Bowler: Jeff Ussery
Date: February 20th, 2006
Coverstock: Traxion Reactive 0.30
RG: 2.51"
Differential: .051"
Pin to PAP Distance: 4 1/2"
Degree Layout: 45 Degrees
Balance Hole: 25/32" Hole x 2" Deep - 4" Right of Grip Center
Surface Preparation: 2000 Abralon
What I Was Looking For in this Ball and Layout:
Hook, hook, and more hook. I've been lacking a ball that just flat out hooks
through heavy volumes of lane oil. I drilled an Infinite One earlier this year,
but it was specifically drilled for a trip to Las Vegas and extremely slick conditions.
Since that time, I've not had a ball that would really handle extremely thick
oil up until this point.
What I Ended Up With in this Ball and Layout:
This Total NV is incredibly aggressive, everywhere on the lane. The ball performs
as expected through the front part of the lane. Whenever you have a ball with
6-7 inches of track flare, a 2000 grit Abralon surface, and then you combine it
with my axis tilt, it's going to hook early. And that was just fine with me! This
ball does exactly what I wanted through the front part of the lane.
At the breakpoint, this Total NV is very strong and induces friction like no
other ball in my bag. Whenever I get on a lane condition where I can't get a ball
to read the spot, I start thinking about this ball. This ball is strong enough
in the transition that I haven't seen anything yet that it won't hook on. The
great thing is that it is incredibly controllable at that spot, and it never jumps
in an angular fashion. For my game, this is key when I'm bowling on heavier volume
patters. The tendency for me is to get reactions that push too long and then change
direction too quickly. I feel as if this ball will solve those problems.
As I said earlier, nothing outhooks this ball with the stuff currently in my
bag. It handles heavier oil better than anything else I have. I can actually force
this ball reasonably well on conditions it's not intended for. Now, it may not
be beneficial to do so, but it is nice knowing that you have equipment that is
a little more versatile and can be used on a wider range of lane conditions. I
can use this Total NV on anything between heavy and medium oil volumes and lengths.
***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.
