Ball Review AMF:
Torch Hook 51 • Length 16 • Breakpoint Shape 16 //////////////////////////////////// //////////
Manufacturer’s Intent: “The Torch is unique because it offers asymmetric core technology at a mid price,” says AMF300’s Dave Smart. “With the F69 Pearl Reactive shell, the Torch offers the highest degree of tech- nology available at this price point. We put a compound finish on the F69 to help eliminate over-skidding in the mids with a good balance of control downlane. Bowlers will find it has good length and an angular backend on medi- um lane conditions.”
Core: This ball is charged up with the Torch asymmetric core, which produces a 2.52 RG, a medium .038 differential and a .010 interme- diate differential. We saw about 3-4 inches of flare.
Coverstock: The silver and orange F69 pearl reactive cover is finished with a polishing com- pound. We measured an effective surface grit of 4700 and RA value of 2.08.
Overview: The Torch is a sharp-looking asymmetrical ball that gives you more backend than you might expect. On the long Stone Street pattern, we were a bit concerned about it because of its shiny pearl cover, but it rolled really well in the track area and was able to read the breakpoint nicely with good carry. On Stone Street, most pearlized covers tend to make their break behind the headpin, but this one didn’t have that issue. The ball also worked really well on the lighter house pattern. We got in between the second and third arrows, sending it all the way to the 5-board according to our CATS, and the ball easily got back to the pocket with good hitting power. The Torch retains energy well out of the midlane and off the breakpoint. A pleasant surprise came on the Doubles/Singles pattern when we got lined up in the track area and the ball didn’t overreact off the backend on the fresh. It held the line nicely with a little hold and some recovery to the right, as long as we were in the right spot. The Torch was about three to four boards less hook than the Decimate. An asymmetrical core at a mid price is rare in the bowling ball world, and this is a good one. It would fit into most bowlers’ bags, especially those with lower ball speeds on medium lanes where they need that push through the front and kick in the backend.
THE SKINNY ON THE LATEST AND GREATEST
COLUMBIA 300:
Throw Down Hook 49 • Length 17 • Breakpoint Shape 16 //////////////////////////////////// //////////
Manufacturer’s Intent: “The Throw Down utilizes the same core technology as the Smack Down [June 2013] and Take Down [January 2014],” says Group Marketing Director for Communications, Bugsy Kelly. “The core is proven and seems to roll great for every style of bowler. The big difference with the Throw Down is the solid version of the Bring-It cover, which we’ve finished with polish. The base cover, Bring-It, is a relatively clean one that worked great with some surface on the Smack Down and Take Down. By polishing the solid version, we were able to increase the length and contin- uation without sacrificing controllability.”
Core: The SD Medium RG symmetric core has an RG of 2.51, a differential of .053 and an intermediate differential of .004. We saw about 4 inches of flare.
Coverstock: The neon green, berry and sea blue Bring-It Solid Reactive cover comes from the factory sanded with 500, 500, 500 and 1000-grit Abralon, then polished with a 3000-grit polish. This is the solid version of the same cover used on the Take Down. We measured an effective surface grit of 5150 and RA value of 2.19.
Overview: The Throw Down’s name and color really make a statement. This ball is a great complement to its predecessors, the Smack Down and Take Down, using the same core but with a polished cover instead of a matte finish. When the other balls start to burn up, the Throw Down is your choice because it saves its energy well, providing more kick on the back with a more predict- able motion for a shiny ball. We saw an easy push through the fronts with a smooth motion on the backend, which slower ball speed bowlers will like. The ball worked really well on the lighter house pattern because of its smoothness and push down the lanes. On the Doubles/Singles pattern, we were able to get lined up close to the track area and play more direct on the fresh. On the heavier house patterns or Sport conditions, we could see some over/under reaction, but on Stone Street we could play up the lanes in the track area, cre- ating good angle with some very good hitting power through the pins. Higher rev and higher speed players wwill really like this ball when the lanes are hook- ing or broken down.
EBONITE:
Game Breaker 2 Hook 55 • Length 15 • Breakpoint Shape 15
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Manufacturer’s Intent: “The Game Breaker 2 features the Enhanced V2 core and GB 10.7, the same great cover found on the original Game Breaker [July 2007],” says Ebonite’s Bugsy Kelly. “In order to reduce the variables and create a ball with the same fantastic reaction shape, we’ve even poured the Game Breaker 2 with the exact same colors as the original. The orig- inal Game Breaker is a ball that bowlers still ask about and are always looking for. The only difference between this ball and the original is we had to modify the core numbers due to USBC’s rule change a few years ago. This is an ‘everybody on almost every lane condition’ type of ball.” Core: The Enhanced V2 core has a 2.48 RG and .048 differential. We saw about 4-5 inches of flare.
Coverstock: The Game Breaker 2 uses the same black and purple GB 10.7 cover as the original Game Breaker. It comes sanded with 500 and 2000-grit Abralon. We measured an effective surface grit of 19.06 and RA value of 1400.
Overview: It’s often said that the sequel is never as good as the original, but in this case I would disagree. The Game Breaker 2 brings the same colors to the lanes, but with more bang for your money. On the Stone Street pattern, it opened up the lane nicely, providing more hook than I remember from the original. We never saw it lose its energy or burn up, and it maintained its continuation through the pins. Terrance, who loved the original, agrees that it hooks about three boards more. It needs some conditioner on the lane and was too much for both of us on our light house pattern, unless we played extremely deep. On the Doubles/Singles pattern, it was a little too much at first, but as the lanes settled in and the oil carried down a bit, we were able to use it for awhile through transition. The Game Breaker 2 leaves no doubt about recovery on the friction to the right. The hitting power truly stood out from several angles. This ball would come out of a bowler’s bag as a number one ball, for sure.
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