easily the biggest hooking ball on a FLOOD that he's seen in his 17 years of bowling (in 2 leagues, he's averaging over 230 in both so I feel like I can trust his judgement)... but he say's that the THROTTLE will not hook that much on Heavy Oil in BOX finish (which is 1200 grit), and he then says that he took his down to 600 grit and it became a monster!

He said that most balls lose their backend drive if you take them down too much and they lose too much energy too early, but not with the THROTTLE he says, it just gets stronger and stronger with a bigger backend.

Well, fearful of waisting more money on another piece of crap, I hesitate but then finall give in. So I buy one on the acution page of this site. And in box finish it's a dud, but when I sanded it down to 600 grit it became the Heavy Oil MONSTER that I've been looking for for a long time.

There's no comparison between the THROTTLE and the other 9 balls listed above!!!

This is one ball that I was actually standing 10 boards or more deeper than I ever stood with these other 9 OIL balls!!! I was swinging this ball on the very same shot that I couldn't get my next strongest ball to even move on and when I picked up this ball, I had to move alot deeper just to get it to the pocket. RAW HOOK!!!

"Bowling This Month" actually hit it right on the head when they reviewed this ball! Usually their "great" reviews of certain balls are a bunch of crap and half the time those balls don't even do what they say they'll do... BUT here's a few clippings/notes of what they had to say about this ball:

"We didn't think it was possible for a ball to be this strong up front and still have anything left for the backend. The largest amount of total hook for any ball released by Columbia to date."

They also say that it's hard to throw it throught the breakpoint. They also say that the Midlane move that this ball makes is so strong that it takes the backend out of play!...

...Well that's EXACTLY what I experienced!!!

It almost seems that with this ball, you can have 60 feet of oil and the ball will still hook. Because it starts moving and hooking in the Midlane (EVEN on Heavy Oil) and begins it's hook path to the pocket before it even gets to the backends, therefore taking the backends "out of play"... if that makes sense? It does to me! And that's exactly what I see from the THROTTLE. The ball doesn't care if there is long oil or carrydown because it has already started hooking before it gets 30 feet down the lane and by the time it gets to backends, it's basically just rolling right through the oil!

Amazing ball that Columbia has created! Why can't all these "so-called" hook monsters ACTUALLY hook???

The only other Heavy Oil ball that I can think of that I've not had a chance to try is the Super Carbide Bomb and I have one of those on the way but I don't know if it will give me the kind of hook that the THROTTLE does... if it does, then I will be able to bowl on the Nile River with it. But I've heard that the SCB burns up so much energy so early that it dies in the backend, so we'll see.

Check out the following link to read what "Bowling This Month" says about the THROTTLE:

http://www.rollrite.co.uk/reviews.php?manu=Columbia&id=51

Edited on 1/19/2004 1:24 AM

Next Level PS · « **Reply #1 on:** January 18, 2004, 02:04:11 AM »

Ric, Yeah that Throttle does hook like a muther. What happen with the Arc it didn't wrinkle for you?
--------------------
www.bowlritelanes.com
www.nextlevelproshop.com

also know as VortexII

Ric Clint · « **Reply #2 on:** January 18, 2004, 06:49:48 AM »

Divide into chapters??? That whole post IS a chapter... just wait til I write the rest of the chapters!

Hardy har har...

It has taken me so much time and money to find a ball that works for me... I had almost given up. I don't know why these other 9 Oil balls DIDN'T hook for me and why the Throttle DOES hook for me??? Maybe it's got something to do with my style... I've got slightly above average speed, lower revs, about 45 degrees of Axis Rotation, pretty good Axis Tilt, high track player with a PAP of 5 1/2" across and 3/4"-1" up). I'm a really boring guy to watch. I would remind you of Walter Ray, but I'm about 20 years younger and alot more cute and really good looking... just ask Pchee2.

I will have to buy some more THROTTLE's to put back in the closet for back-up's. In my opinion, this ball is the premier Heavy Oil ball.

