After thinking my Freak either had the coverstock die, or lose some pop (just seemed to burn energy too soon, and no hit, and on oil, it did nothing), I put it up for a while.  After deciding to replace Ebonite with Track as one of my main two companies to use (Brunswick being the other), I pulled out my EMB, and bought a Mutant, as well as decided to polish my Freak, and try to use it on slightly drier lanes.  It's worked to a tee, the hit is back, and it hooks less than my Time Zone, but still more than my Monster Frenzy, which is also polished.  The Freak basically took the place of my Fuze Igniter, which I never really cared for.  And the Mutant, that a whole other subject altogether....amazing ball.  Anyway, the big Freak'n machine is back, and I couldn't be happier to have Track's equipment back in my arsenal.