yak merchant and dropptonhed,
Brian didn't say it was weak, but "weaker". Balls like the Gladiator and Ogre solid will hook more and handle more oil than any pearl. As strong as the core of the AMB pearl is (the Immortal Pearl is usually called that.), the cover is not as strong as the Ogre pearl, in my opinion.
Just because you "can't really picture either being too tame for anyone" doesn't mean it's tame for Brian, but, more importantly, he doesn't throw the ball the way you do, nor did he drill it the way you did (Probably), nor does he bowl on your oil pattern or lane surface. There are so many variables involved in these situations.
This reminds of a thread I saw yesterday about the Lanemasters STing, one the flippiest non-pearl resins ever made. One guy, posting his impressions, said it was very smooth for him. I must assume this smoothness, NOT a basic characteristic of this ball, must have bene a result of both his release and the oil pattern/lane surface on which he was using it. A newbie sees this and grabs a hold of it like his life depended on it. He asked about this smoothness because that he wants in a ball and the guy says specifically, "FOr me it was smooth." The newbie says "great, that's what I need." Now if this newbie has anywhere near a normal or average release and ball speed, he is going to be greatly disappointed, because this ball flips and backends like no body's business, in the 99% case.
Would he listen to me when I "contradict" the original poster? Of course not. He read what he wanted to read and only that.
Brian posted that RELATIVE TO HIS GLADIATOR AND OGRE solid, that the AMB pearl is weaker. He didn't say it was weak; it is not weak. But it is a goto ball form those strong, DULL solids.
Sorry for the rant. No insult intended, but please remember that every ball is strong or weak relative to some other ball, and reaction is dependent on a LARGE number of factors, making everyone's perception of a ball slightly to largely different.
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"None are so blind as those who will not see." Unofficial Ballreviews.com FAQEdited on 4/23/2008 8:21 AM