You know how when you use a reactive ball on a Medium Oil shot with screaming dry backends and the ball just unleashes a "snap" when it gets to the super dry backends... well the THROTTLE does the same thing - BUT ON HEAVY OIL!!!

Pss... I didn't say the drilling's of these balls...

Every one of the top 9 balls had their PIN's either beside ring finger or below ring finger which was anywhere from 3"-4" from my PAP and the CG's were either stacked under the PIN's or closer to grip center...

BUT...

the Throttle's drilling was a little bit different because it had the PIN above the ring finger, about 5" from my PAP and the CG stacked directly under the PIN, about 5" from my PAP also.

So it seems that the other balls were drilled stronger and they all had their PIN's in a stronger position that the Throttle, therefore give them more flare potential which made them start to bleed off energy early on, where as the Throttle (even though it has a big "RG Differential/big flaring" core) was drilled with a weaker PIN which made it be cleaner through the heads therefore giving it more energy for the midlane and backend... make sense??? I wonder if this drilling could be what makes the Throttle so HUGE on Heavy Oil or is it that the Throttle is just a "one of a kind" ball?

Sorry for the rambling... I bet you all wish I'd shut up??? I've already wrote a couple of books tonight as you can read from my last couple of posts - I think I could have been a great philosopher, with all these theory's I've been coming up with lately.

Edited on 1/18/2004 7:48 AM

twister · « **Reply #3 on:** January 18, 2004, 07:28:35 AM »

if you'rf looking for another Throttle, go here http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3655164213&category=36105&sspagename=STRK%3AMESSE%3AIT&rd=1

Burak Natal · « **Reply #4 on:** January 18, 2004, 05:30:21 PM »

Ric, glad you found an oil ball matches with your style..
I've drilled 2 Trottles for my customers so far. One stay in box condition, another polished up to 2000grit because of the to the bowlers slow speed.
Both use them on real heavy conditions with great success.
I can't tell about the balls' coverstock longevity right now. They are pretty new and being rolled rarely coz they need real heavy oil which we counter relatively less.
I've never had a success with Columbia particle coverstocks.. TEC death was a serious fact. And they don't seem to solve this problem with their new particles.
I will be glad to see your new posts regarding its longevity. After 100, 200 and 300 games on it..

Regards,
Burak

matt smith · « **Reply #5 on:** January 18, 2004, 07:25:38 PM »

ric,

for what its worth i 2 was dissapointed by the phenom... and the superfreak. I too couldnt get the phenom to turn, even on shots where i was swinging the whole lane with my obsession. My superfreak was just as bad. End result... the phenom is out of the bag after 3 weeks, hasnt been used since... superfreak was shined up and used as a dry lane ball... which 3 weeks later i replaced with my old angle evolution(limited edition version... "top secret" badges... i used to be 'kinda sponsored' by amf).... both out of my bag. I have a undrilled superfreak under my desk, and i dont know if i should risk drilling it up... or just sell it.

Ric if i still want more for oil... i suggest trying a apex obsession... or a vortex 2 particle.. i have both, and they both turn well on oil.

good luck and high scoring
matt

BadShot · « **Reply #6 on:** January 18, 2004, 07:36:13 PM »

ric, if you could please compare the charistics of the throttle with the reaction roll and arc. the roll for me is the strongest hooking ball i have, more than the super carbide bomb, vicious particle, apex intensity, or track freak. it's also the only ball i have that has a real reaction in heavier oil. i also just love the overall hook and reaction of the arc. i just don't see how a ball could be stronger than the reaction roll . . . thanks for any info you can provide.

--------------------
That which does not kill me makes me stronger . . .

Ric Clint · « **Reply #7 on:** January 18, 2004, 07:59:34 PM »

quote:
for what its worth i 2 was dissapointed by the phenom... and the superfreak. I too couldnt get the phenom to turn, even on shots where i was swinging the whole lane with my obsession. My superfreak was just as bad. End result... the phenom is out of the bag after 3 weeks, hasnt been used since... superfreak was shined up and used as a dry lane ball.

