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Author Topic: Replacement for Special Agent  (Read 5810 times)

lefty50

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Replacement for Special Agent
« on: July 16, 2012, 03:43:05 PM »
I have to admit that the time has finally come to replace my beloved Special Agent (with about 250 games on it... great ball!).

I have always had the best luck with high differential strong covers with symmetrical cores, and it's no wonder that the Special Agent has been a favorite. What would be the nearest replacement in the Storm line these days? I am thinking the answer = Modern Marvel, but am open to suggestions.

Thanks in advance
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milorafferty

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Re: Replacement for Special Agent
« Reply #1 on: July 16, 2012, 03:59:03 PM »
I think you are in the right neighborhood with the Modern Marvel.
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TheFreeAgent

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Re: Replacement for Special Agent
« Reply #2 on: July 16, 2012, 07:02:29 PM »
IQ Tour has the same cover
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Cobalt Bomb

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Re: Replacement for Special Agent
« Reply #3 on: July 16, 2012, 08:14:33 PM »
IQ or Marvel.
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millertime0299

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Re: Replacement for Special Agent
« Reply #4 on: July 16, 2012, 09:43:14 PM »
The Victory Road Solid has the same cover (R2S solid) with a higher RG core.  With the right drilling, you could make it react like your Special Agent.
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al_g

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Re: Replacement for Special Agent
« Reply #5 on: July 17, 2012, 10:33:36 PM »
When I asked Steve Kloempken of Storm that a year ago his answer to me was the Victory Road Solid or Marvel Pearl. I also think a Roto Grip Outlaw would be close. I ended up with a Marvel Pearl, but also threw the VR Solid at a demo days and I personally thought the VR Solid was closer to the Special than the Marvel Pearl. The Marvel Pearl was able to replace 2 balls in my arsenal(one being the Special, the other a hole left by an Agent I'd retired a year earlier) so I went with it.

I also have a Marvel and I'd say that's way too strong of ball compared to the Special Agent. I had both drilled the same. R2X solid is way stronger than R2S solid.
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lefty50

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Re: Replacement for Special Agent
« Reply #6 on: July 18, 2012, 02:28:04 AM »
Thanks for the feedback, but I may be missing something here, help me out...

I've plotted all my equipment, and I definitely seem to be helped by higher diff balls. I can see the Modern Marvel even though it's a bit less on diff. I thought IQ had a higher Rg and hadn't considered it, thanks for pointing that out. What I don't understand is the VR solid. At least for me, anything over 2.50 Rg breaks late, and everything above 2.55 that I have tried lopes down the lane really badly. If the 15lb VR Solid is 2.56, combined with the decreased Rg from the Special, I don't see it being a choice. However, is R2X is way stronger than R2S, that may also help in oil, which is where my Special has always shined.

So, now I'm left thinking:
-  Marvel due to stronger cover for oil (lefty)
-  Modern Marvel because I think the hybrid cover will get me down a lane a little farther with more recovery
- I'm puzzled what the big difference is between IQ and Marvel
- Can't understand why a VR unless a different drilling could compensate for that Rg problem I always see.

I'm over analyzing... Any feedback on the new points appreciated...
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Cobalt Bomb

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Re: Replacement for Special Agent
« Reply #7 on: July 18, 2012, 05:42:00 AM »
IQ tour might be the ticket if you drill it stronger, perhaps with a flare increasing weighthole. Same cover, low rg core, lower differential
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millertime0299

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Re: Replacement for Special Agent
« Reply #8 on: July 18, 2012, 01:54:27 PM »
Get yourself a VR Solid and drill it 3.5x5x3.  It should start up early so as to avoid pushing downlane too far for you.  If that doesn't help, you can adjust the surface by going to 1000 AB...or even 500 AB if necessary.
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al_g

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Re: Replacement for Special Agent
« Reply #9 on: July 19, 2012, 11:45:43 AM »
Quote from: lefty50 on July 18, 2012, 02:28:04 AM
So, now I'm left thinking:
-  Marvel due to stronger cover for oil (lefty)
If you just flat out want something a lot stronger with a somewhat similar motion this could be the ball. The Marvel is not a Special Agent replacement though, but that's OK if you want something much stronger.

I don't know anything about the IQ Tour so I won't comment on it. Since it's an R2S cover it could be close too.

Quote from: lefty50 on July 18, 2012, 02:28:04 AM
-  Modern Marvel because I think the hybrid cover will get me down a lane a little farther with more recovery
I don't own one but have seen quite a few thrown at tournaments. It's a very good ball and versatile. Still probably somewhat stronger than the Special but closer. Don't let the word "hybrid" fool you I doubt it will push further down the lane than the Special because it's R2X hybrid not R2S. For reference my Marvel Pearl pushes just a little more downlane than my Special but the Marvel Pearl is stronger on the backend so I could play them on similar lines. This is why I would not expect the hybrid version to go any longer than the Special and be stronger on the backend too - so it's possible it could be a somewhat stronger Special.

Quote from: lefty50 on July 18, 2012, 02:28:04 AM
- Can't understand why a VR unless a different drilling could compensate for that Rg problem I always see.
Cover is at least 2/3rds or more of what dictates how much a ball hooks, RG/diff around 20%. It's R2S almost the same the Special - from what a staffer told me R2S today does not equal R2S from a few years ago because the production methods are different today. If anything it might be slightly stronger. As millertime said if you're afraid of it pushing too far hit it with 2000, 1000 or 500, I think it comes at 3000 OOB. Adjusting the surface will make a huge difference in how early it rolls.

Hope this helps you out some.


« Last Edit: July 19, 2012, 11:51:42 AM by al_g »
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lefty50

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Re: Replacement for Special Agent
« Reply #10 on: July 19, 2012, 05:58:21 PM »
Thanks to all for the great feedback and multiple options to consider. I appreciate your input.

L50
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coasterp

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Re: Replacement for Special Agent
« Reply #11 on: July 21, 2012, 06:32:16 AM »
My vote is going to be for VR solid. Until I saw this thread, I had not thought about why I liked this ball. Now that I saw this and thought about it, the VR solid does remind me of the SA, which I loved. Very close in hook shape to a SA and cover is easily tuned to meet your needs. I have mine at 500 right now and use it on heavier patterns. OOB was great for med-heavy. It seems to be a versatile piece in all respects. Just like my old SA was.
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avabob

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Re: Replacement for Special Agent
« Reply #12 on: July 27, 2012, 12:55:33 PM »
Viscosity and volume of oil have increased dramatically since Special Agent was introduced.  Doesn't make much difference on house shots, but today on flatter patterns you would want something stronger than the Special Agent to get what it was giving you out of the box.  I think several of the Road balls with solid shells will give you a similar look to the SA. 
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