THE PRO SHOP: BOWLING BALL REVIEWS
'The Pro Shop' by Mike Riggins
(Editor's Note: Mike Riggins provides ball reviews in each issue of BJI.)


Fusion Confusion? It's not your fault. The August issue had a full report
on the AZO Fusion; this month, we do performance follow-up on AMF's Fusion
and Cold Fusion. Dave "Lefty" Beach provided most of the performance skinny
due to an injury suffered to yours truly while in the line of duty (in
mid-August, we were five games into a test set when we heard and felt a
"crack" in our lower back. The pain forced us again to rest the back.

Faball: Hammer Wheel

This Burning Red high performance ball (neon yellow logos and pin) will
feature a new cover and a new core design. Hammer's 9485 reactive cover
forms the base for the Wheel with the particle addition of 20-micron
Phologopite Mica and Amorphous Aluminum Silicate. Factory finish is a
700-matte with an ultra fine 7448-scotch brite pad producing a semi-shine,
a very "tunable" aggressive/high friction cover.

The main core is a high density Bismuth Trioxide material that looks like a
mis-shaped ball with a small knob on one side and a large knob on the
opposing side to create a built-in marked mass bias. The main core is
wrapped in another core that looks like a large post with rounded ends.
These are wrapped in a lower density outer core in 14-16 lb. weights. The
12 and 13 lb. Wheels will use a Hyper Lite Encapsulated core for
lightweight dynamic integrity. The result is 4-8" of flare potential from
the low RG core (2.450) with high Rg differential of .060. Hammer drill
suggestions will be offered.

AMF: Cold Fusion

Caveat: Find back ends or lighter patterns to enjoy the power of this ball.
The bulb core shape gives a very even mid-lane read, and the dual mass bias
of the core delivers plenty of power at the pin deck. The Cold Fusion has a
look similar to the Angle Evolution Extra Tour with a stronger back-end
move and better hit and mix. Dusty (a medium speed, higher rev rate
employee) applied a 4 X 4 drill with strong mass bias and no hole. On the
left side, Dave went with a 41/2 X 4 with PRI in a strong position and no
hole. On the Sport pattern, both balls were predictably weak; the longer
pattern did not let the balls get into a heavy roll. On the right side,
Dusty could play outside the oil line, bump the oil or swing from 15-out
with strong hook and great hit. The left-side ball pretty much gave
anything from third arrow out. Lefty reports "The Cold Fusion is very clean
through the heads as promised and really shows its muscle on the backend.
While the ball could easily get to the pocket from anywhere on the left
side, I felt most comfortable and had the best carry swinging from 15-5.
The Cold Fusion should cover house patterns very well for a variety of
bowler styles."

AMF: Fusion

Caveat: Find oil up front, even with polish. We went 4 X 3 with PRI right
of the thumb (hole on PAP) and Lefty went same as the Cold Fusion. On Sport
patterns, both balls gave a nice "read" at the end of the oil line, hooked
strong yet smoothly, and delivered explosive hit. On a house pattern with
box finish, both balls had to be played very deep to hit the pocket and
still bled off too much energy for soft hit. A trip to the spinner for a
Black Magic polish still made these old bones stay in the oil (20-10) as
long as possible with a strong backend and great hit. Says Lefty, "This one
was a little too much for the typical house conditions. This is truly an
arsenal ball, best if used on longer patterns or the rare carry-down
conditions." After watching the Fusion hook into the wrong side of the head
pin a few times, the spinner was warmed up and a gloss polish applied with
Black Magic and Black Magic Plus. Even then, the ball had too much hook
until the target was inside the fourth arrow.

Storm: Tour Power

Caveat: Find head oil, or be prepared to polish this one. The right-side
ball (pin in) was drilled with pin under ring finger (4" from PAP) and CG
out 1". Box cover on the Sport pattern played best for this old guy up
15-to-13 with a smooth hook and plenty of power at the pin deck. On the
house pattern, we had to play this one between 3rd and 4th arrow for best
hit. Until we applied a medium polish, any hint of early dry pulled the
energy out too quickly. With the Tour Power polished, we could play
15-and-out with strong hook and excellent hit. Lefty placed the pin on the
center line (below the fingers), and found that the Tour Power has great
length and impressive recovery off the dry part of the lane. He played best
outside the 12-board and looped from as far out as the 2-board. The ball
should deliver well for most players in the track area. If a stronger drill
is used, the ball should be very playable from the third arrow and out. It
has great corner carry and power on the 38' pattern. On a Sport pattern,
the ball traveled 3-5 feet past the oil line before turning on the signal
and making its move. This ball is versatile and should prove very useful on
shorter oil patterns to longer Sport conditions.

