31ST ANNUAL BALL GUIDE

ANNUALANNUALBALL BALL GUIDEGUIDE

31ST31ST

Review Summaries and Statistics

for 113 Bowling Balls

Updated ‘Real World’ Ratings for Every Ball

2014 Ball Guide.indd 592014 Ball Guide.indd 59 12/11/14 10:09 AM12/11/14 10:09 AM

60 Bowlers Journal International | January 2015 www.bowlersjournal.com

BJI BALL REVIEWER Vernon Peterson provides hook, length and breakpoint ratings for each ball reviewed throughout the year. All of that data for balls released during 2014 can be found in BJI’s 31st annual Ball Guide. Here is an explanation of numeric ratings:

HOOK RATINGS35-45: Balls with lower total hook ranges, best suited for lighter oil concentrations. Players with slower speeds or higher rev rates may also prefer balls in this range for medium oil applications.45-51: Balls with medium hook ability, best suited for the vast majority of “typical house shots” and some lower-volume Sport patterns. This hook range should be represented by the “centerpiece” ball in most arsenals.51-60+: Balls with greater total hook, designed for heavier oil volumes. Players with higher speeds or lower rev rates, who need added lane traction, may also prefer balls in this range.

LENGTH RATINGS8-12: Earlier rolling balls that read the lane sooner. These products generally come factory-sanded with lower grit surfaces, and match up well for speed-dominant styles and those bowling on longer oil patterns.

12-15: Medium-length balls that produce easier length through the midlane. Good for most house shots and medium-volume Sport patterns.15-19+: Balls offering extra length for those bowling on lighter oil concentrations. Also ben-efi cial for slower speed players, or those with higher rev rates needing added push downlane.

BREAKPOINT RATINGS10-13: Slower-response balls that read the fric-tion areas more gradually. This range may include balls with a urethane or mild reactive cover, de-signed for a smooth arc to the pocket. Also can help those with higher rev rates control motion and match up well from outside angles of attack.13-15: Balls rated for slightly stronger and quicker reactions when encountering friction areas (as when the ball leaves the oil pattern). This range offers a balance of control and back-end angularity.15-18+: Balls that respond more quickly and ag-gressively to friction areas. This range can help those with less hand action create more angular-ity near the pocket. Also preferred when playing deeper inside angles, which generally require more entry angle for above-average pin carry.

UNDERSTANDING THE BALL GUIDE RATINGS

FOR THREE DECADES, Bowlers Journal International has been re-viewing bowling balls, helping readers select the equipment that best matches their game and the lane conditions they normally encounter.

On the pages that follow, you’ll fi nd summaries of all balls reviewed by “No Holes Barred” columnist and reviewer Vernon Peterson during 2014. Included is a short “snapshot” of each review. However, we highly recommend reading the full reviews in order to gain a clearer under-standing of the balls, their capabilities and their recommended uses. To that end, each capsule review includes the month of the original review.

At the end of this section, you’ll fi nd contact information for bowling ball manufacturers. Company websites may provide additional useful information.

ABOUT THE BJI 31ST ANNUAL BOWLING BALL GUIDE

ANNUALBALL BALL GUIDEGUIDE

31STANNUAL31ST

Review Summaries and Statistics

for 113 Bowling Balls

Updated ‘Real World’ Ratings for Every Ball


www.bowlersjournal.com January 2015 | Bowlers Journal International 61

HAMMER JULY 2014

ABSOLUT FLIP49 Hook • 16 Length • 15 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: H200 PearlBOX FINISH: 500, 500, 500, 1000 Abralon, Polished

RG: 2.48 • RG DIFFERENTIAL: .048◆

REVIEW: Stronger version of the Absolut Hook; motion and angle similar to the Spike Pearl’s.

900 GLOBAL AUGUST 2014

ALL DAY 53 Hook • 15 Length • 15 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: S64 Solid Reactive BOX FINISH: 4000


REVIEW: A strong benchmark ball providing strong mid-lane reaction while remaining smooth on the backend.


ALL NIGHT 49 Hook • 18 Length • 16 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: S64 Pearl Reactive BOX FINISH: 2000, Polished


REVIEW: Likes friction; excels on medium to dry con-ditions; provides length and a strong backend.

MOTIV JULY 2014

ASCENT APEX47 Hook • 18 Length • 16 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: Fusion XL Pearl ReactiveBOX FINISH: 1500


REVIEW: Works from multiple angles; a good choice when heads are hooking or there’s a lot of friction.

ROTO GRIP FEBRUARY 2014

ASYLUM 53 Hook • 14 Length • 14 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: 63 MH Hybrid BOX FINISH: 3000


REVIEW: Best on medium-heavy oil, and effective from multiple angles on an array of patterns.

