BallReviews
Reviews => Track => Topic started by: admin on December 31, 1969, 06:00:00 PM
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Featuring the most innovative asymmetrical core design today, Track is excited to announce the Machine, which is specifically designed to produce the strongest midlane/backend combination in the history of Track innovations. The unique biaxial, u-shaped flip block arms have been modified to a .025 Mass Bias which dynamically is the strongest core ever introduced in the Track line. Wrapped around the Machine is the potent Fang LSâ„¢ coverstock with a compound finish.
Machine Specs
Hook Rating 42-34
Length 4.8
Backend 9.7
Core Technology Robo core
Core Power N/A
RG 2.52
Differential 0.052
Determinator Spin Time 5.4
Flare Potential 7
Coverstock Fang LS
Friction Rating N/A
Finish Compound-polish
Polish Magic Shine
Reaction Shape Strong Arc
Lane Condition Medium
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Had this ball for couple of weeks now. Drilled pin over ring finger 5 1/2
by 2. Love the roll of the ball with the robo core. With the pearl cover
it gets through the heads with ease with a very powerful backend motion. Nothing less than 700 the last 3 weeks in league. Going to State tournament
next weekend will post another review then.
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Ball: Pin 4 1/2 from PAP 2 1/4 above my midline MB 4 inches from PAP. I left the factory finish on the ball.
Lane Conditions: 36ft buffed to 44ft heavy oil in the middle, tapers out to the gutter. Wood lanes
HOOK:
Heavy Oil- The Machine is very interesting. It can cover anything form medium to heavy conditions. With a coverstock adjustment to a lower grit I believe the Machine would cover heavy oil with ease.
Medium Oil- With the OOB finish the Machine can cover medium patterns. For a bowler with alot of hand they may need to put a coat of Magic Shine on it. With the OOB finish most bowlers are going to need to keep it in the oil as long as possible.
Light Oil- Being asymmetrical and having a MB rating as high as the Machine I believe with the proper layout and surface prep a bowler could get the Machine playable on lighter patterns.........BUT I would not suggest anyone do so. On lighter oil the Machine should stay in the bag.
Total Hook:
The Machine covers a ton of boards, even for those that don't have much hand. Without a surface adjustment you shouldn't attempt to use it on a flood unless you have MEGA REVS on a ball.
9 out of 10
Control:
The Machine helps me control O/U. In order to use the Machine as a control type ball you are going to need to have enough head oil to do so.
Expected Reaction:
I expected the Machine to be exactly what it turned out to be for me. It is the strongest ball I have for league patterns. It clears the heads well and starts a strong midlane roll at about 26-30ft and as the oil changes from heavy to buff it continues the entire way through the pin deck.
Readability:
For me the Machine is far too strong to read a pattern with.
Strengths:
Strong midlane and backend reaction. The Machine handles carrydown very well as long as there is enough head oil left to help the ball retain energy down the lane.
Weaknesses:
With the factory finish the Machine will not be able to handle a flood, but anything under a flood and it is fine. Keep the Machine in the bag whe the lanes are dry, especially if the heads are dry.
Placement:
For me the Machine fits perfectly between the Robo Rule and the Arsenal Artillery. When there is too much oil for the Machine I can grab the Robo and know it will work......and if the Machine makes too strong of a move the Artillery is perfect.
Comments:
The Machine is a special ball. It is one of those balls that comes along and every bowler should have it. It is strong, but it is extremely versatile. I have not found it unplayable on any pattern I have faced with it. Track has hit a homerun with this ball......I just hope bowlers don't miss out on it.
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C-G Pro Shop (owner/operator)
Youngstown Ohio
Track Intl.-Amateur/Pro Shop Staff
www.trackbowling.com
www.startabowlingrevolution.com
Tag Team Member #1
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Track Machine
Weight: 15#
Pin: 3.5"
Top Weight: 2.75 oz
Layout:
4 1/2" Pin High Above the Ring Finger. Mass Bias at 30 degrees. Weight Hole 1" past PAP.
