What condition do you normally see?  What type of ball typically works best for you?  DV8 Misfit pearl has been my benchmark this season but I have a lot of revs and bowl on a fairly dry THS

A Venom Toxin or Venom Strike would be a good fit.  The Toxin is a hybrid with polish and the Strike is a solid.  I prefer the Toxin as a benchmark ball.  I find I can use it on more conditions and read the pattern well with it.

A Venom Toxin or Venom Strike would be a good fit.  The Toxin is a hybrid with polish and the Strike is a solid.  I prefer the Toxin as a benchmark ball.  I find I can use it on more conditions and read the pattern well with it.

I have both the Toxin and the Strike. They're both very good balls that complement each other well. It depends on how you personally define a benchmark ball, but between these two, for that purpose, I'd go with the Strike. The solid unpolished cover reads the mid lane a bit better, but still has decent length and a smooth (not jumpy) backend reaction. I find the Strike to be more usable over a broader range of conditions. Mine is drilled with the pin below ring.


In any case, the Primal Rage is not the ball you'd want to consider for your purposes. I love mine, but it's all move off the friction.

If its benchmark....I think solid.  I would try the primal scream...

Solid is usually what makes for a good benchmark ball, no question. The Primal Scream would also make a good choice. The Scream is a little more aggressive than the Strike, so it comes down to what matches up better as a benchmark based on speed and revs.

Right.  But I cant start out with Midprice...theres not much to ball down to! Hehe..no fun!

Good point and yea, the Strike is Mid-price. But the Strike is more aggressive than advertised. There is nothing lighter oil about this ball.


I agree that the Scream would probably be a better benchmark for many bowlers, but depending what you're trying to figure out as a benchmark, the Strike can be a good option. In my case, the Strike is what I tend to gravitate too.


On this subject, I recently went to a seminar co-hosted by Chris Barnes. His philosophy is to start with a very aggressive ball off the corner to gauge the condition and decide where to go from there. He feels it gets him to his final ball choice faster than starting with a medium strength piece. It's an interesting perspective.

I've had the Scream, Strike and Toxin and I have to say the Scream was stronger for me. The Strike was a strong rolling ball, but it was more readable and controllable. The Toxin was way to angular for what I was looking for. I did have the Strike pin down below my ring finger and the Strike was pin above the bridge. They are both more of a strong arc move for me with the Strike just under the Scream. You may want to look at the new DV8 Dude with the hybrid cover. Just my $.02, Bruce

Also, what is the rage like with a control drilling and maybe a lower grit surface?