HAMMER OCTOBER 2014

BAD ASS 55 Hook • 15 Length • 16.5 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: Juiced Reactive BOX FINISH: 500, 2000 Abralon, Polished


REVIEW: Shows cleaner motion through the heads than the Black Widow, with 2-3 boards more reaction.

LANE MASTERS JANUARY 2014

BIG BANG-SE 49 Hook • 15.5 Length • 15 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: Precision P3 Particle BOX FINISH: 1000 Abralon PolishedRG: 2.52 • RG DIFFERENTIAL: .043

◆

REVIEW: Best looks on light-medium and medium oil volumes with reasonably clean backends.

HAMMER MARCH 2014

BLACK WIDOW ASSASSIN 54 Hook • 16 Length • 16 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: First Blood NBT Hybrid BOX FINISH: 500, 500, 500, 1000 Abralon


REVIEW: Super clean through the fronts, with slightly smoother motion than original Black Widow.

HAMMER AUGUST 2014

BLACK WIDOW LEGEND 56 Hook • 15.5 Length • 16 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: NBT Hybrid Reactive BOX FINISH: 500, 500, 500, 1000 Abralon, Polished


REVIEW: Enables all types of bowlers to match up on most medium to oily lane patterns.

BRUNSWICK JUNE 2014

BLUE RINGER52 Hook • 15 Length • 14 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: CPT Controlled Reactive SolidBOX FINISH: 500, 2000 Siaair


REVIEW: Reminiscent of the Blue Rhino, this is a great choice for a No. 1 ball on a fresh condition.

COLUMBIA 300 JUNE 2014

BLUR HYBRID46 Hook • 16 Length • 16 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: Full Tilt 5.0 HybridBOX FINISH: 800, 1000, 2000, 4000, Polished


REVIEW: A good choice for slower ball speeds, or high-rev players when the fronts start to burn up.

COLUMBIA 300 JULY 2014

BLUR PEARL 47 Hook • 17 Length • 17 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: Full Tilt 5.0 PearlBOX FINISH: 800, 1000, 2000, 4000, Polished


REVIEW: Great choice for the money for bowlers needing easy length with a strong down-lane fl ip.

31ST ANNUAL BALL GUIDE




BLUR SOLID 44 Hook • 14 Length • 15 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: Full Tilt 5.0 SolidBOX FINISH: 800, 1000, 2000, 4000, Polished


REVIEW: Provides smoothest reaction among the Blur balls, with about two boards less hook than the Hybrid.


BOOST HYBRID 44 Hook • 18 Length • 16 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: S43 Hybrid Reactive BOX FINISH: Polished


REVIEW: A sharp-looking ball that provides a good amount of hook for a reasonable price.

900 GLOBAL DECEMBER 2014

BOOST HYBRID 48 Hook • 15 Length • 14 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: S43 HybridBOX FINISH: 4000


REVIEW: Basically the same as the ball reviewed in August, but with a different surface treatment.

BRUNSWICK OCTOBER 2014

BRUTE 50 Hook • 17 Length • 16.5 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: Fortify Hybrid Reactive BOX FINISH: 500 Siaair, Polished


REVIEW: Great No. 2 ball when one needs to get through the fronts with a strong drive off the breakpoint.

HAMMER NOVEMBER 2014

BURGUNDY HAMMER 54 Hook • 9 Length • 11 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: Reacta-ThaneBOX FINISH: 500, 500 Abralon


REVIEW: Looks like urethane but performs like a reac-tive ball; provides smooth roll throughout its motion.

MOTIV MARCH 2014

COVERT REVOLT49 Hook • 17 Length • 13 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: Turmoil HFS SolidBOX FINISH: 3000


REVIEW: Smooths out a hooking lane condition, allowing one to see predictable motion to the pocket.

LANE #1 MARCH 2014

CRANK/R52 Hook • 15 Length • 14 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: Shined Hybrid Composite BOX FINISH: Neat (4000 equivalent)

RG: 2.493 min/2.546 max RG DIFFERENTIAL: .053◆

REVIEW: Offers predictable, controlled motion; needs friction to make its move to the pocket.

COLUMBIA 300 JANUARY 2014

CRAZY ANTICS 48.5 Hook • 16 Length • 16.5 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: AR300 Hybrid BOX FINISH: 500, 500, 500, 1500 Abranet Polished


REVIEW: Easy length and quick response downlane; needs suffi cient friction to strut its stuff.

STORM DECEMBER 2014

CRUX 58.5 Hook • 13 Length • 13.5 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: ERG Hybrid ReactiveBOX FINISH: 3000


REVIEW: Reads the midlane stronger than any recent Storm ball; provides forgiveness with good carry.

