I have had great success my T-ROAD PEARL with the pin over my bridge and CG in the grip center and figured with the Reactor cover on the STREET ROAD PEARL and the Turbine core (RG 2.55/Diff .038 on 15 pounders) it would provide a nice complement. I have been looking for something that I could use on the same conditions as the TRP but with a different shape. And when it was described to me as revving up more in the mid-lane with a stronger movement off the breakpointthan the JOLT I was sold – that ball was close for me but just a little too weak in the mid-lane for an aging tweener like me.
The numbers on my SRP came out with a 5-inch pin and 6 inches from the would-be mass bias (spot 6 ¾ from pin through CG) with a 4 3/8 pin buffer.
I tested it at Ten Pin Alley in suburban Madison on a house shot that is pretty wet/dry and a Shark pattern that was down on a few lanes as tough practice for folks heading to Nationals.
On the house shot it was a dream – I could go very firm up the track with tons of area and hit, or get in and go out and back with no roll out. It was strong enough in the midlane not to squirt but not so strong that it wouldn't skid to the spot relatively effortlessly. The roll was so strong and continuous that carry was near 100 percent, with half 10s slapped out and multiple 4s tripped. And no solid 9s. The roll characteristics reminded me of the SCREAMING BANSHEE – a favorite of mine for very light patterns - but with the Reactor cover.
I brought along a 2,000 Ab DIABLO and a box shiny SPIT FIRE for comparison. It was similar in hook to the DIABLO, but carried much better as the DIABLO tended to quit sometimes from the dry and half 10. The SPIT FIRE was a little more skid/flippy on the wet/dry house shot.
On the Shark pattern, I had too much skid (as expected) playing between 10 and 15. But when I got out just to the right of 10 with a very straight trajectory I had a very nice reaction – I could miss maybe a board right and a board or two in if it came off my hand clean. And again the carry was very good when it was rolling into the pins.
It looks like the STREET ROD PEARL is going to be one of my favorites. I might have to consider getting another and trying it with a strong drilling and some surface, or perhaps trying a STREET ROD SOLID (which I did not order).
By Storm staffer Jeff Richgels
Edited on 5/6/2008 7:50 AM
Edited on 5/16/2008 4:15 PM