Bowler: Jeff Ussery
Date: August 9th, 2006
Coverstock: Trimax Reactive Resin Polished with Powerhouse Factory Finish
RG: 2.57"
Differential: .031"
Pin to PAP Distance: 3 1/2"
Preferred Spin Axis to PAP Distance: 4 1/4"
Balance Hole: 1" Hole x 2" Deep - 4" From Grip Center through Center of Gravity
Surface Preparation: Sanded with 1000 Grit Abralon Pads
What I Was Looking For in this Ball and Layout:
I was looking for something very specific when I drilled this Sanded Black Ice.
Notice that I used a very strong layout along with a sanded coverstock in combination
with a weaker bowling ball. I was looking for a way to play closer to the drier
part of the lanes with a sanded coverstock ball.
What I Ended Up With in this Ball and Layout:
While some may expect this ball to hook earlier on me due to the 1000 Grit Abralon
surface, the key here is the strength of the core. The Black Ice core is so weak
that the ball simply doesn't hook early on me. The .027" differential allows the
ball to push through the front part of the lane regardless of the coverstock surface.
This was great for me as my goal was to play closer to the drier portions of the
lane.
With the stronger pin position and preferred spin axis location, I get a very
strong but easy to control breakpoint off of the dry. The ball I chose is actually
weak enough that I have to force the reaction right into the dry boards to get
a nice strong reaction. This is extremely advantageous for me because I have an
entire arsenal of equipment that I don't have to get to the dry boards to get
hook. This sanded Black Ice is very different from everything else I have, and
the breakpoint I get from it reminds me of an incredibly juiced up urethane ball.
Even with the layout I chose and the sanding of the coverstock, the sanded Black
Ice is still a fairly weak ball in my bag. Certainly stronger than my other box
condition Black Ice, but much weaker than everything else but my Whirlwind. The
key to this ball will be identifying when to throw it instead of the Whirlwind
that I reviewed recently. The indicator should be the move off of the dry boards
and which one allows me to hit the pocket with more frequency.
***Our ball reviews are developed from a wide variety of lane conditions, surfaces,
and environments. We are attempting to give you an idea of our overall experience
and findings from a ball. Remember that all bowlers are different in regards to
ball speed, revolutions, axis rotation, and axis tilt. Bowlers will see different
qualities from bowling balls based on these factors. Be sure to also take into
account the bowler's environment (lane surface, oil pattern, etc.) and their expectation
(hook, score, etc.) before drilling a new ball for anybody.
