THE REVIEWS KEEP COMING, EVEN THOUGH OUR REVIEWER IS ON THE D.L.
'The Pro Shop' by Mike Riggins

Ouch! We ran into some physical problems that put us on the DL for testing
new balls this cycle. We tried, but the pain made us stop. So we passed off
some balls to a couple of employees for observation, and also relied on
Dave "Lefty Tester" Beach for evaluations this month. Hopefully, we'll be
back to 100% next month. Meanwhile, on to the reviews...

Ebonite: Apex Intensity
Distinguishing Characteristics - This new Apex ball utilizes Ebonite's Big
Easy particle resin. This cover starts with the Big Wheel cover from the
original Apex, but uses a low particle (silica) additive load to provide
traction on medium to heavy oil patterns. The purple and solar yellow cover
(with neon yellow logos and pin) is sanded 800-grit, polished and then
finished with 15-micron (1200-grit) paper. It will sand or polish very
easily as needed. The motor of the Intensity starts with the Fusion core
and goes another step in power-dual cores. The result of this new core
design is a higher Rg ball (2.50 to 2.61 in 16-12#) to help clear the front
end, and higher core torque, Mass Bias strength and Rg differential (.056
to .046) to add back end hook potential. Ebonite offers box drill
suggestions for player and condition needs, or you may apply your own
favorite two-piece drill.
Caveat - Even with the semi-polished surface, the Intensity needs some oil
up front or the addition of polish. Lefty drilled this one with the BOMB
between the vertical axis line and grip centerline with the pin 5" from
PAP. Dusty (a power player with good speed and rev rate) drilled the right
side ball with the BOMB right of centerline and the pin 4" from PAP. On the
sport pattern, the ball was smooth on the back end with great power at the
deck. On a house pattern, the ball had to play in the oil line, but only
for a couple of games, then it was time for more polish. If you play
outside the oil line, you'd better start with polish. The Lefty reports:
"This is a great Ebonite ball to play inside the third arrow, with a great
core/cover combo for the guys who like to strap the ball (hit it). After a
couple of games on the house shot, we had to apply Ebonite particle polish,
as the ball moved too soon. The polish added 3-4 feet on the back end and
more energy at the hit, which seemed to carry any shot close to the pocket.
For oily patterns, keep the box finish or scuff the ball, and on a house
pattern, stay in the oil line or add polish."

Ebonite: Matrix Dominator
Distinguishing Characteristics - The Dominator uses the high-flare BOMBS
away version of the Fusion core. It offers Rg of 2.48 to 2.62 (16-12#) with
Rg differential of .050 to .046. You may apply your favorite two-piece
drill or use one of Ebonite's box drill suggestions for roll/reaction. The
cover is Ebonite's aggressive Big Wheel reactive in navy and green
multi-color with neon yellow logos and pin. The Dominator has a 1200-grit
factory finish and will sand or polish easily as needed.
Caveat - Find lots of oil, or move quickly to your bag for another ball or
to the polisher to keep this ball in play. Lefty applied label leverage
with the BOMB strong above the fingers and hole on PAP. Kevin (who is a
tweener) applied a 4" pin drill with the BOMB in the track (to mellow the
back end) and the hole above the PAP for the right side of the lane. On the
sport pattern, the Dominator recovered smoothly on the big end and ripped
the rack with its power. After three frames on a fresh house shot, Kevin
went to Ebonite's factory polish for a medium shine. With box dull finish,
when the ball was looped enough to hit the hole, there was too much energy
bleed and soft hit. If the ball was played in the oil, his medium speed
resulted in early and too much hook. The polish let him bump the wall or
play in the oil with great length, sharp break and hard hit. From the
Lefty: "Standing on 22 and playing 17 with a five-board swing, the 5" of
flare helped bring this one back to the pocket with plenty of power to kick
out corners and then some. The Dominator quickly became too strong on the
house pattern (with box finish), so we reached for the Ebonite Power House
Extender Polish. Two minutes later we were ready to play again. Keep it
inside, and swing it without fear."

Ebonite: Vortex Afterburner
Follow-up Caveat and Lefty Report - "This one was drilled 5X5 with no hole.
Testing this ball before the Dominator helped us realize the wide range of
reactions available from Ebonite. The Afterburner was right at home up the
10-board, saving its power for a hook and set motion we have not seen in
the Ebonite line for some time. It showed great power and carry when played
up the boards or with a little bit of belly. Once the condition began to
get a little ugly outside, we moved in to the 15-board and the ball
performed better than anticipated. The closer we got to 4th arrow, the more
trouble we had. Definitely a great ball for the house condition most of us
face in league play - a strong Ebonite ball."

