Ball Review AMF:
Darkness Hook 56 • Length 12 • Breakpoint Shape 13
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Core: The Darkness is driven by the Dark Tower symmetri- cal core with an enhanced flip block, creating a low RG of 2.47 and high differential of .054. We saw over 5 inches of flare. Coverstock: The Darkness is surrounded by the midnight black F77 coverstock (remember, with AMF balls, F90 is the most aggressive) and finished with 4000 Abralon. The Ra is 13.09,
with an effective surface grit of 2100 as a final surface. Overview: This truly is a bowling ball that needs some oil, but the Darkness will cut through it nice- ly. This is one of the dull balls that does not burn up easily, and creates good impact at the pins. It worked well on Dead Man’s Curve and Stone Street, but was a little too strong on the lighter house pat- tern and Viper, unless we made a surface change by adding some polish. It allowed both of us to really open up the longer Dead Man’s Curve Sport shot without overreacting, and it conquered the wet/ dry and transition of the Stone Street house pattern extremely well.
THE SKINNY ON THE LATEST AND GREATEST
MOTIV:
Venom Shock Hook 51 • Length 17 • Breakpoint Shape 15 //////////////////////////////////// //////////
Core: The Venom Shock uses the Gear symmetric core, with a low RG of 2.48 and low differential of .034. We saw about 3 inches of flare.
Coverstock: This ball is surrounded by the Purple Turmoil MFS (Medium Friction Solid) reactive, sanded to 4000. The Ra measures 2.49 with an effective surface grit of 4700 as a final surface. Overview: The Venom Shock is an unusually strong ball for its price point, but it’s not too strong for its core. It gets through the fronts cleanly with a powerful yet predictable motion off the breakpoint. We found this ball to be versatile enough to use on all four of our patterns. We could play straighter on Dead Man’s Curve, and in the track on Stone Street. On the lighter and shorter patterns, we could get in and open up the lane without the ball burning up too quickly. This is one of those balls in which the core fits the cover extremely well.
SEISMIC:
Desperado TSE Hook 45 • Length 17 • Breakpoint Shape 13 //////////////////////////////////// //////////
Core: The Desperado TSE uses the Insignia asymmetrical core, producing a high RG of 2.58, a dif- ferential of .030 and a PSA of .008. This core created about 3 inches of flare with both of our layouts. Coverstock: The TSE balls use the TSE solid black reactive coverstock, designed to provide length with a strong and smooth reaction to the friction of the lane. The Ra mea- sured 2.62, with an effective sur- face grit of 4900 as a final surface. Overview: The Desperado TSE is the weakest of the new TSE balls we tested. It has a weaker asymmetrical core with a low differential to create less flare in order to get the ball down the lane for a smooth and soft back-end reaction. This is the TSE ball to play more direct angles on most patterns, including extremely dry ones. On average, for all four patterns, I moved about five boards right with my feet and two right with my target from the Solaris TSE (p. 18). Our cranker moved about 6-and- 3. This is definitely a ball you need in your bag for short- er patterns. It controls the back-end reaction and has a cover to get through the fronts.
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