First Impressions:
When I first got the Machine, I was very stoked, I had been waiting on a compliment to the Robo Rule and that is exactly what I got. The Machine is best played on medium oil conditions. This ball has a smooth arc reaction shape but doesn't burn up or roll out in the heads!
Oil Conditions:
Heavy Oil -- Ball likes to skate in heavy oil unless played semi-direct. Stood on 22 (which is two boards left of the middle dot) and played between 10 and 15 (2nd and 3rd arrow) and had wonderful success. The ball finishes smoothly and doesn't overreact on the dry but has enough pop to make it back to the pocket on the slick stuff!
Heavy Medium -- I didn't think this ball would like carrydown because of my last experiences with the X-Ception 5.0 not being able to handle; however, the Machine did indeed have enough bite through the carrydown once the lanes started to transistion and make it back to the pocket.
Medium -- This is what shot, in my opinion, the Machine is intended for. When the heads broke down and I had to move left, I had no problem moving five boards left with my feet and could target 16-10 anywhere in that area, and the Machine would still recover!
Medium to Light -- I had to put it away on conditions from here to the dry because the ball was just way too much and I couldn't keep the ball right of the pocket once they transistioned again.
Conclusion:
For a ball to be able to handle the slick stuff to medium conditions proves to me that this is quite the versatile ball. It is just a wonderful piece of equipment from Track and if this is just a small portion of what they have put out for early 2006, I cannot wait on the releases this coming year. This ball reminds me overall of a polished Phenom Unleashed. If you need something to play direct angles on heavy oil, and have to be able to move inside once the lanes transistion, you have got to pick up the Machine. Heavy Track performance at its best!
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What Are You Waiting For?!? Get on the FASTTRACK to success!!
TRACK -- Building Success Stories, One Bowler at a Time!
TRACK -- YOU JUST CAN'T BEAT THAT!!!
McCorvey's Pro Shop Supporter
http://www.mccorveysproshop.com/
Evolution Tag Team Member # 1
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Drilled 4 ¾ X 5 Pin Above Ring
Tweener with Avg Rev Rate
Patterns Used House Pattern
The Machine is exactly what it’s name says. For those of you that like length with strong backends this ball is for you. This ball gives me a hockey stick type motion down the lane. Strong and continuous with unbelievable hitting power. This ball works best on medium to medium to oily lane conditions with good backend. This ball will wiggle a little bit down the lane on carry down and very long patterns.
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Dave Beres
Track Regional Staff
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Drilled pin 4" below fingers, mass bias 45 deg from thumb.
Used on a house pattern and PBA pattern 1.
If you liked the 5.0 this ball is a must have. On a medium to medium heavy pattern the Machine will give you decent length and unbelievable backend and hitting power. It is stronger overall than the 5.0 but mostly on the backends. I would recommend this ball for anyone looking to handle the medium to medium heavy condition.
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Mike Meifert
Track Regional Staff
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Track Machine:
Ball Specs
The ball being drilled was a 3†pin out with 3.00 oz top weight.
Drilling: Pin 4" from PAP and Mb 45 degree angle or 4 1/4" from my pap. Pin is above ring finger, 3" above grip midline. Weight Hole on my axis. Initially Factory Polished
Bowler Information:
Track diameter is 10 1/2.
PAP is measured at 5 1/4 over and 3/8" up.
Average ball speed (foul line to head pin) is 17 mph.
Axis rotation is typically 90 degrees
Initial rev rate is typically 300 rpm, "Tweener"
Lane Condition and Pattern:
AMF Bowlero, HPL 9000 Panel. Oil Pattern: Medium Heavy Oil and slightly clean back ends. Fairly Flat condition from edge board to edge board.
