Ball Review – Track Paradox
**Note – I have not had the chance to work an EBI Demo Day with the Bowler I.D. Software so I do not know my bowler stats, all descriptions of my game will be based on general observations
I would describe myself as having average ball speed (roughly 15 MPH, sometimes a touch lower) with a slightly above average rev rate, I am very up the back of the ball but working on being able to get my hand around the ball easier and more effortlessly. I do prefer to hook the ball and am very comfortable getting in deep, however I can play straight too if the lanes call for it.
The Paradox from Track is one of those special releases that just has that it feeling to it, similar to the Black Widow, HyRoad, Inferno, etc. from year's past. Often times when I like the motion of a ball I'll drill a second one as a compliment so I can attack a greater range of lane conditions with that similar motion.
The first Paradox I drilled was pin under Middle Finger with the MB two inches right of my center line, with a low weighthole and kept at box finish. This layout and surface combination gives me all the hook I need on fresh house patterns and longer challenge patterns, but with the relatively weaker pin placement I know that I can't move too far left or else the ball will use up too much energy getting back to the pocket.
The second Paradox I drill was pin over and a touch right of Ring Finger with the MB two inches right of my center line, no weighthole, and was initially thrown at box finish but then later hit with 800 and polished with Powerhouse Factory Finish. While this ball was at box finish (500-2000 abralon) I saw a slightly cleaner motion through the fronts compared to the first Paradox with more energy retention for the backend, this allowed me to move my feet in a little more and open up my angles for when the first Paradox started to burn up. After hitting the surface with 800 and Factory Finish I saw even more push through the fronts but because of the stronger base grit and coverstock (800 compared to most balls being 2000 or 4000 grit underneath the polish) there was still enough grab in the midlane to prevent the ball from squirting downlane. This is a motion that I can use on fresher medium length and volume patterns, as well as some longer patterns on beaten up surfaces, as well as when the lanes start to transition and I can open up my angles considerably. (I will be trying a third surface on this Paradox, I will hit the ball with 2000 and Factory Finish polish, but then will use a fresh 4000 grit pad to burn some of the polish off, this should allow me to maintain some of the push from the polish but using 2000 as the base grit instead of 800 will prevent the ball from reading the midlane TOO much without sacrificing too much backend...also, this will prevent some potential overlap from when I drill my Black Widow Limited)
In conclusion, I cannot praise the power and versatility of this ball enough, whether pin up or pin down, sanded or polished, this ball gives strong predictable motion on a wide variety of lane conditions to a wide variety of styles. Young and old, fast and slow, higher and lower rev rates, all can find a spot in their bag for this beast. With unexplainable hook and power on the heaviest of oil patterns, this ball truly is a must have.
Thank you!
