So today was the first time in over a decade I've thrown something not made in San Antonio. How did Michigan State fair? Well, let's take a look, shall we?
All the balls were laid 5*40 (pin above the bridge) and oob. House was Fox Bowl, well maintained house, not a tough house shot by any means, but not super walled.
Starting from the bottom
Covert Tank
First off, this Frixion cover they have is no joke. Tried playing from 10 to 8, ball went sideways and went runaway Brooklyn. Oops. Opened up my angles a bit to about 12 to 5, and the ball was just stupid good. If I pushed one into the friction, it made a decisive hard arc and didn't puke. If I got it in, it would tip enough to carry the corners. For me, this is like my dream ball reaction. I could open the lane up a little bit and not have the ball die at 30 feet.
Conclusion: This one is going in the bag for sure. It's what I wish my X and Booyah would have been.
Tank Blitz
Let me say again, this cover thing they have going is NO JOKE. Don't know about longevity, but this ball was a monster. Easily 5 and 3 stronger than the Covert when I got it to the friction, but the real tell was when I got it into the pattern. Ball ignored the puddle. Also, that Gear core? No wonder it's been in the line for so long. I was able to just keep moving left and it just kept coming. It was unreal, friends. The numbers belie it. It's STRONG.
Conclusion: If I didn't get one of these, I'd be stupid. Honestly, I was shocked at how good it was.
Supra
Now, for something COMPLETELY different, here is this ball. Ball ignored the first 40 feet like it was plastic, and when it sniffed friction, it would turn, but it was easily as weak as the Covert, with a different shape. The Covert was ok on the fresh, but this ball needs friction. But it makes this nifty shape where it doesn't jackknife, it's just strong towards the pocket. I'm not used to long AND control. I would break the surface and put some other polish on it, but we all know how I feel about oob polish...
Conclusion: Yep, going in the bag too. Need to have the right time to use it, it it's useful for sure.
Venom Recoil
Well, isn't this just a sneaky little ball? I like the way it shapes a lot. It would be useful on something a bit flatter and tougher than a house shot, but that's due to how early I saw the core rev up. It's controlled chaos and I loved it. It was about the same as the Blitz, but more forward.
Conclusion: may pick it up, but don't know if I could justify a Shock, Recoil and Blitz.
Rogue Assassin
Boy howdy, do I like this ball. Longer than the ball with the Gear core, not as long as.the Supra, and I could open my angles as much as I wanted. Easy to read, fun as heck to throw. Again, shape was so good.
Conclusion: First ball I'm drilling. Not even joking.
Forge Fire
This ball had a different hit than everything else. I hate the phrase"keeps the pins low", but with the low rg, when the ball faced the pocket, there weren't pins flying up or bouncing around. They just went 10 back. No marketing hype. Ball looked like it sucked the rack thru a black hole. If you're more up the back or lower speed, I can't say I'd recommend it, but if you can feed it to the spot with any turn, it will roll up until you get so far open than you start ringing corners..it's a very readable ball for a pearl.
Conclusion: Yeah, this one too. I'm sensing a pattern...
Ripcord
I wasn't really impressed. Everything it did, the Supra does better.
Conclusion: hard pass
Golden Jackal
A rolly pearl. Hmm. It was a bit squirty for me and for how strong the core is, I could only see it for use in sport spots where there was fresh back ends.
Conclusion: Probably pass as well
Alpha Jackal
This thing is insane. Easily 5 and 3 stronger than ANYTHING ELSE. Get it to the dry? Hook and continuation. Yank it in the puddle? Roll up. Did a little spin biscuit action? DONT WORRY! NONE OF THAT MATTERS! I literally had to throw it so bad that if I did strike, I couldn't accept it. Ball never looked like it was gonna 8-10 on me at all. I'm freaking impressed.
Conclusion: I think you get the picture by now.
So there you have it. The balls are strong, not overly angular, not overly smooth. I hope they put that Supra cover on something bigger, that could easily be a home run for them. Between that and the Frixion stuff, it's pretty insane.
I think I'll stick around for a bit.
