Ball Review COLUMBIA 300:
Blur Pearl Hook 47 • Length 17 • Breakpoint Shape 17 //////////////////////////////////// //////////
Manufacturer’s Intent: The pearl ball in the Blur line is designed to provide a skid/flip 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 Blur Pearl is surrounded by the lemon/lime colored Full Tilt 5.0 pearl that was used on the Pure Swing (February 2010). Like the solid, the Blur Pearl comes sanded with 800, 1000, 2000 and 4000 grits, and topped with factory polish. The RA is 2.15 and the effective surface grit is 5000. Overview: The Blur Pearl is the most angular of the Blur line and provides the most back- end hook. It generated two or three more
boards of hook than the Blur Solid (reviewed previously) and one more than the Blur Hybrid (June 2014) on our lighter house pattern. The Pearl produced a definite skid/flip motion with good hitting power from a deep angle on the lighter house pattern. According to our CATS, the Blur Pearl got to the breakpoint around the 47-ft. mark at the 5-board from a lay-down point of 13 on our 39-ft. pattern, and still came charging back to the pocket. On the heavier and longer Stone Street pattern, we could play up the track area and create a good entry angle with lots of strikes. On the USBC team pattern, it was too long and not strong enough on the fresh, but might be a good choice for a game three ball. On the doubles/singles pattern, it was too flippy on the fresh, but once the lane broke down a bit and the oil carried down, we could open it up and strike more consistently. I would say it would be a good singles event ball choice. The Blur Pearl is a great choice for the money for bowlers needing easy length with a strong flip down the lane.
COLUMBIA 300:
N’Sane Antics Hook 53 • Length 15 • Breakpoint Shape 17 //////////////////////////////////// //////////
Manufacturer’s Intent: The N’Sane Antics is a fol- low-up to the Crazy Antics (January 2014) for medi- um conditions. The Hi-Dynamix II core is the same shape and RG as the original Hi-Dynamix core but with the densities modified to pull some differential out of the ball so that it will be more responsive and continuous. Also, the cover is a solid and is finished with more teeth under the polish to create the stronger mid-lane read versus the extreme length and flip of the Crazy Antics. Core: The core’s RG is 2.50, with a medium differ- ential of .042 and intermediate Diff of .016. We saw between 4 and 5 inches of flare. Coverstock: The bright white, crimson and azure AR300 cover is a solid version of the AR300 Flip used on the Crazy Antics. The N’Sane is sanded with 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 Abralon, then pol- ished with Clean n’ Sheen at 3000 grit. The RA value measured 4.02 and the effec- tive surface grit was 4600. Overview: The N’Sane Antics complements the popular Crazy Antics nicely. It worked well on our heavier Stone Street house pattern and on the USBC team pattern. It made a strong move off the midlane, sucked right up to the pock- et nicely, and drove hard through the pins consistently, keeping them low for 10-in-the-pit strikes. It didn’t seem to have any problems with the volume or length of these patterns. From what we saw, it was stronger than the Crazy. On Stone Street, we were about 14 at the arrows to the 6-board at 46 feet when it made its left turn, according to our CATS. It was too much ball on the fresh for the USBC doubles/singles pattern because it created too much angle when we lined up around 18. It would strike, but that’s not the line I would want to start with on this pattern if I were trying to win an eagle. It was way too much ball on our lighter house pattern, and would be far too much on shorter patterns. The ball motion produced by the N’Sane is a smooth flow through the oil with a strong motion off the midlane, making it effortless for players with lower rev rates. This is a forgiving ball that needs little help to open up a lane.
THE SKINNY ON THE LATEST AND GREATEST
EBONITE:
Energy Source Hook 51 • Length 15 • Breakpoint Shape 15 //////////////////////////////////// //////////
Manufacturer’s Intent: “The Energy Source uses the proven Mission core along with XL4500, a stron- ger veneer than the original Source [August 2013],” says Ebonite Brand Manager Bugsy Kelly. “The Energy Source will start up in the midlane stronger than the Source and give you more overall hook. This ball is smoother and more continuous than the original Source and can be used on a wider range of conditions.” Core: The Energy Source uses the famed Mission core, which was used in the original Source. It pro- vides the Energy with an RG of 2.49, a differential of .050 and intermediate Diff of .013. We saw 4 to 5 inches of flare. Coverstock: The sharp black, red and silver XL4500 hybrid cover comes sanded with 500, 500, 500 and 1000 Abralon, topped with Powerhouse factory finish polish. We measured an RA value of 1.78 and an effective surface grit of 5200. Overview: The Energy Source doesn’t lose its energy, maintains a strong motion through the pins, and keeps them low. It worked really well on our Stone Street pat- tern playing in the track area, giving a smooth push through the front and a strong motion off the breakpoint through the pins. Even on our lighter house pattern, we could get in and open up the lane with a predictable back-end reaction. On the USBC doubles/singles pattern, we used it on the fresh more directly between the first and second arrows with good success. For a bowler who is speed-dominant or for higher rev players, the surface might have to be tweaked to match up and eliminate an over/under reaction. It was too shiny for the longer USBC team pattern, but once the pattern opened up, we were able to camp in the track area in games two and three. The Energy Source is about two boards right with the feet and easily cleaner than the Pivot Point (February 2014) on our lighter house patterns and on the USBC doubles/ singles pattern. On the longer patterns, they were really close to each other and you could play the same line, but the Energy Source’s breakpoint was a little later. This ball does what it is designed to do, complementing the original Source with more mid-lane roll. It is a ball for all types of bowlers.
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