Review. I was very excited to try this ball because I have had success with Fang LS coverstock in the past with THE ANIMAL. I was also intrigued with the shape of the weight block.
I tried it at Bowero Lanes on heavy oil and the ball just flat out pushed to far down the lane, never hooked, was disappointed with it initially. I took it back to our shop and sanded it to 4000 abralon pad. It seemed to react better, but I still saw the break point to far down the lane, so I sanded it down to 2000 Abralon and I have to say that This ball is the best Track ball I think I have thrown. Even at 2000 the ball is so clean through the fronts and now has strong hook with out skidding past the break point. Even when the heads go or the track forms I can move in and still get the recovery on the backs. Many 700's with this ball at the 2000 surface. One of all time Favorites.
In closing, if you want to throw this ball factory polished you will need friction and alot of hand otherwise expect the ball to skid a long way down the lane. Try 2000 or 4000 Abralon if you truly want to try a special ball.
Thanks for reading my review.
Dwight
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I could not wait for this ball because of the success I have had with the Robo (300, 838).
Drilled 4 1/2 X 3 1/4 x 2 1/2 above mid-line.
Particle pearl cover gets down the lane with ease, and the Large mass bias doesn't need much friction to kick it over. Ball corners extremely hard (not a snap, but a strong arc), and continues on through the pins.
This ball to me is the perfect combination of Power and Control. I may have expected a little more hook, but am pleasantly suprised and extremely pleased with what I have since throwing out the misconceptions. A truly GREAT ball. It is my new Mastercard, I won't leave home without it, or two!
Plus check out the sweet rebate!!!
http://www.trackbowling.com/
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Duck Savant
University Pro Shop
San Antonio, Texas
Track Regional Staff
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Sorry for the long wait on this review my computer has been down and finally got it back up, so here is the awaited review all the way from Canada, on the MACHINE!!!!! Drill Pattern, 3 5/8" by 3", pin 3 1/2 above midline, no balance hole. This ball is very clean in the fron part of the lane, with great pick up in the midlane, and when this ball see's friction it starts heading left. When I was testing this ball on a house shot, it didnt matter how much I missed to the right with this ball, it just recovered and made it back with ease. This ball also keeps the pins moving and moving fast aswell as keeps them low. This ball I kept at box finish. This ball is very versatile and you can play pretty much any where on the lane. For the bowler that is looking for a ball that will hook and read the friction, dont look any further. For the tournament bowler it is a must have in your bag. If you like the Xception then you will definently want this ball in your hands. This ball is a great fit between the Robo Rule and the Xception 5.0. Keep your eyes open for my next review... I am out of here from Canada!!!!! LATA!!!
Jason Dee
Track International Amateur Staff
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Jason Dee
Track International Amateur Staff
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Recently drilled this ball I am a mildly rev dominant player an I drilled it 5-1/2 by 3-3/4 pin 3 inches above the midline just above the middle finger.I also put a light coat of magic shine on it. The ball rolls easily through the fronts and then reacts stong but smooth off the dry, it allows me to get a little deeper than normal and still get recovery. I have had success both swinging it and throwing it pretty straight. All in all this is an awesome release from Track.
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Ray Lathrop
Bsuproshops.com
Track Advisory Staff
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Recently drilled this ball I am a mildly rev dominant player an I drilled it 5-1/2 by 3-3/4 pin 3 inches above the midline just above the middle finger.I also put a light coat of magic shine on it. The ball rolls easily through the fronts and then reacts stong but smooth off the dry, it allows me to get a little deeper than normal and still get recovery. I have had success both swinging it and throwing it pretty straight. All in all this is an awesome release from Track.
