Author Topic: Benchmark ball? (Read 4837 times)

TamerBowling · « **on:** September 29, 2009, 02:44:19 PM »

I currently use a Cell solid and V2 solid. I love the V2 reaction. The best mid-lane read of any ball I've ever thrown with a nice arc to the pocket. There are 2 gaps I'd like to fill. 1-On a fresh shot, it would help to have a bit more bite on the backend to carry. 2-With carrydown, I lose carry with the V2.
On fresh, I could use the Cell, but it's not the usable ball I thought it would be and it eats up the condition too quickly, making it harder to use the V2 afterwards. It's a very aggressive ball, but very early reaction.
Sorry for those who have read this response in another equipment section but I didn't know which board to post this since I don't have a brand preference.

I hear a lot of discussion on the Hyroad having a nice midlane read with an arc backend, but I'm told it is an over/under ball which is release sensitive. Any thoughts on this?
Any recommendations for a benchmark readable ball on Medium THS?

n00dlejester · « **Reply #1 on:** September 29, 2009, 11:27:21 PM »

While I don't personally own the Hy-Road, my teammate does and you are correct about your assessment of it. Good midlane read, but the reaction is all backend. It does get squirty on a fresh THS that is longer/heavier than our normal (the norm here is buffed to 39, with a pretty good funnel to the pocket and an out of bounds outside 5).

As for a good ball to be a bench-mark ball, I always say whatever's in your bag that you're the most comfortable with throwing is your benchmark ball. Whether it be a Virtual Gravity or a plastic pancake, take it, throw it, and adjust from there.

If you want a ball to get as a benchmark ball, I would suggest either the Hy-Road or the solid ball between Fast and Furious (I can't remember, haha) in the Storm lines. Other companies benchmarks, IMO, would be like a Roto-Grip Nomad Solid or the Ebonite Gamebreaker. Something solid from a mid-priced line is my definition of a benchmark ball.
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charlest · « **Reply #2 on:** September 30, 2009, 06:07:17 AM »

The Furious (or the discontinued T-Road Solid) is probably a closer match to your V2 Sanded.

The Hy-Road might be a better match (to your V2 Sanded) if you sanded it to 2000 grit Abralon before using it. It comes 1500 grit polished, kind of a high gloss. Big difference between 1500 grit polished and 2000 grit Abralon matte or dull.

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"None are so blind as those who will not see."

Edited on 9/30/2009 9:00 AM

Steve Richter · « **Reply #3 on:** September 30, 2009, 08:24:15 AM »

What Charlest said. I have mine exactly like that and it is one of the first balls out of my bag.
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Steve Richter
USBC Silver Level Coach
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JustABowler · « **Reply #4 on:** September 30, 2009, 10:27:59 AM »

Do not over look the 2nd Dimesion. Number wise not quite as low rg as the V2 but should give you a nice smooth move in the middle and back.

Laniarty · « **Reply #5 on:** September 30, 2009, 10:39:46 AM »

I use a Roto-Grip Cell Pearl with a RICO drill as my benchmark ball. So consistent its stupid. If you are happy with the Cell line this is a great ball/drill combination for medium oil.

TamerBowling · « **Reply #6 on:** September 30, 2009, 12:06:51 PM »

Thanks for the feedback. I am really leaning towards the Hy-Road. I can imagine in OOB, it would be over/under on a house condition. However, a couple of weeks back in our scratch doubles league, the guy I was bowling was throwing the Hy-Road. It looked so much like the V2 with a very good looking mid-lane out of his hand. It was pretty dull so at first, I didn't know what ball he was throwing. Once I saw it one the return, I was quite surprised that he got that reaction from this ball. Head to head, we split, but I got just slightly less carry from my V2, 970 to 950 (me) over 4.
As you say, the ball you pick out of your bag as the go to ball is the benchmark and there's no question it's my V2. I'm lefty and I used to swing the ball from 15 to 8, semi-cranker. Now, I'm throwing parallel to increase forgiveness on a house shot, going 10-8 to 6 with a small swing. I have plenty of speed and revs. The Cell is OK but I have to really kill the hand. Then it's over/under. The V2 is perfect as if I give it too much hand it doesn't over-react and if I dump it to outside 5, it's very smooth off the 'wall'.
So forgiving, that's what I'm looking for.
I saw the Furious, but that ball seems way too aggressive to be thrown on this line. My biggest concern with Storm is the backend centric balls. I used to throw a few storm balls and that's great for the swing. But with a more parallel trajectory, I'm concerned balls like the Dimensions/Furious, etc. are too aggressive on the backend to be forgiving. The Hy-Road seems to have a more amenable shape to it.

