I've been back and forth on rounding out my arsenal with a Total Shock & Awe. The plan is to place it "below" my Dark Thunder (in other words, the TS&A would be my heaviest oil ball, then the Dark Thunder, then my Silver Streak SE, then my Ebonite Ice on top when the lanes are at their driest).

I have done well with some of Mo's cores in the past, but I also rolled the ball differently then. I now am a mid- to high-track player, and I've noticed some questions raised here about the ability of the TS&A to work with that style. I haven't thrown a Mo ball since rebuilding my game about four years ago.

Here's what I want this ball to do: Allow me to play oily lanes, but I don't want a ball that starts hooking immediately off my hand and burn up quickly. I've got some natural pop in my delivery and I don't need the ball to help me all that much; what I need this ball for is to be able to play my preferred lines when there's a lot of oil there. I prefer to put the ball down around 17, swing to around 6 and bring it back to the pocket. I throw about 16 mph with around 250-300 rev rate.

Is the TS&A -- or for that matter, any assymetrical Mo-cored ball -- a good fit for what I'm trying to do, or should I look elsewhere?

Jess

Edited on 1/17/2006 1:36 AM

I would get a Seek and Destroy.  For one, it doesn't read as early as the Total Shock and Awe.  Second, just about every Total Shock and Awe I've seen needs a surface adjustment right out of the box so it doesn't hook at your feet.  400 grit is just way too much unless you're the king of all fluffers.  1000, 1200, even 1500 is a much better surface on the Total Shock and Awe, especially if you plan on using it for more than the first game(because it will grab early and stop on you once the heads go).  Seek and Destroy will push a good 3-5 feet more than the Total Shock and Awe and still cover the same amount of boards and give you more versatility outside of using it just for Heavier oil.  Many Mo' offerings give a good look in heavier oil, but if we're just talking about out of the box performance without a surface adjustment, Seek and Destroy will be the most versatile option for Heavier oil.
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-DP3
Respect the Game

Ditto with DP'S remarks, the TS&A is a strong ball but generally needs a quick surface prep due to the coarse low grit finish, hence the "hook in the back swing", I have taken mine up to 1000, The S&D is a more versitle ball IMO, it covers more boards in the oil, smoother in transistion, better midlane read.
I have 2 S&D's one with the assy flip, and the other with std sharp break point layout. I can use either or both on any given night in our house and will go all 30 frames with either depending on which line I decide to play, with very little adjustments needed in ball path. The best all round heavy to med heavy ball I have thrown.
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Steve
Stars and Strikes Pro Shop

It is true that oob the TS&A will hook at your feet.  400 grit makes that ball extremely agressive, but with surface adjustments the ball can be made much more tame.  I polished mine for a while and it was a solid medium (only slightly on the heavy side) oil ball.  It responds well to surface adjustments as I have goten other balls for medium oil and re sanded the TS&A, and it still hooks alot.  The seek is my personal favorite, great hit and easier to control than the TS&a, but even though it can be angular, particle will still not have the backend pop of a similarly drilled TS&A.
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