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Ray Lathrop
Bsuproshops.com
Track Advisory Staff
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I just bought the Machine from Todd Adams Pro Shop in Sacramento 3 weeks ago. I used it out of box and did not have time to practice with it before my league on Tuesday night. I used it for the first time on my Tuesday night league and did not know what to expect. I started out with the first 10 strikes and ended up with a 289, then I shot 236 and 259 for a out the box 784. I went on vacation last week and just got back last Sunday so I used the ball for the second time last night. I started out slow with 180 because I trying to find a line. Once I got lined up I shot 279 and the finished with a 300 for 759. This ball is awesome and hits harder then any ball I currently have. The ball has a strong arcing reaction that clears the heads easily. I can throw this ball on a deep inside oil line and it still gets back to the pocket. Track has produces a winner with the Machine.
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I Finally got to use the Machine this week, I drilled it pin 4 1/2 and mb 3" left of thumb (I'm lefty) pin 3" above center line. The house shot was a bit much in the middle but I was able to keep it in the pocket most of the time and WOW this ball got a lot of power at entry. Playing at 2nd arrow the ball reaction was mush more of what I expected. Still had tons of juice in the strike zone. As I moved to the 1st Arrow It wanted to jump early and I had to loop it to the break point, The ball still had plenty of power and scored well on all the lines, It did want to skate out in the middle a few times but works the best in medium oil, Looking forward to put it on a 35 sport this weekend.
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Steve Harms
Track PBA Regional Staff
Bowlers Choice Pro Shop
Salt Lake City, Ut.
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My specs are in profile.
Ball specs: 15 pounds, 2 ounces. 2.5 ounces of top weight with a 3 inch pin.
I wanted this ball to replace my Xception 5.0 and Mutant Mania. Both particle pearls with asymmetrical cores. After doing my research, I found that this ball would be the perfect fit.
Ended up with the pin under ring, mass bias 2 inches right of thumb. Due to the strength of this mass bias I didn't want the mass bias too close to my VAL.
First time out was after league. Med. heads, spotty mids and backends. Was able to stand on 25 and swing over 13 out to 8 with ease. This ball read the mids nicely and roared back to the pocket. The hit was nothing short of AMAZING. After all, it is a Track ball. Excellent carry with this ball.
Next time out was on a fresh league shot. Med/Hvy heads, clean backends. Was able to play the same line as above with ease. Ball read the mids and then turned the corner and crushed the rack. Shot my first 300 with this ball the fourth time out with it. Great control piece for me, especially on heavier mediums. Again, the hit was AMAZING and great carry.
Last time out was a Saturday afternoon. Spotty heads, mids and backends. The lanes were simply too dry for this ball. Had to put it away immediately.
Overall, this is a fantastic ball from Track. It gets through the heads nicely, reads the mids and charges on the backend. It hits like no other ball I have thrown. IMHO, this is the best ball Track has made to date and I am not just saying that because I have a 300 with it. It truly is a great ball. Don't miss out on this one!
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www.bowlingkingdom.com
www.trackbowling.com
www.startarevolution.com
"The Revolution" has begun!!!
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I'm in a bit of a slump right now, so this might not be the best time to review this ball, but I'd bought one of these and an Arsenal Angular and wanted to compare the two, so I went to the lanes today for an extended practice session.
Me: Righty, 16-18 mph speed, multiple axes of play, about 300-350 rev rate
The Ball: 14 pounds, Pin under bridge, CG under the ring in the palm, MB at 4 o'clock to the thumb
My driller advised this drill would cause the ball to roll early, and he was right. I bought the ball predrilled with about four games on it, and would have preferred a pin-over-bridge drilling or something weaker than what it has. Had I not been lazy (or cheap, or both), I would have done it.
First, the good: The ball is 14 pounds, yet hits much harder than most of my 14-pound stuff. It easily hits as hard as a 15-pound ball. The core in this thing looks like a cement mixer stood on its rear end. There's nothing weak about this ball.
The strong drilling didn't help me get it out easily, despite the polished mostly-pearl surface. For me, the ball plays best on deep inside angles when there's oil there, because I can utilize its hitting power. If I go outside, the ball has nice recovery built in, although because of the drilling I'm using up a bit of the ball too early.