AMF APRIL 2014

DARKNESS 56 Hook • 12 Length • 13 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: F77 Solid BOX FINISH: 4000 Abralon


REVIEW: Needs some oil, but cuts through it nicely; conquers wet/dry transition extremely well.

HAMMER FEBRUARY 2014

DEADLY AIM 54 Hook • 16 Length • 16 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: Primer Hybrid BOX FINISH: 800, 1000, 2000, 4000 Polished


REVIEW: Great No. 2 ball out of the bag, for use when there starts to be some carrydown.

AMF SEPTEMBER 2014

DECIMATE53 Hook • 14 Length • 14 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: F75 HybridBOX FINISH: Neat-T (4000 equivalent)RG: 2.55 • RG DIFFERENTIAL: .055

◆

REVIEW: The hookingest ball ever from AMF; provides good reaction for those needing a little help.



SEISMIC APRIL 2014

DESPERADO TSE 45 Hook • 17 Length • 13 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: TSE Reactive BOX FINISH: Polished


REVIEW: Use when playing more direct angles to the pocket for a smooth and soft back-end reaction.

COLUMBIA 300 MARCH 2014

DISORDER55 Hook • 16 Length • 15 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: Bend-It HybridBOX FINISH: 500, 2000 Abralon


REVIEW: Easy to get lined up on multiple patterns with great control; benchmark ball for adjustments.

DV8 FEBRUARY 2014

DIVA PEARL 49 Hook • 17 Length • 17 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: Class 5F Reactive BOX FINISH: 500 Siaair Polished


REVIEW: Works well on lighter house patterns; can move deep inside on broken-down patterns.


DREAM 53 Hook • 17 Length • 17 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: 74 Response Pearl Reactive BOX FINISH: 1500, Polished


REVIEW: Provides a strong backend with predictable motion on medium to oily lane conditions.

900 GLOBAL DECEMBER 2014

DREAM ON 55 Hook • 14 Length • 14 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: 74 Response HybridBOX FINISH: 4000


REVIEW: Provides a lot of hook, reads the midlane well, and keeps trucking through the pins.

EBONITE JULY 2014

ENERGY SOURCE51 Hook • 15 Length • 15 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: XL4500 HybridBOX FINISH: 500, 500, 500, 1000 Abralon, Polished


REVIEW: Maintains strong motion through the pins; provides more mid-lane roll than original Source.

SEISMIC NOVEMBER 2014

EQUALIZER 55 Hook • 11.5 Length • 11.5 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: Intensus SR2BOX FINISH: 2000 Abralon


REVIEW: A strong asymmetric ball that needs oil; great for those needing extra help on longer patterns.

COLUMBIA 300 OCTOBER 2014

ERUPTION PRO HYBRID 46 Hook • 15 Length • 14 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: CR 300 Hybrid ReactiveBOX FINISH: 500, 500, 500 Abralon, 1500 Abranet, Polished


REVIEW: Rolls up a little earlier than the original Eruption Pro; for medium and lighter volume patterns.

SEISMIC APRIL 2014

EUPHORIC 54 Hook • 12 Length • 12 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: LNC Solid Reactive BOX FINISH: 4000 Abralon


REVIEW: Cuts through the oil on heavier volume and longer patterns; great for use on a fresh condition.

SEISMIC NOVEMBER 2014

EUPHORIC TSE 50.5 Hook • 16.5 Length • 14 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: TSE Solid ReactiveBOX FINISH: Polished


REVIEW: Helps higher rev rates control back-end reac-tion; helps slower ball speeds get through the fronts.

JET JUNE 2014

FIGHTER46 Hook • 17.5 Length • 17 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: G4-S Pearl ReactiveBOX FINISH: 1000


REVIEW: Good back-end recovery and pin carry on multiple oil patterns; ideal for slower ball speeds.

BRUNSWICK JULY 2014

FORTERA EXILE 52 Hook • 18 Length • 15 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: Fortify PearlBOX FINISH: 500 Siaair, Polished


REVIEW: Ideal for slower ball speeds, with easy push through the fronts and strong motion off the breakpoint.

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BRUNSWICK DECEMBER 2014

FORTERA INTRIGUE 51 Hook • 18.5 Length • 14 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: Fortify HybridBOX FINISH: 500 Siaair, Polished


REVIEW: A versatile ball, especially for those needing help getting to the breakpoint on hooking lanes.

MOTIV DECEMBER 2014

FORZA 52 Hook • 14 Length • 13 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: Helix Solid ReactiveBOX FINISH: 3000 LSS


REVIEW: A benchmark ball for reading patterns; pro-vides smooth, strong mid-lane reaction.

