In September, when I first started writing for MyBowler.com, I wrote my very first review of a bowling ball, the Track International Rule. It was exciting to share my views of a bowling ball since I’ve been keeping “secrets†about my more effective bowling balls for the previous 40 years I’ve been rolling balls down a bowling lane.
I would hope you agree that I’ve come along in my ability to write a clear, well understood review. I admit with all the bowling I’ve done, having enjoyed some of the successes and dealing with the challenges I’ve had on the lanes – I never had a real great handle on the physics and dynamics of contemporary bowling ball construction. It’s been since I’ve been writing reviews (after testing out bowling balls that I’ve been fortunate to recieve complements of the various manufacturers ) I’ve been much more studious of the construction, dynamics, and physics of the modern bowling ball.
I hope those of you with the advanced knowledge of bowling ball construction also agree that I’ve made some progress in communicating this information to you at a higher level than I have when I started this in September, 2004.
When I reviewed Track’s Rule, I noted that this was an aggressive resin ball made from Track’s “Goo Reactive†which was sanded with a “Mega-Smooth†finish and polished with Track’s Clean-N-Sheen polish. This ball provided good length despite being a strong hooker. The Rule hit very hard and was effective on most oil patterns I used it on.
Last week I was handed a Track Rule GP2, by our star webmaster, Kelly Brace, which was a complementary issue to us from Track President Del Warren and national sales director Brian Pursel.
I also accepted the exciting task of reviewing all of the future Track bowling balls seeded to us, as I have extensive experience and success with Track bowling balls, including many honor scores, most notably my career high series of 848 rolled with a Track Critical Mass Code Red in 1995 at Ideal Lanes in Buffalo, and a number of tournament titles that include using a Track Synergy to win the 1996 New York State Tournament Doubles event in Rochester with my good friend, ABC Tournament Champion and Friday Night Classic Mixed Trio teammate Ron Stacy with a record score at that time of 1527.
Track recently introduced the Rule GP2, their newest high-performance innovation from the Track team. The advertising literature states that the Rule GP2 defies logic; never has the industry seen a particle ball that is aggressive in the midlane without giving up angular, continuous backend motion in heavier oil environments.
The Rule GP2 features a combination of two different particles precision-injected into the aggressive Goo reactive. Track then matched the new coverstock with the large-volume Morpheus 1.0 core; added the high-volume Rev-Lever attachment from the Rule and the Xception core for strong mass bias; raised the RG for more energy retention; and attached a flip block for awesome backend reaction. The Rule GP 2 is noted to be aggressive in the front and the backend, delivering the technology that has made Track the industry leader in core/coverstock innovation.
The Rule GP2 Specifications include a Hook Rating of 42-32, Length of 3.5 with a Backend of 9.0. The core technology is Track’s famed Morpheus Rev-Lever that has a Core Power of 9.5, a Radius of Gyration of 2.57 with a Differential of 0.052. The Determinator Spin Time is 6.2, with a Flare Potential of 7. The Rule GP2 has a Friction Rating of 9.9. The Rule GP2 cover is finish is Ultra-Smooth and polished with Track’s Clean N Polish. The reaction shape is Strong Arc and is more suited for oil patterns that have heavy amounts of oil.
Most of my closest friends and associates will agree that I’m a pretty compulsive and impulsive human being, especially once I get a brand new bowling ball in my hands. Once I get an idea of what kind of reaction shape I’m looking for, I’m pretty stubborn about certain layouts I like to have drilled in my bowling balls. However, in recent months, I’ve been really good about seeking input and suggestions about ball layouts, especially since I’ve been using various manufacturers’ bowling balls.
When I spoke with Del Warren at the Track workshop in Cheektowaga last week, he encouraged me to consult with him before the holes were drilled in my Track bowling balls.
I wish I caught up with Del two days sooner. I already had drilled a Rule GP2 with a 5 x 3 drilling, with the CG kicked out a little, and the mass bias between my thumb hole and my positive axis point. Matt Yablonsky from Matt’s Pro Shop inside Rapids Bowling Center in Niagara Falls drilled this putting the pin a couple inches above the finger holes on my grip centerline. After Matt drilled the Rule GP2, there was ¼ ounce positive side and 1/8 thumb weights; needless to say there was no need for an extra hole to be drilled in the ball. This Rule GP2 started with about 3 ounces of top weight. The pin was 5†from the ball’s center of gravity. A little more Clean and Shine polish was applied to the Rule GP2 as I was planning to throw it on carrydown after a four man league
After the Rule GP2 was drilled, I took it to lanes 7-8 at Rapids during our Wednesday night semi-classic doubles league. The condition was Rapids familiar 21 milliliter, 42’ house pattern with a good amount of oil that was carried down. Note that the surface is wood and was last resurfaced in 2000 previous to the center reopening following being closed for seven years. During practice, I was playing around the fourth arrow, noticing that I got a real good look as it revolved quite cleanly through the heads and midlane given the amount of depletion of oil from the heads.
It’s been a few years since I saw a ball that was so aggressive in both simultaneous rotation and revolution. I got a nice smooth transition in dynamic from roll to hook past the midlane. I found the Rule GP2 to have just enough arc to hit the pins hard - as advertised! In terms of scoring, I threw games of 247 and 279 with the Rule GP2. The Rule GP2 was a perfect match for the condition.
I threw the Rule GP 2 on the same pattern at Rapids on a fresh condition. I got nearly the same reaction that I got on the carried down condition. The only difference was that I played between the second and third arrow, so the Rule GP2 was a touch more aggressive in the back end. I managed to strike quite a bit, and only moved my feet left 5-6 boards after throwing the Rule GP 2 for about an hour or so. The Rule GP2 provided the same strong arc on both fresh and carrydown. That’s something not seen in most bowling balls made in the last 10 years. Oil depletion causes more snap and jerk for most contemporary bowling balls. Considering that the pin is 5†from the CG, this layout may have enhanced the advertised strong arc and kept the Rule GP2 from jerking hard in the back end.
Our thanks go out to Track International President and PBA Champion Del Warren and Track's national sales director and world renowned bowling coach Brian Pursel for the complementary issue of the Rule GP2, while props go out to Matt Yablonsky for drilling this Track International product. Thanks go out to my good pal Len Pimm and his staff at Rapids Bowling Center in Niagara Falls in providing the facilities and oiling specifications.
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Happy Bowling!
Fran
FRAN BAX - Member of the Buffalo and New York State Bowling Association Halls of Fame
MyBowler.com Senior Editor and Consultant
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