This ball really needs a little bit of head oil to work. I suspect even weaker drillings will bring the same comments. If I can find another I'll probably buy it and put a weaker drilling on it to compare.
Overall, I was very impressed by the ball's performance, when I had the right axis tilt on it, on the right conditions, thrown over the proper line. It has some versatility built into it, and I could use it on anything from medium wet down to dry. If you're going to use it for heavy oil, I would suggest some surface prep.
But you'll never lack for hitting power. This thing hits, hits, hits.
Jess
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I recently purchased a Track 16lb Machine. Drilled pin at 2
clock next to ring finger, cg kicked out 3inches right of thumb with balance hole. So far this year I have drilled up - Total annialation, big time, epic & epic battle, rsp, 2 trifectas, rule gp2, columbia professional,monster slayer and a couple others I can't even remember at this moment. My first real event with my new Machine was a very competitive Trios league, high average in this league is 241, I was stiff & sore from rolling a 3 day tournament and a couple of practice games with my new Machine earlier. So I wasn't really throwing very good at all. First game I'm standing on third dot throwing down first arrow and I am seeing the most amazing pin action of any ball I have ever thrown, twice I took out the three pin with messengers from behind, end up with a 238 game & a 229 average for the four games that night! This ball goes wide it comes back to the pocket, inside it rides the heavy oil and makes a hard left. Pins fly everywhere and that great sound like waves crashing on the rocks happens and there is just nothing left standing. Never since my faball black hammer has any ball taken over top spot in my arsenal in one nite. This ball is a winner, if you don't have one - get one! It has jumped my average 25 pins in the last 4 weeks. the ball is easy to control, handles heavy/med to lite oil and hits like a monster! And does not seem to need a lot of maintanence. And by the way the pictures do not do it justice, it really is a lighter green pearl look than the pictures of it. This ball will go down as one of all the time best ever made.
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Drilled 4 X 2 1/2 to PAP, 3 inch Pin to CG. But that's the boring stuff.
I won mine on the Track Ball-A-Day Giveaway, and I am very fortunate to have won this jewel. Works well for medium oily to medium/sort-of-broken-down shots. I found it hard to get turn on a lot of carrydown. 
Things I like::
- It's continuation through the pocket is flat out amazing.
- It rolls so strong all the way down the lane through each shot, thus the amazing carry and, like I said, amazing conituation.
- It was free.
If you have an opprotunity to pick this ball from Track, or have about $200 to find a new ball, this would be a very good choice. I am not loyal to any particular brand, but I found a seriously amazing ball from Track. I have heard many many good things about this bowling ball, and as of the first week, they are all true.
I see myself succeeding with this ball, and I hope my vision is true. 
-Mason
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The Striking King.
More Spares = 200 avg.
More Spares & Strikes =220 avg.
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Del Warren and his crew have already started to stir up some "on the lanes" excitement for the coming bowling season.
The Track Machine was introduced late last season as a "bench Mark" ball for the 2006-2007 bowling season, featuring a Fang LS coverstock wrapped around Track's tried-and-true "Robo Core". This core gives Del and his engineers a lot of future core dynamic options with density changes. Match this with different coverstocks for future introductions in this series, and you have a potent combination.
Our balls were drilled with the pin above the ring finger and 4-1/2" from the PAP with the a slight kick on the Mass Bias' to control the backends.
The Machine in itself is very friendly and readily adaptable to a large range of lane conditions threw sanding and polishing. This ball is designed for predominantly medium oil lane conditions, putting this ball right where most of us live.
We found the Machine to be very "happy" with typical league play lane conditions. As the lanes changed, it was easy to keep this ball in play just by moving inside and following the oil line. As we moved deeper, we were still able to retained great hit and carry at the pocket. This ball just flat out "Crushes" the pins. The Machines reaction was very smooth and controlled for both our High Rev tester and our Tweener testers. Keep in mind that the "Fang-LS" coverstock on this ball is matched up better with medium volumes of oil.