EBONITE SEPTEMBER 2014

GAME BREAKER 255 Hook • 15 Length • 15 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: GB 10.7BOX FINISH: 500, 2000 Abralon


REVIEW: Leaves no doubt about recovery on friction to the right; strong hitting power from several angles.

LORD FIELD FEBRUARY 2014

GET SOME 53 Hook • 15 Length • 14 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: “Aeration Technology” Verdict BOX FINISH: 4000 Abralon


REVIEW: Provides surprisingly strong motion off the breakpoint in a very controlled manner.

RADICAL FEBRUARY 2014

GREASE MONKEY 50 Hook • 16 Length • 16 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: Hybrid BOX FINISH: 500 Siaair, Polished


REVIEW: A versatile ball on other than heavier/longer patterns; effective for all styles of bowlers.

RADICAL AUGUST 2014

GREASE MONKEY POW 53 Hook • 14 Length • 14 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: Solid Reactive BOX FINISH: 500 Siaair, Polished


REVIEW: Provides lots of hook on heavier or longer oil patterns, and at a reasonable price.

RADICAL NOVEMBER 2014

GURU 61 Hook • 13 Length • 13 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: Solid ReactiveBOX FINISH: 500, 1500 Siaair


REVIEW: Provides more hook than any ball reviewed to date; ideal for longer, heavier patterns.

EBONITE SEPTEMBER 2014

HONOR53 Hook • 14 Length • 14 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: RCH Hybrid ReactiveBOX FINISH: 500, 500, 500, 1000, Polished


REVIEW: Especially good for higher rev players, it con-trols the backend and adjusts well during transitions.

DV8 NOVEMBER 2014

HOOLIGAN 52 Hook • 17 Length • 17 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: 3F Reactive PearlBOX FINISH: 500 Siaair, Polished


REVIEW: Clean through the fronts on drier lane conditions, with strong fl ip off the breakpoint.

TRACK MARCH 2014

HX 05 47 Hook • 16 Length • 15 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: DR-4 Pearl BOX FINISH: 500, 1000 Abralon, Polished


REVIEW: Best for high-rev players on medium lane conditions and during lane transition.

TRACK AUGUST 2014

HX 10 50 Hook • 15 Length • 14 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: DR-6 Hybrid BOX FINISH: 500, 1000 Abralon, Polished


REVIEW: Designed for high-rev players, it reads the midlane well and stays strong through the pins.


HYPER CELL 58 Hook • 14 Length • 15 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: 80H Microbite Solid Reactive BOX FINISH: 2000 Abralon


REVIEW: Think the original Cell on steroids. Gives rev-challenged bowlers hook on oily conditions.



STORM JULY 2014

HY-ROAD SOLID55 Hook • 14 Length • 15 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: R2S Solid ReactiveBOX FINISH: 2000


REVIEW: An excellent benchmark ball, and one of the most hooking balls at its price point.

ROTO GRIP SEPTEMBER 2014

HYSTERIA52 Hook • 15 Length • 15 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: 67MH Solid ReactiveBOX FINISH: Polished


REVIEW: A great No. 2 ball for a tournament bowler’s arsenal; its hitting power stands out.

STORM FEBRUARY 2014

IQ TOUR FUSION 54 Hook • 16 Length • 15 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: R2S Hybrid Reactive BOX FINISH: 1500 Polished


REVIEW: Designed for medium to heavy patterns; cuts through heavier oil for a strong move.

MOTIV OCTOBER 2014

JACKAL 58 Hook • 14 Length • 15 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: Turmoil HFP ReactiveBOX FINISH: 3000 LSS


REVIEW: Clean motion through heavier oil, reads midlane well and doesn’t lose energy on the backend.

BRUNSWICK FEBRUARY 2014

JOHNNY PETRAGLIA LT-48 46 Hook • 16 Length • 13 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: 3C Solid Reactive BOX FINISH: 500 Siaair, Polished


REVIEW: Reminiscent of the original, it gets down the lane easily with success on multiple patterns.

TRACK AUGUST 2014

LX 05 51 Hook • 15 Length • 14 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: QR-4 Hybrid BOX FINISH: 500, 2000 Abralon


REVIEW: For low rev rate players, it provides good length on medium oil, with a strong back-end move.

TRACK FEBRUARY 2014

LX 16 55 Hook • 15 Length • 14 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: QR-8 Pearl BOX FINISH: 800, 1000, 2000, 3000 Abralon


REVIEW: Helps one get to the pocket on heavier oil with forgiveness and hard-hitting power.

BRUNSWICK FEBRUARY 2014

MASTERMIND GENIUS 55 Hook • 13 Length • 15 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: Honor Roll Hybrid BOX FINISH: 500 Siaair, Polished


REVIEW: More power on typical house patterns, with no need to move out of one’s comfort zone.

