Bowler: Jeff Ussery
Date: November 1st, 2006
Coverstock: Big Bang Reactive Polished with Powerhouse Factory Finish
RG: 2.47"
Differential: .045"
Pin to PAP Distance: 4 7/8"
Preferred Spin Axis to PAP Distance: 4"
Balance Hole: 1 1/16" x 2 1/2" Deep - 2 1/2" Below PAP on VAL
Surface Preparation: Box Condition
What I Was Looking For in this Ball and Layout:
Truthfully, when I drilled this Whirlwind, I was simply looking to try out another
one of these fine balls. My first Whirlwind has been fantastic, and I decided
to try another one with a layout that was significantly different than the layout
in my first ball. While I've said before that it's always dangerous to simply
throw holes in a ball with no goal in mind, I was pretty confident that I would
end up with a nice overall reaction.
What I Ended Up With in this Ball and Layout:
Anytime you're dealing with a medium differential core in a highly polished coverstock,
you'll find that the ball clears the front of the lane extremely easily. My Whirlwind
does exactly that. On all of the synthetic surfaces I've thrown this ball on,
this Whirlwind gets down the lane very easily and sees almost no friction early
in the ball reaction. The length from this ball is almost identical to my first
Whirlwind.
I used a 4 7/8" pin to pap distance in this ball; a common distance for my equipment.
If you look across my arsenal on this website, you'll find that I use a lot of
4 3/4" to 5 3/4" pin distances. These pin locations delay the reaction and stand
the core up closer to its high rg axis as I release the ball. Given my physical
game, these pin distances tend to work well for me. In the Whirlwind, this 4 7/8"
pin distance creates approximately 3" of track flare.
I used a 4" psa to pap distance for this Whirlwind. My first Whirlwind used a
large 7 1/4" distance which created a very smooth arcing motion. I wanted to see
a different shape down lane than the first ball, so I used a much more aggressive
4" location. When this ball clears the end of the lane pattern, the strong psa
location dominates the ball reaction and creates an extreme skid/flip shape. The
ball holds its axis rotation for a long time as it travels down lane and then
quickly changes direction as the ball enters a forward roll. The weight hole I've
added below my positive axis point on the vertical axis line also contributes
to the reaction I get from this Whirlwind. I used a large weight hole to remove
excess side weight. The goal of the balance hole was to make the breakpoint move
even more dramatic.
This Whirlwind performs just as I would expect for my game, and it is certainly
different than the first Whirlwind I drilled (reviewed on August 9th). Notice
from the ratings below that I have the length very similar to my first Whirlwind,
but the breakpoint move is significantly sharper. This sharp move at the breakpoint
gives a ball reaction that is a little more overall hook and forces me into larger
launch angles.
***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.
