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Bowler: Jeff Ussery
Date: December 11th, 2006
Coverstock: Modified Big Bang Reactive Pearl
RG: 2.44"
Differential: .054"
Pin to PAP Distance: 5"
10 Degree Layout
Balance Hole: 25/32" Hole x 2" Deep on my Positive Axis Point
Surface Preparation: Box Condition
What I Was Looking For in this Ball and Layout:
Many of my shiny Ebonite balls get down the lane really clean and have a very
quick transition at the spot. Some of this is due to ball selection, and some
of it is due to layout selection. Balls like my Big Time Pearl, polished Overtime,
and my second Whirlwind all seem to get through the front of the lane very easy
and then have a fast breakpoint. With the SmashTime Pearl, I was hoping to create
a pearlized polished ball that didn't read the spot as quickly, and was smoother
throughout the lane.
What I Ended Up With in this Ball and Layout:
The front of the lane is no problem for the SmashTime Pearl. This ball goes to
show what a polished pearlized coverstock can do for you. In the same rg and differential
and a solid coverstock (SmashTime solid), this ball would hook very early and
have trouble getting through heads that don't have sufficient oil on them. But
with the pearlized and polished coverstock, the SmashTime Pearl has no difficulty
whatsoever. You can view a video of me throwing the SmashTime Pearl on some Guardian
lane surface heads that tend to hook early. The SmashTime Pearl handles these
easily.
Breakpoint was the key that I was trying to zone in on. Remember that I wanted
a smoother look downlane, with a ball that didn't squirt through the oil too much.
I was able to get exactly what I wanted by doing two things with this layout.
First, I used a 10 degree layout, moving the preferred spin axis of the ball near
my positive axis point. This gets the ball to lose axis rotation more quickly
and gives it a smoother breakpoint. I combined that with the very low pin position,
just 1/2" above my midline. This makes the ball roll earlier or closer to me at
the foul line
It is important to realize that not everybody can use pins in lower positions
like this. People who track very high and close to their gripping holes are definitely
in danger of flaring over the middle finger hole with this type of pin height.
If you are considering this type of pin height and layout for yourself or a customer,
be sure to examine their track closely and make sure that they are not going to
roll or flare over the gripping holes. Airborne bowling balls don't tend to hit
the pins real effectively.
In overall hook, the SmashTime Pearl is a solid contender for the upper-tier
of the mid-level hooking balls. It's not going to bend like a One series ball.
But it's definitely going to outhook everything in the Elements series, such as
the Whirlwind and Ice balls. My SmashTime Pearl is very close in total hook to
the new RXS300 that I drilled earlier.
***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.
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