Got my two new balls drilled the other night but didn't get to throw them until today...well, I did throw the Special Agent one time on the third ball of the 10th frame during my sport league. Anyhow...
Special Agent - 15lb, 3.5" pin, 3.0 oz. top weight...drilled about 5X4 (just a guess since I didn't measure it for sure), pin over bridge w/cg kicked to the right just above grip center line, weight hole just inside my PAP, OOB finish (2000 grit abralon).
The Special Agent is STRONG. There wasn't enough oil today to really see what it can do but I was standing 26 throwing 13/14 at the arrows out to about 7/8 at the break and the ball had NO TROUBLE getting back to the pocket. Now for me, being the low rev stroker that I am, that is a HUGE swing. I've never left so many solid 9s, solid 4s, almost 4-9s, and nasty 4-9s in my life. The one shot I threw with it on our long sport league pattern (41') the other night, I played it on the same line that I was playing with the Pyro sanded with 1000 grit abralon...the Pyro was money in the pocket almost all night on that line (pretty direct up 10 with maybe a board or two swing)...the Special Agent went screaming to Brooklyn...a good 6 or 8 boards stronger.
T-Road Pearl - 15lb, 3" pin, 3.1 oz. top weight...drilled about 4X4 (once again only a guess since I didn't get to measure it), pin below ring finger, cg kicked to the right (above and to the right of the thumb hole), weight hole on VAL below my PAP, OOB finish (1500 polished).
As I mentioned, there wasn't really enough oil for the Special Agent today but the T-Road Pearl was right at home on this shot. I tried a few different lines with this ball...too strong going straight up 10, still had to take some hand out of it or increase my speed playing the 5-board to keep it in the pocket, but finally settled on standing at 19 crossing 10 at the arrows swinging it out to about 6/7. Once again, this ball is STRONG...or at least stronger than I thought it would be. Definitely as strong as my Fired Up (sanded to 1000 with blue scotchbrite) off the breakpoint but not quite as long (probably due to the difference in the drillings and the strength of the cover). Lots of pins flying across the deck with this ball...but still left more solid 9-pins than I'm accustomed to. I can't wait to play with the cover a little bit...as it is, it is perfect for our normal medium oil house shot, knocking the polich off would probably make it strong enough to handle our heavier medium oil shot.
Initial thoughts...I think I'm going to be very pleased with both balls on the conditions they are designed for.
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That which doesn't kill you will only make you stronger, that which doesn't make you stronger is a waste of time!