Matt,

That's a relief... I thought it was just me that couldn't get the Phenom and Super Freak to turn the corner... glad to know there's someone else out there that was not impressed with it (no offense though, Matt).

quote:
ric, if you could please compare the charistics of the throttle with the reaction roll and arc. the roll for me is the strongest hooking ball i have, more than the super carbide bomb, vicious particle, apex intensity, or track freak. it's also the only ball i have that has a real reaction in heavier oil. i also just love the overall hook and reaction of the arc. i just don't see how a ball could be stronger than the reaction roll.

BadShot,

Well, for ME (maybe not everyone else, but for me) the Reaction Roll started up as early as the Throttle, but didn't have much backend compared to the Throttle. And the Reaction Arc got a little bit of length maybe (more than the Throttle) and it had some backend to it, but you had to have clean backends for it to hook... where as it seems that with the Throttle you can have Heavy Oil and Carrydown and it may still hook!

Now other people may get the Throttle and it may be a piece if crap, but there's something about my style/release that just matches up with the Throttle, where as all those other balls just didn't match up.

Edited on 1/18/2004 8:57 PM

matt smith · « **Reply #8 on:** January 18, 2004, 08:04:58 PM »

the ROLL was a dog. So many people got them over here and i never once saw one being used effectivly. 6 months later no one was using theirs, and it wasnt in their bags. About the only ball from the reaction line that i was MILDLY impessed with was the ricochet.

and ric, no offence taken

good luck and high scoring
matt

Ric Clint · « **Reply #9 on:** January 19, 2004, 12:18:54 AM »

"LuckyLefty" is one of the few people that I know of that likes the Reaction ROLL. His actually hooks I think, where mine would just go to the 10 pin.

And I think "10 In The Pit" had a Reaction ARC that he hated also... he said he couldn't get it to hook up strong on Heavy Oil. But he does like the Trauma Response though.

Ric Clint · « **Reply #10 on:** January 19, 2004, 12:25:11 AM »

All of the 9 balls had their PIN's anywhere from 3"-4" from my PAP and the CG's were either stacked under the PIN's or closer to grip center... while the Throttle's drilling had the PIN above the ring finger, about 5" from my PAP and the CG stacked directly under the PIN, about 5" from my PAP also.

So it seems that the other balls were drilled stronger than the Throttle, therefore giving them more flare potential which made them start to bleed off energy early on, where as the Throttle (even though it has a big "RG Differential/big flaring" core) was drilled with a weaker PIN which made it be cleaner through the heads therefore giving it more energy for the midlane and backend... does that make sense??? Anybody agree or disagree???

Just trying to figure out what makes the Throttle different from the other balls. I wonder if this drilling could be what makes the Throttle so HUGE on Heavy Oil, or is it that the Throttle is just a "one of a kind" ball?

DP3 · « **Reply #11 on:** January 19, 2004, 12:39:28 AM »

I think it's a mixture of a few things. Now before you jump down my throat like I've seen with some other people that question you I'm posting this so a general audience can read this and see their flaws in heavy oil. You can take it for what its worth.

1) You're a bit confused on what your looking for.
-You say you want a heavy oil ball, yet you say you want it to have backend and you can't get it to turn the corner. When I look for a heavy oil ball I'm not looking for something to get down the lane and turn the corner cause it's nearly impossible to do in heavy oil unless you have a ton of hand. I want something that rolls early and scribes an arcing path to the pocket. I know you were upset with me when I sold you a Trauma Response for next to nothing and you were mad because it didn't hook enough for you when in fact it was drilled for an early arc/roll reaction and it hooked too early and too much for me. Some heavy oil balls aren't made to turn the corner they're made to hook out early and have a strong rolling arc. You won't see a quick change in direction unless its a walled up shot with dry outsides or very clean backends.

2) You're playing the wrong line for heavy oil.
-Sure you can tell me you're not playing a swing shot but to be honest alot of bowlers(I'm not saying you in this case) don't have an idea what they're playing when you ask them in person. They'll just be like "Uhh..I'm around 3rd-2nd arrow" which basically means nothing. In heavy oil you want to go as down and in as possible. Playing tight and small swing shots won't work because there isn't enough dry to get the ball into it's natural motion.