Columbia: Reaction Roll
Caveat from the Lefty - "This ball is intended for heavier patterns.
Drilled 5X5, the Roll worked very well on the sport pattern, providing
great hit at the pins and a good read once it encountered the dry on the
back end. This is an oil ball, and works best with box finish if used on
heavier patterns. When tested on the house pattern with box finish, the
Roll hooked way too soon, as expected. Usually an aggressive ball works
better with polish, so I quickly applied Columbia's TEC polish and resumed
the test on the 36" top hat. The outside 10 boards are pretty light (5
units, give or take), so it's not unusual to line up just inside 3rd arrow
and swing it to the outside. Inside, there is enough oil (for a while) to
get down the lane and the back ends are fresh enough to get the ball to the
pocket. The Roll worked well on this pattern for about a game and a half.
As I moved deeper, it started to lose hit and carry as oil depleted and the
ball lost energy. Find oil for the Reaction Roll."

Columbia: Reaction Ricochet
Caveat from the Lefty - "I drilled the Ricochet 5X5 with no hole and went
to a fresh sport pattern. The Ricochet was squirty with a swing and played
best more down-and-in. Since I have several options for heavier oil, this
one stayed polished for house patterns. The 5X5 drill on the Ricochet was a
perfect match for our house pattern, and stayed in play for 15+ games on
the same pair with only small moves. In typical Columbia fashion, the ball
is excellent through the heads. The mid-lanes are ignored by this ball, and
instead the Ricochet relies on its energy release at the back end. It has
an amazing move that often prompts the remark, 'Did you see that?!' If the
bowler can impart some revs on the ball, the Ricochet is a hockey stick.
Look for a pattern with some oil up front and some hook area in the back."

Nu-Line: Deadly Virus
Caveat from the Lefty - "Great match of core power and cover to harness the
power. I used a 5 1/2X4" drill (with no hole), and the Deadly Virus seems
to be at home on a wide variety of conditions. On the sport pattern, the
ball played swing or down-and-in very well with changes in hand positions.
It reads the wet-to-dry with a smooth/powerful hook and energy for deadly
hit and carry. On the house shot, this ball gets down the lane nicely and
recovers from any angle we want to play - as long as it's not started
outside the oil line. This ball seems to work with a 3rd arrow swing for
bowlers with a little hand, and holds the wall well with a little speed;
corner pins don't 'stand' much of a chance. The Deadly Virus should please
bowlers looking for more back end."

Dyno-Thane: Remedy
Caveat from the Lefty - "I drilled the Remedy with the pin 4" from the PAP
(pin just below the ring finger) and the CG 4" from PAP with no hole. I
like this ball with the factory finish and have made no surface changes.
The Remedy seems to find a way to strike on every condition. Heavier
patterns are no problem; line up your feet, hit your target and let it go.
The Remedy stays on line, reads well off the oil to the dry on the back,
and explodes the pocket. On the top hat house shot, just start it up in the
oil and let it fly. The Remedy requires little effort to clear the heads,
has a powerful turn on the back end, and delivers excellent power, hit and
carry. This ball should please the majority of bowlers limited to a
one-ball arsenal."

Storm: Trauma ER
Caveat from the Lefty - "I drilled the Trauma ER with the mass bias on the
VAL (1" from PAP) and pin 5" from PAP (above fingers) with no hole. How do
you make a Trauma better? Make it solid. As hard as it is to improve on the
Trauma, the ER is a step up in performance. You'll find it hard to make the
ER squirt on any condition, and it retains plenty of pop at the pins. Raw
power best describes the ER. This ball is clean through the heads, hooks up
a little earlier than the original Trauma, and delivers the same explosive
results. Box dull will swing easily on a sport pattern with a big smooth
turn and excellent carry. The box finish was too early with hook on a house
pattern, so I applied Storm reactive polish and went back to the house
shot. Even polished, the ER has a slightly different look than the Trauma.
I could start the ER in the oil and play just about any line. My rev rate
would not allow me to get this one in the lighter-oiled outside boards too
soon; I had better energy at the deck from inside-out."

Track: Track Magic
Caveat - Not the biggest-hooking Track ball by any means, but the Track
Magic gets the job done by blending power and a nice read on the back end.
Lefty reports: "Phil is back at it - adding his magic 'foo-foo' to a Track
ball. I drilled the Track Magic 3X3" with a balance hole on my PAP. With
polish, this ball delivers excellent play on a house pattern and the sport
condition. It's strong enough for any amount of oil or lack thereof, short
of dust. The cover provides traction in the oil, and the simple bulb core
shape creates a smooth transition to the dry back ends. This core and cover
combination works very well on the sport pattern (even with polish), as the
Track Magic does not over-react to the dry back ends. On a house shot,
weaker hands (like Riggins) can stay with box finish and play in the oil.
Bowlers with more revs can play in the oil or dial in the needed polish and
swing the ball. The simple core offers great hitting power with a very
playable hook on the back end. With the right surface, the Track Magic
plays a big variety of patterns with ease."