John Congdon

While this isn’t my high series, it is for AMF Deltona Lanes.

I started the night with my Hammer Black Widow. I love the way this ball rolls when 1) I roll it well, and 2) the lanes accept it. It goes so long and because of the solid black, you can see the transition so well. So I shot a 201 first game.

Second game I changed to the Storm Hy-Road. With a couple of really bad shots I squeeked out a 195. So going into the third game I was -4.

Note: What do I mean by -4? Most bowlers base scores on a 200 average. So after game one, I was +1. Game two I was -5, so I was averaging -4. So I needed to shoot 204 in the third game to shoot 600. Back to my bowling now…

In the third game a continued to use the Storm Hy-Road. I started spare in the first frame, and strike in the second. In the third frame I decided to just throw the bowling ball into the gutter on the first ball. Somehow I rebounded a almost ran the sheet. I struck through the second ball in the tenth. My final score for the third game was 252, giving me a 647 series.

Storm Hy-Road

The Ebonite Striking Motion is Ebonite’s next High Performance Bowling Ball that was just released on November 11. We will be testing this bowling ball soon and will give a detailed review when we do.

Product ID: 6831
Release Date: 11/11/2008
Perfect Scale: 201.5
Lane Condition: Medium-Heavy
Coverstock: Reactive Resin
RG: 2.56
Finish: Matte
Color: Navy Blue
Viz Type: Non Viz
Performance: High Performance
Quality: First Quality

Super Shell 1.0 is an all new coverstock for the Ebonite Brand. Continuing the innovations that were introduced with the GB covers in the One series and the Traxion covers that we introduced in the NV series, Super Shell pushes ball performance to new heights while also being the most durable cover that we have introduced to date, that’s why it is SUPER SHELL 1.0!

The Flat Iron Core that we are introducing to the market offers a few unique properties. As a result, the core numbers are slightly different than any other ball that Ebonite has introduced to date.

Features:

• Core Design: Flat Iron Asymmetric
• Mass Bias Strength: 0.022
• Mass Bias Location: 6 3/4” from the pin
• Coverstock Name: Super Shell 1.0
• Box Finish: Sanded with 4000 Grit Abralon Pad
• Length: (Ebonite scale of 1 to 50, earliest to latest) - 19
• Overall Hook: (Ebonite scale of 1 to 50, least to most) - 48
• Breakpoint Angle: (Ebonite scale of 1 to 15, most smooth to most angular) - 12.00

Track’s next bowling ball release will be the [bowling value="6848"/]. I am not sure what to expect out of this bowling ball, but hopefully we will get a chance to test it soon so that I can give a thorough review.

Product ID: 6848
Release Date: 11/26/2008
Perfect Scale: 207.5
Finish: Matte
RG: 2.470
Coverstock: Reactive Resin
Lane Condition: Heavy
Color: Red Pearl
Viz Type: Non Viz
Quality: First Quality
Performance: High Performance

With the Track Rising SE (Special Edition) we’ve engineered a ball (for lack of a better word) with the strongest core to date, a single density monster with a cranked up intermediate differential of 0.035, an all-new high. Then we wrapped it all in a Gen 2 coverstock with a performance pearl additive to increase length while storing energy. It’s the closest thing to a remote controlled ball for the slickest lane conditions.

BIGGER MEGA TRON CORE - The largest volume, single density, High Mass Bias core shape ever put into a ball. Intermediate differential raised to a new high of 0.035, Revs up sooner for more control and a bigger payload at the back end.

Features:

• Core : “Mega Tron”
• Core Type : Asymmetrical
• Color : Red Pearl
• Surface : 4000 Unpolished
• Coverstock: Gen 2 Reactive Pearl

I had the opportunity to try the Storm Hy-Road last night to shoot our next ball reaction video. I can say that I was very impressed with the reaction of this ball. I believe this is my first mid-performance bowling ball in a long time.

I drilled the Storm Hy-Road with the pin 3 3/8″ from my Positive Axis Point, which puts the pin to the right on my ring finger. I put a 1″x2″ weight hole 6″ from my center line straight through the CG.