3) Revrate and Axis rotation issues
-You say you are a stroker, and with a person with such a high track as yours(can tell by the PAP being more than 5" over) you won't see the change in direction that alot of other players get because they get around the ball and track alot lower theirfore due to their axis tilt and rotation they can generate alot of different angles on the lane that you could never draw with your style. Therefore a bowler such as yourself needs a different type of drill in a different type of core/coverstock for heavy oil to generate enough hook for you. I would have took a 2-3 inch pin with a medium topweight, went pin in the palm, C.G. next to and a little below to the right of thumb with a weighthole in the thumb positive quadrant. This would give you a ton of early flare which would be necessary for you to get the shape hook you're looking for.

I hope this helped you out and the other Axis and Rotation impaired lol. No harm was meant, its just that where I work and bowl I hear too many people who complain about their ball not hooking when they throw it 19 mph with 4 revs on the ball. Soften up on the release and let the ball work for you, that's what you paid all of your hard earned money for.
--------------------
-D. Marshall
ScratchBowling.com Shirt Staff 2003-2004

Ric Clint · « **Reply #12 on:** January 19, 2004, 02:41:54 AM »

quote:
I think it's a mixture of a few things. Now before you jump down my throat like I've seen with some other people that question you...

I jump down people's throat??? If you're talking about that "Phenom won't hook" thread from a while back, the only reason I lashed out at a few people were because they said that I needed to learn how to bowl first before I say that a great ball like the Phenom won't hook. And come to find out, alot of people had problems with that ball not hooking (although some people liked it)!

quote:
1) You're a bit confused on what your looking for.
-You say you want a heavy oil ball, yet you say you want it to have backend and you can't get it to turn the corner. When I look for a heavy oil ball I'm not looking for something to get down the lane and turn the corner cause it's nearly impossible to do in heavy oil unless you have a ton of hand. I want something that rolls early and scribes an arcing path to the pocket. I know you were upset with me when I sold you a Trauma Response for next to nothing and you were mad because it didn't hook enough for you when in fact it was drilled for an early arc/roll reaction and it hooked too early and too much for me. Some heavy oil balls aren't made to turn the corner they're made to hook out early and have a strong rolling arc. You won't see a quick change in direction unless its a walled up shot with dry outsides or very clean backends.

I understand what your saying here... and I think that I actually was looking for a "miracle ball" that would still flip on the backend in Heavy Oil, and after a while I started realizing that what I was wanting a Heavy Oil ball to do was just impossible. And right when I realized that, then came the THROTTLE! If only everybody could see this ball in action you would know what I'm talking about.

I wasn't mad at you for selling me that Truama Response because I was able to get my money back out of it... here's the story of what happened with it: As proof to myself, just to make sure that it wasn't just me that couldn't hook that ball, I let a cranker (with at least 400 rpm's) throw the Truama Response that you sold me because he was specifically looking for a Particle ball that was all about contol with not much backend, and I told him that I had just got a Trauma Response that he'd like, and he said, "I don't want a ball THAT powerful." And I said, "Just throw it and see what it does." After seeing it roll down the lane, he then paid me for it. That's the 100% honest truth.

Another thing I wonder about is what kind of Heavy Oil shot all these other guys are playing on? I wish these guys that say their ball is hooking like mad could come and bowl on my idea of Heavy Oil in my FLOODED HEAVY OIL league. I'm not being harsh with this, but I honestly think that when I'm bowling in league and watching everybody's ball leave washouts - that this is TRUE Heavy Oil!!!

quote:
2) You're playing the wrong line for heavy oil.
-Sure you can tell me you're not playing a swing shot but to be honest alot of bowlers(I'm not saying you in this case) don't have an idea what they're playing when you ask them in person. They'll just be like "Uhh..I'm around 3rd-2nd arrow" which basically means nothing. In heavy oil you want to go as down and in as possible. Playing tight and small swing shots won't work because there isn't enough dry to get the ball into it's natural motion.

