Hammer Arson, Arson Hybrid, Taboo Black or First Blood?

[ArtVandelay]

Time for a new ball, again...

So I recently bought a Lane 1 Droid (http://www.bowlingball.com/products/bowling-balls/Lane1/10124/Droid.html), and I really like it. BUUUT, it is a VERY strong ball. On nights when the lanes aren't quite as oiled as normal, and sometimes by the 3rd game, it is too strong.

I throw in a bit of a coast to coast style (not quite... I'd have to get a video, but my plant foot does stop about 6 inches to the right of the left gutter, and my arm swings kind of over the center of the lane-ish. I let the ball go skidding right through the heart of the oil, and get out to the side. I normally throw around the 8th board or so before it breaks back into the pocket), and that Droid does SUCH an amazing job soaking up the oil that sometimes it starts its break before it hits the drier boards.

Anyway, so I've been going back to my Hammer No Mercy for those times, but that ball is dead... It had a good run, but it has nothing left. You can't even see the logos on it anymore because it's been resurfaced so many times over the years, and the USBC certification code is a distant memory.

I want something that I can throw like the Droid (for consistency) straight through the heart of the oil, but that can get THROUGH the oil when the lanes are drier. I like balls that have a stronger back end motion and sharper entry angle.

Part of me thinks I can make do with just a different coverstock finish, like if it was polished. So I was looking at the Lane 1 Boom-R'Ang (http://www.bowlingball.com/products/bowling-balls/Lane1/9218/Boom-R-ANG.html). But I dunno... The truth is, even after TONS of research to what all the numbers mean, I'm still not sure how those numbers apply to my game.

I liked my Hammer No Mercy, so I was thinking I might get another Hammer. I saw the First Blood (http://www.bowlingball.com/products/bowling-balls/Hammer/10699/First-Blood.html) video's we have on these forums (Click here for the posts/video (http://www.bowlingboards.com/threads/13221-Never-been-a-big-HAMMER-fan-but)) and thought, "That might be the ticket!" But I spoke to the pro shop guy at the alley and he thought that ball might be too strong (but he's not a very good pro shop guy... He has never seen me bowl. I think I heard all of your stories about great pro shop guys and was thinking i'd get lucky, but after going to 5 different allies, as far as 45 minutes away, I discovered they're all pretty unreliable people. One of the guys didn't take two seconds to basically tell me, "Oh I can drill it just like I drill my ball and I think you'll really like that." But he didn't even know the first thing about how I throw!!! So I just go to the guy at my local alley I bowl in... While he has no interest in knowing about me or my game, at least he knows about the lanes I throw on so I have more of a shot at getting it drilled right).

But wait...? I bowl with, what I would assume is, a STRONGER ball than what the First Blood appears to be...? I guess I adjust to the ball I throw.

But I don't know nearly as much as most of you guys do, and I'm sure my pro shop guy knows more than me. Some of the other balls I looked at were:

-The Hammer Arson (http://www.bowlingball.com/products/bowling-balls/Hammer/9483/Arson.html), but my concern is the coverstock might be too similar to the Droid, and cause the same problem through the oil

-The Hammer Arson Hybrid (http://www.bowlingball.com/products/bowling-balls/Hammer/10650/Arson-Hybrid.html) I don't know much about this hybrid coverstock. I guess it's supposed to be less powerful than the regular Arson. But my concern is, would either of these balls be right, because they seem a good deal less powerful than the Droid, and I just don't know if our lanes change that dramatically.

-The Hammer Jet Black Taboo (http://www.bowlingball.com/products/bowling-balls/Hammer/10139/Taboo-Jet-Black.html). Polished, so would it be the difference maker? It seems less powerful than the Droid, but not dramatically so. Perhaps this is the answer?



So I'm looking for input. I like making educated purchases. I do believe part of bowling is mental, and if you THINK it will make you better, it probably will (unless it's just completely wrong to begin with). So I'm thinking I'll likely end up with either the Boom-R'Ang or the First Blood. But I do my best to research this stuff first, and I wanted your input and advice.

