Which is the Better Heavy Oil Ball?

[SmilingBowler]

The only ball I'd add to my gear at this point (aside from a spare ball, which I may still consider) is a ball for heavier oil. Not just heavier, though... I'm talking when the oil is wide, covered upto 45+ feet and may be pushed down by the pins from other bowlers. I currently throw my EBONITE Innovate for medium oil, my Hammer Black Widow for medium to heavy oil and my Jacked Raw HAMMER for medium to low oil. The Innovate is my newest ball and I'm still learning what its capable of, but considering I'm going to States in May, I am seeking one more ball to fill my arsenal.

Here are the three I have my eye on, in order of Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price:

Hammer First Blood (MSRP $289.99)
http://www.bowlingball.com/products/bowling-balls/Hammer/10699/First-Blood.html

Ebonite Mission X (MSRP $249.99)
http://www.bowlingball.com/products/bowling-balls/Ebonite/10055/Mission-X.html

Roto Grip Disturbed (MSRP $199.99)
http://www.bowlingball.com/products/bowling-balls/RotoGrip/10676/Disturbed.html

Any comments you have on any of the above, or if you have any other suggestions for Heavier Oil, please reply.
Thanks a lot. Happy Bowling. Cheers!

[billf]

The Hammer First Blood confuses me. Hammer called it a medium oil ball while all the websites say it's a heavy oil ball. Strange.
The Disturbed is actually a mediumheavy.
The Mission X is a good ball...but does it fit your style?

Other great heavy oil balls:
Storm Sync-on back order
Motive Raptor Talon
DV8 Brutal Nightmare

[SmilingBowler]

I've wondered the same with the First Blood. But I've seen a few guys throw theirs and the back end is magnificent. Guys can throw the far left 4 board to between the middle and fourth right arrow, have it carry and snap back in all sorts of oil conditions. But I have yet to see anyone throw a First Blood in the third game once the pattern breaks down. It seems its great for freshly oiled lanes and some that may be 42-45' patterns.

I'll look into the Storm and Motiv lines, but I'm more or less a Ebonite and Hammer type. Like I said, I know my Innovate can handle just about any condition. I just haven't found a consistent stoke with it, yet. I get some solid scores (above average) out of it and just need to trust the ball and remember its the bowler, not the ball, that causes more breakdown. I tend to bowl better when I can trust my instincts to make an adjustment with my feet first. But try not to over-think, as that has caused me to throw far sub-par scores before.

[SouthpawTRK]

If you have an affinity towards Ebonite or Hammer, then you may want to check out Track. I went to an EBI demo day and tried out the Hammer First Blood and the Track 706A, 811C/T, and the 714C. I fell in love with the 706A of all the four balls that I tried; worked really well for my game.

You may want to check out this ball: http://www.bowlingball.com/products/bowling-balls/Track/9499/919C.html

[Zothen]

First Blood is on same line as the Columbia VOW which is Medium oil. For heavy oil I would suggest Roto Grip Defiant/Edge or Soul,Storm Sync,vivid or Lucid,Brunswick Aura/Paranormal or neXus line,900 Global Train,Freight Train or Bullet Train,DV8 Nightmare,Motive Raptor Talon,Ebonite Challenge or Champion? Thats all I can think of at moment!

Zothen

[billf]

The Sync and IQ Tour Pearl are currently on back order so if you want one, you better hope the shop has it in stock.

[Greenday]

I throw my Sync on heavy oil and love it. Pretty strong reaction. It's great when I need something with strong backend. It matches up well with my Invasion which I use when I need more of an arcing motion in a ball.

My coach has an IQ Tour Pearl and I love the look of it. Reads the mid-lane really well and hits the pocket nice and solid.

[SmilingBowler]

I've seen a lot of people talk about the Storm IQ Tour on Twitter and I'm looking at that ball as well. I just didn't list it in my top three. I'll have a talk with the pro shop guys Monday night and see what they have in store or can order on-demand. I know they can do this with the three I mentioned earlier in this post.

[SmilingBowler]

After today's practice session (Full notes here: http://www.bowlingboards.com/threads/13804-Smiling-Bowler-Practice-Sessions) I feel maybe I don't need a ball with heavy as much as I may need something like the TRACK 716t or the new EBONITE Exceed.

My Black Widow works wonders when I throw it out over 4 feet. I feel really confident with that backend in any oil condition. I can always speed that ball up, throw it out only about 2 feet and throw it straight down the 3 board if it cuts jersey. But in that situation, I'd rather rely on my Innovate. Its a really great ball for medium to oily lanes... just doesn't quite come back for me in too much oil, like in the third game today.

What are your thoughts on the TRACK 716t and EBONITE Exceed?

[ecub]

The only ball I'd add to my gear at this point (aside from a spare ball, which I may still consider) is a ball for heavier oil. Not just heavier, though... I'm talking when the oil is wide, covered upto 45+ feet and may be pushed down by the pins from other bowlers. I currently throw my EBONITE Innovate for medium oil, my Hammer Black Widow for medium to heavy oil and my Jacked Raw HAMMER for medium to low oil. The Innovate is my newest ball and I'm still learning what its capable of, but considering I'm going to States in May, I am seeking one more ball to fill my arsenal.

Here are the three I have my eye on, in order of Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price:

Hammer First Blood (MSRP $289.99)
http://www.bowlingball.com/products/bowling-balls/Hammer/10699/First-Blood.html

Ebonite Mission X (MSRP $249.99)
http://www.bowlingball.com/products/bowling-balls/Ebonite/10055/Mission-X.html

Roto Grip Disturbed (MSRP $199.99)
http://www.bowlingball.com/products/bowling-balls/RotoGrip/10676/Disturbed.html

Any comments you have on any of the above, or if you have any other suggestions for Heavier Oil, please reply.
Thanks a lot. Happy Bowling. Cheers!