When we moved to a pair of lanes that had a lot of open play during the day, we found that the "out of the box" finish started bleeding too much energy in the mid-lane and lost some of its hit at the pins.
When we moved to a pair of lanes that had a heavier volume of oil, the coverstock didn't give us enough bite in the mid-lane. Our High Rev tester faired much better on this condition than did our Tweener testers.
Overall, we love this ball! The Machine will fit the middle for most bowlers arsenals without much adjustment. Don't be hesitant with coverstock adjustments to get the look you want.
We highly recommend this ball to all bowlers. If you want to be on the "Cutting Edge" of technology this season you'll need to keep your eyes on Track..........
BowlPro
www.discount-proshop.com
americanmastersbowling.com
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ok that is the layout of my machine..
to start out this ball is sweet it is a very strong ball. i wanted my machine to get more length and snap hard in the backends, and i got it. this ball is great goes down smoothly and makes a beautiful arc to the pocket. the house i bowl in has a league before me and so all the oil is pushed in the back, and the machine still hooks it's great. except that i find myself leaving a lot of solid 10 pins. so i talked to my pro shop guy Steve Harms and he told me to throw it faster or use sand to a 1000 grit. well the next week i tried throwing it faster but still left a lot of solid pocket 10 pins, so sometime i'll try to sand it, but this is a great ball. i'm just having a hard time with it finishing well.
William_Paul
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i think I owe track this review. I got my machine off ebay for 10 bucks. I thought i was getting a mean machine and when the ball got to me needless to say i was upset . Didnt even think i was going to drill it,but i did.
Its drilled with the pin 4in. from pap which placed it right of my ring finger and up about an inch. I was looking for strong midlane with retention for the backend. I got just that.
This ball not only didn't disappoint me it made track seem like the best ball out. this ball is really really good. Carry ,hit and recovery are outstanding on med to med light conditions where there is dry. This ball might skid 50 ft. but when it finds dry its,"home james",to the 1 3. I love watching this balls move to the pocket .I just got a secret agent and oob on both balls its stronger than my secret agent by about 4 boards. This ball takes out the corners because of its finishing potential ,it just doesn't stop coming. Track is ok with me I think i am going to have to buy the rising cant wait till it comes out. If it performs as well as the machine on heavier oil look out cause the machine handles everything else.
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my style, the art of bowling without bowling
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Folks, this is one heckuva ball!! Drilled 4 1/2 x 4, pin above and a little to the left of ring finger, MB about 2 inches right of thumb, X Hole on the VAL. This ball has surpassed the Freak and Synergy Pearl as my all time fav Track ball. You can throw this ball on any condition except for the extremes. Very, very strong yet very versatile. Strong continuation thru the pins and that great Track HIT. This ball seems to work best with the OOB finish.
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Style:
Stroker/Tweener
13-15mph
med revs
Layout:
..O..O.P (half upwards of the fingerline)
......
......
........cg
......
...............X
...O...
.....MB(BC)
Coverstock preperation: 800grit slightly polished approx 1000grit "shiny"
Condition played on:
A: longer THS with broader Oil
B: shorter THS with out of bounds
Condition A:
On this med THS even with its broader oiling and fast breaking down lanes the ball shines!
I can play the ball almost 6 games on a 2vs2 set on two lanes (12 games per lane) when my Solid reactive starts to burn up after game 3-4!
The ball goes easy through the heads reavving up slightly on the midlane with a big pop on the backend... not really flip but very strong
Carry is difficult to explain. Missed shots often are carried but mos times a single pin stands. Forgivness is there but not as much as I am used from my other two balls but that is just on the perfect condition and I cannot play those the whole set of games! So the Machine is forgiving in respect to the time you can play it!