Thanks for your input, in advance!

[Zothen]

You might look into the Columbia 300 VOW! If your dead set on Hammer I would go with the Black Taboo for the least aggressive of the balls listed.

Zothen

[ArtVandelay]

Thanks. Im not dead set on anything in particular. Ill look into the Columbia 300.

The Taboo is even less reactive than the Arsons? See, thatshow little I know. I figured the polished finish would be good (I have it, in my mind that a stronger core with a polished coverstock is what I need, but I have no true knowledge or experience with polished balls to base that off of), but I felt the Arsons would be less reactive/effected through the oil.

[striker12]

a ball that you should look more around at in hammer is the taboo black and first blood lots of good reviews on the ball and i will get to test the first blood on feb 9th and then i will have the feel of the ball and see how good it is.

[SnipingWaste]

I have a Jet Balck Taboo and use it for burned up lanes. Its a polished pearl and will go long but have a nice hard snap at the end of the lanes to give you a good angle for pin carry. I have a First blood this Wednesday and will know a little more about it. Its a used ball from Mike Fagan and the plug job will be done by Wednesday. I should be able to play with it about 3 games before the lanes are closed down on Wednesday. Ill post back to let you know what I think about it. So you know my style, Im a cranker and even been called a power cranker too. When the lanes dry up Ill be lofting the ball over the left gutter.

[billf]

Hybrid Arson for the medium oil. The Jet Black Taboo is suppose to be for heavy oil. Send me a video of you bowling and I would be willing to suggest a layout bowlerz_score@yahoo.com

[Purplepotatoe]

Arson Pearl/Any Vibe could be an option as well.

[ArtVandelay]

Ill do my best to get a video. Not sure when I will have time. Perhaps tomorrow, but who knows...

[SnipingWaste]

I was able to get about 3 games on the first blood. This is a good skid flip ball and saves a lot of energy at the end. This ball goes long and reacts really strong in the dry part of the lane. Think of this as a peril cover but like a strong solid in the back of the lane.

[ArtVandelay]

Thank you for the mini review!

[SnipingWaste]

Hi ArtVandelay

I see your in the Dallas area. My league is at Showplace lanes in Garland. Ill try to get some video on the ball on the lanes. I had it drilled for length because im a cranker with a rev around 450 to 550 and bowl on the left side of the lane as a right handier. Normal THS there is around 40ft to 42ft. Ill have practice on Sunday for 2 hours and the house will put fresh oil down for us. This will be a good time to really see what this ball can do.

[ArtVandelay]

Cool. I'd appreciate it. I'm kind of in the Denton area. I bowl at either University Lanes or an AMF in Lewisville. University is drier, and that's kind of why I'm looking for something weaker than the Lane 1 Droid.

[Ptnomore]

Cool. I'd appreciate it. I'm kind of in the Denton area. I bowl at either University Lanes or an AMF in Lewisville. University is drier, and that's kind of why I'm looking for something weaker than the Lane 1 Droid.


I have the Arson Hybrid as of last night, and the Taboo Jet Black. I got the Hybrid because I needed to fill a gap between the Jet Black and my Freeze. I can tell you that the Hybrid is one helluva strong ball. I love it. But once the fronts started to go away, I couldn't keep it on the lane, with "out of the box" surface anyway. I'm a 185 average bowler. 15mph, with what I'd say is a med rev rate. Nothing spectacular. I'm still learning. Only been at this for about 3 seasons, 42 years old. And Im addicted.

The Taboo Jet Black needs oil to store some energy. When the lanes dry out, it still gets down the lane, but has nothing left when it gets to the pins. That ball you really need a wet/dry condition for it to work up to it's full potential. Second game in my league is where that ball shines.

