Hey everyone,

  I picked up an El Nino Wrath in a 3 for 1 deal on this site a while back. I drilled the ball with pin under and between the fingers, cg about an inch left, mb just left of thumb hole, weight hole taken out on the left side of the ball. As a righty, this drilling was supposed to be extremely weak, as I wanted to use this ball on drier conditions. Anyhow, through time, I've come to realize that this ball is much more versatile than just a dry lane ball. In fact, it seems that this ball does exactly what I want it to do. When I picked the Wrath up, I thought that it would be very condition specific and I didn't expect much. However, this ball has proven itself to be remarkably versatile and a great hitter. Have any of you ever bought or traded for a ball not expecting a great deal and been pleasantly surprised? With all of the times that we get a ball hoping for the world and winding up disappointed, I figured it would be nice to hear about some nice surprises.
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Bowling is without a doubt the dumbest, most pointless, most idiotic excuse for a game that has ever been invented. So, what time are we bowling tomorrow?

I've had 2 surprises with BALL PURCHASES.

The first was the BRIMSTONE MONSTER. Have the ball a good year (maybe 2 years) .. have never been able to get a GOOD GAME out of the ball. Supposed to be for HEAVY OIL .. either I can't throw it or I've never came across the RIGHT CONDITIOn .. very disappointing!

Then there was the DYNO-THANE REMEDY. Had this ball for a while and was not happy with it. About six months ago I tried the ball one more time. Must have hit the right condition .. blowing the pins away .. I've put this ball BACK IN CIRCULATION and have been getting good results .. very satisfied!
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Hit them light and watch them fight
      J O E - F A L C O

BrianN,

I'm the same way.  If it's expensive it has to be incredible.

I own a Lexus hate it!  If it was a toyota now that's a different story!

The big upside balls for me.
Demolition Zone, Walter Ray Williams, Blue Violet Tornado, EZ Money and Smash/r, Dynamic Groove, Battle Zone Bullet. A lot of brunswick and I don't know why!

Disappointments= Monster Frenzy, Chaos, X-it, Storm Eraser Blaze, original messenger, Mojo, Wicked.  A lot of columbia and storm and I don't know why!
And I've had balls I loved with both companies.

REgards,

Luckylefty

Oops forgot the incredible Ebonite Pantera drilled revs leverage, and the awesome heavy oil AMF Evolution Tour on the upside surprises.
PPS another surprise to me right now is the Track Triple Threat very different reaction shape than the Threat, not just earlier but very different looking.

Edited on 8/30/2003 8:24 AM

I have three pieces of equipment that were pleasant surprises.
I had bought an Orange Messenger, a Triton Elite Pearl, and a Nighthawk Torque Pearl.
I didn't like any of these balls. They all hit dead...
Then I changed my release (after attending Ritger clinic).

Orange messenger - best medium dry ball I own.
Triton Elite - won two tournaments with this ball.
Nighthawk Torque Pearl - my 300/782 ball.

I used the Elite the other night when the Rev was fading out. Shot 192 with the Rev - changed in the 8th frame of the first game, shot 268 the next game.

The cat series from Ebonite.  Specifically, the pantera and the tiger.

Most condition specific ball I have - Savage pearl.  Our lanes here are simply
to slick most of the time for it.

regards
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DARK BEER IT IS THEN!

I'd have to say my Messenger Titanium Pearl.  This was my first bowling ball which I got over a year ago.  I had mixed reactions with it for about 11 months, and for some reason in the past few weeks, it has just been amazing.  I found out as long as I don't play any deeper then third arrow, this ball is a monster.  I usually play a huge inside line because of my axis rotation, but my new favorite line to play is a really inside line, almost a straight line with like a 3 or 4 board hook on the backends with my messenger.  It recovers really well, and carries amazingly well.  There has to be semi-dry backends though for it to be effective, but it's a monster when the condition allows it to be.  I have been averaged 25 pins or so ever since I found out how to use this thing right.

Also, another surprise for me so far is my Brunswick Fuze Purple Pearl.  I bought it thinking it was going to fit perfectly into my arsenal and be my #1 medium oil ball.  I drilled it with a basic label drilling (I'm left handed, so the pin is to the left of my ring finger, with he cg in center grip) and if there is any carry down, it will barely move.  Any dry and the thing takes off.  It hooks too much when it sees a sign of dry, and too little when there's some oil.  That wouldn't be so bad, but the thing is WAAAAY too angular.  I am left handed, and almost anytime I hit the pocket perfectly, the ball is coming in at such an angle is hooks to the right of the 8 pin, leaving the 8 pin standing there.  Possibly going to get it redrilled with the pin above the bridge and cg in center grip.  So far, it has been pretty disappointing.