Author Topic: Sport condition arsenal (semi-long) (Read 1675 times)

Fluff E Bunnie · « **on:** September 19, 2007, 05:18:06 AM »

I am thinking of gearing any future ball purchases I make towards the sport conditions and I was wondering what type of mentality one should take when going this route and what sort of considerations they should have.

I have been playing on the PBA conditions since the beginning of the summer and now in the fall... It seems like the ball you choose can make a big difference on scoring. I see this even with the top players.

What would be a good approach to figuring this out? What did you do to try to build said arsenal?

So far I have:
Special Agent (pin right of ring finger) - Powerful, smooth rolling dull solid (heavy use in PBA league)
Mystic (length drilled) - Particle pearl (heavy use in PBA league, some use in THS league)
Thunderstruck Solid (pin up and right of the ring finger) - Mid range polished solid (heavy use in THS league)
Emergency XXXL - I actually really like this ball reaction because it allows me to play straight without any jumpy reactions.

If you take style into consideration, I like a smooth reaction to be able to control the ball. I haven't had as much success with pearls, but I have had a lot of success with the Mystic. Even though it is flippy, it is smooth enough and it really shines on the PBA conditions once they start pushing down.

I get into situations on the PBA shots where there isn't enough oil left for the Special, and the Mystic is not the answer either. Sometimes, the Special will not work as the first ball out of the gate and the Thunderstruck Solid doesn't seem to read early enough or strong enough to get the reaction I want on sport conditions. The T-Struck is definitely my favorite for THS, but on the sport stuff it hasn't been the go-to ball yet.

I kind of have a feeling that maybe I should get something like the Mystic but that doesn't go down all the way down the lane and flip as hard. Maybe a more sweeping earlier hook like the Special. Or more specifically, something that I can get a smoother reaction like the Special but not need the volume of oil. I can use the Special or Mystic easily 70% of the time, but I feel like I need another option.

Edited on 9/19/2007 1:18 PM

rocafellarocks · « **Reply #1 on:** September 19, 2007, 03:26:26 PM »

This is the same thing I am doing right now. Your pro shop guy can be a tremendous resource. Mine was.

I would really suggest a Sure Fire. This is a top notch ball for a mid-range price. I have had really good success with it on the scorpion and the chameleon pattern being able to play straighter up the boards on the fresh shot and even able to bump in then the outsides start to burn up. It is a really good fit between my Special and my Shift. It goes longer than the special but has a very controlled backend reaction. I also love to use this ball on house shots when the back ends are flying because it doesn't jump like a pearl would.

Fluff E Bunnie · « **Reply #2 on:** September 20, 2007, 09:39:22 AM »

I am wondering if a polished or high surface Secret Agent without a length drilling will do the trick. I am also thinking T-Road Solid but I am not sure.

The Sure Fire looks cool but I didn't like the Spit Fire very much so I am kind of iffy about more Fire balls.

rocafellarocks · « **Reply #3 on:** September 20, 2007, 11:24:54 AM »

I think that would work also. The secret does go longer then the Special with a nice backend reaction. I would leave it at 4000 and test it out and if you need it to go longer put a little polish on it. The agent also might be a good ball to look into.

Goof1073 · « **Reply #4 on:** September 20, 2007, 11:56:04 AM »

T-Road Solid could be the answer...I've been messing around with surface prep's on mine and have been able to get a variety of looks.
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-Chris: DJ's Pro Shop : Auburn, MA

Fluff E Bunnie · « **Reply #5 on:** September 20, 2007, 12:33:45 PM »

quote:
The agent also might be a good ball to look into.

Yeah that's true. I definitely would like some kind of Agent if it would work. These seem to be the real deal if you can get them on any kind of general condition where they can be used.

Fluff E Bunnie · « **Reply #6 on:** September 21, 2007, 08:08:18 AM »

Here's what I am looking at and my thoughts on each:

Secret Agent: Could work maybe if I had a higher surface on it. My only concern is that it will be too close to the Special. I am not sure how realistic that concern is because it has more particle pearl in it and would be at a higher surface.

Shift: Another particle pearl ball to go with my Mystic. Since my Mystic goes really long and flips, maybe I could get this one to react earlier with the drilling. I threw one of these before and I liked how powerful yet controllable it was. It seems like the particle pearl cover really works for me on these shots which is why I am considering a different type of reaction with one.

T-Road Solid: With this one it has the same R2S solid cover as the Special that I already have. According to everything I have read it will have more backend though and especially if I played with the surface. Still, I wonder if I will get what I want out of another R2S solid ball.

