Ball Review


Lane #1: Bloody Panther Hook 50 • Length 15.5 • Breakpoint Shape 16


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“The Bloody Panther is designed to fi ll a gap


between our asymmetri- cal core Stealth Bomber series and our lighter oil Ripsaw [October 2012] ball,” says Lane #1’s Richie Sposato. “This is our fi rst hybrid coverstock on our true diamond core.” Core Design: The


Bloody Panther’s sym- metric core shape is both fast revving and easy to read as the ball goes through the skid, hook and roll phases. We saw nearly 4.5 inches of track fl are from the 2.46 RG and .043 diff erential. The familiar diamond shape core returns with a vengeance.


Coverstock: The Bloody Panther incorporates one of Lane #1’s best medium oil coverstock formulas, Bleeder 9.7. The blood red and black colored cover is now in hybrid form. Factory fi nish is a 6421 compound polish times two. The end result is a glossy sheen, which is destined for use on most light-medium to medi- um oil volumes. The Ra measures 2.0 and the eff ective surface grit is 5300. Response time off dry is quick and


strong, and oil traction comes in slightly less than average.


Test Results: The Bloody Pan- ther is a medium oil ball that delivers an aggressive back-end motion shape. On some of the test patterns we saw what could be described as major skid/fl ip. But on most of the patterns, es- pecially after transition, we saw more of a hard arc breakpoint downlane. The core delivers predictability and angularity, while the cover responds quickly off drier areas in the fi nal 20 feet. Usability was above average, as was pin carry. The only pattern that created some control issues was a heavier vol- ume fresh house application. On it, we saw some over/under with box fi nish, which a light scuffi ng improved.


When to Use: Use for most light-me- dium to medium oil volumes when the backend has experienced some mod- erate oil carrydown. “It’s a great game 2 and 3 ball,” said one tester, as he fi red a 300 and 258 back to back. (It was diffi - cult to get him to put the ball away and test the others.) On heavier oil, players can opt to scuff the surface with 1000 to 4000 grits, or simply use a Maxx Curve (November 2011) or Stealth Bomber (August 2012).


TIPS AND TRICKS TO MAKE YOU A BETTER BOWLER


Radical: Torrid Elite Hook 51 • Length14.5 • Breakpoint Shape 15


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“For the Torrid Elite, our goal was to create a stronger upgrade to the Torrid line,” says Radical’s Phil Cardina- le. “Using a more aggressive cover and core combination, we have created the perfect complement to the original Torrid [July 2012].”


Core Design: The Torrid Elite utilizes a symmetric core that has been slightly modifi ed from the original


Torrid. The RG is low at 2.47 and


the diff erential medium at .047. We saw nearly 5 inches of track fl are with our 3.5- and 4.5-inch pin distance layouts. Coverstock: The beautiful cover is a fusion of blue, purple and gold pearl. The factory surface is sanded with a 500-grit SiaAir pad and polished with Rough Buff for a satin sheen. Response time is moderately quick off friction and average in oil. This ball is best suited for medium oil conditions with its 1.5 Ra reading and its 5300 eff ective surface grit.


Test Results: Having loved the fi rst Torrid, manufactured by 900 Global, we were anxious to throw the Bruns- wick-poured Torrid Elite pearl side by side with it. We felt both balls revved


quickly and provided best results on light-medium to medium oil volumes for our low (220) and medium (300) rev rate testers. Our higher rev rate tester (425+) had better success on heavier volumes, providing he kept his ball speed controlled. When comparing the mo- tion shape, we all felt the new ball read the midlane more securely than the original and also was less aff ected by oil carrydown. This ball kind of reminded me of the original Inferno pearl, not by looks but by overall roll and hook shape. Be advised, though, that the Torrid Elite is for- mulated to handle today’s slipperier oils. When to Use: Who doesn’t like a strong rolling, easy-to-read pearl for everyday lane patterns? The Torrid Elite off ers lots of usability on most typical house shots, providing the ratios are not extremely high. We could easily play a few boards inside the oil line, send this beauty to the friction areas and enjoy above-average pin carry. We rare- ly saw over-reaction to friction or over-skid if we missed a couple of boards inside our intended target line. This was most evident with our pin-down layout pattern. When we encountered mid-lane breakdown and our launch angles increased, we preferred our pin-up drilling, as this created a more angular breakpoint shape.


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