BRUNSWICK OCTOBER 2014

MASTERMIND INTELLECT 55 Hook • 12 Length • 13 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: Honor Roll A+ Solid ReactiveBOX FINISH: 500 Siaair, Polished


REVIEW: Fits between the original Intellect and the Genius; provides a smooth back-end reaction.

BRUNSWICK JULY 2014

MELEE CROSS 53 Hook • 14 Length • 12 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: Savvy Hook SolidBOX FINISH: 500, 2000 Siaair


REVIEW: Much stronger version of the Melee, with more predictable motion on fresh oil conditions.

BRUNSWICK DECEMBER 2014

MELEE JAB 50 Hook • 16 Length • 17.5 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: Savvy Hook PearlBOX FINISH: 500 Siaair, Polished


REVIEW: One of the most angular balls from Bruns-wick; for slower ball speeds needing back-end kick.

COLUMBIA 300 DECEMBER 2014

MELT DOWN 54 Hook • 13 Length • 14 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: Bring-It Max Solid ReactiveBOX FINISH: 500, 2000 Abralon


REVIEW: A great choice for a fresh condition, or for bowlers needing a little extra help with hook.

31ST ANNUAL BALL GUIDE31ST ANNUAL BALL GUIDE31ST ANNUAL BALL GUIDE



DV8 FEBRUARY 2014

MISFIT ORANGE 45 Hook • 18 Length • 13 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: Class 1C Reactive BOX FINISH: 500 Siaair, Polished


REVIEW: Smoothest reacting ball in Misfi t line with friction downlane; opens up house patterns.

900 GLOBAL OCTOBER 2014

MOXIE 56.5 Hook • 14 Length • 13 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: 78 Dig Hybrid ReactiveBOX FINISH: 4000


REVIEW: Helpful for higher speed players without a lot of revs; opens up the lane on heavier oil.

TRACK MARCH 2014

MX 10 51 Hook • 15 Length • 16 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: MR-6 Hybrid BOX FINISH: 500, 1000 Abralon, Polished


REVIEW: For medium-rev players, but also effective for high-revvers; hooks more than the HX 05.

TRACK AUGUST 2014

MX 16 53 Hook • 15 Length • 15 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: MR-8 Hybrid BOX FINISH: 500, 3000 Abralon


REVIEW: For medium rev rate bowlers; a good choice to handle transitions through a tournament block.

900 GLOBAL FEBRUARY 2014

NETWORK 53 Hook • 16 Length • 17 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: XPT74 Pearl BOX FINISH: 4000 NeaT


REVIEW: Strong mid-lane roll with pop off the spot; versatile from many angles.

AMF DECEMBER 2014

NIGHTHAWK SE 51.5 Hook • 15 Length • 15 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: F55 Hybrid ReactiveBOX FINISH: 4000 NeaT


REVIEW: For all bowlers, from those needing some hook to high-rev players who need smooth motion.


N’SANE ANTICS 53 Hook • 15 Length • 17 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: AR300 SolidBOX FINISH: 500, 1000, 2000, 4000 Abralon, Polished


REVIEW: A forgiving ball, especially for lower rev rate players that need a little help to open up a lane.

BLEND10 JULY 2014

NST 49 Hook • 17 Length • 15 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: B10A16 PearlBOX FINISH: 1500


REVIEW: Provides a clean push through the front part of the lane with a strong motion in the backend.

MOTIV JULY 2014

OCTANE53 Hook • 17 Length • 17 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: Agility SFXBOX FINISH: 5000 LSP (Laser Scan Polished)


REVIEW: Produces strongest back-end reaction to date from Motiv; great for bowlers needing back-end help.

STORM JULY 2014

OPTIMUS54 Hook • 16 Length • 16 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: R2X Pearl ReactiveBOX FINISH: 1500


REVIEW: Great for an arsenal in need of a strong pearl ball; more back-end kick than the Zero Gravity.

BLEND10 JULY 2014

OSW 46 Hook • 16 Length • 12 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: B10A6 SolidBOX FINISH: 1500


REVIEW: Provides true “old school” motion, but with harder drive through the pins than you’d expect.

DV8 DECEMBER 2014

OUTCAST 46 Hook • 17 Length • 13 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: Class 1 ReactiveBOX FINISH: 500 Siaair, Polished


REVIEW: Great for new bowlers seeking hook and value; performed well on all three test patterns.





OUTCRY49 Hook • 15.5 Length • 14 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: 53M Hybrid ReactiveBOX FINISH: 4000


REVIEW: Versatile enough to work on many patterns; a good choice for a bowler’s benchmark ball.