Agent: Hmm not sure about a pearl, but it is an arc reaction which I like. I honestly do not know enough about this ball to be able to picture where it would fit. The Bowler's Journal review says it is very arching and not skid flippy.

Somebody out there has to be throwing these things on the PBA shots so hopefully you can give some feedback.

directdrill · « **Reply #7 on:** September 21, 2007, 08:13:53 AM »

Fluff E Bunnie,

What surface do you normally bowl on? I bowled in a PBA Experience league this summer on older wooden lanes with Guardian overlays to the arrows. Some of the patterns played nothing like the videos you see on bowl.com. For example, I could play the Shark with my Horizon Solid (4-1/2" x 4", pin in bridge, 1000 Abralon) up the 10 board for the first game. Later games, I had to move inside and had success playing a 15-10 line. The Cheetah pattern played nothing like I've seen on television. Just something to consider when building your sport/PBA condition arsenal.
--------------------
Hook 'em Horns!

Tag Team Coaching success story.

Fluff E Bunnie · « **Reply #8 on:** September 21, 2007, 08:16:53 AM »

quote:
Fluff E Bunnie,

What surface do you normally bowl on?

Good question! Very new Pro Anvilane synthetics. Over the summer I played on older synthetics but now I am at a different house.

Fluff E Bunnie · « **Reply #9 on:** September 21, 2007, 10:24:11 AM »

quote:
Some of the patterns played nothing like the videos you see on bowl.com.

Also I wanted to respond to this. I do realize that, but what I am more looking for here is a different look, not a ball for a specific pattern.

I've seen what all my stuff can do on all the different shots. I have two that get heavy use but I would like that third option for when the Special doesn't work.

directdrill · « **Reply #10 on:** September 21, 2007, 10:29:46 AM »

Fluff,

One thing that appears to be missing is a pearl. I realize that you have a particle pearl in the Mystic, but what about adding a pearl? Could be helpful as the lanes start to transition and you need something to get through the heads. I recently picked up a used T-Road Pearl and really like it.
--------------------
Hook 'em Horns!

Tag Team Coaching success story.

Fluff E Bunnie · « **Reply #11 on:** September 21, 2007, 10:52:55 AM »

quote:
Fluff,

One thing that appears to be missing is a pearl. I realize that you have a particle pearl in the Mystic, but what about adding a pearl? Could be helpful as the lanes start to transition and you need something to get through the heads. I recently picked up a used T-Road Pearl and really like it.

Hmm good point. I actually have access to a T-Road Pearl but I would need to redrill it. I was thinking of putting a stronger drilling on it and using it for my THS league. I haven't really thought about using it for the PBA league, but maybe it can pull double duty.

I guess the reason I was thinking an Agent was that I like the way it rolls on the PBA shots because it reads nicely in the middle where I like it. Also, the less snappy I can make something the better. I really have a hard time dealing with the stuff that flips on the back (especially on the PBA patterns). The Mystic smooths it out enough for me so I am actually able to use it a lot even with that lengthier drilling.

I was thinking that the Agent is a pearl so it should read later when the Special is pooping out but the fact that it isn't as skid flippy makes me think it would be a good option on the PBA stuff.

I am thinking that I want to either go with another Agent type ball for when the Special burns up, or something like the Mystic that isn't as long and flippy (due to the Mystic's drilling). To me, that's the maximum long and flippy I want to do.

Fluff E Bunnie · « **Reply #12 on:** October 01, 2007, 08:20:18 AM »

Went with Secret Agent. Ball freaking rocks. It works the way I want at 4000, but I also have the polishing option. I think I'll leave it at 4000.

Author Topic: Sport condition arsenal (semi-long) (Read 1675 times)

Fluff E Bunnie

Sport condition arsenal (semi-long)

rocafellarocks

Re: Sport condition arsenal (semi-long)

Fluff E Bunnie

Re: Sport condition arsenal (semi-long)

rocafellarocks

Re: Sport condition arsenal (semi-long)

Goof1073

Re: Sport condition arsenal (semi-long)

Fluff E Bunnie

Re: Sport condition arsenal (semi-long)

Fluff E Bunnie

Re: Sport condition arsenal (semi-long)

directdrill

Re: Sport condition arsenal (semi-long)

Fluff E Bunnie

Re: Sport condition arsenal (semi-long)

Fluff E Bunnie

Re: Sport condition arsenal (semi-long)

directdrill

Re: Sport condition arsenal (semi-long)

Fluff E Bunnie

Re: Sport condition arsenal (semi-long)

Fluff E Bunnie

Re: Sport condition arsenal (semi-long)