Bowler: Jeff Ussery
Date: June 3rd, 2006
Coverstock: GB 11.2
RG: 2.46"
Differential: .056"
Pin to PAP Distance: 5 1/2"
Preferred Spin Axis to PAP Distance: 3 3/4"
Balance Hole: None
Surface Preparation: Box Condition
What I Was Looking For in this Ball and Layout:
I wanted a ball that allowed me to play straighter angles through the front portion
of the lane while still retaining a "pointed" or sharp looking breakpoint. If
you read my ball review on the Big Time from June 3rd, you'll see in this review
how planning out a desired reaction can be the difference.
What I Ended Up With in this Ball and Layout:
The Big One is exactly what I expected in the front part of the lane. The ball
is a very aggressive coverstock from Ebonite and needs sufficient head oil to
get through the front. With my physical game, this matches up great anyway. No
way will you see me going straight through the front if there is some friction
available. In this layout, I'm using a moderate pin position to control the early
track flare. By combining pin position with my knowledge of the coverstock, I
know exactly what I'm going to get in the front part of the lane.
I chose to use a 5 3/4" PSA distance from my PAP. By placing the preferred spin
axis in this position, I still get that quick move when the ball begins to lose
axis rotation. Notice that I was even lucky enough to get a center of gravity
that lined up to the right of the pin-psa line. By placing the center of gravity
closer to my axis, I tend to get a quick move at the breakpoint followed by a
lot of controllable forward roll. This gets the ball into a heavy end over end
roll, which is great for playing straighter angles with my game.
The overall hook of my Big One ball is similar to my One ball. The main difference
is the front end look. By using a stronger cover with a lower pin height, I've
created earlier roll on the lane. My partner Jesse may not have liked my intent
with this ball, but this layout gives me exactly what I was looking for when I
went to the drill press.
***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.
