Totally Defiant is ultra skid-flippy. Being an asymmetric piece, theoretically it should stand up quicker at the break. In my experience asymmetric pieces have two distinct shapes: roll/tumble or skid/roll. The TD being the skid/roll w/perhaps a slight edge towards skid/snap.

Deranged has a roll/arch shape; here I would argue that the Deranged has a shape similar to the Disturbed, just pearlized which is why its special. IMO its not sensitive to the pattern, it blends the oil/dry fairly well. It can be argued that most pearl pieces have skid/snap or a clear the fronts/then bounce (i.e. Marvel Pearl, Victory Rd, IQ Gold)... the Deranged has traction thru the pattern as if it has "mica" in the cover (even though it DOES NOT to clarify).

Overall, you mentioned you have the Defiant Edge (which has a small mica load), I'd venture to say that the Deranged may be somewhat closer to the DE in shape. Again these are just my observations as I have all the pieces mentioned. I know people have a tendency to get on here and go crazy with correcting each other.

Hope these observations help you narrow-down your choices.
Cheers

With the Edge, Roto realized the nano technology was too strong in tandem with the core combination so in the TD, the cover is 100% pearl, to get the ball through the midlane... so in short, I don't think you will see any similarity in shape between the DE vs. TD.

This leads me to believe you may find a closer shape in the Deranged.

Overall I'm afraid the shape and mentality in the DE was something that Roto is not going to have in any of their current line. I personally really like the DE, there are a few on buddiesproshop.com at closeout prices, as well Johnny D over at South Point Hotel/Casino (in Vegas) has two in 15lbs on closeout (as of last week when I was out that way), he may be able to ship to you? That ball wasn't all that popular so i'm sure you may be able to find them floating around?

if you get the totally and drill it to be more rolly then flipping,obviously with same core and almost same cover it will be a lot closer then a ball with way different core n cover

Militant02,

Forgive me for not being clear in my statement about the TD, when I mentioned "theoretically should" standup more at the breakpoint I was referring to the TD being asymm vs the Deranged being symmetric. Theoretically the TD should standup is also my observation on any comparison of an asymm vs a symmetric...I've only had these since Friday... semi still learning them and again I do not want to give misleading info on these.

Threw them on a DBA lane surface Friday...
TD provided more traction and rolled through the break vs the DERANGED  (definitely more skid/flippy than the DE, but I know we aren't comparing that)...

DERANGED on the DBA's was sharper and went further at the breakpoint before wanting to turnover vs the TD.
My observation; TD is a stronger engine and cover, which is why it gave me more control (on the harder lane surface)

Threw both in a tourney on HPL's yesterday and favored the DERANGED (based on the 10 minutes of practice). Overall I felt it gave me more energy at the breakpoint. Both pieces seemed to give the same length (during the 10 minutes of practice where I also stood in the same spot and tried to shape the same zone... both actually got to the break the same) BUT where the TD was puck, flat dime, half dime, the DERANGED was striking, pocket 9, pocket splits).

Long story short, I'll say on either a harder lane surface or more volume the TD may have a performance edge (no pun) over the DERANGED, and vice versa on a softer (HPL).

TD vs Lucid.... You know, you have me thinking, I have a LUCID (maintained w/box finish), I'd say they just might be close with perhaps the LUCID having a pinch more roll. It's debatable BUT I feel the cover on the TD may just be weaker (vs the LUCID)  which could allow the TD to be marketed as the  longest most angular version of all the Defiants.






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Have a DE that is still in good shape.  It stands between Disturbed and Wrecker.  Will TD or DR be a better choice in this spot or should I just stay with what I have?  Stroker with softer speed here.

Is the TD that much better than the DE then?

OK then, DS, Disturbed, DE, Deranged, Wrecker, Scream would seem to cover a lot of conditions then.