Bowler: Jeff Ussery
Date: June 3rd, 2006
Coverstock: Phazed Bomber Reactive
RG: 2.51"
Differential: .054"
Pin to PAP Distance: 6"
Preferred Spin Axis to PAP Distance: 4 1/4"
Balance Hole: None
Surface Preparation: Box Condition
What I Was Looking For in this Ball and Layout:
If you didn't get a chance to check out my Big Time ball review, please read
that before moving forward with this review for the Overtime. You'll see how making
and realizing mistakes in pro shop work can be beneficial in the future. In the
Overtime, I was looking for a ball that would skid down lane very easily. I also
needed a ball reaction that would allow me to open up my launch angles and play
the lane left to right.
What I Ended Up With in this Ball and Layout:
Earlier I told you about the mistakes of using a pin position that was too weak
in a Big Time ball. But I too can learn from my mistakes. I knew I was looking
at the same core as the Big Time. I knew that the core would hook given friction,
and I knew that I had made an error using the layout I did in the particle cover
Big Time. The solution for this desired reaction was easy. Select the same core
in a non-particle coverstock that would allow for those higher launch angles and
capitalize from my earlier errors.
The Overtime gets through the front part of the lane extremely well. This is
due to two things. First, the coverstock is a very shiny phased bomber reactive.
This delays hooking action significantly as the ball senses friction. Second,
the pin position (6") I chose in this ball is so weak that the ball simply cannot
flare early. The core is virtually standing straight up as I release the ball.
With the core so close to it's high rg axis, it can't help but tumble through
the front part of the lane.
Here's where my knowledge of ball reaction really made for an excellent bowling
ball. I knew that I would have a reaction that pushed through the front very easily.
I also knew that if I didn't have some help in the backend, I'd be watching something
similar to a high-dollar Maxim. So I throw a 4 1/4" PSA location in this rock
to make sure I am going to get some down lane reaction. Hopefully you can see
that if I had used any PSA location much weaker than this, combined with a weaker
shell and a weaker pin position, I would have had an incredibly bad reaction.
This PSA location gives me a massive amount of late track flare and ball reaction.
The overall hook of my Overtime is not that much in overall boards. The impressive
thing about the reaction is the way it gets to the pocket. This Overtime is definitely
straighter than my One and Big One, and slightly less than my Big Time. But when
this Overtime makes its move, the entry angle into the pins is absolutely stupid.
In the first week, this ball won me a nice tournament victory simply because of
the angles I was able to play. When you miss 5 single pins, crack 2 first shot
balls off your ankle into the gutter, and still win a 10-game sweeper with a great
field of players, you have incredible ball reaction.
A great example of how some thought, combined with learning from other experiences,
can create exactly what you need in ball reaction.
***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.
