Track Hex-Plosion
Weight: 15#
Top Weight: 3.5 oz
Layout: Pin above bridge, CG stable in midgrip
Surface: OOB
Lane Condition tried on: Saturday afternoon shot, THS with some carrydown from the youth leagues
I got this ball from Michael(SteveAustin2808) b/c he flat out didn't like it...never fit his style. I decided to give this ball a test session on one of the tougher houses in town. To my surprise, they have changed the shot from the last time I was there to a higher scoring THS, with less oil from 10 to the gutter than they usually put out(usually its OB outside 10)
I played from 19-12 for the first 4 games of the practice session, with the ball making a nice strong arc to the pocket. This ball has some serious pop to it, and the pins were dancing all over the deck. By no means was this a weak ball, and that surprised me. As the lanes dried up, I moved a few boards left to stay with the oil. It was a consistent reaction, not a snap or a flip, but a controllable one which is important to me in a ball.
One thing I noticed as well as the lanes were drying up was the fact that since this a particle ball, it burns up a lot. The last game I bowled, I left a lot of solid 10s and weak 10s b/c this ball kept burning up the last 15 feet. The reaction was still smooth, but the hit was getting weaker due to the lanes getting dryer.
I shot every game above 160(my avg. is 174), with some 200+ games tossed in(nothing above 210-219 area). This ball showed to me that it deserves a place in my bag.
Overall:
This is my first pin above layout, so I am very well pleased with the results of it, considering I usually have the pin under the ring or pin kicked to the right of the ring(aggressive drillings). Tamer reaction was need from this ball, and I got what I was looking for and then some. This ball makes an excellent medium oil ball, and is a great performer on a THS. It reacts well, but only when there is some oil present. The HexPlosion doesn't need much, no more than medium, but just enough to get some traction to get to the pocket. Otherwise, it will burn up BIG time and hit like a marshmallow.
You have to know when to put this ball away and go to something reactive or weaker. It is release and speed sensitive for me, and its versatility is limited. It is very condition specific, and is not something you can use all night. You will have to bring another ball with you, unless you want to leave a lot of 10s after about games 3, 4, or 5(if you bowl tourneys and such).
Grades:
On dry: 5/10. Too many weak hits, and burning up caused this ball to be flat out not effective on this condition.
On medium: 10/10. This is where the HexPlosion makes the grade. It performs like a champ, hitting with some pop and very nice arc to the pocket. This ball was made for this condition, as Track said it would be.
On heavy: 3/10. You have to play really direct to get this ball to work. Being a Particle Pearl, it requires a lesser volume of oil and more dry to work properly. It will wiggle more than react good....
Compared to my other Track stuff:
Phenom Unleashed: The Unleashed hooks 5 boards more than the HexPlosion with a better flip on the backend. The Unleashed's sharper angle and it ability to handle a heavier shot makes the HexPlosion a big step down from the Unleashed.
Heat Remake: The HexPlosion has a smoother arc compared to the Heat's flip on the back. The Heat has more backend, and save its energy for it. When the Hex starts hitting weak, this is when I would pull out the Heat. It hooks 2 boards less on the front part of the lane, and 2 boards more on the back part. Basically, these two balls are apples and oranges: 2 different reactions for 2 different shots.
Grade: A (The ball does what it is supposed to do, and does the job very well, great job by Track! I am starting to like Track's equipment with each piece I try....keep up the great work guys!!
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Take the FastTrack to victory with Track bowling balls....no doubt the fastest, most hardhitting speedsters on the road!
3 ways to victory:
Unleash the Phenom's fury
Make a Hexplosion on the pindeck
Turn up the Heat on the competition
No doubt, you are on the right Track when you go with the gameplan to success, one frame at a time!