Storm: Ultra Hot

Caveat: If you are "rotationally-impaired," avoid polish and long/heavy
patterns. We drilled label leverage on this Blue Thunder Road lookalike and
played a Sport pattern very direct. The house pattern played very well up
15 with a smooth hook and good hit and mix. We lost the back before we
could try it with polish, so we passed it to a high rev player. The Ultra
Hot gave him the right side of a house pattern with a smooth turn and pin
dancin' hit. Lefty Tester applied a 5 X 5 drilling, his favorite since it
gives him plenty of length and hook. The Hot series of balls have proven to
be great performers on most house/lighter patterns. The Ultra Hot continues
the tradition of great performance and subtle power to blow the pins right
off the deck. For Lefty, the Ultra Hot worked best when other balls were
giving up with no over-reaction off the dry, and it gave great continuation
at the pins. "More often than not, bowlers are using too much ball (hook)
on medium to dry conditions and trying to force a reaction. The Ultra Hot
is perfect for these situations and half the price of the mega-hookers. The
Ultra Hot is a must for anyone facing hooking conditions."

Columbia: Blue Pearl Pulse

This Smoke/Blue Pearl (neon orange logos/pin) blast from the past features
a polish on SuperFlex reactive cover. The old motor (core) is back with
high Rg (2.581) for length and low Rg differential (.018) for that smooth
look on the big end. Box drills will be offered or just hit it with your
favorite layout.

Caveat: Avoid long/heavy patterns as this one is designed to put a handle
on light or violent wet/dry patterns. We set this ball up for a friend who
has a high rev rate and problems with over-reaction on house patterns. We
went 4 X 4 with no hole and immediately put a handle on the backends.
Instead of the big loop from deep, he went back right with great length,
smooth hook and punishing hit and mix. Lefty drilled the Blue Pulse 41/2 X
41/2 with no hole and was amazed how this ball could play long on the house
pattern. "How is it possible that we have progressed so far yet a ball from
the past works as well as some of the new high-performance balls?" Lefty
wondered. "I was amazed at the big smooth hook this ball delivers on the
newer high-viscosity lane oils. A great ball to conquer house conditions,
this ball was obviously way ahead of its time. Carpe Diem!"

Lane #1: Buzzsaw/C Super Carbide

This Ash Black ball uses Lane #1's Carbide Particle Formula cover with a
high particle load. The heart of this 5-piece Buzzsaw/C is Lane #1's
patented Diamond core with dual separated mini-diamonds and progressively
lighter outer core wraps. Look for the same main core in 13-16 lb. weights
and lighter outer cores for excellent performance potential in all weights.
The medium/high Rg core (2.556 to 2.562 in 16-13 lb.) will offer high
flare/hook potential (up to 8") with Rg differentials from .039 to .051 in
16-13 lb. weights.

Caveat: The very aggressive particle cover comes with a light buff shine,
but can be changed as needed. For best results, use the Trizact system
(standard paper/pads and polishes do not work very well). Also, find lots
of oil! We drilled the pin in right-side ball 4 X 4 and started on a fresh
house pattern. Anywhere outside the third arrow was laughable, as the ball
would not stay on the right side of the headpin. To get to the pocket, we
stood against the ball return and looped from inside the 4th arrow. Even
from deep and swing, the cover had too much "bite" and the ball hit weak.
We passed this one to five players for league use (house shot) and the ball
was returned to the shop quickly with comments of "Ball hooks too early/too
much/etc". But a move to the Sport pattern really brought out the power of
this Buzzsaw/C with plenty of oil to get the ball down the lane, big
sweeping move and hit at the pin deck... like a Buzzsaw! Said Lefty, "I
drilled the Super Carbide 41/2 X 31/2 and quickly discovered this is way
too much ball for my hand on a house pattern. This is a mega-hooking ball
with a real thirst for oil. This ball was much more suitable for the Sport
pattern. Any player should hold this one in reserve for longer/heavier
patterns or conditions where tight backends (carry-down) are a problem. If
you have a weaker hand or trouble hooking a ball, this ball may be your
answer."

Track: EMB XF Pearl

The EMB XF uses Track's Hyperactive Technology core with their first single
density elliptical-shaped core. The core looks like a large block with a
large stem on the bottom, is placed off center in the ball (to create a
built in marked mass bias) and surrounded with a lower density outer core.
This medium/high Rg (2.54) with medium Rg differential (.040) core is
designed to clear the heads, give a sharp move at the breakpoint and
deliver a continued move to the pocket. The cover of this blue/green pearl
ball is Track's ProTracktion Plus Pearl with a factory polish; sand/polish
it as needed.

Find something that resembles hook area on the big end and enjoy. We
drilled the XF 4 X41/2 with a strong mass bias and no hole and went to the
Sport pattern. We had to play the XF tight due to our hand (or lack
thereof) with a strong move and great hit and carry. On the house pattern,
our hand and the pearl/polished cover would not us get deep, but we could
play this one anywhere outside the 3rd arrow with excellent length, a
sharp, continued move and powerful hit and mix. Lefty drilled the EMB XF 5
X 4 with the mass bias in a continued motion position. "This one is an
improved version of the original, tweaking the core and cover," he said.
"The goal of Track with the EMB series has always been to maintain power at
the pins where so many balls give up. This latest EMB looks like the
answer. We tried to get this ball to hook out with no success. It has
devastating hit and impressive corner carrying power. This ball should
satisfy a lot of bowler styles; even Riggins got the XF to tip the corner
and hit." Hmm, sounds like Lefty's getting a little too comfortable in his
"reviewer" role. Time to get well, quick!