You already have a Crossroad which is close to the Hybrid in strength/lane condition already. if you have decent or high revs, the Hybrid could be too much ball, in my opinion, on drier conditions. That like always depends on your definition of dry also. I've seen on the forums where folks are playing with the surface finish and polish on the Hybrid with DRASTIC results, so it could be a good fit if you like to experiment a bit. But have you considered a Nail, or something in the Freeze line, or as another suggested, a Vibe? I absolutely LOVE my Nail on dryer conditions.

I threw the Hybrid last night for the first time. 1st and second game was awesome. 3rd game went away fast. I couldn't keep it on the lane without adding so much speed, my accuracy suffered. I had to put it away and pick up the Freeze.

The Hybrid is definitely going to be the first ball out of the bag from now on, but I can easily see it's limits...something that I'm still working on. 1st game was a 202 (had a 46 in the 4th before I started throwing the Hybrid), second game was a 247, my 3rd highest game ever (268, 248, 247...).

I'll be watching this post. I'm curious to see what you wind up with after you submit your video, and what the new ball does for you, what ever you wind up with.

[ArtVandelay]

I have the Arson Hybrid as of last night, and the Taboo Jet Black. I got the Hybrid because I needed to fill a gap between the Jet Black and my Freeze. I can tell you that the Hybrid is one helluva strong ball. I love it. But once the fronts started to go away, I couldn't keep it on the lane, with "out of the box" surface anyway. I'm a 185 average bowler. 15mph, with what I'd say is a med rev rate. Nothing spectacular. I'm still learning. Only been at this for about 3 seasons, 42 years old. And Im addicted.

The Taboo Jet Black needs oil to store some energy. When the lanes dry out, it still gets down the lane, but has nothing left when it gets to the pins. That ball you really need a wet/dry condition for it to work up to it's full potential. Second game in my league is where that ball shines.

You already have a Crossroad which is close to the Hybrid in strength/lane condition already. if you have decent or high revs, the Hybrid could be too much ball, in my opinion, on drier conditions. That like always depends on your definition of dry also. I've seen on the forums where folks are playing with the surface finish and polish on the Hybrid with DRASTIC results, so it could be a good fit if you like to experiment a bit. But have you considered a Nail, or something in the Freeze line, or as another suggested, a Vibe? I absolutely LOVE my Nail on dryer conditions.

I threw the Hybrid last night for the first time. 1st and second game was awesome. 3rd game went away fast. I couldn't keep it on the lane without adding so much speed, my accuracy suffered. I had to put it away and pick up the Freeze.

The Hybrid is definitely going to be the first ball out of the bag from now on, but I can easily see it's limits...something that I'm still working on. 1st game was a 202 (had a 46 in the 4th before I started throwing the Hybrid), second game was a 247, my 3rd highest game ever (268, 248, 247...).

I'll be watching this post. I'm curious to see what you wind up with after you submit your video, and what the new ball does for you, what ever you wind up with.

Thank you, so much for your reply and input! After much thought, I ended up going to a local alley and having the pro shop owner (also a USBC Gold Coach) watch me throw for a while and suggest a ball. That's how I ended up with the Crossroad (or as we call it: The Clapton Ball).

I think I've decided I'm not talented enough to decide on a ball by myself. hahahahaha. That's a problem because it can get expensive having pro shop people suggest bowling balls. But when it's all said and done, I ended up saving a little money doing it this way rather than buying it online, and the ball seems to fit me better. My biggest problem is that my old ball was about 6/7 years old, so even though the crossroad is rated as LESS of a hook potential than the No Mercy (back when it came out) it moves a lot more than the No Mercy ever did so it's been a bit of an adjustment.

Thank you, again. I really appreciate your input. One thing's for sure: I think I'm going to have to go back to Hammer next time I have to buy a ball... Call me crazy, but I don't think, "Nothing hits like a Hammer," is as much as slogan as it is the truth. Despite being a lighter ball than the Crossroad and Droid I bought, I still think it hit the pins harder.

[mxjosh]

Crossroad is a really good ball. Definitely a good choice. Only negative is the smell.