I give the ball a 9/10 on this condition
- for its power in the pins and it long time I can play it plus the still good carry on light hits. Hits through the nose means splits 4-6 with either 7 or 10... but what ball carry's noseshots regularly?
Condition B:
more oiled THS but shorter with OOB on the first five boards
Not breaking down as fast as condition A but slick oil!
I as forced to play real deep and tighter or the ball would either hook off through the nose or be stuck out there on the outter boards and not make it back
Either weak hits from that angle - bad carry of the cornerpins
or nosehit with the above mentioned 4-6-7(or 10) split.
Hit'n'Carry still is good! The ball seemed not to burn up but jump off the dry like crazy. Adjustments are important and need to be done fast and be brave! - the ball won't let you downe even when played weaker it will do the work.
I give the Machine a 6/10 (personal) on shorter patterns no matter how much oil there is cause with this drilling it will jump of the dry or hook too early and forces me to play very accurate.
People with a good game will do better than I did! I was able to get some good pockets but any misstake and the ball is not carrying.
Overall/ Sumup:
Med oil... even if longer and the ball is a Monster!
It does not mind about carrydown.
Carry is good.
Forgiveness is also good to very good
- IF the condition is right... anything else and you will be in trouble!
From my view this ball is for the advertisem med-oil conditions.
Adjustment of the coverstock to ~1000grit made the ball a good 3-5 boards stronger than OOB and I guess with the OOB it might be better on shorter patterns yet I wanted the ball to work on longer med patterns with fast breaking down and carry down.
-> and that is when the ball shines!
Hope I gave you a good picture of this ball though I guess I got one of the last ones out there...
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"Have fun and bowl well!" - Grayson
"Some things are made so even idiots won't fail using them.... But I aks what about the genius?" - Grayson
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(x_x)
c(')(')
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I, like one of the posters below made the same mistake. I bid on Ebay for what I thought was a new Mean Machine. After I won the bidding and I took a closer look I realized that I bought the Machine. Wasn't much I could do about it so I had the ball drilled with the pin about 3 inches above my ring finger. My pro shop guy said he drilled it for being a true skid/flip ball. I didn't know what to expect but what I got was exactly what I was looking for. Long and straight with a turn and slam back end. WOW!! This ball is terrific. I used it on THS in a four game tourney and did not change where I stood all four games. I threw the same line and ended up with a 283, 203, 265, & 267. Now if I can find a NIB 15# Power Machine to compliment it that would be great. This is my first Track and it's too bad it took me this long to find a ball like this. Anyone know where I can get a NIB #15 PM please let me know.
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*This review is for a TRACK STRIKE MACHINE, not an original Machine.*
Layout - 4 1/2" pin by 4" MB
Layout Pic - http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c288/TheOne9110/StrikeMachine-1.jpg
Stats are as follows:
PAP - 5 3/8 OVER
Speed - About 15mph-16mph
Revs - Lower-Medium, can go on a higher Medium rev rate if necessary.
Reaction Wanted: Out of this ball, I didn't know EXACTLY what to expect. I wanted a long and strong skid/flip out of the ball basically. I figured since it's a pearl with a strong rolling core, if I drill it with a long Pin-PAP distance, it would go long and strong.
Reaction Recieved: Out of the box, this ball was dead straight. I really don't know why, but it was. The first night I threw it, the first and second game, the ball was an arrow.. I then proceeded throwing it, and, wow, it sure came to life. It was a huge difference! Although it was not the reaction I intended on getting, the ball is still a big hooker. It revs up pretty good in the mids, and unloads a nice skid/arc type reaction. The ball doesn't cover many boards, though. It may just be me, but it really doesn't hook all too much. It slides a real lot in the oil, and needs a good amount of dry, and dry backends to hook its' true potential.
Coverstock: Like all COLUMBIA MADE Track balls, the cover on this ball is perfect. I have about 40-50 games on this piece, and not ONE sign close of ball death.
