Ball Review BRUNSWICK:
Fortera Exile Hook 52 • Length 18 • Breakpoint Shape 15 //////////////////////////////////// //////////
Manufacturer’s Intent: “The Fortera Exile is in a new price category titled Flip,” says Product and Marketing Manager Billy Orlikowski. “We developed a new base reactive coverstock, enhanced with our additive chemistry called Fortify. The Fortify coverstock has a molecular structure that increases skid through the front and increases lateral traction on the backend. The Exile will have the most continuation of any Brunswick ball to date.” Core: The Fortera Flip asymmetrical core produces an RG of 2.512, a differential of .050 and intermediate Diff of .016. We saw between 4 and 5 inches of flare. Coverstock: The sharp red and silver pearl Fortify coverstock comes from the factory sanded with 500 SiaAir, followed by Royal Compound and finished with Royal Shine. The RA value is 2.42 and the effective surface grit is 4800. Overview: The Exile could truly be classified as a skid/flip ball, not an early-rolling ball. A ball with a strong asymmetrical core usually starts up early and doesn’t recover that well, but the Exile recovered from a long way out and, when it made its move, continued through the pins nicely. We were able to use it on all four patterns with good results. On the USBC team shot, it was easy to get lined up to the pocket, but the breakpoint was a little late because of the pearl cover. A slight surface change, however, might help with the late break on the fresh 43-ft. pattern. As the lanes opened up, the strikes started to flow and we saw more recovery down the lane. Even on our lighter house pattern, we could move in and really open up the lane because the coverstock pushes so well through the fronts and the recovery is so good. This ball would fit well into a slower ball speed and lower rev rate bowler’s bag with its easy push through the fronts and strong motion off the breakpoint. The Exile is a lot cleaner than the Mastermind Genius (February 2014) and provided a stronger back-end reaction on Stone Street. We started about two boards right with our feet with the Exile, got it two boards farther right at the breakpoint, and still made it back high flush in the pocket.
THE SKINNY ON THE LATEST AND GREATEST
BRUNSWICK:
Melee Cross Hook 53 • Length 14 • Breakpoint Shape 12 //////////////////////////////////// //////////
Manufacturer’s Intent: “The Melee Cross is the second edition in the Melee line,” says Brunswick’s Billy Orlikowski. “Savvy Hook is our new coverstock formulation, which is an aggressive form of Versa Max. With our new Low RG Melee core, the Melee Cross provides maximum versatility on fresh oil conditions.” Core: The Melee Low RG symmetrical core has an RG of 2.48 with a differential of .050. We saw over 4 inches of flare with our layouts. This has the same shape as the original Melee core but with a lower RG built into it. Coverstock: The teal colored Savvy Hook solid coverstock is sanded with 500/2000 SiaAir. We measured an RA value of 9.89 with an effective surface grit of 2500. Overview: The Melee Cross is a much stronger version of the original Melee (November 2013). The Savvy Hook cover gives a more predictable reaction on fresh oil conditions. It gave us a good look on the fresh for both USBC Open patterns, especially on the doubles/singles condition where it is so important to control the breakpoint. On the Stone Street house pattern, it rolled well around 13 at the arrows to 6 at the breakpoint, with a strong roll through the pins. We saw an earlier and smoother breakpoint with the Cross than with the Blue Ringer (June 2014), which was somewhat cleaner through the heads with more kick off the breakpoint. According to the CATS, the Ringer’s breakpoint was about 1 foot farther downlane on the Stone Street pattern. Also on Stone Street, we had to play about five boards right with our feet and target than we did with the Mastermind Genius (February 2014) and Fortera Exile (reviewed previously). It was a little too much cover on our lighter house pattern because we were pushed in very deep and the ball used up its energy too soon. The Melee Cross would be a great tournament ball and a good choice for a benchmark ball to judge lane patterns. The smooth motion in the backend causes the pins to stay low and helps eliminate over/under ball reaction. The Cross has already made its mark on the PBA Tour, with Sean Rash shooting 300 and winning on the PBA Summer Series’ Wolf Open.
COLUMBIA 300:
Blur Solid Hook 44 • Length 14 • Breakpoint Shape 15 //////////////////////////////////// //////////
Manufacturer’s Intent: The Blur line has been created to bridge the gap between the lower mid-performance Freeze and mid-performance lines. Columbia 300 is offering the Blur in solid, pearl and hybrid versions in order to provide an option for any condition and any bowler. The solid is designed to provide predictable motion. Core: The symmetric Blur core produces an RG of 2.52 and medium differential of .45. We saw about 2 to 3 inches of flare with our layouts. Coverstock: The raspberry and rose colored Full Tilt 5.0 solid coverstock was used on the high performance Full Swing (August 2009) with proven success. The Blur is factory finished with 800, 1000, 2000 and 4000 grit sandings and topped with factory polish. Out of the box, its RA measures 2.15 and the effective surface grit is 5100. Overview: The solid version of the Blur line gives you the smoothest reaction of them all, and produces about two boards less hook than the Blur Hybrid (June 2014). They complement each other quite well on our house patterns. When the hybrid would start to overreact, the Solid would roll right through the hook spot to provide predictable motion to the pocket. It allowed us to square up to the pocket on the fresh, and it held the line nicely. The hitting power of this ball will surprise you because its initial motion looks a little weak, but it creates a good impact as it drives through the pins. The Blur solid would fit nicely in the bag for a player with low speed, because it gets down the lane cleanly and makes a smooth, predictable motion on the backend. It wasn’t quite enough on the fresh USBC Open patterns, but once the lanes break down, I see this as a good singles ball, especially if you get that ugly wet/dry condition that sometimes happens around game five. It will allow you keep your lines straighter and to hold a better angle to the pocket. I see a lot of high rev players loving this ball on the burn or on lighter patterns because of its smooth and predictable motion.
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