You use your Raw Hammer for Medium to Low oil? That should be medium to heavy. When's the last time you removed the oil and resurfaced the ball?

[Fuzzifus]

First Blood is on same line as the Columbia VOW which is Medium oil. For heavy oil I would suggest Roto Grip Defiant/Edge or Soul,Storm Sync,vivid or Lucid,Brunswick Aura/Paranormal or neXus line,900 Global Train,Freight Train or Bullet Train,DV8 Nightmare,Motive Raptor Talon,Ebonite Challenge or Champion? Thats all I can think of at moment!

Zothen

I have both balls, (Vow and First Blood). The First Blood will handle heavier volumes just fine. I can throw mine (First Blood) on medium volumes, but it really does seem to excel on the fresh, at least for me. I haveno problem saying I consider the First Blood to be a heavy oil ball. It may not be as strong as a Nightmare on heavy patterns, but it will definately work very well on them.

[SmilingBowler]

You use your Raw Hammer for Medium to Low oil? That should be medium to heavy. When's the last time you removed the oil and resurfaced the ball?

My Jacked Raw Hammer has a different pin placement than my other two balls and because it was my first ball when I first started throwing fingertip, its drilled to go long and walk back into the pocket. It doesn't have a big hook or back end. You can see the pic in my Twitter header background: http://twitter.com/SmilingBowler

[ecub]

My Jacked Raw Hammer has a different pin placement than my other two balls and because it was my first ball when I first started throwing fingertip, its drilled to go long and walk back into the pocket. It doesn't have a big hook or back end. You can see the pic in my Twitter header background: http://twitter.com/SmilingBowler

At 1000 grit, it should read the lanes early. You might just have to play a straighter shot with it's layout. Also experiment with slower speed. All my bowling balls have the same layout, RICO, but the various surfaces will dictate what lane condition I use it on.

[Vince805]

I have both balls, (Vow and First Blood). The First Blood will handle heavier volumes just fine. I can throw mine (First Blood) on medium volumes, but it really does seem to excel on the fresh, at least for me. I haveno problem saying I consider the First Blood to be a heavy oil ball. It may not be as strong as a Nightmare on heavy patterns, but it will definately work very well on them.

I have the brutal nightmare and I love it. works very well on heavy oil. for me at least :-) amazing backend!!

[SmilingBowler]

I really love my Black Widow on Medium-Heavy when my Innovate doesn't clear the whole dec. I could've switched out my Innovate at any point tonight and maybe shot better, but I stayed humble and confided in my Innovate tonight. If I'd picked up a handful of my open simple spares (I was a little off tonight in that department) I could've beat my Wednesday Night Mixed League series average and maybe raised my season average a pin or two. But, I'm happy I bowled better than Monday Night. Enough said. (: .)

[explorer05]

I would pull out the Disturbed and put the Defiant Soul in it's place. The Disturbed is the replacement to the Critical Theory which is a medium to heavy oil ball. The Defiant Soul is for heavy oil. I am getting 1 for Nationals.

[UBowling]

If you are going to get an Ebonite ball, get the Champion, it is the best ball in their lineup and the only one that might be better in heavy oil is the Exceed. I have never heard good things about the Mission X and I didn't like it.

The Roto Grip Disturbed is a monster! Would be a great heavy oil ball. The Sync would also be a great choice.

[ymiller]

The only ball I'd add to my gear at this point (aside from a spare ball, which I may still consider) is a ball for heavier oil. Not just heavier, though... I'm talking when the oil is wide, covered upto 45+ feet and may be pushed down by the pins from other bowlers. I currently throw my EBONITE Innovate for medium oil, my Hammer Black Widow for medium to heavy oil and my Jacked Raw HAMMER for medium to low oil. The Innovate is my newest ball and I'm still learning what its capable of, but considering I'm going to States in May, I am seeking one more ball to fill my arsenal.

Here are the three I have my eye on, in order of Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price:

Hammer First Blood (MSRP $289.99)
http://www.bowlingball.com/products/bowling-balls/Hammer/10699/First-Blood.html

Ebonite Mission X (MSRP $249.99)
http://www.bowlingball.com/products/bowling-balls/Ebonite/10055/Mission-X.html

Roto Grip Disturbed (MSRP $199.99)
http://www.bowlingball.com/products/bowling-balls/RotoGrip/10676/Disturbed.html

Any comments you have on any of the above, or if you have any other suggestions for Heavier Oil, please reply.
Thanks a lot. Happy Bowling. Cheers!

Well, most of the suggestions given to you are good. Have you heard or seen Seismic Equipment? They have serious stuff for heavy oil. Take a look at their website www.seismicbowling.com
Take a special look at the Raging Bull Stampede. That ball was given the highest score ever in Bowling This Month for traction in oil. I've had mine now for 3 months with over 50 games and still going strong. I've been playing with Seismic for 3 years now and they have some of the best core/cover combo. I've bowled with Storm and Ebonite they do have good equipment but Storm's high end equipment apart from the Lucid and Sync have died out quickly, lots of my customers noticed that.

If you need help finding a proshop that carries Seismic, give me a shout.

[SmilingBowler]

Thanks for your suggestion ymiller.

I rely on the advice of my local pro shop, who recommended the three balls I listed, as they have them in stock or can order them, get them in and drilled to my specs within a few days. I have a long-term relationship with the guys at my local pro shop and honor their advice. I do appreciate your suggestion, however and will ask them about your SEISMIC line. Maybe they'll be interested in stocking your equipment. They just started carrying DV8 and MOTIV over the last year as well, so they are always looking to expand. How long has SEISMIC been around?