I finally got my Hot Cell this weekend. I've only had it a couple of days, but I've had a chance to throw it on 3 different conditions. I'm not a high rev player. In the 280-300 rpm range on average. Fluctuate between slightly speed dominant to slightly rev dominant depending on the day. 3 conditions I used it on: 3rd game on Athens - which never broke down all that much where I was playing, outside burn with carry down - on a bumper lane pair, and fresh house shot start to finish.
Going to be a long post. Feel free to skim and/or skip to the summary.
Athens
I'm coaching a junior classics league sunday mornings. We get to bowl with the kids. Scores don't count towards anything, but extra bowling on sport for me. This was second week on Athens. First week I played it more how it should play on paper. This week I found a better look closer to the gutter throwing a Show Off at 2000 + polish. Played about 7 to 4/5. Had some tug. Stayed behind the ball and firm with my speed.
PSO brought the Hot Cell out during second game after drilling it. Wanted to see me throw it. Even though my scores don't count, I was still bowling well. I finally left a washout in the 4th frame of game 3, so I figured why not? 5th frame left a 10 pin with the Hot Cell and missed the spare. Made an adjustment and threw mostly strikes. Finished with 190 after having 75 through 5.
Surprising things about the Hot Cell. I only had to move 1 board right off the Show Off line. I did not have to change my release. The ball picked up earlier than the Show Off. Most surprising was how it drove through the pins. Haven't seen that from a urethane ball except when I was throwing two handed.
Burn with Carry Down
My wife wanted me to help her before league last night. We got put on a lane with clear carry down. Her balls would start to hook and then back up into the pocket. I waited until she was done and then threw my Hot Cell. I did not notice any carry down affect the ball. Just thought maybe she burned through it. Then I tried my Black Hammer and Purple Hammer. I was wrong.
Both the Hammer balls did the same thing my wife's balls did. Hit that carry down and started to back up. I had to move right to get a good angle to strike. I went back to the Hot Cell and ended up 8 boards left of the Purple Hammer and 5 left of the Black Hammer. I could swing it or go right through the oil. Where the Hammer balls backed up through the carry down, the Hot Cell still continued on. It slowed down a bit, but made it through. I threw a bunch of strikes before leaving a 10 pin - and that was not the ball's fault. I got a little soft.
House Shot
I decided to just go urethane last night. A little bit of a risk. It's currently my highest average league at 209 and we were playing the first place team. Then again - it's just league (and fun mix league at that).
On the fresh, I did have to move a little more right. It's still urethane and needs earlier friction. It took me 3-4 frames to find the line on each lane, but then I rolled about 6 in a row. Again, I got a little soft on the 2nd in the 10th and failed to strike. Ended that game with a 247.
I ended up using the ball all night. The left lane was free hook outside after this. The right was a little tighter. I only shot 198 and 200 the last two, but it was more my fault than the ball's. The Hot Cell was still doing its job. Overall, I'm impressed enough that I may continue to throw it during league play - at least until the weather decides to steady itself and we get a more defined house shot.
Summary
So far, the Hot Cell has impressed me more than I thought it would. It worked well on all 3 conditions I've bowled on. I can imagine it will work well on most conditions outside of longer medium-heavy oil volume and extreme burn.
It's more continuous than any other urethane I've thrown. It handles more oil than any other urethane I've thrown. It hits harder than any other urethane I've thrown - it was sending messengers on light mixers, just like resin would. Yet it is still controllable like typical urethane.
My PSO also threw some shots after league last night and was impressed. And then one of the best bowlers in the area also threw it. You could tell he was having fun with it. All smiles. Has a lot more hand than I do. That core makes a huge difference. He tried throwing the Pitch Blue on a same line he came in high with the Hot Cell, and it went straight into the 3-6.
Is it worth its price point? For some, probably not. For me, yes. I might even buy another one and drill it stronger. I forgot to mention that I actually had mine drilled somewhat weak. My two Hammers are drilled stronger. As was my PSO's Pitch Blue that was used above.
