Author Topic: Rule or Animal? (Read 3524 times)

icetink · « **on:** August 05, 2004, 09:31:48 AM »

I'm currently using a Phenom with a pin below the ring finger and the mass bias in a flip position (one inch from the thumb hole). This ball is great for medium and even medium-heavy, but when the oil is heavy and/or long it doesn't work as well. I'm looking into buying a heavy oil ball. I have considered the Animal, but by what I've read about the Rule, I'm having second thoughts.

What are your opinions regarding a heavy oil ball? Should I still go for the Animal or wait for the Rule? I'm planning on getting it drilled with the pin under the ring finger and the mass bias in the strong position. Comments and suggestions are welcome. Thank you.

-icetink

Edited on 8/11/2004 11:18 PM

C-G ProShop-Carl · « **Reply #1 on:** August 06, 2004, 02:56:08 AM »

From everything I am hearing (having not thrown the Rule yet), the Animal is still the better choice for heavy oil. It is definately the best ball I have had for those conditions.
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Owner/Operator
C-G Pro Shop

bowlerstyle · « **Reply #2 on:** August 06, 2004, 03:03:10 AM »

The Rule is out hook the Animal without a doubt, but the Animal will get into a little bit of an earlier rolling formation. The Rule will cut through that oil and start to make it's move towards the midlane. But I'd go with your gut feeling because I know people that have had success with the animal and the rule looks like it will have that same success.

icetink · « **Reply #3 on:** August 06, 2004, 03:09:06 AM »

If I do get the Animal, I'd have to sand it down and remove the factory finish (clean n' sheen) to get that awesome performance (that EXCALIBER and others have mentioned). Hopefully more people will be able to try/see the Rule over the next few days(and weeks) to help me with my decision. Fall leagues and tournaments start in a month so I have approximately a month to decide

C-G ProShop-Carl · « **Reply #4 on:** August 06, 2004, 08:10:18 AM »

Hopefully tenpinspro will chime in on this soon. He has currently thrown each.

According to everything being said about the Rule it is a "get down the lane and move" ball, that is not the best reaction to have on heavy oil conditions. Sanding the Animal down will get the desired reaction because it will get the ball in an earlier roll which is required on heavy oil.

WITH THAT SAID......I wonder what the Rule will offer if it is sanded down a bit.
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Owner/Operator
C-G Pro Shop

tenpinspro · « **Reply #5 on:** August 06, 2004, 10:56:44 AM »

As usual, I have to agree with my partner in crime(Ex). My Animal is still in its 600 finish and it definitely rolled sooner than the Rule. I did try to play all the center oil on the lane when I compared them and I saw the Animal roll up much better. I had to swing the Rule across the lighter oil to the drier/lite hang area to get it to react the way it did.

We're back to the old discussion of resin vs particle theory. Basically, if a lane has enough dry to the right or backends, the ball that stores the most energy before hitting that dry area will hook harder and sharper(usually resin stores more than particle). However, if it's true long heavy oil, I'd have to say the Animal would still be the better choice to go with so you can roll thru it.

I also have not sanded my Rule to compare but that would also take away the backend reaction by making it roll early. Presently, that is not an option cause I'm having too much fun throwing it as is...

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Rick Leong
Ten Pins Pro Shop
Track Amateur/Pro Shop Staff
Vise Grip Staff

BackToBasics · « **Reply #6 on:** August 06, 2004, 11:17:27 AM »

Well Rick, when you get finished playing with your Tonka Truck

, it would be nice if you or EX could put both the Animal and Rule at the same surface with similar drills and compare. Of course not for me, but my wife would be interested in it. She currently has an Animal and has the Rule but hasn't drilled it yet (still eating that Puerto Rican rice!) and is deciding on her arsenal for the winter. She's been eyeing the UI for a while because SO many people have been scoring with it in our area but I convinced her to wait for the Rule. Strong resin with some surface may suit her for most of the conditions we see. It will hopefully allow her to move in a little and still get the recovery downlane that she currently doesn't get with the Animal. We can then just hit the Animal with 600 for those rare heavy oil occasions and our Sport League.

tenpinspro · « **Reply #7 on:** August 06, 2004, 11:35:22 AM »

Mr Chapman,

I'm going to tell your wife what you said!

Remember, she likes me! I don't think you have to compare the Rule to the Animal. Out of box, she should be able to get the Rule down the lane and have plenty of recovery, much more than a UI(don't even ask Ex about this ball)

. Based on our phone conversation couple days ago, I'd say the Rule would fit as is. She may actually have to polish/weaken it a bit if the oil is that short. Give me a buzz and we'll talk more...

quote:
Well Rick, when you get finished playing with your Tonka Truck

Who's playing? That's my commute car...

Rick

C-G ProShop-Carl · « **Reply #8 on:** August 07, 2004, 01:58:31 AM »

Chapman....the Ultimate Inferno. I used to have one of those....but I am pretty sure I flushed it down the toilet.

I was not impressed with it. The way I was throwing the ball at the time I rarely if EVER had a ball burn up on me....that was Brunswick's explanation as to why I could not use the Ultimate Inferno and get good reaction. HOWEVER......at the time I could use a Raging Inferno sanded to 600 grit, an Animal sanded to 800 grit and niether of them burned up. They reacted really well. I was not impressed with the UI, it did hit well, but I think it was best used on medium conditions for me (at that time). The Animal Untamed easily covered more boards than the UI.

