Ball: Pin 5 inches from PAP, directly under the bridge, CG is kicked out about 1.5 inches from grip center and is 1 3/4 below my midline. First tried the ball with the factory compound finish, but decided to add some Magic Shine to the surface for more length.
Lane Conditions: I have only used this ball at my home center, which offers up a typical house shot. I added some oil on a pair to see if it would still recover with a flood in the middle. The shot is 37ft buffed to 44ft. Heavy oil in the middle and it tapers out to the gutter.
Line: I threw it side by side to compare it with the Xception and the Slash. I had to stand about 4 boards right(when compared with the Xception) with the Heat to get it back to the pocket. SO, I was standing with my feet on 26 targeting 13 at the arrows with my breakpoint at about 5-7 board down the lane. I was able to move over to 18 and play up 9-10 board if I let up on my release a bit.
Reaction: The Heat goes dead straight in oil. It will open up a house shot nicely, but from a more direct line than a ball as strong as the Xception (which I use on medium-med/light). The backend reaction is strong, and controllable at the same time. Simply put it is a long and strong, skid/flip kind of ball. Compound still allows a ball to roll early, that is the reason I chose to put Magic Shine on it. It is not enough ball to recover when carrydown is present.
Impact: I have yet to throw a Track ball that does not hit, and the HEAT keeps that string going. It hits hard. I tried differing the line a bit to see if it would still hit well from different angles, and it does. When I tried to move too far left and kept the ball in the oil too long though it did not hit nearly as well, but this ball is not designed for that. I was impressed with the power at the pins it offers up.
Readability: Normally I do not like skid/flip to read a lane with, but the Heat is a ball that I could pull out of the bag and know what the lanes are doing. My normal place to start is about 23-26 board with my feet. If I start there with the Heat it will let me know if I can use it just based on the length it gets. When I moved right and played it up the boards it just followed the oil line-----as it hit the buff area it made its move, but was not too "jumpy".
OVERALL: The pin below the bridge layout is a strong layout for me most of the time. I could have drilled the Heat weaker, but I wanted a reactive with this kind of layout. I never had the original Heat, but I am glad I have this one. It fills a drier lane ball for me(someone that has more hand or slower ball speed may not be able to use it on dry unless it is drilled pretty weak), and is useable all of the way up through mediums. I see the Heat as a ball that will do what you drill it to do....drill it to be smooth that is what you will get, drill it to snap hard and you will get it.
I am excited about the release of this ball. It definately fills a void in the Track lineup.
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C-G Pro Shop (owner/operator)
Youngstown Ohio
Track Intl.-Amateur/Pro Shop Staff