STORM JUNE 2014

PITCH BLACK43 Hook • 11 Length • 12 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: Black Control Solid UrethaneBOX FINISH: 1000


REVIEW: Hitting power similar to old-school ure-thanes, but with a little more kick through the pins.

EBONITE FEBRUARY 2014

PIVOT POINT 52 Hook • 16 Length • 16 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: RCP Max Reaction Control Pearl BOX FINISH: 500, 1500 Abranet, Polished


REVIEW: Works well for many player types, but needs some friction to make its move on the lane.

JET JUNE 2014

PROPULSION HYBRID47 Hook • 16 Length • 14 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: VersaMAXX-9 HD HybridBOX FINISH: 1500


REVIEW: Provides a smooth reaction off the midlane with a predictable back-end reaction.

STORM JUNE 2014

PUNCH OUT50 Hook • 17 Length • 17 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: R2S Reactive PearlBOX FINISH: 1500, Polished


REVIEW: Good choice for slower ball speed bowlers, providing more back-end kick than the Lights Out.

SEISMIC APRIL 2014

RAGING BULL TSE 47 Hook • 17 Length • 13 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: TSE Solid Reactive BOX FINISH: Polished


REVIEW: The “middle” ball of Seismic’s TSE line: hooks less than the Solaris but more than the Desperado.

RADICAL FEBRUARY 2014

REAX 2 PEARL 53 Hook • 16 Length • 17 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: Pearl BOX FINISH: 500 Siaair, Polished


REVIEW: Stronger in the midlane than the Grease Monkey, providing predictable motion downlane.

RADICAL JULY 2014

REAX GUSTO53.5 Hook • 16.5 Length • 17.5 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: PearlBOX FINISH: 500 Siaair, Polished


REVIEW: Provides the most aggressive motion off the breakpoint in the Radical line to date.

DV8 FEBRUARY 2014

RUCKUS FEUD 60 Hook • 13 Length • 16 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: Class 12 Solid Reactive BOX FINISH: 500, 1500 Siaair


REVIEW: Reads midlane strongly and allows one to open up a longer, high-volume pattern.

DV8 AUGUST 2014

RUCKUS SCHIZO 54 Hook • 16 Length • 17 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: Class 12F Pearl Reactive BOX FINISH: 500 Siaair, Polished


REVIEW: Most aggressive ball seen from DV8; stands out with its big hook and strong back-end reaction.

DV8 AUGUST 2014

RUDE DUDE 53 Hook • 14 Length • 14 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: Class 7G Reactive BOX FINISH: 500 Siaair, Polished


REVIEW: Makes a strong arcing move off the breakpoint; provides welcome help on medium to oily patterns.

EBONITE NOVEMBER 2014

SALUTE 52 Hook • 16 Length • 16 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: Big Time HybridBOX FINISH: 500, 1000 Abralon, Polished


REVIEW: Should fi t a lot of different bowler styles; clean motion through the fronts with a strong midlane.

31ST ANNUAL BALL GUIDE31ST ANNUA BALL GUIDE31ST31ST31ST ANNUALANNUALANNUAL BALL GUIDE BALL GUIDEBALL GUIDE31ST ANNUAL BALL GUIDE



VISIONARY MARCH 2014

SAMURAI 53 Hook • 17 Length • 15 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: React-a-Tack Pearl BOX FINISH: 1500, Polished


REVIEW: Provides clean motion through the fronts, with a strong and heavy roll for a pearl ball.

RADICAL NOVEMBER 2014

SCORE 52 Hook • 12 Length • 12 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: ReactiveBOX FINISH: 500 Siaair, Polished


REVIEW: Reads the pattern with predictable motion; provides a good picture of how a pattern is playing.


SCREAM46 Hook • 17 Length • 15 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: 42L Pearl ReactiveBOX FINISH: 1500, Polished


REVIEW: Provides 2-3 boards more hook than the Shout, with more length and more angle off the breakpoint.


SHOUT45 Hook • 16 Length • 14 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: 45L Solid ReactiveBOX FINISH: 1500, Polished


REVIEW: A good choice for bowlers with slower ball speeds or needing predictable back-end motion.


SINISTER59 Hook • 15 Length • 16 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: 76H Hybrid ReactiveBOX FINISH: 4000


REVIEW: Might be the most hooking ball we’ve seen from Roto Grip; stand left and throw right.

SEISMIC APRIL 2014

SOLARIS TSE 50 Hook • 16 Length • 14 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: TSE Solid Reactive BOX FINISH: Polished


REVIEW: Of the TSE balls reviewed, this is the one to pick when needing to open up the lane.

HAMMER JUNE 2014

SPIKE PEARL49 Hook • 17 Length • 16 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: GTR III PearlBOX FINISH: 500, 500, 500, 1000 Abralon, Polished


REVIEW: Cleaner than the original Spike, with more kick in the backend for a nice pop through the pins.