RICK....thanks for getting me started again. I am sure the Big B fans will chime in and attempt to bash me YET again!

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Owner/Operator
C-G Pro Shop

icetink · « **Reply #9 on:** August 07, 2004, 02:07:27 AM »

From what I've read so far, the Rule is an awesome ball in box condition. According to Track's website, the Rule's NIB condition is Mega-Smooth with their polish Clean n' Sheen. The Animal is also finished with Track's Clean n' Sheen and for some people, the Animal left in box condition wasn't the best ball ever. As Excaliber mentioned in his ball review of one of his Animals, he had to dull the ball to 800-grit in order for the ball to be a true heavy oil ball.

If the Rule is already a great med/heavy oil ball in box condition, I would definitely like to find out how it would react if the coverstock is taken down to 800-grit. What would even be better is if someone could have the Rule and Animal drilled the same and sand both to 800-grit and compare the results (lol that's a lot to ask for, but hey, if anyone has time/money, let me know!

)

C-G ProShop-Carl · « **Reply #10 on:** August 07, 2004, 02:38:48 AM »

AH.....don't be fooled.

The Animal with its box finish still moves pretty good....more than the Unleashed or even the first Phenom. Track put that compound finish on it so it would not be too strong for bowlers. With the box finish I could use it on heavy oil....just not the heaviest of oil (if that makes sense). Because of how much I liked the first Animal I had in box condition I did not want to sand it down. With the compound finish it was perfect for league shots that had heavier oil or carrydown.

I sanded the second Animal to 800 and drilled it strong because I knew I had some tournaments this summer where I would probably have to use it. So sanded down it is primarily a tournament ball. I have not really seen enough oil on a house shot to have to use it.

FYI----the clean n sheen is 1000 grit, so sanding to 800 is going to make it move more, but in comparison 800 is not really that low of a grit compared to Clean n Sheen.

From the sounds of it, I think the Rule is going to be better on a house shot than the Animal. BUT, if you are really going to face heavy oil, you will need earlier roll and nothing is better for that than the Animal.

-EX-
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Owner/Operator
C-G Pro Shop

BackToBasics · « **Reply #11 on:** August 07, 2004, 03:05:39 PM »

My wife and I will be drilling up our Rules the next day or so. She'll probably go with the same layout as the Animal so at one point we'll compare both at the same surface.

Although Clean N' Sheen may be 1000 grit when applied with a spinner it can polish a ball some. I immediately used it on the Animal and it created a more polished surface than box. I use it as my primary polish for all balls unless I really need more length. Then I'll use Magic Shine or Delayed Reaction. It works very well on the "sheen" finishes like the Phenom, Phenom Unleashed, Crunch, Havoc, etc. It gets more length than 1000 grit wet sand and more recovery.

Regarding factory finishes, I've wondered what the specs mean on Tracks site. It seems like the actual box surface is listed as Finish and the recommended polish is Polish. I emailed Track to verify so I'll post what they say.

For Example:
Phenom Unleashed
Finish: 1500 Smooth
Polish Magic Shine

Animal
Finish: Compound
Polish Clean 'N Sheen

tenpinspro · « **Reply #12 on:** August 07, 2004, 03:30:52 PM »

quote:
Regarding factory finishes, I've wondered what the specs mean on Tracks site. It seems like the actual box surface is listed as Finish and the recommended polish is Polish.

Hey Ant, I think you answered it right there. "Recommended polish" is the suggested polish to use if you want just a little more length while still getting the same basic reaction from the ball. By not over polishing, you won't lose the original strength of the ball's design, just trying to get a little more length out of it. That's my guess....

Rick

BackToBasics · « **Reply #13 on:** August 07, 2004, 04:05:10 PM »

Rick,

That makes sense to me. The Rule and Animal come with Mega Smooth and compound finishes respectively but if you want the same overall agressiveness but just a little more length than use Clean 'N Sheen. I think it's confusing because the Animal is the only one that mentions a specific finish in it's description but that doesn't match the spec sheet.

Anyway, don't want to divert this thread from the original topic so once I hear anything I'll post a new thread...

icetink · « **Reply #14 on:** August 07, 2004, 11:27:11 PM »

Heh, don't worry about 'diverting' anything...as long as the topic remains somewhat related to the Rule vs. Animal. The more things that are said will/may be able to help me with a decision. I wish I had more money so I could just get both!
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-icetink

Author Topic: Rule or Animal? (Read 3524 times)

icetink

Rule or Animal?

C-G ProShop-Carl

Re: Rule or Animal?

bowlerstyle

Re: Rule or Animal?

icetink

Re: Rule or Animal?

C-G ProShop-Carl

Re: Rule or Animal?

tenpinspro

Re: Rule or Animal?

BackToBasics

Re: Rule or Animal?

tenpinspro

Re: Rule or Animal?

C-G ProShop-Carl

Re: Rule or Animal?

icetink

Re: Rule or Animal?

C-G ProShop-Carl

Re: Rule or Animal?

BackToBasics

Re: Rule or Animal?

tenpinspro

Re: Rule or Animal?

BackToBasics

Re: Rule or Animal?

icetink

Re: Rule or Animal?