First,  let me state that both balls work very well for me.  I consider these 2 balls excellent choices for a large range of styles and conditions.

What's the difference?  Not much.  When you can use one, you can use the other.  I think only the most discerning bowlers will value the difference.  The Marvel Pearl seems to be a touch smoother and slower to react.  The SoniQ is surprisingly strong for R2S pearl.  It is quite rolly and screams controllable power.

Do you need them both?  I'd say no, but if you like to experiment with layout and surface you could make them a good 1-2 combo.   No matter what you do, they really won't be that much different.

My Marvel Pearl is at 4000 abralon drilled 55x4x40 (pin up) and SoniQ is box finish at 45x4x70(pin down)

The shine on the SoniQ was suprisingly smooth and not very over/under.  I think the layout helps.  That pin down, early roll setup is my bread and butter --- particularly on house china.

-- and a side note -- SonIQ vs HyRoad.   Soniq is 5-7 feet earlier and WAY less over/under.  HyRoad is way hotter off spot.

Any idea how this would compare to the Daredevil Danger? I have a Marvel Pearl and a Danger. The SnoiQ looks interesting. Thanks

Danger is a bit later and flippier. It doesn't really lope, but doesn't seem to read the lane as well as most low RG balls.

Just in overall observations I think the Son!q and Marvel Pearl are the same ball. The Son!q may be a tad stronger though!

All the more reason for me to get a Hyper Cell Fused first and then later the Son!Q since I have a Marvel Pearl. Also thinking of punching up a Code Black I have sitting at home.

Quote from: BeerLeague on March 02, 2018, 08:21:47 AM

The shine on the SoniQ was suprisingly smooth and not very over/under.  I think the layout helps.  That pin down, early roll setup is my bread and butter --- particularly on house china.

Pin down does not cause a ball to roll early, that is old school thinking: http://news.stormbowling.com/2017/05/10/pin-up-vs-pin-down/

Surface dictates how early a ball transitions from skid to hook.

I read this article and agree with most of it, however I know that my pin-down layouts ensure that my ball will smoothly get into a roll at the end of the pattern, and slow down properly to take out them corners! Whether the surface is pearl or solid!

Quote from: LookingForALeftyWall on March 09, 2018, 08:54:53 AM

Quote from: BeerLeague on March 02, 2018, 08:21:47 AM

The shine on the SoniQ was suprisingly smooth and not very over/under.  I think the layout helps.  That pin down, early roll setup is my bread and butter --- particularly on house china.

Pin down does not cause a ball to roll early, that is old school thinking: http://news.stormbowling.com/2017/05/10/pin-up-vs-pin-down/

Surface dictates how early a ball transitions from skid to hook.

I read this article and agree with most of it, however I know that my pin-down layouts ensure that my ball will smoothly get into a roll at the end of the pattern, and slow down properly to take out them corners! Whether the surface is pearl or solid!

It "slows down" because you've lowered the RG and diff of the ball. Making the core shorter makes it smoother and it changes the roll through the deck. I have 2 pin positions I use. 5 inches pin up (and I modify the Val angle to get specific motions), and 5 inches pin down, usually at 65 degrees. If I'm trying to get it around the corner hard, I'm going with a faster transition ball. But on house shots or patterns where I need to control the transition, pin down usually works due to lowering the RG and diff.

But that's all surfaces being the same. I'm not going to say a ball @1000 and the same ball @4k with polish are going to be the same. That's insanity.

Pick a layout that matches the balls characteristics and adjust surface for the length you want out of the ball.