COLUMBIA 300 JANUARY 2014

TAKEDOWN 51 Hook • 15 Length • 15 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: Bring-It Pearl Reactive BOX FINISH: 500, 3000 Abralon


REVIEW: Good looks on a variety of shots; cleaner through front/midlane than Smack Down.

LORD FIELD MAY 2014

TALENT 50 Hook • 18 Length • 15 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: Proton Reactive BOX FINISH: 2000, Polished


REVIEW: Quite versatile, it’s smooth through the burn without overreacting when it hits its breakpoint.

COLUMBIA 300 SEPTEMBER 2014

THROW DOWN49 Hook • 17 Length • 16 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: Bring-It Solid ReactiveBOX FINISH: 500, 500, 500, 1000 Abralon, Polished


REVIEW: Higher rev and higher speed players will love this ball when lanes are hooking or broken down.

DV8 NOVEMBER 2014

THUG 54.5 Hook • 16 Length • 16.5 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: Class 13F Reactive HybridBOX FINISH: 500 Siaair, Polished


REVIEW: A ball with a lot of hook that saves energy down the lane and really pushes the pins around.

AMF SEPTEMBER 2014

TORCH51 Hook • 16 Length • 16 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: F69 Pearl ReactiveBOX FINISH: Polished


REVIEW: A ball with an asymmetrical core at a mid-level price is rare, and this is a good one.




TRACK NOVEMBER 2014

TOUR SIC 53 Hook • 15 Length • 15 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: MR-6 Solid ReactiveBOX FINISH: 500, 3000 Abralon


REVIEW: A versatile ball for various medium lane conditions played from different angles.

TRACK JUNE 2014

TOUR X46 Hook • 17 Length • 16 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: Luxury DR-4 PearlBOX FINISH: 500, 800, 1000, 2000 Abralon, Polished


REVIEW: Smooth through the fronts for slow- and high-speed bowlers, and strong off the spot.

ELITE JANUARY 2014

TRAITOR 47 Hook • 15.5 Length • 16.5 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: E85M Reactive BOX FINISH: 2000 Abralon


REVIEW: Best on blended patterns with moderate oil inside and moderate friction outside.

MOTIV SEPTEMBER 2014

TRIBAL FIRE52 Hook • 17 Length • 17 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: Fusion Hybrid ReactiveBOX FINISH: 5000-Grit Laser Scan Polished


REVIEW: Will fi t into most bowlers’ bags, providing strong but predictable drive through the pins.

STORM JUNE 2014

TROPICAL BREEZE PEARL42 Hook • 17 Length • 15 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: PearlBOX FINISH: 1500, Polished


REVIEW: Great choice for getting down the lane easily on a short pattern, or when there’s a lot of friction.

LANE #1 MARCH 2014

TYPHOON 57 Hook • 12 Length • 15 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: F5 Hybrid BOX FINISH: neaT

RG: 2.467 min/2.516 max◆

REVIEW: Out-hooks the CrankR; works especially well on fresh medium and longer patterns.


UPROAR 46 Hook • 17.5 Length • 15.5 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: 51 ML Pearlized Reactive BOX FINISH: 1500 Polished


REVIEW: Gets through the heads easily with great recovery on shorter and lighter patterns.

SEISMIC JULY 2014

VENATOR PEARL53 Hook • 16.5 Length • 17 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: SF-8/8 PearlBOX FINISH: 4000


REVIEW: Most explosive ball from Seismic to date; provides lots of hook and bang for the buck.

MOTIV APRIL 2014

VENOM SHOCK 51 Hook • 17 Length • 15 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: Purple Turmoil MFS Reactive BOX FINISH: 4000


REVIEW: An unusually strong ball for its price point, but not too strong for its core; versatile.

HAMMER NOVEMBER 2014

VIRAL 46 Hook • 18 Length • 16.5 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: Violent Flip ReactiveBOX FINISH: 500, 1000 Abralon, Polished


REVIEW: Provides the greatest length and most angular motion of any Hammer ball seen to date.

STORM JUNE 2014

WIPE OUT52 Hook • 16 Length • 15 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: R2S Solid ReactiveBOX FINISH: 3000 Abralon


REVIEW: A ball for bowlers who are looking for hook, but don’t want to pay a top-shelf price.

AMF DECEMBER 2014

XCITE 43 Hook • 18 Length • 16 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: F43 PearlBOX FINISH: Polished

RG: 2.55• RG DIFFERENTIAL: .046◆

REVIEW: A go-to ball for tournament bowlers when the lanes are broken down; strong hitting power.

