15#
Layout- Approximately 4.5 x 4.5MB, just inside my VAL. Pin is directly below my ring finger, 1.75 above my midline. There is a weight hole just below my midline on my VAL.
Bowler profile- 5.25 x .125 up (varies some due to releases). I am a medium/high track tweener with average ball speed. My revs slightly outweigh my speed. Right handed.
Lanes and conditions used on- I have used this ball on just about everything, including Guardian and HPL synthetics. Conditions include THS and USBC Sport conditions varying in length.
I have owned this ball since August of 05. It was bought and drilled by William Clark in Des Plaines, IL. He recommended this ball to me when I asked him about a solid reactive, which at the time I lacked in my arsenal.
I will review this ball based on my experience on 3 different lane conditions.
Condition 1- USBC Sport pattern on brand new HPL synthetics. 37 feet, almost a 1:1 ratio. This pattern for me was incredibly difficult. Because there is virtually no room for error, my swing would tighten up and I would not throw the ball well. The Epic was probably the best ball I had on this condition. The key to bowling well on Sport conditions is controlling the backend, as length is easy to achieve. The Epic would make a very strong move on the backend. It was not a snap, just a very hard arc. I really can't say much more because I didn't bowl very good so I couldn't get a good read on it.
Condition 2- THS on old synthetics with Guardian. This condition was very wet/dry. It also broke down very fast and often unpredictably. When the shot was fresh, the Epic killed it. I would play 13 at the arrows to a breakpoint of about 8. The ball would pick up in the midlane, and make a very strong move to the pocket. Carry was excellent at this angle. Unfortunately, the midlane oil would go very fast. When forced to move left, the ball on these lanes would burn up too much energy, thus reducing carry.
Condition 3- THS on brand new HPL synthetics. My Epic is the best on this. Due to the better surface, I do not have to adjust as much or as fast. I could play the same line as on the Guardian with tremendous results. This is usually good for 2 or so games. Again, when I move everything left, it starts to waste too much energy getting back to the pocket. At this point I usually make a ball change.
I have gotten the most use with box surface. I did try it once with a coat of Ebonite Factory Finish Polish. This gave me a completely different, and worthless ball. It became over/under while killing the backend move. I have it at box and haven't touched it since. Mine has probably over 200 games and reacts like new.
The key to this ball is to have enough midlane oil to help it get to the breakpoint. This ball will ignore up to moderate amounts of carrydown. The move is not a snap, even on dry backends. It is a very strong arc that is continuous and offers trememdous carry. It is absolutely the best ball I have ever owned. It is responsible for 2 300's and a 298 in the past year. I have also shot numerous 700's with it. It is ALWAYS the first out of the bag. If I can get it to the breakpoint, I will use it as long as I don't have to hook the whole lane.
This was my first review here. I hope it was informative enough. Any comments or questions on my review are more than welcome. Just send me a PM and I'll be glad to help.
Don
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"On-base percentage is great if you can score runs and do something with that on-base percentage. Clogging up the bases isn't that great to me. The problem we have to address more than anything is the home run problem."
~Dusty Baker being a total fool
