Ball Review EBONITE:


Honor Hook 53 • Length 14 • Breakpoint Shape 14 //////////////////////////////////// //////////


Manufacturer’s Intent: “The Honor starts up stronger in the midlane than the Pivot Point [February 2014] and shows more con- tinuation,” says Ebonite’s Bugsy Kelly. “The Honor will work with a little more volume on the lane than the Pivot Point, but shows the ability to use it longer while the lane transitions.”


Core: The Honor uses the CB-2 asymmetric core with an RG of 2.48, differential of .049 and intermediate differential of .017. We saw about 4 inches of flare.


Coverstock: The Honor is wrapped in the royal, turquoise and silver RCH Hybrid reactive cover. It comes out of the factory sanded with 500, 500, 500 and 1000 grits, and topped off with 3000-grit factory polish.


Our scanner measured an effective surface grit of 4900 and RA value of 2.24.


Overview: This is the third release in the Pivot line. The ball uses the same core as the Pivot (September 2013) and Pivot Point. The Honor is the hybrid version in this line and is definitely stronger than the Pivot Point. We were two to three boards left on Stone Street with a smooth and continuous motion off the midlane. On the Doubles/Singles pattern, this ball worked really well playing around the second arrow, with a predictable breakpoint. It created hold on the Sport pattern with a little recovery. Once the ball makes its move off the breakpoint, it is smooth and predictable as it drives through the pins, keeping them low for better carry. On the lighter house pattern, we moved in and the Honor maintained its energy to open up the lane and blend the pattern out nicely with good hitting power. It hooked about four to five more boards than the Energy Source (July 2014). If we missed right on the light house pattern, the ball never seemed to overreact. It needs to see some friction, but is a good choice as a number two or three ball for one’s tournament arsenal. For the league bowler, this ball would work very well on medium 39- to 42-ft. house patterns. I see bowlers with higher rev rates striking a lot with the Honor because it controls the backend and adjusts well during transitions.


THE SKINNY ON THE LATEST AND GREATEST


MOTIV:


Tribal Fire Hook 52 • Length 17 • Breakpoint Shape 17 //////////////////////////////////// //////////


Manufacturer’s Intent: According to the manufacturer, the Tribal Fire is engineered for light to medium oil. This is the first hybrid version of the Fusion coverstock.


Core: The Tribal Fire uses the Halogen symmetric core to give it drive, with an RG of 2.55 and differential of .037. This is the same core used in the original Tribal (October 2013). We saw about 4 inches of flare.


Coverstock: The ball features the red and orange pearl Fusion Hybrid Reactive cover. It comes out of the factory at 5000- grit laser scan polished. Our laser scanner measured a 4700 effective surface grit and RA value of 2.74.


Overview: This sharp-looking, versatile ball fits into the Motiv arsenal nicely between the Venom Shock (April 2014) and the Octane (July 2014). We could use it with ease on all three patterns. On Stone Street, we played close to the track area, where the volume didn’t seem to affect our breakpoint or carry at all. Sometimes on longer patterns, balls with this much shine seem to push too far down the lane, but this one didn’t for us. It worked really well on our lighter house pat- tern, where we were able to move inside the third arrow and open it up to the right with a good amount of recovery. On the Doubles/ Singles pattern, we could play more direct on the fresh, but would recommend using this ball as more of a break-down ball — maybe the second or third ball out of the bag. The Tribal Fire was about three more boards hook with more back-end reaction than the Venom Shock. It was cleaner and about three boards less than the Octane. The Tribal Fire will fit into most every bowler’s bag, providing a good amount of hook for a great price. It shows strong but predictable drive through the pins with noticeably good carry.


ROTO GRIP:


Hysteria Hook 52 • Length 15 • Breakpoint Shape 15 //////////////////////////////////// //////////


Manufacturer’s Intent: “This motion was long overdue in the HP3 lineup,” says Roto Grip Marketing Manager, Chris Schlemer. “Even with all of the success of the Middle Roll 70 core, we knew we needed an alterna- tive. After countless inquiries from consum- ers and staffers, I went to the R&D team with core numbers, and the new Late Roll 69 core was born. With an RG level of 2.58 and a dif- ferential of .049, this core creates length with plenty of energy at the breakpoint. As many know, my intention is to always offer variety, and that is why I decided to wrap this awe- some new core with a 67MH Solid reactive coverstock and factory shine it to 1500 grit. We haven’t offered a shiny solid cover since the Nomad back in [August] 2009. The idea was to create something totally different.” Core: The Late Roll 69 symmetrical core has an RG of 2.58 and differen- tial of .049. We saw four to five inches of flare.


Coverstock: The Hysteria’s green and purple 67MH solid reactive cover comes polished. We scanned a 5200 effective surface grit and 1.61 RA.


Overview: This a shiny solid ball to help complete the HP3 line — for when the Disturbed (February 2013) and the Asylum (February 2014) start up too quickly. The Hysteria gets through the fronts easily with a strong and predictable back-end motion. It was about two more boards for us than the Outcry (reviewed this month) on Stone Street, and over an arrow more than the Shout and Scream (also reviewed this month). We could see with our CATS system that it had a longer breakpoint than the Asylum. The Asylum was two to three more boards left with our feet on Stone Street from the Hysteria. On the Doubles/Singles pattern, the Hysteria allowed us a good shot around the second arrow once the pattern broke down. At first, it was a little shiny and gave us a bit of an over/under reaction. This is a great number two ball for a tournament bowler’s arsenal. The hitting power stood out as it kept the pins low to increase the carry percentage. If you liked the Nomad, you will love the Hysteria, because you get the shiny solid cover but with a stronger ball overall, in our opinion. The Hysteria fits pretty much every type of bowler.


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