Manufacturer’s Intent: “We’re adding power at a modest price with the Marauder Madness,” says Aaron Koch. “The new Class 5G reactive coverstock, combined with the Maraud- er core, gives the bowler length through the front, and a strong, continuous motion for a variety of conditions, while maintaining proper grip throughout the length of the lane.”
Core Design: The symmetric core shape for the Mad- ness encourages a smooth and steady roll pattern. The Rg is medium at 2.52 and the differential is .050 for a 15-lb.
ball. We saw upwards of 6 inches of track flare with our strong layout. This core also was used in the first Marauder (August 2012).
Coverstock: The Class 5G reactive solid is a slightly more aggressive formula than what was used in the original’s Class 4 blend. Col- ors are a fusion of blue and neon yellow. The factory finish is sanded with Sia Air pads of 500 and 4000 grits. Response time is moderate off drier areas and slightly above average when in oil. The Ra level is medium, which suits this ball perfectly.
Test Results: The Marauder Madness, like the original, rolled evenly and predictably through- out the entire lane. We saw no skid/flip characteristics with factory surface, but did see some with polish added. Since the symmetric core matches well with the Class 5G cover, most bowler styles will see great matchups on fresh and moderate carrydown. Both Marauders belong to the benchmark category of ball motion for medium to medium- heavy oil volumes. What we liked most about the Marauder Madness was the strong and secure mid-lane read it gave our entire test staff.
When to Use: We had our best looks on fresh patterns with clean to moderate carrydown. A 40x4x60 dual-angle layout was our favorite for the fresh condition due to the control it offered. Through transitional phases, only our speed-dominant tester could stay with the Marauder and continue to carry. Our matched and slower speed testers simply applied some Brunswick factory polish to carry well through the breakdown. We pre- ferred a 70x5x35 dual-angle layout during breakdown for its later and stronger back- end motion. Our other breakdown option was to use the original Marauder, which is a polished hybrid
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