Overall: I figure this ball will be better for shorter oil patterns that you want to get a big hook out of. On a little longer patterns, or fresher THS, you'll be able to give it just a little swing unless you have some better hand than I do (very possible). When the lanes get used up a bit, just forget it, Strike Machine is too over/under.
Thanks for reading my review! If you have any questions, just LMK in a PM or something. 
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-Brian
http://BeansProShop.com
Home of the Secret Sauce!
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UPDATE of my previous review:
I have the Machine now for half a year and changed the surface and tried around and I found the ball to work best with a 1000grit basis and slightly polish.
with 1000grit the ball was good in the first game on our heavier, broader THS but tneds to burn up a bit later.
the polish helped a lot... it still is strong but it pushes down the lane better and regains more energy for the pins and this way is ideal for the local house I bowl.
as I stated the ball is very versatile in regards to how long and where I can play it and best at 1000grit polished.
Also I want to add
Condition C
New house... strong backends and a typical THS... with a very strong "WALL"
Well..... I can play the ball there... it works... but I have to go deep and it will not recover like a pearl there... so I tend more towards my weaker and more backend hooking pearl.
The Machine is working... but not the best choice.
7-8/10 on this condition for the simple reason that it is not forgicing as much as a Pearl reactive or a Solid which imho would be better.
Particles need oil... and this house simply has too dry outsides
old Overall/ Sumup:
Med oil... even if longer and the ball is a Monster!
It does not mind about carrydown.
Carry is good.
Forgiveness is also good to very good
- IF the condition is right and you know how to adjust... anything else and you will be in trouble! The ball.... from my experience... does not like short and light oil... and it is not built for this! So no problem!
From my view this ball is for the advertised med-oil conditions.
Adjustment of the coverstock to ~1000grit made the ball a good 3-5 boards stronger than OOB and I guess with the OOB it might be better on shorter patterns yet I wanted the ball to work on longer med patterns with fast breaking down and carry down.
-> and that is when the ball shines!
but it needed a bit of polish to get back on the backend
.... and nothing else
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Sebastian Koch
"Have fun and bowl well!" - Grayson
"Some things are made so even idiots won''t fail using them.... But I ask what about the genius?" - Grayson
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I found that the ball is more versatile on a 2000grit abralon basis!
works like a charm!
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Sebastian Koch
"Have fun and bowl well!" - Grayson
"Some things are made so even idiots won''t fail using them.... But I ask what about the genius?" - Grayson
(\_/)
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c('')('')
Unoffical Ballreviews.com FAQ (http://"http://www.ballreviews.com/Forum/Replies.asp?TopicID=74110&ForumID=16&CategoryID=5")
Hot Water Bath - instructions and experience (http://"http://www.ballreviews.com/Forum/Replies.asp?TopicID=199058&ForumID=17&CategoryID=5")
Bowling lessons and tips VIDEOS - VERY GOOD! (http://"http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=BowltechBowlingTips&p=r")
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This ball works like a charm for me. After around 2 years+, this ball still works fine. When my other balls have problem with carry down this ball will shine on a broken down lane and heavier oil. It has the characteristic of late roll (Pin Over Bridge 4 inch to PAP about 45 degree) and big hook on the back. On the drier lane, this ball can still manage a good carry but I wouldn't recommend it.
This is my saviour ball when my other balls just couldn't match up with the lane. I mostly use it OOB, but I will try to bring it down to maybe 2000grit just like other people say in this review. I will let you guys know how it works for me here.
Oh, I found that this ball works well on synthetic lane. On the old wood lane even in heavier oil, this ball just couldn't shine as much as on the synthetic lane.
When my Black widow and The One (original) died, this ball still roll like a bad boy. Great ball, medium versetality and awesome durability.
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"Greatness is more than potential. It is the execution of that potential. Beyond the raw talent. You need the appropriate training. You need the discipline. You need the inspiration. You need the drive."