On a FLOOD, I play right up 10 or 8, it depends (no swinging the ball at all). I'm very accurate. I hit the same mark over and over again, just repeating shots over and over.

quote:
3) Revrate and Axis rotation issues
-You say you are a stroker, and with a person with such a high track as yours(can tell by the PAP being more than 5" over) you won't see the change in direction that alot of other players get because they get around the ball and track alot lower theirfore due to their axis tilt and rotation they can generate alot of different angles on the lane that you could never draw with your style.

I agree. But with te THROTTLE, I actually look like a lower tracking cranker! It's almost as if Columbia made this ball for me and designed it to snap for my up the back release.

quote:
Therefore a bowler such as yourself needs a different type of drill in a different type of core/coverstock for heavy oil to generate enough hook for you. I would have took a 2-3 inch pin with a medium topweight, went pin in the palm, C.G. next to and a little below to the right of thumb with a weighthole in the thumb positive quadrant. This would give you a ton of early flare which would be necessary for you to get the shape hook you're looking for.

With the PIN that low, wouldn't I track over the fingers and thumb?

quote:
I hear too many people who complain about their ball not hooking when they throw it 19 mph with 4 revs on the ball. Soften up on the release and let the ball work for you, that's what you paid all of your hard earned money for.

Hey that sounds like my style, lol. Nah, but in all seriousness, I think the THROTTLE's hook potential will allow me to still throw the ball at my normal speed and with lower revs... and I think this ball will still hook for me.

I hope everybody gets a chance to see one thrown... but remember, for some reason they won't hook that much in box finish, but if sanded to about 600 grit, the ball comes alive.

LuckyLefty told me that he has seen the THROTTLE in action and that he's been impressed with it! So maybe this ball really is that good.

Edited on 1/19/2004 3:44 AM

charlest · « **Reply #13 on:** January 19, 2004, 07:17:58 AM »

Ric,

I think you and Mr. Marshall have things about 99% solved.
Regarding the other balls and your pin-over-bridge drilling of the Throttle, if you can afford it after all this, why not try that drilling on one of the other strong balls, like the Phenom, in case you haven't already and test your theory? It is always possible that with 3-4" pin positions some were getting into a roll too early. I am not an oil ball specialist, but I find it odd that the Throttle would be so significantly different from every other ball you tried. Some difference we all expect; a HUGE difference from EVERY other ball, unlikely, but not impossibe. Just a suggestion, if you're inclined.
--------------------
"Just because you can do something does not mean you should do it."

Author Topic: My search for a HEAVY OIL ball is O.V.E.R. !!! (Read 2875 times)

Ric Clint

My search for a HEAVY OIL ball is O.V.E.R. !!!

Next Level PS

Re: My search for a HEAVY OIL ball is O.V.E.R. !!!

Ric Clint

Re: My search for a HEAVY OIL ball is O.V.E.R. !!!

twister

Re: My search for a HEAVY OIL ball is O.V.E.R. !!!

Burak Natal

Re: My search for a HEAVY OIL ball is O.V.E.R. !!!

matt smith

Re: My search for a HEAVY OIL ball is O.V.E.R. !!!

BadShot

Re: My search for a HEAVY OIL ball is O.V.E.R. !!!

Ric Clint

Re: My search for a HEAVY OIL ball is O.V.E.R. !!!

matt smith

Re: My search for a HEAVY OIL ball is O.V.E.R. !!!

Ric Clint

Re: My search for a HEAVY OIL ball is O.V.E.R. !!!

Ric Clint

Re: My search for a HEAVY OIL ball is O.V.E.R. !!!

DP3

Re: My search for a HEAVY OIL ball is O.V.E.R. !!!

Ric Clint

Re: My search for a HEAVY OIL ball is O.V.E.R. !!!

charlest

Re: My search for a HEAVY OIL ball is O.V.E.R. !!!