I shot my first 600 series in weeks with this ball. Averaging only in the 180’s, I usually score in the 540’s.

Storm and Roto-Grip have been making some great bowling balls recently. The Storm Virtual Gravity and the Storm Hy-Road are perfect compliments to each other.

The video will be released soon.

Hammer’s newest mid performance bowling ball, the Hammer Raw Hammer Acid is going to be released on December 2nd. I can’t wait to receive our seed balls in so that we can test them and give you our feed back on this bowling ball. I have a very good feeling about it from everything I have heard from Hammer Bowling.

There’s nothing safe about the Hammer Raw Hammer Acid. Made with our Max-Hook Reactive coverstock and Raw Hammer Assault core, we’ve designed it to be dangerous from the outside in; a scary combination of power and control you won’t find in any other mid-level ball. The Hammer Raw Hammer Acid. Let the pins burn.

We are looking forward to possibly getting our hands on this ball early to do a little testing. If we do get these in early, we’ll make sure to shoot a video!

Ball Features:

• Core: Raw Hammer Assault Core
• Coverstock: Max-Hook Reactive
• Factory Finish: 4000 Grit Abralon
• Flare Potential: Medium-High

My father-in-law and I went bowling on Sunday, and I used it as a bowling practice session. 

My goal right now is to slide less.  Often after I release my bowling ball, I feel as if I am still sliding.  I feel that this act makes my release inconsistent.  Which affects my ball speed.  As I have gotten more aggressive in my follow through, the slide has gotten worse. 

I used to wear a #10 Dexter SST Replacement Sole, which is the most slide.  Last year I moved down to a #8 Dexter SST Replacement Sole and have been very comfortable with that.  I feel that my swing has continued to progress (even though average doesn’t prove it), and it is time to make another adjustment in my bowling shoes.  So Sunday I spent the entire 5 game practice series working on my timing while sliding less.  To do this, I changed my sole to a #6 Dexter SST Replacement Sole.

Don’t get too caught up in the numbers.  If you bowl in different bowling centers, then you should know that the approach differs from one to the next.  Just because a #6 works in center “A”, doesn’t mean the slide will be the same in center “B”.  This is very important to understand so that you don’t get up to throw a ball without testing your slide first.  You don’t want to end up doing a face plant on the lane surface.

Bowling practice is important, but it is more important to have a goal.  I had fun, but my main purpose was to work on my timing.  I feel I accomplished this for the most part.

We shot another great video.  This time it was for the Storm Virtual Gravity.

We used 3 different bowlers and bowling styles throwing a variety of layouts.  Please enjoy!!!

Brian Halstrom and I have been wanting to start a podcast all year.  We have kept putting it off for one reason or another, but we finally bit the bullet and shot the video this week.

We decided to call the podcast, TalkBowling, and its home is at http://www.talkbowling.com

We would really like to get some feedback on the show.  I know I personally need to loosen up, but it was definitely fun and different.

Click Layout Image to Enlarge

Storm Virtual Gravity, An Unstoppable Force from Storm.

Pin to PAP(4 1/2″ over 0″ up) - 3 3/8″
Mass Bias Position - 1″ right of center line
Balance Hole - 7/8″ x 1 1/2″ deep on the PAP

Surface Preparation - Factory Finish Polish (4000 grit Abralon)

What I Was Looking For In This Ball Layout:
This was my first bowling ball in the Shift line so I wasn’t totally sure what to expect. I knew that Tony and Brian really liked their previous ones.

What I Ended Up With in the Ball and Layout:
I first tried to use the ball at its out of box finish. With my lower ball speed it was hard to get the ball down the lane because of its huge hooking potential.

I then polished it up with some Factory Finish High Gloss polish. What a huge difference. We were able to shoot our ball reaction video on a fresh house shot and you need to watch it to see. Tony and Brian were playing ridiculous angles with this ball.

See more reviews on the product page of the Storm Virtual Gravity.