If you are familiar with our other reviews you may know that every so often a ball comes along that we give an exceptionally positive review to, this is one of those balls. The Heat 2 makes us wonder why anyone with even an average rev rate would ever spend more money than needed to get one of these.
We have drilled several Heat 2's but the balls we observed for this review were drilled as follows. The first was a pin and c.g. 4 1/2" from the p.a.p. with an extra hole 6" from the grip center on a line through the c.g. (which put it an inch below the axis) This ball was tested in it;s out of the box condition with polish added after several games. The second ball was drilled with the pin above the ring finger and the c.g. at ½ positive, this ball was also tested in it's out of the box condition. The third ball was drilled with the pin on the grip line below the fingers with the c.g. at ½ negative, the pin was 6" from the p.a.p. This ball was wet sanded from 600 to 1500 and polished to a high gloss using Neo-Tac's Control It.
The balls were all tested on synthetic lanes conditioned using the Kegel Elite machine. We bowled on patterns that were both fresh and broken down and in league play. We were also using a new tester being a classic straight player, a tremendous bowler who regularly bowls in the senior scratch events in the Michigan area. Our other tester was our regular stroker type who throws about 17 mph with between 19 and 21 revolutions at about 45 degrees of axis rotation.
There was literally nothing negative to say about this ball once our tests were over! Apart from the obvious, that it can't handle the desert dry, there isn't anything that this ball can't do. The carry is as good as any ball we have ever seen, let alone tested. The shell is adjustable and although we only had to dull the shell on one occasion for the straight player on a longer pattern with some carry-down, it worked perfectly. The ball with the pin over the fingers and the ball with the pin under the fingers were similar in their reaction, the obvious difference being that the ball with the pin above the fingers went slightly longer before reacting. The Heat 2 is as strong as a ball can be without being uncontrollable and hits like nothing we have seen in a long time. We know some folks who say the original Heat was the best ball they ever threw, this ball has to be as good as that was and perhaps better.
The most impressive aspect of our tests was that under any circumstance, if we were able to create enough skid to get to the break point (no matter how-speed hand positions etc) the ball was the best option we had! Even if we were able to stand farther right with another ball, we would still carry better using the Heat from farther left. This ball has it all, smooth, predictable and strong reaction on the back end, no over-under, an adjustable shell and the best pin crushing action anyone could ever ask for. The straighter player we used for some of these tests was so impressed with the Heat 2 he has since drilled two more!
Even though this ball isn't what could be called "cheap", it isn't up there in price with some of the higher end balls going. That said, this ball is one that is most certainly worth the money. All but the slowest players on the driest lanes will find many uses for the Heat 2 and will score with it if they have ever scored with anything! We confidently recommend this ball as often as any other we have ever had in our shop. If you have any questions regarding this or any of our other reviews, e-mail us at: proshop@bowlero.com