OnTheFly · « **Reply #7 on:** September 30, 2009, 08:39:14 PM »

t3x1 - If you plan on throwing the Hy-Road more "Up the Boards" on a typical House Pattern, beware of the drilling you place on this ball. With a pin up drill (meaning pin over the fingers) you are going to get a much quicker response to the dry in the back end. Causing you to probably open up your angles too much and get the over/under reaction you describe. Not knowing your PAP and your ball roll characteristics and what not, from what you describe, I would suggest a weaker pin down drilling if you decide on the Hy-Road. For example a 5inch pin below the fingers, cg directly below with no hole. Basically a stacked 90 degree drill. This will give you a strong mid-lane read and allow for a smoother response from the oil onto the dry, and allow you to stay in the zone in which you described. Also I would suggest a light 2000 abralon finish by hand, vs the OOB finish. I would not hesitate on drilling a 2nd Dimension either. The coverstock on the 2nd Dimension does magic tricks with over/under most bowlers encounter on House patterns, again with a light 2000 abralon finish. Hope this helps.
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Nathan Michalowski
Storm Regional Staff

TamerBowling · « **Reply #8 on:** September 30, 2009, 10:43:12 PM »

Thanks for the suggestion. My V2 is drilled in what appears to be a label leverage (pin to the left of fingers) with a hole on the PAP, CG in a slightly strong position. My Cell is drilled with pin under fingers, slightly right of center, with CG and MB is strong position. Weight hole near the PAP from what I recall.
I'm not expert enough to fully understand if the drilling is more attributable to the reaction I love on the V2, or more the ball dynamics.
You think a Hy-road could be drilled like that or are the ball dynamics different enough to warrant something different?

OnTheFly · « **Reply #9 on:** September 30, 2009, 11:45:40 PM »

Those are some pretty strong drillings you described. The V2 by nature get's into a roll very quick. The Hy-Road in comparison to your V2 will be cleaner through the front part of the lane and respond to friction or back of the lane harder than your V2. The drilling is dependent on what motion you are looking for out of the Ball. If you are looking at playing more "Parallel" as you described, I would go with the drill I suggested in the last post. Even if you drill the Hy-Road the same as your V2, the dynamics of the Core and Cover alone of the Hy-Road, should give you more back end motion than your V2, even with a little surface. Keep us posted on what you decide.
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Nathan Michalowski
Storm Regional Staff

No Revs00300 · « **Reply #10 on:** September 30, 2009, 11:49:48 PM »

Why not try a Rogue Cell?

TamerBowling · « **Reply #11 on:** October 01, 2009, 11:34:09 AM »

I'm not crazy about the Cell's reaction in this house so I don't think I'm willing to try another Cell (Rogue or other) at this point. Based on what comes off my hand, I don't see the Cell as a benchmark for what I want to do.

I will continue to talk to my pro shop to figure out which way to go. I still really like the look of the Hy-road, at least watching a local bowler with it.

The 'up-the-boards' shot is really working and I'd like to keep it for as long as I can in this house. So this is the benchmark I'd like to replace. I don't want to go to a benchmark which I have to throw 15-8 as this fundamentally changes what I'm looking for.

Doug Sterner · « **Reply #12 on:** October 02, 2009, 11:16:07 AM »

Storm Furious, Roto Nomad solid, 900 Global Lunatic...all great examples of benchmark balls with the proper drill patterns for your style and typical lane conditions.
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rvmark · « **Reply #13 on:** October 02, 2009, 03:25:36 PM »

A ball you may try would be the recently discontinued Roto Grip Grand Illusion. The reaction you are describing is what I see out of my Grand Illusion. While not receiving quite the accolades as the Cell and Cell Pearl it is versatile ball that eats up a medium THS.

Good luck.

Mark.

Bigmike · « **Reply #14 on:** October 02, 2009, 03:27:28 PM »

Ditto on the Grand Illusion. I drilled one up with a standard layout and took the surface to 2000. This is the first ball out of my bag to read the lane.
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"Why don't you call me sometime.....when you have no class" ~~Rodney Dangerfield to Sally Kellerman, his college professor in Back to School ~~1986

Mike Craig - Storm Products Pro Shop staff -Columbus, OH

Author Topic: Benchmark ball? (Read 4837 times)

TamerBowling

Benchmark ball?

n00dlejester

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charlest

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Steve Richter

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JustABowler

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Laniarty

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TamerBowling

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OnTheFly

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TamerBowling

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OnTheFly

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No Revs00300

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TamerBowling

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Doug Sterner

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rvmark

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Bigmike

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