31ST ANNUAL BALL GUIDE31ST31ST ANNUALANNUAL BALL GUIDEBALL GUIDE31ST ANNUAL BALL GUIDE



LANE MASTERS MARCH 2014

XTREME DAMAGE PLATINUM 46 Hook • 17 Length • 16 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: Flex Molecular Pearl BOX FINISH: 1000 Abralon, PolishedRG: 2.56 • RG DIFFERENTIAL: .051

◆

REVIEW: Great to use in the burn; has no problem turning the corner when it sees a friction spot.

RADICAL OCTOBER 2014

YETI UNCAGED 54 Hook • 17 Length • 16 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: PearlBOX FINISH: 500 Siaair, Polished


REVIEW: Pushes cleanly through the fronts and fi n-ishes stronger than any Radical ball seen to date.

RADICAL MARCH 2014

YETI UNLEASHED56 Hook • 11 Length • 13 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: Solid Reactive BOX FINISH: 500, 2000 Siaair


REVIEW: Provides most hook of any Yeti ball; ideal for those desiring strong early/midlane reaction.

ELITE JANUARY 2014

Z 46 Hook • 16 Length • 15.5 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: E50M Reactive BOX FINISH: 4000 Abralon


REVIEW: Solid backend reaction for rev-challenged players or those with slower ball speeds.

STORM FEBRUARY 2014

ZERO GRAVITY 58 Hook • 14 Length • 14 Breakpoint Shape

COVER: ERG Solid ReactiveBOX FINISH: 4000 Abralon


REVIEW: A little smoother than the Virtual Gravity, and more forgiving on heavier oil patterns.

900 GLOBAL1303 Rilling RoadSan Antonio, TX 78214p. [email protected]

ABS INTERNATIONAL 1-1-1 Kitamagome Ota-kuTokyo, Japanp. + 81-3-5718-7121f. + [email protected]

AMF 3001303 Rilling RoadSan Antonio, TX 78214p. [email protected]

BLEND10 BOWLING508 N. Plumb Grove RoadPalatine, IL 60067p. 847-606-0177blend10bowling.combill.hall@ blend10bowling.compete.oliva@ blend10bowling.com

BOWLERS PARADISE175 Commerce Circle Ste. ASacramento, CA 95815p. 888-969-2695f. [email protected] BRUNSWICK BOWLING PRODUCTS525 W. Laketon AvenueMuskegon, MI 49441p. 231-725-4966800-YES-BOWLbowlwithbrunswick.cominquiries@brunbowl.com

COLUMBIA 300 P.O. Box 746Hopkinsville, KY 42241p. 270-881-1200 800-626-8350f. [email protected]

DV8 BOWLING525 W. Laketon AvenueMuskegon, MI 49441p. [email protected]

EBONITE P.O. Box 746Hopkinsville, KY 42241p.270-881-1200 800-626-8350f. [email protected]

ELITE BOWLING INTERNATIONAL175 Commerce Circle, Ste. ASacramento, CA 95815p. 916-643-4663f. [email protected]

HAMMER BOWLINGP.O. Box 746Hopkinsville, KY 42241p. 270-881-1200 800-626-8350f. [email protected]

JET BOWLINGSalt Lake City, [email protected]

LANE #16739 Pickard DriveSyracuse, NY 13211p. 315-475-1000 [email protected]

LANE MASTERS AND LEGENDS BY LANE MASTERS2135 Stagecoach Rd. Ste. BStockton, CA 95215 p. 916-476-9542f. [email protected]

LORD FIELD, CO. LTD.2135 Stagecoach Rd. Ste. BStockton, CA 95215 p. 916-476-9542f. 916-647-0504lordfi [email protected]

MOTIV BOWLING18570 Trimble CourtSpring Lake, MI 49456p. 616-850-9868800-235-8324f. [email protected]

RADICAL BOWLING TECHNOLOGIES5005 West AvenueSan Antonio, TX 78213p. 866-828-7702f . [email protected]

ROTO GRIP165 South 8th WestBrigham City, UT 84302p. 888-450-6920f. [email protected]

SEISMIC BOWLING LTD.11 Holland DriveBelfast, Northern Ireland BT5 6EHseismicbowling.comenquiries@ seismicbowling.com

STORM BOWLING165 South 8th WestBrigham City, UT 84302p. 435-723-0403800-369-4402f. [email protected]

TRACK BOWLINGP.O. Box 746Hopkinsville, KY 42241p.270-881-1200 800-837-1106f. [email protected]

VISIONARY BOWLING PRODUCTS8709 X-Ograph AvenueJennings, MO 63136p. 314-388-3446f. 314-388-0109visionarybowling.comvisionarybowling@ hotmail.com

BALL COMPANY CONTACT INFORMATION


31ST ANNUAL BALL GUIDE

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