Centaur AMB Solid
Bowler Specs:
Speed: 12-14 mph (12.5 mph aver.)
Revs: 250-400 rpm (300 rpm aver.)
Axis Tilt: 10-15 degrees (10 aver.)
Axis Rotation: 10-75 degrees (45 aver.)
PAP: 5†over 3/8†up (Semi roller)
Style: Tweener
Ball Specs: (Pre. Drill)
Wt: 15.25 lbs
Top Wt: 3.15
Pin: 2-3â€
Finish: 1000 matte (oob)
Ball Drill:
45 degree control
Pin ¾†under ring finger with Mb kicked right at 45 degree angle 2 1/2†right and below thumb.
Pin 4 ½†from PAP ¾†above grip center.
MB 4 ¼†from PAP 3†right and 4†below grip center.
Weight Hole 2 ½†right and ½†up of thumb 1†wide X 1†deep
Review:
First House
Lane Conditions: Medium oil 10 x 10 35’ buffed to 40’ with OB outside 5 @ 40 ft.
Lane Surface: All wood house with striped backends.
Second House
Lane conditions: Medium Heavy Oil 5 x 5 40’ buffed to 45’ dry outside 5
Lane Surface: Brunswick Pro Avilane
First House
Standing 22-23
Slide 20
Target 17 at dots
Line 17 -8 @ 40’
On this shot I can play my normal shot; 12.5 mph, 45 degree AR, with 300 rpm, the Centaur AMB has no problems clearing the heads even when the shot starts to breakdown. The ball has a smooth read of the midlane and when it hits the backend it produces a hard arc to the pocket. On the fresh backends the turn is pretty hard but as the lanes breakdown the turn becomes more even as the ball starts to read the midlane a little sooner and produce a even turn to the pocket. On the fresh conditions I can miss in or out a couple of bards and the ball finishes hard as the lanes break down as shot missed inside tends to slide a bit like on the fresh shot but the backend turn isn’t there and the ball comes a little light but sends pins everywhere for some strikes or an easy 2, 4 or 7 pin spare. If I keep the ball out on the broken down shot the ball just kills the hole almost not enough deflection, seems like the last pin is the 8 or 9 but it almost always caries. The AMB solid caries most every hit in the pocket which includes light and heavy shots. In comparison I was using a messenger ti drilled stacked leverage polished. With messenger I was standing 3/1 right and playing 15-8 @ 40. The messenger would rev in the midlane and produce a hard hockey stick type reaction that tended to be a bit over under on errant shots for the first two games and during the 3rd game the messenger just wouldn’t hit as the lanes broke down. The Centaur doesn’t give me any over under because of the control drill and gives me the look I look for on the lanes.
Second House
Stand 18
Slide 16
Tagart 13 at dots
Line 13-8 @ 45’
On the fresh shot I have to play a tighter line than stated above to get the centaur AMB to hit, but that’s why I got a Granite Gargoyle to open up the shot ;-). I use the Centaur typically starting half way through the 2nd game after the granite starts to burn up and the shot starts to dry out. The centaur picks up where the Granite left off only it goes a little longer and turns harder to the pocket. The centaur again the heads easy and produce a strong arc on the backend. These synthetic lanes dry out fast and I typical have the chase the oil line on every shot and typically end the night playing 18-8 @ 45’ watching the turn the corner. I am again using my typical release of 45 AR @ 13mph and 300 rpm. I have to make sure I get the ball out or there is no hold and look out Brooklyn city. I can play a straighter line with less axis rotation (15-25) and more speed and the carry is great but why go fix what isn’t broken. More axis rotation causes the ball the read to early and it is hard to control but if there were some hold in the middle I could make this work. Carry in the beginning is great but by late 3rd game I have to be careful not to really hit the ball as it will come to strong and bam ringing 10 with to much angle to the pocket.
Overall:
On a medium to medium heavy shot of 35-40’ the centaur is at home on the fresh condition with a nice midlane roll and good backend reaction. On a longer shot I need to open up the shot a bit and then the centaur is at home. With a stronger drill however I think the Centaur will work on that fresh longer pattern. I haven’t used the centaur on short patterns, 30-35 foot but I feel that I may be too much with the current finish but a higher grit finish and some polish it will most likely do the job. I have around 150 games on my centaur and the cover is in great shape no sign of a track and the reaction is still strong, after one hot water bath, and cleaning after each use. I have to think the reason a dull matte finish ball clears the heads so well is do to the higher rg and high diff allows the ball to read and turn hard with a semi weak drill. The new immoral solid has the same cover finish with a lower rg and higher diff and I think that ball will handle more oil and read sooner than the Centaur.
I would give the centaur AMB solid a nice 9.5 out of 10 and I have to say thank you visionary. I
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I play with HAND when need be or straight when it scores
What ever the problem you have when bowling the answer is always more L.O.F.T (Lack of Freaking Talent)
